Aa
Hep c treatments
I would love to hear from people who are undergoing treatment for hep c, genotype 1a. How are you feeling? Are you depressed, anxious, etc. How soon can you know what the side effects are? Once you start treatment, if you cannot continue and stop treatment, do side effects go away?
"I would love to hear from people who are undergoing treatment for hep c, genotype 1a. How are you feeling?"
I've been on treatment for 4 weeks now. I'm feeling like I'm operating at maybe 50% physically and maybe 75% mentally so I'm using the brain fog to my advantage and calling that like , what, 125% which is a good thing .Right?
" Are you depressed, anxious, etc."
I'm a little more prone to anger and slightly more tendency towards hysteria - but both are controllable.
" How soon can you know what the side effects are? "
24 hours after my first shot I felt tired and feverish and achy. However the side effects varied quite a bit in intensity and kind for the next weeks from an intense rash that lasted a week and went away to stay-in-bed-for-four-days weakness that also got better. It seems pretty unpredictable. This week someone's apparently put three rolls of copper pennies in my mouth. I know that they're there because I can taste them all day. I'm hoping to eventually find them and buy some bus tokens. Perhaps if I floss....
"Once you start treatment, if you cannot continue and stop treatment, do side effects go away?"
Most do. some side effects can last a life time and be debilitating for a very small percentage of people. On the other hand the HCV WILL pretty much always eventually destroy your liver and hence your life. So given the choice ...
I've been on treatment for 4 weeks now. I'm feeling like I'm operating at maybe 50% physically and maybe 75% mentally so I'm using the brain fog to my advantage and calling that like , what, 125% which is a good thing .Right?
" Are you depressed, anxious, etc."
I'm a little more prone to anger and slightly more tendency towards hysteria - but both are controllable.
" How soon can you know what the side effects are? "
24 hours after my first shot I felt tired and feverish and achy. However the side effects varied quite a bit in intensity and kind for the next weeks from an intense rash that lasted a week and went away to stay-in-bed-for-four-days weakness that also got better. It seems pretty unpredictable. This week someone's apparently put three rolls of copper pennies in my mouth. I know that they're there because I can taste them all day. I'm hoping to eventually find them and buy some bus tokens. Perhaps if I floss....
"Once you start treatment, if you cannot continue and stop treatment, do side effects go away?"
Most do. some side effects can last a life time and be debilitating for a very small percentage of people. On the other hand the HCV WILL pretty much always eventually destroy your liver and hence your life. So given the choice ...
I'm a 1a, Stage 3/4, Grade 3
32 weeks in to my second round of treatment. I'm going for 72 weeks.
I've already treated for 48 weeks. I wound up with rheumatoid arthritis during my first round of treatment.
Current sides for me:
Hair loss
low white count
low red count (taking Aranesp)
Candida (yeast infection in corners of mouth and 1 ear)
Nausea
Rash
Fatigue
Sweats
Social withdrawal
emotional sensitivity
joint pain
None of my sides are what I would call debilitating.
Mouse
32 weeks in to my second round of treatment. I'm going for 72 weeks.
I've already treated for 48 weeks. I wound up with rheumatoid arthritis during my first round of treatment.
Current sides for me:
Hair loss
low white count
low red count (taking Aranesp)
Candida (yeast infection in corners of mouth and 1 ear)
Nausea
Rash
Fatigue
Sweats
Social withdrawal
emotional sensitivity
joint pain
None of my sides are what I would call debilitating.
Mouse
I just started tx last Friday..so far I am ok.... only time will tell.. from everything I have read it is different for everyone.. some here have had mild sx and others have a hard time at it. I am hoping for the mild sx myself.. keeping positive and looking forward to moving on with my life when this is over with.
Take care and the best of luck to you.
Take care and the best of luck to you.
Hey there.....felt compelled to write....I was dx with genotype 2 and I am done with treatment, but your mention that you are an athelete spurred my interest.
That is a good good thing. It is in your favor to be in good shape and have a normal BMI. I too try to stay in shape (not an athlete), I don't eat bad if I can help it (fast food, white flour, processed food, red meats, sodas, sat fats etc) and I am a regular exerciser.
