HCV Mood Swings?? HELP

[BronxRican007]

Folks,

Does HCV effect your mood or personality? I have to bear my soul a little. I'm driving my family crazy with mood swings from hell. Things just set me off, sometimes small things and sometimes big things. I can go from being upset but speaking in a civil manner then escalate to yelling in a matter of minutes.

I've always been a bit of a hothead but this isn't the same and seems to be getting worse. It doesn't happen all the time but it happens too much...enough for me to concern myself with how it's affecting my family.

Of course I'm under the same stress that we all are with this HCV bomb looming over our heads but I have no problems at work.
Maybe the stress of work and thinking about illness just bubbles up toward the end of the day or on weekends..I don't know.

I know we're not shrinks here but I'm wondering what you've heard and experienced with mood swings. The confusing part is that I'm not on TX yet and I dont want to jeapardize starting tx for something that's typical and normal for HCV victims and maybe withn my control.

Your thoughts?
Bronx

[orphanedhawk]

This is an old thread from 2005. If you have question related to hep C, I suggest you begin your own post.
Good luck.

[mindhunter4]

my wife has hep c and 4 stage liver cer i spent my intire life batteling her alcoholisum .now she has stoped drinking she has a lot of anger and hostility and now her mmod changes and becomes really angry with me when all i have done is try to save this women from her self my intire life
i wish i was the one dieing

[bon_vivant]

Chellski, NewSojourn=
I saw that too.... but I saw that California was going to fight that.... they said that the federal government wasn't going to mandate their state laws & they they were going to treat it the same regardless.... & said that at least congress can vote & change this.... so they are actually thinking this is a good thing & will draw more national attention to it!!!!

Time will tell I guess!
**************************************************************
Ivette=
LoL... I feel certain "Security" has my pics.... probably got me in a gold frame on the wall by now, with a caption under it that says "ARSE OF THE YEAR"

It basically started over them wanting to x-ray my interferon... & went South from there! Which by the way... I know you can x-ray the pills & stuff... but what about that liquid gold.... is that allowed.... or will it hurt it?

I am sure that I was an Arse for no reason... but Security could have reacted, kinder, & more professional too..... You know as well as I do... for every action, there is a REACTION..... & had they had of REACTED Differently... I probably would of too.... so, I'll take HALF the Blame... but no GUILT over that entire situation!

Got the internet here at the apartment today.... I'll try & write a few of ya'll later... that way I don't scare any newbies.... wouldn't want them to think TX causes everyone to act like that..... It's just a Vicki Thing... & I Know it....

I think the interferon, or Riba has discovered some kind of deep down hidden "pre-existing" brain flaw of mine.... or screws with my Dopamine, or Serotonin levels.... I probably need something adjusted... although I don't know what... & not about to tell the Doc about that incident, out of fear that he might pull me off TX.... cause that was BAD!!!! Humm, maybe I just need some ANGER MANAGEMENT.... Ha!
:)

[chellski]

we just had local news stories that medically prescribed marijuana users can be arrested!? can that be? If you have a prescription from a dr., how can you be arrested ? (obviously i didn't listen to whole story)  
PS:  i had a friend who made some yummy "candy" bars - very chocolaty and later calming! lol.
interested tho in this news....
chelle

[new-sojourn]

Smoke a joint!
  Much more liver friendly and if you live in an enlightened state w/med marijuanna laws, its even legal for hcv sufferers.

My partner gave me all my shots, all 24.  He was always pretty mellow--I guess it was second hand left hand smoke.  No flip outs during or since.

[cuteus]

the stress of HCV diagnosis is enough to put you on edge, no doubt about it. Tx can bring about some mood episodes, but I found that knowing about them, helped with the awareness of the event and preparing to deal and control them when they happened. I chose not to go the AD route, since as said before, it has it own set of problems.  I knew I would be short tempered and tried not to deal with people too much. Managing the anemia and aches also helped control the moods.
My middle finger got a lot of exercise on the road.

