Joint Pain

[Tyree2005]

Has anyone had joint pain before treatment? I am 1b HCV stage not known yet.  I am tired all the time with lots of joint pain especially in my fingers.  I live in the Maryland are and it has began to get cold here which doesn

[AuntieD56]

Thank you so much for the chuckles! I'm about to start tx w/in a month. Got the joint pains so suddenlyl!.  I'm a young 50 yrs old - not too old for arthritis but like Wow! it came on soooo fast. It's so good to hear from other folks they've got joint pains from hep c  too. I pray it will get better for us all or that the Great One will give us the strength to endure. Never give up. While there's life ther's hope. I truly believe that!
   Blessings to all!
D

[Tyree2005]

Got my meds today and took my first shot at 4:30 pm. So far all is well except for mild itching.  I did not take the Ribavirn yet will take 600 mg at 9:00 pm and 400 mg in the morning.  I can now say 1/48 and pray that all is well tonight.  It's all down hill now.
Much love and peace to you.

[Tyree2005]

Thanks,

I will not start tonight, my meds did not come FEDX delay.  They will be here tomorrow. So I will take my first shot tomorrow night I do not want to wait until next week to start but I did want to have my shot day as Fridays to make sure if there are any side effects I will be ok for work on Monday.  I will post again tomorrow.
Peace and Love to you.

[NYgirl]

12/9 that is so close good THIS WEEKEND!

Make sure you drink a LOT of water (1/2 your body weight in ounces) and take two tylenols beforehand and then plan on resting on Friday night and Saturday as much as possible.

I will make sure to come on line this weekend and see if you have posted. I bet with your ATTITUDE you are going to be just FINE :)  Keep POSITIVE!  I had NO FLU SYMPTOMS AT ALL! You can too!

I know how much you want to get started...I was the same way.  Since i'm only on 12/48 you are not very far behind me and we will be here for a long time together getting all of the advice/support/love from everyone as we can!

Debby

[cuteus]

geez! that is one significant typo! almost gave you a stroke! glad they corrected it, or have they?
here are some more snafus typos from the medical world:

By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared.

The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983.

The patient refused an autopsy.

The patient has no past history of suicides.

The patient expired on the floor uneventfully.

Patient has left his white blood cells at another hospital.

I got more, but you can see how a little typo can go a long way...
take care

[FlGuy]

At this site http://janis7hepc.com/ you will find a section on interpreting biopsy results - and other good stuff.  When you see the doc have questions that you need answered written down. Try to position yourself between doc and the door. Get all answers regarding Tx recommendation, basline VL and liver test results.  If TX is recommended doc may suggest you hook up with hemotologist, opthamologist, or liver specialist. Get referrals and see who the doc recommends. If TX is pursued figure out a good person in the doc's office you can deal with and begin a good relationship with that person.  I have found that if you display interest and knowledge (without coming off as an expert or a pain in the butt) med folks will be helpful and supportive.
Do research and make informed decisions on your care.

[fresnoborn]

i am sorry to hear you are having so much pain and tired all the time. i too had the same symptoms before treatment and now it's a little tougher that i'm on treatment. i'm sure someone will come along and answer your questions and i'm sure they will know more than me. anyway, my doc tested my blood to see what was going on and it came back that i had RA, osteopenia, degenerative disc and joint disease. he told me it was all due to my hep c and there was nothing they could give me to treat it because i had hep c. however, i started taking glucosamine cholodrotin with msm and i saw a big change. i still take it and it helps alot. maybe you could try taking that. good luck to you and keep us posted. lol

[HCA]

Joint pain is a symptom of chronic HVC infection.There are also a number syndromes associated with the disease which although unusual,also produce rheumatoid-arthritis like pain and nodules.
You ask 'what can I do?'
Get a good doctor and discuss a treatment plan.
Sounds like you are newly diagnosed,as you know you geno-type but apparently have not yet had biopsy.
The period after diagnosis can be particularly upsetting.
Don't be scared of treatment-it's not fun,but it's (for most people)not that bad.
Not much further detail and history in your post,so cannot comment more.

[cuteus]

it seems to be a common complaint for some hcv infected folks. There are a few people that believe it is age related only or your mind working on symptoms due to your knowledge of HCV dx. Some valid points, except that many individuals only found out about hcv because of these non classical symptoms, as stated by my own rheumy. It seems that many relatively young people are complaining of arthritis like symptoms that do not fall in any "classical" classification for arthritis. They have consulted with rheumatologists that have attended seminars or read medical journals that have related these signs to CHCV(chronic hcv). Many of us are being diagnosed by these rheumys. In my case, given that I was in my late 30's early 40's when the symptoms started, way before I knew about HCV, and after consults with neurologists, internists and rheumys, that could not find a reason, even aging did not explain them, I was finally dx with HCV. At that point, the rheumy thought it explained everything.  
There is some medical literature out there that correlates some form of reactive arthritis to chronic infections.
I am sure they have to have compared the hcv group with a control in order to determine if there is a statistical significance;
here is one article of some interest
http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/072105_11.htm

[NYgirl]

I have degenerative disk disease myself. In addition I had an accident in 1993 and have five herniated disks. Two separate things although before I was diagnosed I thought they were the SAME.  They are not.

