NY Girl - Checking in

[Drarig]

I was just wondering how things were going for you.  I haven't been on the forum in awhile as I've been so been busy & my kids have taken over my pc. We both finished tx around the same time & I was hoping you were doing ok.   I seem to have probs, enzymes up, experiencing major bloating again, alot of muscle/joint pain the past month, sinus infection/allergies back.  Haven't had any of those probs while on 48 wks of tx, so I'm thinking maybe it didn't work & my friend came back to visit.  Going for a viral load tomorrow.  I hope things are better for you.  I know you put in a looooong shift of tx & hope it paid off.  You definitely deserve it.

[Drarig]

Thx for your responses, guys, you're all great.   Have had so many doubts the past weeks because I felt worse past couple weeks than while on tx.  Especially my back (4 herniated and bulging disks) issues.  Between the back & joint issues & the flank pain, wasn't sure if it's organ, muscular or skeletal.  I'm slowly developing arthritis (even with the exercise), so you just don't know if it's bone/joint related or what.  That's why I was concerned it's back, because don't know what symptoms occur when it returns.  (I never remember getting sick whenever I first got the virus).  Glad I'm not the only one with bloating issues.  My stomach is flat in the morning & then I feel like I'm 6 months pregnant by noon.  Also, I never felt pain around my liver & I seem to be experiencing that lately.  The enzymes being up concerned me because they weren't the whole time during tx.  My GI wasn't going to send me for viral load until 6 months, but he did send me yesterday, so at least now I'll now next week.  I agree, NY Girl, sometimes it's the "not knowing" that's worse.  But, like you, if it is, I'll most likely wait a little while, seems to be easier to deal with during winter months, less heat, humidity, easier to "hibernate", etc.  I hope my insurance will cover.  Anyone experience insurance issues with retreating?   Thx again, all, been trying not to get depressed but just the thoughts of going thru the whole thing again, keeping it secret, copayments, low white counts, skin/hair, "rage", etc, really worries me.  But if I did it once, I'm sure I can pull it off again, like so many people here.  Thx again!

[ladybug52]

She's not a draig, quit being so insulting, no wonder you have no friends! (well, the gas hasn't helped matters either)

[ladybug52]

Sorry your post got so sidetracked a few days, (week) ago. I posted at the bottom and didn't know if you saw it or was just tired of your thread being hijacked. Here was my final answer:
Sorry to get side-tracked also. I have a short attention span and it was like reading a novel by the time I got to post WheW!
About the kidneys vs back dx. Your blood work will show bun/creatinine levels out of whack if it's the kidneys. Also the kidneys help regulate blood pressure, are you experiencing any increases in b/p? I hope you get the results of the blood work soon. It's the frying pan or the fire situation, but I hope everything turns out with the least damage for you. I think it's pretty incredible that a chiro wasn't trying to turn it into a back issue since that's what they primarily tx. Sounds like he was admitting that you need an MD, and that's very honest of him. I think. Let us know what turns out.
Any more new info?
Bug

[nygirl7]

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don't post really as much as I used to (mostly cause it gives the new people a good chance to be able to express themselves now) too.

I have to tell you I thought it was just ME.  I have had a lot of bloating myself, weight gain, still have skin problems (the crappy eczema just came back on my face big time when I got stressed out!)...

I am hoping that it's some sort of adjustment period that our bodies are going through.  Figure we were having poison shoved in for so long that our bodies got used to it - and now that we are not maybe it's a complete "withdrawl" that is causing the problems?

My enzymes are really low BUT when I had my pcr it came back screwy and so now I have to do it again just to find out if I am positive or negative.  Getting back a "maybe" is the WORST!  It looks like it might be positive but........the doctor said he doesn't think so - so who knows. Either way.....I'm not doing ANYTHING treatment wise if I have to - until after the summer.

I think we deserve to try and feel WELL for a change - don't you?

I'm sorry you sound like you are having as much fun as me. Didn't you think this would be over now...I sure did.

Debby

[jmjm530]

I've also had post treatment issues like bloating (didn't have it on treatment) but I did SVR, so don't assume your symptons mean the virus came back.

All the best,

-- Jim

[susan400]

I know that you intended this for NYGirl (Debbie), but I saw it and I wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling so bad.  I get so frustrated by this disease sometimes!  Try to not worry about whether you're viral load is up, because I know from reading other's posts that sometimes even when people get SVR, they still have a period of time post treatment where they feel pretty rotten.  I've never had viral clearance, so, it's hard for me to know if I'd feel any different post treatment-on a 'cleared slate'.   I can't remember though, did you clear during your treatment, before you came off?

Susan