What now????

[HepCTn]

I just finished 6 months of treatment for HCV 2b. After 3 weeks of treatment it was gone, my last blood test it is still gone. I have had pure torment with my immune system. I had an abcess on my right boob and thought it would rot off. Then I got a fungal infection on my nipples. My triglycerides were 202 and that changed to 634 which meant pancreatitis was stalking me. Now I don't what to do or what to eat and am weak as a kitten. I tried to start back exercising and half a mile put me in the bed. My hair is everywhere my house could be a cat sanctuary. When do you feel better when will my hair grow back. When will I be able to walk a mile? Come on my doc doesn't want me to eat oatmeal. I am sick of tuna I can tell you that after beating my husband I started going to a counselor through my church which helps a bunch. I feel like a f******** lunatic. I wasn't sick when I found out I had the virus I requested a full panel and BOOM there it is. I was walking 4 miles a week working a job keeping a house..... just like all the rest of you guys. I felt great then I started treatment I thought I was tough (bull)  and I was stubborn I never missed a dose. 6 months from now if I have no viral load the liver doc said I could consider myself cured. Does that mean I can eat mexican anytime in the next yr. I am so hungry and I am not fat, but I want some mac and cheese for goodness sake. My wbc went down to 2.1 and I have to stay home a lot because I don't want to stay sick. WHEN CAN I FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN???

[JasmineT]

I can definitely relate to how you are feeling.  i am almost 9 months post and feeling pretty great but it took some time to get here.  the first two weeks post i did not feel any better.  then each week i got better.  the 6 week and the 10 week post brought significant changes.  its sure not like taking antibiotics and then you feel fine.  it takes a while, more than I expected when starting.  hang in there, each week will bring recovery.  drink lots of water still.  Try some gentle self lymphatic massage over the next few  weeks.  Try some gentle detox yoga and build up as you are able.  Walk.  In a few weeks when your body feels like it can handle it, get a deep massage and maybe sweat it out with some more aggressive exercise or a sauna.  Keep up the water, worth saying that twice.

Try taking some biotin to help stop the hair loss.  It seemed to help a little.  I think mine had pretty much stopped falling out by 8 weeks post.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Dannyboi7]

Probably because even cooked mussels,clams,sardines,oysters are a very rich source of iron.

[pooh55811]

"No sea food. Bottom line. Even and especially shell fish. "
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Yes, why is that? Why would you eat no sea food? Sea food is nutritional and good for a person. People with Hepatitis are advised to avoid RAW shellfish, but there is nothing wrong with cooked sea food and, to my knowledge, there is no recommendation to avoid sea food (other than RAW shellfish).

Could you please link to the site where reputable medical and/or scientific researchers/professionals have conclude that, "No sea food. Bottom line."

Thanks.

[willbb]

No sea food. Bottom line.
-----------------------------------

To whom is this directed and why is that???

Will

[1peanuts]

No sea food. Bottom line. Even and especially shell fish.

[Idyllic]

Hey this is really neat how you were able to follow up with how things worked five months later (in the same thread)!  Sounds like you really dodged a bullet with the Pancreatitis so good for you!

I have read enough posts on here elated to Cholesterol and triglycerides (well, lipids in general) to know that it while it may take some time these values often eventually rebound after treatment.

I hope you are back to walking and your hair is finally growing back
Take care :)

[PJ1966]

I think we should take all these well written scenario's presented by this group on the forum and put them together in a book and sell it!  Every time I read one of these posts, I hate to laugh (because it's not funny) but the stories are so entertaining.  You feel like crying and laughing at the same time!  Just reading these keeps my spirits up....I sure hope you start to feel better soon and that 6 mos post, you are SVR and cured.  Feel better soon.
PJ

[HepCTn]

The pancreatitis was confirmed, but by some miracle (GOD) I didn't get sick with it, once I finished treatment my triglycerides dropped in one month to 300. The triglycerides at the time of the pancreatitis were 634.
I took three phenerghan a day so I could eat.

[HepCTn]

Well they said oatmeal or grains in general are hard on my digestive system and that my digestive system needed to "rest"

Thanks!

[HepCTn]

Thanks I didn't miss one dose the whole 6 months not one. I am stubborn that way!!
God Bless!

[HepCTn]

That's good advice. Our community is in the boonies a lot of people here have hep c and don't know it so when I am ready I want to help get the word out so folks can learn good resources and how to take care of themselves. It would be great to get rid of the stigma. Take care!

[HepCTn]

They really said I was on the borderline for pancreatitis and I really couldn't get much more out of my gastro. He put me on Tricor to get the triglycerides down but the side effects were so bad I had to stop taking it. I really needed a break from the drs so I have been eating greek yogurt fruit veggies and lowfat everything else. I still have a lot of joint pain is why I can't walk too far yet. I love walking. I feel that exercise will help with the rest of my triglyceride problem. Good luck!

[HepCTn]

Thanks I recommend Lamisil powder to put on your nipples and in your bra, big wonderful difference. It's in a blue can. My gastro gave me iron supplements but I couldn't keep them down. Funny I google all the symptoms of Pancreatits and the only thing was the high triglycerides, but I believe God had his hand on me. I have chickens and I got scratched by some chicken wire last week it looks gross but I still have some cipro to take. I heal very slowly but we are healing at least. God Bless!

