Help am I losing my mind?

[5alive3]

After three long years of interferon treatment I finally had a SVR in 2000. My main problems with the treatment was the way it affected my thought processess and how I communicated with the world, not to mention a complete loss of humour, which was wierd for me as I'm normally a jovial kind of person. In recent months I've had a few TIA's and after a fortnight of hosptalisation and barrage of tests it was discovered that my subcavian artery was blocked and ther was very little blood supply to my arm and brain. Twelve months ago I had a stent placed into the offending artery and I would think that now my brain is getting the red stuff flowing my memory should be a lot better than it is. I am wondering if there are others who still have residual effects from their treatment or  am  I losing my mind?

[it'sallgood]

good point.  about 3 years ago i consulted with the liver head at the local university.  i requested a virus screen for viruses other than hcv.  his response - "you have hcv -end of story".  he was interested in having me enter one of the clinical trials he had going for hcv.  in 1981 i received about 150 transfusions following a traumatic injury.  i imagine hcv is not the only virus that hitched a ride on blood into this body.

[newleaf09]

I think we get into an issue between 'residual effects of TX' and 'Illnesses masked by the drama of HCV'.  I have recently discovered another illness which I had before HCV diagnosis; that illness was never brought to light because I screened positive for HCV and all the medical people I contacted immediately stuck on the HCV.  Could have had this issue fixed earlier but got caught up in the drama and have to deal with it now.  I suspect that I'm not the only HCV patient bumping into this.

[merryBe]

I would think regular MRI checkups would be in order as well as an activity plan, and some monitoring of your blood/clotting and cholesterol levels. with the right regime of diet/activity/meds many times plaque formation can be reversed.

it's not uncommon to have both sides of the jugulars, and any number of subcavian branches affected with what you have, but you only mentioned one shunt being placed.
So the question becomes what else have you been doing to mitigate the condition.
Also, lack of oxygen leads to depression, since you mentioned being low, I think you might want to explore that. Are you doing any walking or outdoor activity to offset your issues?

congrats on your SVR!!  You got that at least, thank goodness!!
mb