Hi everyone and thanks for the info. I've had problems with tinnitus for years and years, this new noise, like running water, just like you left the hose running outside and you can hear it from inside the house! It's very loud! I've been on therapy for 5 weeks now and this issue didn't start until the second day I was on the Victrelis. Never did notice any tinnitus differences from the Interferon but I'm convinced it's the Vic because each time I've taken it today the noise gets much more intense for a few hours following ingestion. After that it does quiet down some but it's still noticeable. So now I've got the high pitch ringing I've had for years battling for supremacy over the rushing water, ha, ha!! I have to admit it's something different all the time with this stuff. I appreciate all of your help and the idea's being shared. It's all good to know!! 

Hi Tig. Like Jill  said, tinnitus seems to be a common side effect. The only thing to worry about is hearing voices....and answering them.   Lol.

Hi Tig, sounds like it could have been something like tinnitus, which some of our members have reported experiencing while on tx.  It sometimes tends to come and go, like a lot of side effects.  Has it gone now?

Well done for getting started on the victrelis, best of luck!

I started Victrelis yesterday and would like to know if the issue I'm experiencing is a shared problem. After my 4th dose I was really tired, I didn't sleep well at all last night. I took a nap and slept about an hour and when I woke up I was startled by the sound of rushing (running) water. I checked everywhere and determined that what I was hearing was actually in my head!! I'm hearing things now! Has anyone else had these symptoms? This isn't going to be much fun listening to for 10 months!

Hi Tig, thats most certainly from interferon. Lots of people, including me, has tinnitus issues from interferon shots. As i talked with other folks on this forum, most of em say that it goes away after the therapy stops (2 week up till 1 years after). I am worried it might stay as perm sx, but i took that risk (my profession is with music/audio so it's my biggest worry).

You will soon get used to is psychologically. You said it sounds like rushing water? thats means it's pretty much like white noise. You can play white noise (or sound of waves, waterfalls, rain) beside your bed to mask it, if you have troubles sleeping. If it's tonal (usually high pitched tone), you can also mask it or try to subdue it with playing tones in similar range (there are software that can automate it, like Tinnitus tamer).

i am really annoyed by the fact that there are no official words of precaution about tinnitus sx in interferon prescription. You can only find only online some words about what meds are noted to cause tinnitus. My doc said that tinnitus as sx from interferon is really rare, but it think it's well common sx, but people do not complain to their docs much.

who knows what else interferon saturation might cause...hope soon interferon will be thing of the past for hcv therapies.

best

Hi Pat,

I had spider nevi and moderate liver damage, so it doesn't mean someone has cirrhosis.

Hep C can cause a variety of different symptoms - there 's some more info below

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Extrahepatic.pdf

Love Steff xx

Ron,

Thanks for the info. I am scheduled to go to Duke Med. Cnt. for blood work and bx later this month. I'm just trying to self-diagnose. I'm just hoping that I haven't progressed that far.

Pat

geno 1a vl 3.7 mil. male 47 probably infected 1989-90 former heavy drinker

Hi Pat,

Doctors like us to think that a biopsy is the only way to know, but a simple search brought me to this article that you may find helpful at MedicineNet.com:

http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/article.htm

Hope you find this helpful.

Ron 

Kirsten,

I'm just trying to figure out where I stand with this goofy disease. I have good days and bad days. Mainly with fatigue.

Pat

Hi Pat,

Yes, I had symptoms but I most of them I attributed to just working hard. Mostly I was tired all of the time.. I suffered alot of liver pain but I believe that had more to do with the drinking. I am not really sure if it were from the hepc or all of the above. It was probably a combination of all of it. I started getting headaches & a pin's & needles type of feeling in my hands & feet. Like I said though, I wasn't treating myself all that well before I found out about my status so to be honest I don't know what symptoms were from what..  

Thanks Kirsten,

Did you have any other symptoms before treatment?

Pat

Hi Pat.. I have/had terrible spider naevi, it covered my chest & upper arms.. Once I had it pointed out to me & the reason for it I thought for sure I had cirrhosis. After my biospy I was surprised to find out that I only have stage 1 fibrosis/scarring.. After I started TX I watched it fade as my liver started to heal, thats how I knew I would be UND at 4 weeks.. All good

Has anyone had spider nevi and not had cirrhosis?

Pat