Aa
shortness of breath
i will appreciate any input relating to the sx: shortness of breath.
more often than not, simple tasks while on my feet are exhausting, no matter how good i feel regarding other sx, i constantly gather the "stuff" for my intended task -- then sit down and do that portion of my chore -- then start over... all day and night. i have lean on the wall in the shower... sometimes while talking, i will must just sit in the floor whereever i am.
thanx, dotti
Pegasys Combo 10 of 24
Genotype 2
more often than not, simple tasks while on my feet are exhausting, no matter how good i feel regarding other sx, i constantly gather the "stuff" for my intended task -- then sit down and do that portion of my chore -- then start over... all day and night. i have lean on the wall in the shower... sometimes while talking, i will must just sit in the floor whereever i am.
thanx, dotti
Pegasys Combo 10 of 24
Genotype 2
My tests I posted a few days ago, but they don't contain HGB or any of the tests I usually take. This is my standing order for the weekly CBC and Hemogram. Perhaps the lab didn't fax me the whole thing? All I saw was large platelets and myeclocytes and a few more. Didn't get any responces, so I figure you guys don't have these.
I am having a horrible time with fatique and catching my breathe after any exertion. I can hardly walk across this house with out having to sit down. Wish I could swim in my pool, but all I seem to be able to do is pull the sweep around. With the tests I recieved I can't tell whats going on! I will see the GI tomorrow. Hope he has some answers. I was going to ask about a 4 week PCR too.
Went to a Giants game and ended up stopping on the stairs several times trying to get to my seat! I have been to hundreds of games, this was the first time I have had a problem.
I am having a horrible time with fatique and catching my breathe after any exertion. I can hardly walk across this house with out having to sit down. Wish I could swim in my pool, but all I seem to be able to do is pull the sweep around. With the tests I recieved I can't tell whats going on! I will see the GI tomorrow. Hope he has some answers. I was going to ask about a 4 week PCR too.
Went to a Giants game and ended up stopping on the stairs several times trying to get to my seat! I have been to hundreds of games, this was the first time I have had a problem.
I'm very glad you posted and I hope you resolve your problems for the better, and I'm sure you will. By sharing your experience, the rest of us can benefit from hearing about how these mistakes can be made...everyone makes mistakes, to err is human and all that, but it is so regrettable when mistakes like this are made with so much at stake...anyway, hope youre better soon....
Soory to hear of the experience. HGB of 6 is the lowest I've heard of, must have been a lousy experience - plus the relapse too. I relapsed recently and expect to go back on the meds again in a few months. Are you going to give tx another go?
Hello all. I just wanted to throw in my two cents worth regarding the anemia/drop in hemoglobin. When I was on treatment,I was part of a study, and therefore my doctor couldn't/wouldn/t stray from the program when my hemoglobin began to fall. I developed irregular heartbeat, and could not
walk more that 10 feet without having to stop and rest. My gi
sent me to heart specialist, they ran tests and told me that I had major blockage, that it was not related to the hep or treatment. As it turned out they were wrong, they did the camera through the aorta procedure(spaced out on the name!) and low and behold there was no blockage, my blood just didn't have enough oxygen. After the xtra blood loss from the procedure,I was back in ER 2 days later, I knew in my heart that something was bad wrong, and that I would surely die if I didn't get the right help. My blood count had dropped 3 more points in two days to a 6. They called in specialists one of whom I asked please just tell me why I am to weak to stand and walk or talk. He assured me that I would be fine, but that I had to have immediate transfusions. After three units of blood I was a new person. I actually felt better than before I began treatment. I had red lips and cheeks again! I could walk unassisted. The constant noise of my heart beating and blood pumping stopped. I just wanted to say that the anemia caused by treatment is not something to play around with. I was virus free after 6 months, but in another 6 months it came back. This time though, I would not take treatment as a "study patient" in case I needed Procrit, which I did end up taking and it worked great at keeping my count up. Unfortunately I did not go virus free after 6 more months, so I am presently positive for HEPC and taking no treatment. Thanks for listening and I hope that sharing my experience with low hemoglobin will help someone. God Bless!
