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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Feeling well after treatment
Post Info TOPIC: Feeling well after treatment
Kellie


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RE: Feeling well after treatment
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oh i forgot to mention the insomnia also. that seems to be the lingering sx for me. 4 to 5 days a week.

i use a homeopathic formula. if that doesn't work i use extra magnesium, if that doesn't work i'll use an herbal formula and if that doesn't work i use a small amount of xanax. i try to avoid the xanax at all costs, but lately i have to go there.



__________________

HCV 1A 1980. Dual tx 2003 -UND at wk 11-discontinued due to severe depression

Started Triple 4/16/13 for 24 weeks

UND wk 4,6,8,12,17 & 24

E.O.T. 9/29/13

EOT + 12 weeks=SVR, and EOT +26 weeks=Cured!
ucbgal


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barnacle,

welcome, your one step ahead of the game by joining this forum!!

i'm almost 1 mo. eot and have seen increase in energy, sharper memory, better appetite and increase in hemoglobin to 9.0 !!

the lingering sx for me are, rash due to still injecting procrit, insomnia and sensitivity to spicy/salty foods.

attaining und makes it all worth it. now i want the pot of gold.....svr !!!!

sandy,ucbgal



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hepcat60


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Sorry to hear of the continued Sx.  I have had insomnia somewhat also. But with me it is extremes; either I can't sleep or sleep for 15 hours.  I took sleeping pills throughout and became somewhat resistant.  Still take them.



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Hep C 1a since probably 1981.  Incivek, riba and interferon-48 weeks.  UND at weeks 2-4-6-8-10-12-16-20-24.  Previously Interferon alone for 6 months non-responder.  SVR 48 weeks 12/11/14
Tig


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That's interesting DB. You mentioned current problems with some very new Sx that weren't an issue pre medication. Some that come to mind are the inability to get warm, I live in south Florida where it's usually in the 80's. My ability to eat spicy foods is gone. I was a fan of HOT foods, now the mild version burns me from lips to loo! Then there is the terrible tinnitus that we've all been discussing lately and that just continues to worsen. I've also developed a real issue with insomnia too. As I hope for that return to some similarity of days past, I realize that may be a long time coming. I believe knowing you achieved SVR will make an important difference in how you feel about these lingering problems. Certainly those that don't, will likely feel different than those that do. Good luck to all the hopeful and successful. Let's try to hang on to the positive confidence we had when we accepted these risks pre treatment!



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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dustbear


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Hi Barnacle,

Tig and Tim are right on the money. It seems that the few people who have no problem on tx either make a few posts or dont even look for forums like this. "No news is good news"!

Once you're done tx it appears that there is little to no knowledge or support for lingering sx. It's like all they know how to do is administer the drugs. Once 'you're done', there is no followup.

I am 6 wks post EOT. Most of my side effects are gone, except I had complications from the drugs that developed into new sx. The insomnia is the one sx that I am struggling with. I also am very light sensitive, my Reynauds on my hands are worse, and I still can't eat salt,onions, garlic or spicy foods.

 

@Shaun, did you take any sleeping pills on tx? What about the 10 months after EOT? Any tips?



__________________

Geno 1A, since 1981. SOT 1/2013   TX stopped 11/2013 in week 45/48 due to Myositis & Interstitial Lung Disease. Completed 94% of Peg-Inter dbl TX, UND since week 4.  SVR 4/2014!  Still SVR after 4+ yrs!

"Day by day, step by step, breath by breath"
hepcat60


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I am approximately 3 weeks post rx and feeling pretty good.  I have a very small appetite and still a few sx, but overall, much better.



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Hep C 1a since probably 1981.  Incivek, riba and interferon-48 weeks.  UND at weeks 2-4-6-8-10-12-16-20-24.  Previously Interferon alone for 6 months non-responder.  SVR 48 weeks 12/11/14
Kellie


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13 full weeks post rx i'm feeling  darn good. i am having a bad migraine episode at the moment, but i'll chalk this up to the holiday overload.

my physical energy better than ever and my thinking is clear. i do have the occasional brain lapse with memory, but i believe these will clear with time.

btw- right after eot i started studying for school exams and did 5 weeks of testing. i think this activity jump started my brain. i had to force my brain to think again. math was especially the hardest of the subjects but i pulled through and squeeked by. i would definitely recommend brain exercises after interferon to step up the healing process.

i run about 4 kilometers a week and weight training again. i move for an hour everyday and have at least 1 freshly juiced veggie beverage a day.

i'm grateful to have been able to get the tx. 



__________________

HCV 1A 1980. Dual tx 2003 -UND at wk 11-discontinued due to severe depression

Started Triple 4/16/13 for 24 weeks

UND wk 4,6,8,12,17 & 24

E.O.T. 9/29/13

EOT + 12 weeks=SVR, and EOT +26 weeks=Cured!
mallani


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Hi and welcome, Barnacle.

