Post Tx Residual side effects.

[DoubleDose]

Since many of us are finished with therapy, or close to it, it would be nice to compare short and long term after-effects as we proceed along the path to recovery.  It sounds like most of us are experiencing at least some noticable symptoms after tx.  My biggest problems are skeletal: joint pain in neck, back, hips, and recently in small joints: fingers, elbows, ankles, etc.  I also have shoulder pain and numbness, similar to peripheral neuropathy.  At seven months post-tx, and SVR status, my symptoms are pretty much the same, if not worse at times.  My thyroid is still slightly abnormal, but surprisingly tested NEGATIVE for autoimmune antibodies...which supposedly bodes well for long term thyroid recovery.  I am definitely very easily fatigued, physical labor in the yard knocks me out pretty quickly, as opposed to pre-tx, and I wake up with very dry, gritty eyes daily.  Lots of inflammation in mucous membranes...eyes, sinus, and throat.  Although in lots of ways I feel more healthy, if that is possible with all these accompanying problems, I am very curious as to the permanent, or just long term effects that we will be subjected to from the interferon.  I personally believe that it is logical to assume  the heavy doses of Pegylated interferon frequently provoke autoimmune disease which may become an on-going fact of life.  I am not sure if or why it would resolve, once it has become chronic.  

Willing, and other post-tx'ers out there:  Keep us posted on your experiences, both good and bad, after therapy. Let's see what we are dealing with.  Best wishes!!!

[ringeding]

hey there doubledose, i am so very sorry to know that you are still having so many problems.....did you 'clear'...i am afraid i have not been in here much for sometime so i am not sure what your PCR indicated...also, could the joint pain possibly be age, (don't know how old/young you are) or arthritis? or any other factors such as weight that could be stressing your joints...just trying to think of other possible explanations for you...although i am sure you have probably thought of these things...have you had blood work done for rhumitiod factor?

as for 'early' post tx report....i will cautiously say, i am feeling great....actually, i have so much energy and strenght again already after only 3 weeks post tx....this could be a somewhat exagerated feeling though after being so weak for so long....also, it seems....knock on wood x 3...that the horrible arthritic pain i was having for the past 5 years seems to have all but dissapeared...so i have stopped taking the celebrex...i was diagnosed with hep related rhumatiod arthritis about a year and ahalf ago...the only thing that is disturbing for me is my hair falling out so badly AFTER tx...

also i have been scheduled for a very 'quick' MRI today though, which is somewhat discerning as usually there is an 6 to 9 month wait for one here in canada and they got me in for one immediately....hummmmmm.....this is related to the excessive menstrual bleeding i have had for sometime (severe on tx)....so i imagine i will find out shortly what that indicates....they have done ultra sounds etc and now they are pulling out the big guns with the MRI.  i'll pop in and report the findings...

cheers
kimmy

[pearse]

I am almost 8 months post tx. At 6 months I was feeling pretty good, now I have pain in the hip's and legs. I get fatigued very fast. I can hardly get to the gym anymore. Don't laugh but I have these spots I see. They look like stars, like when you get hit real hard, I don't see them all the time but it is getting annoying. Boy I can see Indy coming now!

[Amerabrit]

Hang in there, every new day gives your bodies a chance to heal and grow stronger..  I'm wishing you well...Literally!

[Sioux]

I am almost 3 mo. post tx. I have all the sides that you have, Pain all over, somedays are worse than others. I have alittle more energy at times, but I really can feel the fatigue after useing up what little energy I had. I still have trouble sleeping at night. The brain fog has not gotten any better. Depression is still the same. Luckily, I am an upbeat person and try not to show it on the outside. So far  my ANA has been neg.
My Gastro Doc and my PCP both think Fibromyalgia, So I'm going to a second.... Rheumatologist...The first one was very wishy-washy.... my PCP couldn't make sense of her records.....
On the good side, my hair is starting to grow again. I can eat more things, (my taste buds are back to normal) YEAH !!!

I am F/(almost) 45. before tx v/l 10 million, geno 1a. Stage 3 grade 2 (fibrosis) 48 weeks of peg-intron and rebetol. was undetectable at 12 weeks and still am. YEAH.
I found this forum about a year ago. and am lurking here all the time. This has helped me sooo much.
To all the old timers {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and to all you newbies...
{{{HUGS}}}