I get joint pain often and learn to use a heating pad and other things to manage it. I used to take a LOT of Advil but no longer can do that so I just try to manage.

I had no lethargy before the anemia. I think perhaps because you have it BEFORE hand you might end up in a better shape as the doctor will be more vigilant with your medications when that should strike I hope.  :) (Trying to be positive!)

I am tired on Saturday after shot night and I make SURE that this is my REST day. Something I never ever had before but now...it's mandatory. I am fine by Monday again generally (aka with no anemia that is)

Debby

[strator]

Just got some news I wanted to post before going off to work in the measley display of snow we have. And I am sure my muscles and joints will act up as soon as I get out in the cold and the damp. whatever it's from its much more pronounced on tx.

Some of you may have seen me post last week that when Dad came home from the convalescent hospital the paperwork had hep c and b listed under past history. Didn't make sense and was very upsetting (at least to me). Replies posted here helped me calm my reactions and go after answers. Well after numerous phone calls and waiting for replies that 'someone else' would have filled out that chart- I finally got a through to the dr that saw him at the rehab hospital. She also "didn't fill out the chart-musta been a nurse". However she was able to figure out what happened. The paperwork they received from the VA showed years ago he had elevated LST's and was tested for hep c and hep b. Both were negative but the 'negative' part got left off the  chart at the rehab place.
Great news, and no resentments, I'm sure I've put enough people through mental torment myself over the years in moments of 'innefficiency' not to mention my wacko lifestyle.
I suppose the really important thing here was learning through the emotions this TYPO brought me through - that the battle with this disease was not just mine, and that if I ever think my part in this battle is over - even if I reach SVR, then I need a good swift kick of gratitude up my derrier.
This is a good place to give a sincere Thank You to all those who have already been through tx and still come here to guide us on our journey.
One relieved son,
Don

[Tyree2005]

I got my Liver biopsy results back remember I am 55 y/o f 1b
Path: Chroinc hepatitis Grade 2-3 with portal inflamation, mild to moderate interface hepatitis and focal necrosis portal fibrosis with possible early focal bridging stage II.  So now what? I will see my liver md this afternoon.  What should I be asking?  and how bad is this?

[vegas777]

"Try to position yourself between doc and the door"

that is very good advice, I am going to do that my next visit...

[FlGuy]

I tried that with my PCP several months ago, with a list and checking off Q's and A's.  Since then, he expects the list and kind of peeks over to see what I'm jotting. Also get specific with BP/Glucose levels etc rather than 'should be lower etc' Might be my imagination but he seems less rushed and more likely to work through my list with me.  Also, I always try to be the first appt in the day - at that point he's not running behind yet.

[NYgirl]

What great news for you...I could tell how upset/worried everything that you were posting about your dad.  What an absolute RELIEF it must be for you - I can't even imagine but am SO incredibly grateful!

Those were hysterical. I wonder how long the people typing out those charts kept their jobs.

[beamishboy]

Good news!! always wecome...we had a surgeon up this way who operated on the wrong hip;Staff began labeling hip needing replacemnt,he did it again;They then began labeling both hips-1-yes,replace;the other-do not touch!!!!---this yahoo finally got his walking papers,more than he gave his poor patients.....
i hav suffered frm joint pain for years,as a stone mason/bricklayer of 28 yrs go figure..had carpal tunnel release on r hand;phys therapy on both shoulders;lotsa recuperative time out on elbows(tennis elbow-not really!!!) also sciatica-i have seen chiropracters(helped a little)&accupuncturists(2nd guy is great!!!-he even helps w/ my sx) I hav used all kinds of topical salves&patches&pills,pills,pills...The good News;less joint pain during treatmnt& the weathr has turned cold up here,which usually drives me round the bend.......So.it has gotten bettr for me,gotta blame sum degree of my chronic joint pain on HCV,but probobly a combination of old injurys,old age,type of work& the damnale virus..Good Luck

[Tyree2005]

I just saw the liver doc this afternoon and I will start my shots on 12/09.  I thank God everyday for this site and everyone here that will help me go through this. So hopefully Sat I will be writing about a not so bad experence with 1/48.
Peace and Love to All
Tyree

[iceboy]

hi Ho. Im 1 b as well. I had very bad joint pains before treatment, but now they have gone.!! Im only 3 weeks into treatment though, so they might come back, but it has been wonderful to have good night sleep this time though.

I have no medical explanations, and neither did my doc. Just said well that

[vegas777]

lol...those are funny

[cuteus]

these are even better! I was ROFLMAO!
http://medi-smart.com/charting.htm

[friole]

startor
What a relief.  Like Cuteus says, that is one heck of a typo.  I was wondering what life would be like with you and your dad on tx (guess your son would be handling all the important matters - LOL.

Cuteus -
Those are great.

frijole

[strator]

Those are great!!! Was just about to sign out and those will keep me laughin in the cold this afternoon. Going to work on some outside lights at a church. Printing em out for Dad to show the visiting nurse. Thanks,
Don