hair loss and skin rash

[pisces358]

I just discovered this site.  Have been on tx since April 15.

For the past month my hair has started to fall out and I've developed this almost unbearable, itchy rash.  At first as I prescribed Atatra (spelling ?) it helped somewhat but was drying me out even more.  

I was on synthroid before treating.  I asked my primary care dr. to do another test and she said the thyroid was lower and increase medicine from 100 to 112.

I've been getting through this fairly well, but this new side affect is really beginning to wear me out.  I'm supposed to be on treatment for 48 weeks...so just about halfway through.  But this is discouraging.

The virus was almost undetectable at 12 weeks.

Maybe it's time to shop for a wig - <lol>

Any thoughts?

[DAVMarine]

You can't believe what a thrill it is to come on here and see time and again someone saying they were virus free after 12 weeks.Thats lifts my spirits which need it bad right now.I can't get the results of my kidney CT,I don't know if I have cancer or not,my liver is hurting,my spleen is hurting and the upset stomach has started to grow each day.I have been able to eat so far but the Hep C untreated  may put a stop to that if the sick stomach continues to grow.The treatment is set to begin the 10 th of OCT but i think next week I'll call and tell them to go ahead,chemo is no good on the kidneys anyway if that goes bad so I might as well start trying to kill some the terrible virus load my body has been fighting.BX results next week.Does anyone know of things that can stop the feeling of the nausea  from the Hep not the treatment.I can't imagine how thats going to be if I'm trying to get that way now before tx.How very sad that this nation with all its wealth and knowledge let millions of good decent folks get Hep C because they weren't smart enough to know to screen the blood and we pay the price, some with their lives.God Bless
Bob

[nygirl7]

I've been on synthroid since the peg killed off my thyroid.  Fun fun fun at least that med doesn't give me any sides.

I lost about 75% of my hair during treatment and I was MISERABLE.  I finally DID go on ebay and buy a whole bunch of wigs (they are only $29.99 on ebay compared to the salons where they are much much MUCH more expensive).  I got different colors but all of them were pretty LONG because I just CRAVED having hair. '


Well I have to tell you - what a complete difference it made in my life!  Now when I put on makeup and get dressed I didn't look so bad anymore.  It made me FEEL that way anyway although my skin was still grey and my eyes sunken and hollow I just FELT like I looked better!

I'm now about 8 months post treatment and still wearing them.  Hey it takes a while to grow back hair from the root to be long enough to look ok.  I don't mind. Boy it saves time in the morning - no blowdryer and flat iron anymore!!!  (All my big curly hair grew back straight and silky I don't know why).

I'd totally say get one or two to really try them out.  The first one won't necessarily be the perfect oner - that's how I ended up with about 8 of them (all pretty similar except for color).  

I thought everybody at work was going to notice right away but...nope.  I got a TON of compliments on my hair color job but that was about it! Someone even complimented my "haircut" although my hair was at least a foot longer than the 50 strands that I still had left!

By the way - make sure you moisturize your body SEVERAL times a day. I found that Gold Bond Triple Threat Anti Itch Medicated lotion worked the best because it was nice and thick so it didn't rub off easily.  Being so dehydrated you have to make sure you do this severeal times a day. When the rash goes awy don't stop using the lotion or it will come right back (I learned the hard way).  Making sure I kept my body totally covered up in the Gold Bond got rid of the rash in just a few days.    It will work but you have to be diligent about it.

Best of luck!
Debby

[merlino]

Hi, no, it was a little before that. I didn't have it as bad as others. It was limited to my stomach and sides. I can't imagine having it all over - all i did was scratch.

[FlGuy]

Although you are about to not care anymore, did the rash go away at about the same time that you reduced riba to 800?

[dogsledder]

I am in week 26 and approx. 70% of my head hair is gone. It could be worse, my wife shed all her hair during cancer treatments, but it has since grown back 6 months after  tx. I also developed a severe scalp condition which I used Nizoral to help. It is now gone. My rashes were pretty bad in the beginning. I used Atarax also and every known lotion to man (even some I made up). I found olive oil to work the best, and Alveeno bath (the oatmeal stuff). Lube up real good after a bath. I was also on Prednisone for two weeks and a topical steroid, when it got real bad. The last few weeks have been good...no major outbreaks. It will be hard to hide tx from people. The weight loss, hair loss and drawn facial features were very noticeable. I told a few close friends, but to others I say I am taking medication for a liver condition, and leave it at that. I am more open about my alcohol recovery (20 yrs), and maybe I will feel the same in time about HCV.

[pisces358]

Just wanted to say Thank You to all of you.

I'm one of those who is not telling anyone about tx, so it's comforting to have some comradre!

[FloridaMouse]

I was also on synthroid before I started tx and I also had to have my dose of synthroid increased when I was about 3 months into treatment.  My TSH jumped from 2 to 26 and they had to adjused my synthroid from 75 to 100.   Fortunately this was the only increase in the synthroid I had to take.    I managed to finished the 48 weeks and I bet you can too.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
Finished 48 wks. of tx on 4/13/07
Waiting on results of 6 mos. post PCR done today!
Hoping for SVR baby!

[merlino]

Hi, I am finally finishing tx tomorrow. I lost about 70% of my hair. I started buying pieces that clip in to what little is left. I died my hair to match the pieces. They actually look really nice and make me feel so much better.My rash went away at about 40 weeks. I used the gold bond and even though it smells bad its the only thing that worked for me. The brain fog is here ALL the time. You will find great support and information here. Good luck to you!!

[Proactive]

"It was undetectable" That is great news!!! Congrats!
I started "shedding" hard at about 24 weeks, now in week 48, seems to have slowed....because there isn't as much to shed! (G)--you have to keep your sense of humor..;^)
My rash comes and goes, but hasn't really gotten to bad, get it around my ankles and under my socks, as well as a little on my sides...Maybe try NYGirls tried and true Goldbond triple action lotion-green bottle....good luck and welcome to the forum..
now I do really have to run (lol)

[pisces358]

Even after all this time all of medical jargon is hard for me to keep straight...partly because of brain fog.

It was undetectable.

Thanks for your patience!

[Proactive]

glad I checked back before heading out the door..
your first statement was
"The virus was **almost** undetectable at 12 weeks"
your second was "The results were that the virus was undetectable."
My confusion lies in, were you almost undectable, or were you undectable at 12 weeks?

[pisces358]

My tx is scheduled for 48 weeks, but at 12 the dr. did blood work to see if I was responding (and I think to make sure insurance would continue paying).  The results were that the virus was undetectable.

So I'm not sure exactly why those statements wouldn't be compatible.

Thanks for any advice.

[Proactive]

"I'm supposed to be on treatment for 48 weeks"
"The virus was almost undetectable at 12 weeks"
Unfortunately these to statements may not be compatable....Can you elaborate on your 12 week viral load?
I'm sure others will chime in, have to run..Pro