[bon_vivant]

Heh, HeH....

I CAN relate to this thread, however it's the TX that does it to me..... & when I do snap... buddy I mean, I SNAP..... which is why it is Very Important (For ME) to maintain as stress free as possible on TX!

My Riba Rage @ Hartsfeild International caused me to be delayed 24 hours on my Alaskan trip..... Lucky I didn't wind up in the slammer... Haaaa... Haaaa.. (Not Really Funny)

I am too embarrassed to tell the whole story..... but I'll tell you this.. the higher dosage this round, has raised the effects.... & I actually got disoriented when I snapped... I saw red... then blue & white lights.... then things went blank for awhile....

Never experianced anything like this before... so this is New!!!
But Hey... at least I am here now, & I finally made it... Thank God!
:)

[BronxRican007]

Although a pleasant thought..."smoke a joint"?....can't do it w/ security clearences at my job and urinalysis etc, I'd be fired me in a heartbeat. Don't think my state is enlightened yet. Besides I might enjoy it too much :), especially since I dont drink anymore.

Thanks for the advice. Althought it's somehow comforting to know that my crazyass outbursts might be caused by HCV, I'm still responsible for controlling myself. I love my family too much I dont want to make them crazy or fearful of me. It's 6am right now and I'm calm as puppy but if I share 2 words with anyone, hear something I don't like, see a gesture, hear a tone of voice, or get frustrated with something...my disposition can change quickly. I don't seem to be able to control it...but I have to.

Funny thing,,,last week I was really pysched about starting tx, now after I realized what's happening with my mood swings, well I'm not sure tx is right for me anytime soon.

I'll pray on it, try to walk away from situations before I do the Dr Jeckyl/Mr Hyde switch, avoid confrontations and frustrations, and somehow find other avenues/places to let off steam...but I have to spare my family.

Bring on the VX-950!!! HCV SUCKS!

Thanks ALL
Bronx

[cuteus]

what did you do this time???? got pictures???

Whatever happened, airport "security" can make a killer out of Ghandi. I won't blame you one bit/

[layla]

I spent a lot of time alone on tx. I would just go into my office at home and hang out there. My family got used to it and didn't mind at all since it was preferable to dealing with me. I chose not to use ad's because they have their own set of problems. The mood swings were much worse in the first half of tx then they leveled off. LL

[gr8faith]

I can so relate to this thread, and agree, do something for yourself today, talk a walk, try to relax.  Mood swings and HVC go together.  I was on an AD for 9 years b/4 dx and the year I was waiting to start tx was just a nasty bear.  Even now, still have my moments all too often, but the AD is a life saver.  My family knows not to have expectations of me, that I run hot and cold like a faucet and we have all tried to make light of it and bring humor in as much as possible.  I will feel the edginess coming on and just get the dog and a leash and head out the door.  or go lay out in the hammack in the back yard and listen to the birds.  For me, nature seems to calm me down quick. (except the nasty bout of posion ivy I am still trying to get over)

Hang in there, and keep moving forward to the goal.  Moments of hell are well worth in in the long run, your gonna have em anyway so just move through it with lots of gentleness on yourself and try not to be so serious.  My husband and kids will use cue words to let me know "I am doing it again" and let me tell you, even though they don't "know how I feel" they have learned that the more I let them in to my world, the easier it is for them to navigate it with me.

best of luck
candy

[whoaisme]

Yes, AD's are the way to go. My husband who is generally very laid back and mellow certainly benefits from the use of ADs (he is currently on Lexapro). There are many combinations of pills, so if you find one is not helping or is creating other side effects, try another. Best to get this going before you start treatment as they generally take weeks to really work. Just having the diagnosis is enough to iniate mood swings, and we generally act out in a safe environment(aren't families great?) Good luck to you...
Rev..our hepatologist advised against Valium..its not liver friendly....