[HepCTn]

Thanks now that I am finished with treatment I hope my triglycerides go down fast. Pancreatitis was a worry there at the end of treatment and the blood count dropped, but with prayer I hope all the bloodwork will come back improved. I will get new blood work next month.

[HepCTn]

This forum really helps and I thank you for the advice. I pray all goes well for you. I am feeling a tad better. I still sleep a lot but I only work part time which is a blessing and I have a helper who is the best. I have tried to keep my humor I think it is one of my better qualities. What is the endo for I haven't googled it yet?

S

[HepCTn]

Thanks I will check your posts. Stay well my friend.

[HepCTn]

I will drink lots of water, Thanks.

[orphanedhawk]

Hi,
Like you I was genotype 2, and finished treatment 8 weeks ago.
For the first four weeks post tx, I was still tired. My doc said it takes 4 weeks for our blood work to begin to rise.
Suddenly one day I noticed I hadn't taken a nap in a while.

There were an assortment of post tx, side effects that came and went, headaches, digestive upsets, and grumpiness. Somewhere in the last two weeks, it's felt like a dark cloud lifted.

As I don't have pancreatic issues, I can't address that at all.
I ate oatmeal ( with fresh grated ginger) during and after tx, and eat anything now, though I lean towards a healthy diet anyway, fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains, smaller hunks of meat etc and chocolate:)

Why doesn't your doctor want you to eat oatmeal ? If you haven't asked, I suggest you do.

The hair loss slowly stopped. Now I can see these little ones growing in.

Unlike you, I never stopped walking~ usually about a mile or more daily except for after shot days.  
Just get up and get moving. Stretch, do yoga. Do as little or as much as you can.
Movement will help your body flush out the meds but mostly it just takes time.  
Continue to drink lots of water.

I highly recommend a good massage. Interferon causes so much tension in our bodies. Massage can help release it.

Be patient. You will feel better.

[MeWithC]

Sorry about your side fx....I'm Geno2 also & have been fortunate....so far....
Shot 8 tomorrow...completes w7....The missus puts another star on the calendar....

I know it's easier said than done, but keep positive...don't give in to, "I'll do it later." You can do it NOW....

Peace & good luck..

[streamline569]

Sorry that was off antibiotics...

[streamline569]

I'm off tx 5 months and starting to feel better. Hair is finally starting to look better. It's raised havoc with my immune system too. I had to add a urologist to my list of doctors. Today is my last day of antibiotics and if infection comes back again I'll be looking at more tests. My advice to you would to get out and be around people you enjoy as much as you can. It helps me not focus so much on the all the ills that recuperating is putting me through.

[threepaddleCurt]

You mentioned pancreatitis. Is this confirmed?  Or, has everything else been ruled out?

I do have chronic pancreatitis.  I now use Creon with every meal/snack I eat to have the digestive enzymes to use the food I eat.  I have no dietary restrictions other than to avoid foods that make me feel sick. I was tested for bacterial overgrowth, lactose/sugar/gluten intolerance and nothing rang any bells, plus a bunch of other nasty tests.  Check with your doctor or primary about the route you need to take.  I know every doctor I've dealt with has said the HCV has complicated the medical issues, and while it may not have caused them, definitely tends to make them worse!

[BoceprevirGal]

Ahh, ouch, that sounds so painful. I imagine, since we are putting the chemicals into our bodies for 6 months, that it could take just as long, or more, to feel better, although some on here have felt better in 3 months, etc
   I have read about many people on here, who had problems with their immune systems, after doing this treatment, even after months of finishing.
   It probably takes awhile, for an immune system to build back up again.
I just glanced at my labs, and I am in my 14th week of treatment, and my WBC is at 2.2, which is close to yours.
   I do seem to get sore throats, I had amouth sore, little cuts on my fingers, from gardening, that wont go away, etc.
  But I havent caught a cold, since I have been on Tx, and both my school age children, and my husband, have caught colds and flu, since I have been txing.
   Now that it's not cold and flu season, I wouldn't worry too much about getting sick. Your abcess was a bacteria, like staph or strep, and the antibiotic they prescribed for you probably caused your nipples to have the thrush. I have to admit, when I wear a bra, my left boob gets very sore, so I just dont wear one, which makes me feel so....deflated : (   I wear a loose cotton over-shirt, but I dont look like "my old self" at all.
   I would recommend eating plenty of fresh veggies, sauted, and raw.
Hope you feel better real soon~

[pooh55811]

Hopefully you will feel a little better each day until you get back to feeling normal.

If the counseling is not sufficient, the doctor can prescribe medications to help with your emotional state.

I am not sure why you are being restricted concerning what you can eat. I am on week 34 and I can eat anything I want. But you may have a medical condition that requires you to be restricted on certain foods. I would ask the doc about why you are restricted and, if there is a restriction, then he/she could refer you to a nutritional counselor and he/she can give you some ideas on whart to eat.

I hope youn feel better soon.