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Avatar universal

Help with HCV triple therapy

I'm 26 and have had hcv for somewhere around 8 or 9 years now, I have been clean for 4 and have been on the Ribavirin, Pegasys, and Victrelis( minus the first 4 weeks) treatment going on 17 weeks now. I have no get up n go anymore. I have had illness after cold after symptoms for 3 months now, I'm starting to not feel sick and just the regular fun side fx.
I was just wondering if there was anything anyone does that makes it easier, that makes you feel more like yourself. I just want to feel like myself.
I'm always very tired, but not tired enough to sleep, very irritable, easily depressed, weird headaches on and off.
I am open to any suggestions. It's important to me to be at my best, I have 3 girls who depend on their mom and don't exactly need a grumpy one. But I know this will all pay off, in 31 weeks or less.
Thank you, Gwen
9 Responses
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766573 tn?1365166466
Okie dokie. I sent you a not so you can inbox me anytime you need a friend. But truly for the advanced questions related to treatment, the meds, and the side effects the best thing to do is post here in the Forum.

Idk. When a doctors office is THAT busy it's because he is that good and/or his practice is thriving (or perhaps maybe the opposite of one or both of those. Ha ha) Or, like you said, he is the only one who accepts your insurance. I love my doctor but the few people I referred to him said that he was booked outwardly of 7 months. What ya gonna do?

Anyway, sorry about your father. Turning orange like that must of been a sight to say the least. My da turned all these wild multiple colours when he died. But that's another story!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No not und, but he said my labs were better, according to my 12 week labs where he said that we would know if tx would be beneficial or not. My dr. said that at 12 weeks blood tests would tell if the medicines were making any difference at all and they are. I'm going to pick up copies of my labs next week. I still have this nasty cough leftover from it.
The fluid in my chest was the result of an untreated virus or cold that I had a couple weeks before that just seemed to be quite harmless, but it wasn't pnuemonia though.
The day I was supposed to be at my dr for my april appt I had to get a chest x ray done, and I rescheduled but it took a whole month to get in again, which is beyond frustrating for me.
It took 7 months for my doctor and his office to complete the paperwork for my treatment to even begin.
I have an Associates in Health Information Tech. and I knew exactly what my dr.'s office needed to do and what forms to file, etc, but they wouldn't listen. I finally got the right person to listen and she is who I speak to now at my dr's office when I have any questions.
I tried to go to another doctor but there isn't anymore around me that will take my insurance, I looked.

Thank you so much for the scrubs tidbit, that made me smile. I feel like that sometimes though, like people don't understand it b/c it's not as understood as cancer, it's not bandaged, its not seeping.
My mom understands it alot though, my father had hcv his whole adult life and she saw how fatigued he was and how ill he had gotten.
He passed from organ failure that torpedoed from a doctor puncturing his brain as he tightened his halo through infected bone which becomes softened once infected.
Anyways he was literally orange when he passed.
This is my motivation for treatment along with my 3 gorgeous daughters.

I think its frustrating for my fiance sometimes because I'm not my energetic self, he's stuck with catching up on my housework after he works all day.
He's never said it, he never would, but I can feel it.

Thank You Idyllic, I would like to talk with you on here more, you seem very intelligent and well informed.
Helpful - 0
766573 tn?1365166466
1. Sorry if I overlooked this but are you UND? I caught the part about being 17 weeks and and your VL has "gotten a lot better."

2. Also, the stuff going on with fluid in your lungs - is this a co-existing medical condition or were you sick at the time.

3. At that stage of treatment I am a little concerned that you missed your April appointment and your next one was not until May 7.
__________________
"I tell people around me how I feel, they nod and agree but I don't think they really understand."

Most of us look the same way so people who haven't researched HCV or the treatment have no idea how to reconcile how we look with how we feel. Unfortunately, it is like this (From an old TV sitcom called, "Scrubs." Elliot and Turk are two doctors as well as friends":

Turk: You know, I never get chocolate cake.

Elliot: Oh, right, cause you're diabetic. Boo hoo. You know Turk, if you want sympathy, get a disease people can see.


**Not saying anyone of us want sympathy, between us I just think that is a funny line.
____________________

♫ Anywho Gwen, I hope you post more often and let us know how you are doing. It sounds as if you have been toughing too much of this on your own. ♫
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank You so very much.
@ Idyllic:No I havent gotten copies of my labs, I'm going to start though. It also takes me a month to get in to see my doctor, I see him may 7th. but I havent seen him since beginning of march, I was too sick for my april appt, I had fluid in my lungs and had alot of fun with inhalers and steroids and 2 different antibiotics. I'm still getting over that
@ Brianmo: no I'm only 17 weeks in, I have quite a ways to go.