You will notice that most post-Rx problems relate to those who were on Interferon. Those that did 48 weeks usually have more problems. Many patients start Rx with few or no symptoms. That is why so many claim to feel worse after Rx, independent of whether SVR was achieved. As Tim said, we don't hear from many post-Rx members after SVR, as life is good for them. It's great to hear from Shaun, who has obviously recovered fully.     With the new DAA's, post Rx problems should disappear, as Rx times will be short, and Interferon ( and probably Ribavirin) won't be used.  HepC is a silent, progressive disease and it is getting easier to eradicate the virus. Hopefully, at least in the USA, post-Rx issues will disappear. Cheers.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
TN99


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Welcome Barnacle.

I did 24 weeks of dual therapy (Peg/Riba) and thankfully had a pretty easy time with it.
The body adjusts and I got used to the side-effects. I didn't miss any days from work, made sure I kept my weekends free of plans so I could rest and communicated well with my doctor and care providers so I stayed knowledgeable.

3 weeks post treatment and I feel about 80% back to normal.


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Geno 3a, dual tx started 06/28/2013 Pegasys, Riba
VL 9.4mil, 4 week VL 318, wk8 UND, wk12 UND, wk24 EOT UND, 12wks post UND

~Tony~
Shaun


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I will be 2 years post tx in mid February.  I underwent triple therapy with telaprevir.   I feel completely normal now.  The first month post tx was rough, but it was better than being on tx.  As soon as I stopped the riba, I started feeling better.  Literally 12 hours without it made a difference.  Of course I didn't feel good, just better.  I was able to return to work two weeks after stopping tx.  A month after tx my strength had come back.  Three months after tx I felt 90% normal and I continued having little side effects for six months after that.  It took about 8 - 10 months for the insomnia to clear up.

TX was a very rough road for me.  Fortunately I was a good responder and only had to be treated for six months.  It was just like a bad dream now.  You get through it and move on.  

The treatment worked, BTW.  I am virus free.  I did not wait until symptoms from the disease started kicking in.  Knowing what I know now, as sick as I got from tx, and I was really sick, I would probably wait til the newer treatments to go on tx.   Having said that though the telaprevir treatment probably added 20 years to my life so I am in no position to complain.



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hrsetrdr


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Hi Barnacle,

I think that there are a couple factors that come into play, regarding the poor vs the good post tx postings: one is that once some people begin feeling much better after finishing treatment and they get their energy back, and get their life back...then they just aren't posting on this forum since life is so good. The other type of post-tx member may be experiencing lingering side effects from the drugs; naturally they are seeking answers, posting questions or complaints, or just looking for common ground with other members.

I'm not sure which of the new treatments that stage 3 patients can participate in, but if you can get HepC treatment without an interferon+ribavirin requirement, then in my mind you would be dodging much of the typical problems that post tx members post about.

__________________

"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

Aug.2013 SVR

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
- Unknown

 

 
Barnacle


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Thanks for your reply. My hep clinic nurse does not want to send me lab results via internet due to privacy issues and I won't see my specialist for a couple of weeks yet. I will have to ask for my numbers then but didn't pay too much attention at the last visit to know them.
I do know I am gen 1a, my fibrosis is stage 3 and my VL is around 2M other than that I will have to wait.

__________________

57yo male gen 1a since '70s. Fib F3-4 VL >2M Tx started 5 Apr 14 Sov/Oly/Rib

wk 4 UND wk 8 UND, wk 12 EOT UND...keep em coming 24wks UND = SVR!
Tig


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Hi Barnacle,

Honestly it's difficult to give you an answer that applies to every situation or individual. I have seen Tx affect many people similarly or wildly different. It really depends on the individual, genotype and current general health. Do you have any lab results that you can share with us yet? I see we had discussed this a couple of weeks ago and that information would help us give better opinions and answers. Just know that some people recover quite quickly from treatment and some experience effects from Tx for years following. For many of us it's a slow process that takes more time than we had hoped. But the good news is the majority of people do see great improvement of the negative symptoms they felt for years as a result of their active infection. Once you've slayed the Dragon, your health will improve and your liver will be much, much happier! Good luck!

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Barnacle


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I have been reading lots of the threads on here regarding treatment and it seems that often poor post treatment health gets discussed more than good health.

I will be discussing treatment options with my specialist in a couple of weeks and was hoping to hear from post treatment people how long before you started feeling normal again? How long before you went back to life like it was before treatment? Does the sickness you felt prior to treatment ever completely go away?

I know every one is different but I really want to get an idea of what I'm getting myself into.

 

thanks,

B...



-- Edited by Barnacle on Saturday 4th of January 2014 11:55:55 PM

__________________

57yo male gen 1a since '70s. Fib F3-4 VL >2M Tx started 5 Apr 14 Sov/Oly/Rib

wk 4 UND wk 8 UND, wk 12 EOT UND...keep em coming 24wks UND = SVR!
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