Life After Interferon/Ribivirin (including sex life)

[Trying2BSupportive]

I have been dating a guy for almost a year now.  He was on Interferon and Ribivirin (sorry if I mispelled it) and stopped treatment about May.  The virus was undectable the last time he was tested.  I know everyone reacts differently to treatment, but he doesn't seem interested in sex.  He says it is the medicine and that will still affect him for 6 months to a year.  He acts strangely sometimes and says strange things.  He claims he is trying to "trip me out" and that this is all caused by the medicine.  Sometimes, I feel he leading me on, using the medicine as an excuse, but other times I seem to believe him.  It makes sense about withdrawling from the medicine.  He seems more moody and irritable now, then when he was actually being treated.  Should the side effects of the medicine be completely gone now or do they sometimes seem worse?  I am confused, but still trying to hang in there for him.  Thanks.

[Nothingstoxic]

I'm 1 month into treatment and i do have mood swings besides all the baggage which comes with the medicine but as far as Sex is concerned,i don't see any probs with that.Your BF might have diminished sex drive coz of the medicine,yes it's possible but not being interested is a different thing.Hope you understand the difference lol.

[october1967]

well, i am female and this time on tx i have no sex drive, maybe every once in a while, but last time i was on it my husband went through tx also, he cleared, i didn't. now i am doing it again. i am clear and still have til mid april, but anyway last time in 2006 neither one of us lost our sex!!!! he never showed signs of it. i don't know how old your bf is but my husband was 48 then. actually it was a great time for sex but as the end neared for me i was put on infergen daily. out the window it went. i just can't imagine how to deal with a man like that.  sorry to hear this, but he needs to get out of his funk and try!!!!! it  may make him feel better, sometimes even if i think i don't feel up to it my husband will tell  me it will make me feel better and it usually does but need to take a nap to regain strength.  it just makes you feel a little better about yourself as though you are still desirable to your partner.

[desire7]

well i did the treatment twice..2 yrs. of treatment. it has been years and i still feel alot of joint pain and always tired. when i just went off my kidneys started  with stones,ok three surgery later, cross fingers they r ok. but why do i feel like **** years later.

[Trying2BSupportive]

Mycoldfeet seems to relate to what he is going through, but then you say he is a "nut", which is what I thought intil I began using this forum.  The "tripping out" mostly happened while he was on treatment and it is much less now.  Before I understood anything (like I understand it all now..haha), he told me "it's the medicine trying to make me trip you out".  I am more concerned with the lack of intimacy.  It seems to make him "avoid" me by working too much, which makes him more tired.  Then he is more tired than someone who wouldn't have been on treatment, so we don't seem to even have time together, unless we are sleeping.  He says he loves me, needs me, I am great, he can't live without me....but then he seems so self centered and like my feelings don't matter. This was not like him before we met.   I am so confused.

[Trying2BSupportive]

Thank you for you comment.  It made me understand more about what is happening and you seem to be experiencing more of what he is going through.  I need to confide in someone about specific information and would like to know if I can email you directly.  I don't really want to post everything on this forum.  It can all be anonymous.  Thanks.

[susan400]

Lot's of us post treatment (myself included) continue to have sleep problems post treatment.  Give him more time before you cut and run.  His body is still healing.  I know it's hard, but try and have patience.  Most than likely, with time, and with your patience, he will return to his old active self.  Take care.

Susan

[Califia]

Ah, why not send him to this forum so he can see real guys being really articulate about how they're feeling!  What a blessed relief from the usual state of affairs.  Methinks that RTS nailed it, exactly.  Just wanted to add that it's taken me a full year to merely begin to return to nomal.   Some of the post-tx effects I anticipated; many others were bewilderingly out of left field.  And no, I'm not referring to my politics, but that unappetizing menu of customized medical complaints that awaits us after we think we're done with being done in.  It's a really long process that demands huge reserves of patience.

[GoofyDad]

Well, I can report a diminished sex life after interferon. In my case I finished treatment almost 6 mos ago, and the wife still doesn't want to give it up. 'Course, I wasn't gettin' much before either, so maybe I should be looking for another root cause. Well heck, I turn my underwear daily, so it's not a hygene problem or anything....

Kidding aside (I actually change my undies), depression can come post tx. Your BF really should talk to a doc or a shrink.... you both might be glad he did. Good luck.

<small>Gotta see if I can rustle up some ladies to mow the lawn.....</small>

[jmjm530]

Kalio: Some men here have reported an INCREASE in libido and sexual activity from treatment.
------------------------------------------------------------

I think we're talking about the little white pills, not the little blue ones :)

[Snookmiester]

I don't know about the above comment, as I never saw any decrease in libido post tx.. During tx was another story, as I usually just felt like ****, so that was the last thing on my mind.. But it was still doable of course. Wife settled for once a week...
Now we are in baby making mode, so the only trouble I'm having in bed, is catching my breathe!!
As with everything HCV related, every individual is effected differently.

[returntosender]

Sounds familiar. I too finished in May and had complete loss of libido with mood swings and all that.  I can only say that these first few months off tx are perhaps more difficult than the actual tx.  I was left shaky and without confidence and an emotional basketcase.  Any strong emotional material was completely overwhelming, including sex.  

I had a tough time communicating my lack of desire to my wife who was now ready for "the old you" to come back immediately.  It is coming back and this week I am starting to feel a different emotional attraction for her that I had during tx and even before.

My whole attitude about people is changing as the drugs leave my system and I am left with a hopefully healed body.  That attitude change also applies to her and it is a good change where I see her in a new light almost.  It took time to get here though and these new feelings and emotions take some getting used to - even on my part. I am kindof growing into this new role.  I think that the games your boyfriend appears to be playing may just be his uncomfortable way of dealing with the changes.  Just take pressure off and encourage him to talk about how he feels even if it includes talking about not
wanting to be intimate. If he is like me, he will be back and better than ever.  

Dr. Phil signing off LOL.

[Kalio1]

Some men here have reported an INCREASE in libido and sexual activity from treatment. I think it varies like all things HCV. Nothing is ever 100%.

[painterlady13]

I know I'm new to tx but from what I have read in here, at 3-4 mos post treatment many are still having multiple sides and are still trying to get their lives back to "normal".  I would consider talking to a counselor together but try to include how to work together to get him back to a normal physical and emotional state and that is including sex.  Good Luck

[OnAPrettyPoison]

I know some of the guys have reported problems long after treatment(up to years) with libido and it is a common side effect.  But there are some drugs that can help that if he is properly motivated.  The head games are a different story.  Maybe the two of you can get some counselling?  He may need to be evaluated for depression and/or anxiety and need meds or talk therapy.  Please don't give up on him, but if he wants a relationship with you, he needs to put forth the effort to make it good for the both of you.  Just my two cents....

[mycoldfeet]

Sex durring tx is at best not too often, did you say how long he's been off med, all I caught was he said it would effect him 6 mos to a year, If he says he's trying to trip you out, believe him, cause with meds we do trip people out but normally don't realize it or mean it, I didn't get much history of his illness, and I sure ain"t Dear Abby, but this clown sounds like a loser, and the side effects lessen in time, but it's still just forgetfullness and getting strength back, I say he's using the treatments as an excuse, or he's a nut (medical term) by the way how long was he on meds and when did he get off them? I hope the rest of y'all agree with me, if not you'll know soon. I've been on meds going on 52 wks, married in vegas while on meds, and with my wife if I played that trip you out cr**p, I'd still be looking for teeth.