sum1 Plz Help

[ConcrndGF]

Hi, I am going to get straight to the point because I am so worried about my BF. He has Hep C and over a yr ago he was put on Pegasys and Co-Pegasys( I think thats how you spell it), anyways he was doing well when suddenly he got very fatigued and worn down he wasn't able to eat or even stay up for more than an hour with outhaving to go lay down. Well when taken to the doctor we were told that he had stopped responding to this medication.He has been put on new medication and ever since then he has not been doing well. He has good days and bad days but more bad than good. Now again his blood count has dropped. The Doc gave him procrit but it is not helping. What is wrong? Why is he not taking to the medication? Is there anything to be done? Is my worse fear coming true? I am afraid that this is it for him and that we are just going to have to wait the inevitable. He keeps telling me that he might as well give up and just check on out,(meaning he is dying). Please someone has any of this happend to you and you were able to come out of it all with a happy ending?

Concerned IN FL.

[ShoshanaPNW]

Also, people can get very depressed on treatment, which can lower their energy level. It might be good for him to get assessed for depression and possibly medication. Lots of people in treatment take medication for depression.

[FlGuy]

Is he still taking the Peg and the Co-Peg, and at the original doses?  What is the new meds that he was put on?  Is that the procrit you mentioned?  Procrit encourages the growth of red blood cells. The injections of procrit should be fairly regular, not just a one-shot deal.  It takes a couple of weeks for the procrit to work, it's not in an instant.  Many people who require procrit have a a couple more weeks of misery with the tiredness and fatigue.  But, as the procrit works BF should have more energy as the doc tries to figure out the correct continuing dosage and frequency to get and keep his hemoglobinb at a stable level.

[can-do-man]

Try not to worry to much, beamish hit the nail on the head about your bf. Hope he's seeing a Hepatologist.

I have cirrhosis and have for a few years, and still doing ok, lets hope your bf doesn't but if he is doesn't mean he's going to die on you anytime soon.

It will take more then being Cirrhotic to get rid of me. He's lucky to have you around for support. Just make sure he stay's on the meds and becomes SVR. Enjoy a long happy life together.

Wishing you both the best.

[mremeet]

First don't panic, most of us have had hep C for many many years (i.e. decades) and we're not dying. It's completely normal to be ragged out and feel like cr@p during treatment. The main thing to know is what your boyfriend's liver damage is. Did he get a liver biopsy? A biopsy will tell him what condition his liver is in. Many of us with hep c have had it 20-30 (or more) years and have minimal or only moderate liver damage. The main thing to be worried about is if he has cirrhosis, which again would be determined with a biopsy. If he doesn't have cirrhosis, then the odds he's going to die on you anytime soon (from hep C) are very minimal.

There's a lot more to it than this, but no need to get too far ahead of ourselves. If you're interested get copies of his labwork and discuss it with his doctor. Also talk it over here with us, we can clue you into pretty much this whole hep C schpiel. Things probably aren't nearly as dire as you presently think they are. Hep C can be cured too. These are exciting times for hep C treatment, powerful new drugs are being developed and tested as we speak which are much more effective than what is available today. In fact I just finished my treatment using one of these experimental drugs a few months ago, and now I'm cured. I felt awful like your boyfriend during most of my treatment, but things are sunny and chipper now. Things can work out for both you and your boyffriend, but first you must be educated on what's going on. That part's up to both you and your boyfriend. If you have the willingness and patience to learn, we can help bring you into the light. Take care...

[beamishboy]

happy endings?..You bet!...trx drugs often cause fatigue and depression..maybe time for an anti-depressant...and the procrit takes some time to effect the hgb drop....Trx takes patience,strength and good medical supervision..Get your partner to his doctor pronto...and bless you for being a caring advocate-GOODLUCK!