bloozgal
walk more that 10 feet without having to stop and rest. My gi
sent me to heart specialist, they ran tests and told me that I had major blockage, that it was not related to the hep or treatment. As it turned out they were wrong, they did the camera through the aorta procedure(spaced out on the name!) and low and behold there was no blockage, my blood just didn't have enough oxygen. After the xtra blood loss from the procedure,I was back in ER 2 days later, I knew in my heart that something was bad wrong, and that I would surely die if I didn't get the right help. My blood count had dropped 3 more points in two days to a 6. They called in specialists one of whom I asked please just tell me why I am to weak to stand and walk or talk. He assured me that I would be fine, but that I had to have immediate transfusions. After three units of blood I was a new person. I actually felt better than before I began treatment. I had red lips and cheeks again! I could walk unassisted. The constant noise of my heart beating and blood pumping stopped. I just wanted to say that the anemia caused by treatment is not something to play around with. I was virus free after 6 months, but in another 6 months it came back. This time though, I would not take treatment as a "study patient" in case I needed Procrit, which I did end up taking and it worked great at keeping my count up. Unfortunately I did not go virus free after 6 more months, so I am presently positive for HEPC and taking no treatment. Thanks for listening and I hope that sharing my experience with low hemoglobin will help someone. God Bless!
bloozgal
Boy can I relate! I had to FIGHT to have my hep test done...and I mean fight...she just simply would NOT do one until I told her my x had it. Now me using should have been a good excuse right? Nope she wouldn't test until I said HE had it (and as we know that sex is a really difficult way to get it but NOT IVDU). She's an idiot. The other doctor who I went to agreed right away!
I was the same way drinking/using the whole time for 25 yars (except when I was pg)...drinking more Smirnoff than anybody EVEr should. I have had to have advanced the fibrosis = I thank GOD it's not even farther along than it is (3)
It's amazing how much one stupid doctor can screw us up. WHY do they fight so HARD not to give this test? I had NO PROBLEM requesting an AIDS test, several times...but when I had high enzymes and wanted THIS HEP test...she wouldn't do it...and only referred me cause of the x = thank GOD I was desperate enough to even mention him LOL
We are in the same boat!
PS I bet your PCR comes back GREAT. Mine wasn't perfect (from week 4 to 12 it stayed at 411 and 419) I didn't hit clear until 24 but I refused to give up...my doc was right about that I tell you! :) He was like WHAT...you fool we are going to continue they are almost gone but of course I was like NO NO it's NOT UNDETECTIBLE...LOL I was such a BABY!Nobody knows exactly what is what...it's all best guessing really and Iam so glad I am so stubborn.
We CAN do this!
I was the same way drinking/using the whole time for 25 yars (except when I was pg)...drinking more Smirnoff than anybody EVEr should. I have had to have advanced the fibrosis = I thank GOD it's not even farther along than it is (3)
It's amazing how much one stupid doctor can screw us up. WHY do they fight so HARD not to give this test? I had NO PROBLEM requesting an AIDS test, several times...but when I had high enzymes and wanted THIS HEP test...she wouldn't do it...and only referred me cause of the x = thank GOD I was desperate enough to even mention him LOL
We are in the same boat!
PS I bet your PCR comes back GREAT. Mine wasn't perfect (from week 4 to 12 it stayed at 411 and 419) I didn't hit clear until 24 but I refused to give up...my doc was right about that I tell you! :) He was like WHAT...you fool we are going to continue they are almost gone but of course I was like NO NO it's NOT UNDETECTIBLE...LOL I was such a BABY!Nobody knows exactly what is what...it's all best guessing really and Iam so glad I am so stubborn.
We CAN do this!
I'm on week 12! get my first pcr tomorrow and nurse says she'll have the results on friday, i'll have my regular cbc results on wednesday so i'll know about the anemia....i'm trying not to get my hopes up and i'm trying to be okay w/ not being und. we'll see. my pre-tx vl was 10 million. and i feel like you used to- that this is going to take FOREVER...UGH!
