My new doctor said

[alijee]

I went to another doc who is PHD in gestrology. He said that i dont start tx without knowing geno. He advised me to get pcr right know or after 12 weeks. if positive then he will ask me for genotype and if negative then he will treat me as geno 3 for 24 weeks. He also advise me to get tx of 36 weeks because in his opinion in pakistan G3a is predominent and often relaps after 24 weeks tx. And if i get 36 weeks tx then chances of relaps are much low. I have decided to get tx of 24 weeks because i cant affoard 36 or 48 weeks tx financialy, physically and mentaly. I can hardly manage myself to get 24 weeks tx due to extreme weakness. i hardly walk for 100 steps and crazy heart beat is disturbing me much. it goes to 120/minutes at the next day after shot night. It remains 80 even i m relax and in the bed. My normal heart beat before tx was 60-65. Can any body tell what is the reason of rapid hear beat????????? has it psychological cause or due to medicines or some cardic reasons???

[jankar]

100 steps - not bad!  I think I can almost do that too! Great you got a new doctor! jankar

[epiphiny]

Thanks for that, now I know what's causing that pounding in my ears.  

It started way back at the beginning of tx, strangely enough I thought it was kinda cool as I had never really heard my heart pump like that before and sometimes I swear I can hear the blood whooshing through the valves!

I probably should have mentioned it earlier but other than the sound it didn't really bother me and I assumed it was from the meds.

Of course we know about assumption, right? It makes an *** out of you and me!!

[Deb_c430]

Deb Def,  Mine gets worse at night when ots quiet drives me nuts !

[nygirl7]

The anemia makes your heart sound like it's pounding in your ears big time....so if you are really having trouble with that and you're hemo is down around 9 or so (when it really drove me crazy) make sure you get the doctor to get you on procrit.

DECREASED oxygen is what makes it sound like your heart is pounding away like that.......have you had a hemo test recently?

[skersj]

My heart also has been 104 - 106 and pounds in my ears. It has gotten better each week of tx. (before tx average 55-60) If I am active, my heart feels like it is going to burst but I keep on with my activity and the feeling improves or goes away. I always wondered if it was because my exercise helped my veins dialate and increased oxygen. But that is just a guess. It might benefit you to start walking a little more each day. Sometimes anxiety is relieved and stamina improved by walking. Do you have access to a treadmill in Pakistan or a nice place to walk?

[comeagain]

Nice to hear you got another opinion, doctors can vary a lot and having one that doesn´t seems to know  what his doing as your first one doesn´t, increase worry and anguish in it self.
What is talking in your advantage is that you are so thinn, I think you have a good chanse to make it if you UND and a geno 3, take that PCR asap.
I thought it was here up in the north of europe that geno 3 was most common suprises
me that in Pakistan geno 3 is even more common then g 1.

I wanna ask you are you on any AD and if not have you considering trying it? I kind of regret I didn´t take it on my first tx.

ca

[Trish77]

I agree with Jim, get a PCR asap, not only to determine genotype but also to determine if you're undetectable already.  It will help you feel better about a 24 or 36 week decision to know how soon you are undetectable.  

This doctor sounds much better than the other one, good work in finding a new one.

Trish

[jmjm530]

80 by itself doesn't sound so bad on treatment. I agree that your new doc makes more sense than your last, at least in part. So, if you are UND at week 12, then try for 36 weeks if your doc can support his claims.  Just don't think 36 weeks, just think getting through one week at a time.

On the other hand, if detectible at week 12, then even 36 weeks might not make it regardless of genotype. Something to discuss with him. In that scenario, stopping treatment may be a reasonable option.

Meanwhile, get that PCR as soon as you possibly can to see if a genotype can be determined.

[Marcia2202]

I'm glad you finally got a decent doctor!!!

You cannot expect your heart beat to be normal when on these meds. I often have the same problems and I can hear my heart pounding in my ear. I am sure it is the meds. I have had my heart checked, and nothing there. My average heart beat since I've been on tx is 76. You just need to learn to live with it for the time being. Mine has been up to 106 and I am a bit older than you.

Marcia

[jdwithhcv]

I think you are wise to seek another opinion.  This doctor sounds much more knowledgable that the last one.  I wish you the best with your treatment.  Perhaps when you complete 24 weeks you can reconsider your situation to see if extending your tx is necessary.  Whatever you choose to do, I hope this doctor gives you the best of care.  Good luck.

jd