[snook_man]

Totally natural my man to be going through what you are feeling now. HCV is a hard diagnosis, and it kind of flips us out. Family doesn't really understand, and that is why we get so frustrated. I know, I went through it. Hell, I'm still going through it. But it is controllable. Man, you already realize the problem exists, so you know that it is something you don't to escalate.
I have always been a hot head.. Always been moody and sarcastic. But during the begining of tx, I was really jumpy. Wife didn't understand that even though I looked like everything was fine, I was feeling like ****. It frustrated me, cause she just couldn't fathom what I was going through, and nobody that hasn't been in our situation can. They try to relate, but they will NEVER understand.
Anger was breaking me and my wife apart during the begining. I was yelling and cursing, and noticed that she was avoiding me all together. I too, just as you did realized that I had to put this stuff to and end, as family is the most important thing. I stepped back, and reevaluated my situation, and made some changes. I still get mad, and we always will. Hell, better not cut me off in traffic!!! But if you realize that it is effecting you and your family, make the necessary precautions to avoid it. Walk away, take baths, take Sam-e, or an AD..
You''l be alright, its the anxiety of waiting right now. The anxiety of wondering what the condition of your liver is, and the anxiety of tx.. You'll be fine, you just gotta believe it.
Have a good day man, and do something relaxing. Do something you haven't done in awhile. Do something to take your mind off HCV..

[BIOPHIL]

Bronx Rican, I feel that I am listeninng to myself. Don't know what to tell you. Sam-e is supposed to help with the mood swings and that is one of the Supplements. I dont Know if the sam-e is working or if the fact that I almost died from My Varicies has humbled me.

[Moeymitt]

Yes, I can so relate to this, I have not started tx yet but ever since I decided to treat I live on the edge and the people around me also!! I have to be careful and I have cut back on my work load, try not to go online to much, and sleep when I need to not to mention letting myself have crying spells. I have never been on AD's nor felt the need but accept that tx might put me there. My doctor said an interesting thing once, he asked if I was prone to depression and I said no and he said tx can make you psychotic if you already have depression. Great. So much to look forward to! Anyway, try to go easy on yourself and realize we are all in the same boat...

[Celtic Raven]

Oh my god I can so relate. As some who read this forum know that my mother started her treatment 4 weeks ago (yesterday was the 4th shot I'd given her) and let me tell you, today I was on the end of a serious flip out over the SMALLEST thing from my mother. Mind you she hasn't had any mood swings (or thankfully any "flu-like symptom) side effects but today was brutal.

I really don't know if I can deal with that, if it's gonna be happening -every- weekend now.

But I can so relate, I think a lot of people who are on treatment go thru mood swings, perhaps some more than others. But god help anyone who may have to deal with it -everyday-. *Cringe.* =/

[And my mother is still learning how to use the net, it'll be a while before I can get her to this site, sadly cause she keeps saying "I'm stupid and am never gonna f***ing learn how to use the net!!!"]

[chellski]

yeah i was born with mood swings - curse of being female (lol)
anyway b4 tx i started with anti depressant called wellbutrin but found out thru this board that well-b is not liver friendly; doctor switched me to zoloft which is liver-friendly.  the time between weaning off well-b and beginning zoloft was crazier than ever; i mean these AD'S do work in your brain.  get on the right thing, right off.  There are liver friendly anti depressants.  Things are better now....except for once a month....the pms....oh well- like i said, its a curse!
lots of luck to you
<3michelle

[scruffy]

I agree that hcv can definately produce mood swings and I did'nt take any AD during tx-MISTAKE. I highly recommend an AD during tx if you're already experiencing moodiness-anger or depression-They can get worse for sure. Luck to you my friend, frank

[Hawk370]

Before starting treatment and getting on effexor I also noticed mood swings and lack of patience.  About a week before starting treatment my dr put me on effexor and even during treatment I felt much better mentally.  Physically is a different story.  I never thought of myself as being depressed before but after being on effexor for a while I relize that I must have been.  You might ask your dr about some kind of anti depresent. Good luck.

Freddie