OMG i know what you mean about having an inept PCP. I suggested a hepc test 2 years ago when i had a physical. my liver enzymes had been consistently elevated, but my pcp said they weren't high enough to be a chronic liver disorder so he talked me out of it basically. i didn't know anything about hepc at the time other than i knew i was high-risk because of drug use so i waited 2 years before i found out. drinking my red wine the whole time...i'm convinced i advanced the fibrosis because of that. dr's. it's amazing how i used to believe they spoke the gospel. not anymore!
anyway, thanks so much for all your advice. i feel like some of you have walked me thru this and i can't tell you how much i appreciate this place. let us know about your thyroid meds, maybe you're not supposed to feel any different? best of luck to you debby. tracy
OMG i know what you mean about having an inept PCP. I suggested a hepc test 2 years ago when i had a physical. my liver enzymes had been consistently elevated, but my pcp said they weren't high enough to be a chronic liver disorder so he talked me out of it basically. i didn't know anything about hepc at the time other than i knew i was high-risk because of drug use so i waited 2 years before i found out. drinking my red wine the whole time...i'm convinced i advanced the fibrosis because of that. dr's. it's amazing how i used to believe they spoke the gospel. not anymore!
anyway, thanks so much for all your advice. i feel like some of you have walked me thru this and i can't tell you how much i appreciate this place. let us know about your thyroid meds, maybe you're not supposed to feel any different? best of luck to you debby. tracy
I sure hope you get some resolution tomorroow (although I ALWAYS have to wait a day for my bloodwork to come back and that is SO AGGRAVATING). The anemia is honestly the ONLY thing that could have made me quit treatment --- but I did LISTEN to the guys in here and it made me hang on.
I hope you can too! It's so worth it the medication is like MAGIC once it kicks in...I mean you won't be magically not tired anymore but there is such a difference between TIRED and ANEMIC isn't there!
What week are you on now? I can't BELIEVE that Ijust did 33. It's just going to FAST now. I remember when I was on 7 thinking oh my GOD this is never going to be OVER LOL.
I don't nkow if the medicine is helping with the thyroid or not. I don't feel ANY different so I am going to give that doc a call. He is SO NICE - he sent me a letter with all my results and EVEN went over my hep pan and CBC and all tests and tried to encourage me. I was like wow my PCP has gotten EVERY SINGLE THING WRONG (she is a MORON told me I had no fibrosis haha i am a Stage "3" and that my thyroid was "fine". Yet the expert said "significant" hypothryroidism.
It just goes to show how important our tests...and our ABILITY to determine what our tests SAY REALLY REALLY is. I asked the technician what she thought...the radiologist what she thought...LOL.
If I listened to the PCP doc well...I'd be cooked.
I am really happy that you are keeping up with your tests. It gets hard cause it's so boring to go over and over and over but it's just so IMPORTANNT!
Debby
I hope you can too! It's so worth it the medication is like MAGIC once it kicks in...I mean you won't be magically not tired anymore but there is such a difference between TIRED and ANEMIC isn't there!
What week are you on now? I can't BELIEVE that Ijust did 33. It's just going to FAST now. I remember when I was on 7 thinking oh my GOD this is never going to be OVER LOL.
I don't nkow if the medicine is helping with the thyroid or not. I don't feel ANY different so I am going to give that doc a call. He is SO NICE - he sent me a letter with all my results and EVEN went over my hep pan and CBC and all tests and tried to encourage me. I was like wow my PCP has gotten EVERY SINGLE THING WRONG (she is a MORON told me I had no fibrosis haha i am a Stage "3" and that my thyroid was "fine". Yet the expert said "significant" hypothryroidism.
It just goes to show how important our tests...and our ABILITY to determine what our tests SAY REALLY REALLY is. I asked the technician what she thought...the radiologist what she thought...LOL.
If I listened to the PCP doc well...I'd be cooked.
I am really happy that you are keeping up with your tests. It gets hard cause it's so boring to go over and over and over but it's just so IMPORTANNT!
Debby
thanks. i'm going for labs tomorrow so we'll see. :) how's everything going with you? the thyroid doing ok w/ meds? well i hope you're fine. you're an inspiration. tracy
In the beginning I dropped from 15+ to 9 in just over a week and was physically devastated. I kept fainting, dizzy, couldn't breathe and the horrid ringing in my head and chest pounding drove me CRAZY. It's NOT just the number but how FAST you go down that matter.