I don't know what my labs were exactly but when I was in the office in march he said that my viral load had gotten alot better.
I tell people around me how I feel, they nod and agree but I don't think they really understand.
My Dr. mentioned antidepressants get involved with this tx often, I really don't want to be on them, but if it will help I can try.
Thank You everyone, I just found this site the other day so you all will see alot of me probably.
Helpful - 0
2004810 tn?1365153611
I'm also on Victrelis (shot 17 tomorrow). I'm feeling a lot like you, and like also Brianmo says here, I think the hardest part is the last part of treatment. I also have small kids (3 and 6 years old) and have constant bad feeling about not being 100% there for them in this periode. It took a while for my husband to adjust to the new situation but now he really helps more out at home.
I don't have any other advice than try to rest as much as you can. Be kind to yourself and accept that you can't be as 100% for your kids as usual. And this will all past and you will get your positive energy back - and SVR!

I really liked your comment, Brianmo: "I sat on my couch so much there is a dent on it!!  LOL" I really hope the dent will only be a reminder of what we've been through and that one day we can smile about it (I admit that this comment made me shed a tear and laughed at the same time...)

Good luck Gwen
Helpful - 0
1148619 tn?1332010984
Treatment is hard.   I finished April 4th and felt just how you described in your post.  I was lucky in that I had no kids in house and was able to cut back on work.   Hang in there, be sure to talk with doctor about everything you experiencing. I was very anemic, 9.2 most of tx, but did not do any helper drugs.  I sat on my couch so much there is a dent on it!!  LOL.  

You have seven weeks to go, is that right?   You are almost there.  The last half was the worse for me.  SE gots worse but as soon as I ended tx, things quickly got back to normal and I got myself back.  
Helpful - 0
766573 tn?1365166466
Are you requesting copies of your labs every time you have them done? As 1oftheclub22 suggests Anemia is a possibility but it depends on your Hgb. Do you have any other symptoms in addition to lack of energy? If shortness of breath or dizziness is one of them then I would consider declining Hgb levels first ~ especially if performing routine tasks is increasingly laborious.

About the depression: I am not sure it will resolve itself on it's own. Did your Dr mention the possibility of depression as a side effect? You are pretty far along in treatment so I am not sure how informed you are. If your doctor hasn't maybe you can ask for a referral to a Pyschiatrist.

The thing is, the irritibility and the depression could (could) resolve themselves if you get some decent sleep and find out why your energy levels have declined. Like others, I agree your labs is where I would start. If you get stuck you might want to post them so somone here can offer some insight. Welcome and Feel better♫
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
Hello and welcome to the forum.

I think your side effects are pretty common, especially the "no get jup and go", fatigue, and just not feeling well. I don't think there is a lot a person can do about no motivation, no pep, fatigue, aches, brain fog, other than to eat as normal as possible, drink a lot of water, take a short walk daily if possible, find some things to do that take less energy, let go of feeling like you have to do this or that (events, activities, cleaning, etc.), and rest as needed. Take it day by day, do what you can.

However, some side effects can be treated. If you are nauseated that can be treated with prescription Zofran or another anti-emetic. If you have a rash and itching that can be treated with prescription steroid cream and Hydroxyzine. Some tylenol (if okay with your doc) might help the headaches. If you feel depressed and/or irritable, you may need an antidepressant. Many of us are on antidepressants while on treatment. The drugs cause the mental and emotional changes and the depression. If you are not already on antidepressants, ask your doctor about getting on one. They do take 2-3 weeks to kick in and maybe about 6 weeks for full effect. But it sounds like you have a few more weeks/months of treatment so it may be worth it. Some antidepressants also help a person sleep.

I found that after I got the side effects under control, I felt much better.

The fatigue could be caused by the drugs but it could also be caused by anemia. Hopefully you are getting your blood counts checked at least every 2 weeks and maybe more often (mine were checked every week). The hemoglobin can tank fast so one needs to keep an close eye on it.

You need to discuss your side effects and symptoms with your doctor. Hopefully he/she will order some medications to address the side effects.


This forum is a great place to get support and answers. Visit often.

Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
keep an eye on your blood work.  Your HGB's may be dropping and you may be experiencing enemia which is a common sx from the Vic and the Rib.  If your HGB gets below 10, you may want to talk with your doc about rescue drugs or adjusting meds.  If your HGB gets below 8 you may be talking about blood transfusions.

Also a common sx effect of the Peg is depression, you should discuss anti depressants with your doc if this becomes a big issue.

Being run down is also a common sx, but the anemia and the depression can multiply this effect greatly.

sometimes the Rib can cause trouble with sleep, some people try to take the night dose a little earlier, you may want to talk to your doc about this.  I don't usually have an issue sleeping, but I do take a benadryl nightly to help with the itching, so maybe that's why.

the big thing is to make sure you are communicating with your doc, there are things to help with the sx, so take advantage of it if it is available to you...and ask the people here of course!

Good luck!
Helpful - 0
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