I did find after several weeks of treating there was no way I was going to do 45 minutes on the elliptical. It was all I could do to take brisk walks, swim or bike...at a leisurely pace. I am lucky to live in Florida and I did my treatment over the winter so it was not too hot for outside activities. Keeping active though kept my head on straight.
My point is good physical heallth is so connected to good mental health so you have a good advantage starting out.
Be in the best shape you can when you start treatment and eat well. You may find out you lose weight though during treatment and for me it was mostly muscle. I needed to lose about 10 lbs before treatment, but lost nearly 20.
Don't be afraid, but be sure to tell your doctor about your fears because mental side effects do happen....mostly though you will probably just feel like you have the flu.
Good luck and welcome!
Pam
That is a good good thing. It is in your favor to be in good shape and have a normal BMI. I too try to stay in shape (not an athlete), I don't eat bad if I can help it (fast food, white flour, processed food, red meats, sodas, sat fats etc) and I am a regular exerciser.
I did find after several weeks of treating there was no way I was going to do 45 minutes on the elliptical. It was all I could do to take brisk walks, swim or bike...at a leisurely pace. I am lucky to live in Florida and I did my treatment over the winter so it was not too hot for outside activities. Keeping active though kept my head on straight.
My point is good physical heallth is so connected to good mental health so you have a good advantage starting out.
Be in the best shape you can when you start treatment and eat well. You may find out you lose weight though during treatment and for me it was mostly muscle. I needed to lose about 10 lbs before treatment, but lost nearly 20.
Don't be afraid, but be sure to tell your doctor about your fears because mental side effects do happen....mostly though you will probably just feel like you have the flu.
Good luck and welcome!
Pam
Welcome to our forum. You have found one of the most informative sites available with lots of great people who are always willing to give their advise and kind words.
I am currently txing gt 1a - stage 3 - peg & riba since 3/28. First 12 wks had the usual side effects starting around wk 2. Low grade fever- flu like symptoms - general aches and pains with fatigue being my biggest complaint. Worked through all of it without a lot of problems. Side effects are different with everyone - some have very mild symptoms - others suffer greatly. I've had some difficult days with depression and anxiety which are to be expected but got through them without any AD's The meds can cause severe symptoms in some and it's recommended you start on an AD prior to tx if you have a history of depression. No one can predict how they will react to the meds. I think attitude has alot to do with it. You asked if once you start treatment and if you can't continue and have to stop do the side effects go away. Think positive - you WON"T have to stop - you will be able to complete the treatment. For the most part, once tx is ceased, sx start to disappear. Everyone's life changes to a certain degree, it's just to what degree that change will be.
Side effects have lessened since around week 12. Less fevers and fatigue and I still get aggravated more than usual which is probably caused by the fatigue & riba but I recognize it and constantly adjust how I do things so I don't tax myself too much and cause more anxiety.
That is my story in a nutshell - good luck and go back about 3 months in the archives to get as much info as you can.
Trinity
I am currently txing gt 1a - stage 3 - peg & riba since 3/28. First 12 wks had the usual side effects starting around wk 2. Low grade fever- flu like symptoms - general aches and pains with fatigue being my biggest complaint. Worked through all of it without a lot of problems. Side effects are different with everyone - some have very mild symptoms - others suffer greatly. I've had some difficult days with depression and anxiety which are to be expected but got through them without any AD's The meds can cause severe symptoms in some and it's recommended you start on an AD prior to tx if you have a history of depression. No one can predict how they will react to the meds. I think attitude has alot to do with it. You asked if once you start treatment and if you can't continue and have to stop do the side effects go away. Think positive - you WON"T have to stop - you will be able to complete the treatment. For the most part, once tx is ceased, sx start to disappear. Everyone's life changes to a certain degree, it's just to what degree that change will be.
Side effects have lessened since around week 12. Less fevers and fatigue and I still get aggravated more than usual which is probably caused by the fatigue & riba but I recognize it and constantly adjust how I do things so I don't tax myself too much and cause more anxiety.
That is my story in a nutshell - good luck and go back about 3 months in the archives to get as much info as you can.
Trinity
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