I got on the Epogen and it fixed me up. It does take a few weeks to work as it has a HUGE JOB to do...it's no INSTANT shot of energy or anything but it's a miracle drug as far as I can concerned.
without it I could not have continued to do treatment but as it is I am at about 10.5 - 11.0 now (later in treatment your body CAN accomodate these numbers MUCH easier).
Doctors won't usually prescribe until you are UNDER TEN so you fight for it if you have to.
I got on the Epogen and it fixed me up. It does take a few weeks to work as it has a HUGE JOB to do...it's no INSTANT shot of energy or anything but it's a miracle drug as far as I can concerned.
without it I could not have continued to do treatment but as it is I am at about 10.5 - 11.0 now (later in treatment your body CAN accomodate these numbers MUCH easier).
Doctors won't usually prescribe until you are UNDER TEN so you fight for it if you have to.
Hi, I just did shot #20 tonight and I'm also 2B. In the beginning of tx I had the shortness of breath and thought it was the meds but it turned out that my HGB was dropping and the dr put me on procrit. It kept dropping and they upped the procrit to 60,000 units a week. Now finally my HGB stopped dropping and is holding at 7.4 which is low but I feel fine. I would have your HGB checked to rule that out.
BEAGLE
BEAGLE
hi. thanks for that post. i was beginning to get worried because i haven't experienced that sx before but it does go away if i sit down...anyway, hope you're doing well and you find a specialist out your way. as usual, i can offer nothing except support and well wishes. best of luck to you, tracy
I recently posted my numbers, and my dadgum HMG is 14.0, so I am treating my little virus to highly oxygenated blood. I think the difference between the tx induced shortness of breath and anemia related: I exert now, I am out of breath, but as soon as I sit down its ok, I catch my breath in just a matter of seconds, if you have anemia, you can't catch your breath, takes several minutes to recover...my son said its the same as when you are recovering from the flu- your short of breath with any exertion, but your not out of breath, if that makes sense..
thank you for the direction. i'm a rookie in the any part of the bloodwork numbers game... i had to switch doctors is the long story short.
i will call her, get that info, and in the meantime ask her if we might need to up my appointment.
i hope your weekend has been good... =)
i will call her, get that info, and in the meantime ask her if we might need to up my appointment.
i hope your weekend has been good... =)
Hi there. i'm having the same sx's this last week, shortness of breath, dizziness- but not to the point where it puts me down yet- having cbc on tuesday, haven't had one in a month almost, last one hgb was 11.6- i'm on week 12. could my hgb have dropped that much in 1 month? thanks for your input. tracy
The beginning of your tx sounds very similar to mine. I didn't hve injection side effects or any flu like symptons. However, the blood levels kept dropping and right about where you are in tx the hemotolgist put me on Neupogen, and I begged for (and got) Procrit. It sounds like you have the anemia brought on by the ribavirn. WHat was your pretreatment hgb, and what was it your last CBC and when is your next CBC. If you don't have one scheduled please call and request one. There is nothing like this anemia to drop a grown woman or man. Please stay on top of it. If you can get your hemoglobin under control, you may have smooth sailing in tx
Hi,
We are from Las Vegas, Nevada and read a posting from you that about medical Marijuana. My husband is Hep c b1 (Stage 4 cirrhosis) and is coming up on week 14 of tx. This next part is gonna sound like a big baby crying but I am sure most every one here can understand. He
We are from Las Vegas, Nevada and read a posting from you that about medical Marijuana. My husband is Hep c b1 (Stage 4 cirrhosis) and is coming up on week 14 of tx. This next part is gonna sound like a big baby crying but I am sure most every one here can understand. He
Nothing to worry about. Just part of the treatment everyone suffers from. It will become normal in time, after you stop treatment. If it gets worse and worse, see your Gastro, but this is just part of the side-effects. You should try to pace yourself. Hard physical activity should be done by your friends or relatives. Good luck in getting cured...
Magnum
Magnum
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