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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Depression
Post Info TOPIC: Depression
mindovermatter


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RE: Depression
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Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses. I guess, I will have to take each day at a time and accept that there will be days when I would be feeling low. Its a part of the whole treatment experience.

 

You all have made things easier for me.

Thank you for that.

 



__________________

31 year old Indian

Starting viral load 2.3 million

Started treatment: 31/12/2013 with pegylated interferon and Ribavarin.

Fibroscan score : 5.3 kpa

GT : 3

EOT: 16th June 2014
hrsetrdr


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mindovermatter wrote:
Sometimes I feel like I am damaged goods. I don't know.

I had shared with one of my friends that I had Hep C. Days later, I had a trivial argument with him.

And he branded me as a 'weakling' because I had Hep C. I am the last person on earth to seek sympathy from anyone. But that was kind of below the belt. Not too many friends know that I have Hep C.


 

 -- Edited by mindovermatter on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 06:53:29 AM

 

The drugs are powerful, and not feeling yourself is normal, it may be a personal battle to gain back the sense of self and well being that you once had.   You will come back from this tx a better person, and having defeated the virus will be an added plus.

It's an unfortunate part of human nature to point the finger at others who are in struggle, don't let thoughtless ignorant comments take you down.

Best wishes for your defeating the dragon.



-- Edited by hrsetrdr on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 10:46:10 PM

__________________

"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

 

 
Tornado


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Hi, I was a non-responder too. and taken of therapy. But now my doctor gave me off-label meds Sovaldi & Olysio. Very minable to no side effects. great success rate. So, don't get discouraged. Your cure will be soon. Best regards  Tim 



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Tim Geno 1A, null responder x 4, mild cirrhosis, contracted 1974 blood transfusion currently on Sovaldi/Olysio
tonib


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I was depressed when I was on treatment and I asked for an antidepressant, which helped.

I was grouchy, tired, pale, and I worked the whole time.

I took lots of naps and slept as much as I could.

I also took walks with loud music in my ears to help me forget what was happening.

Lots of pity parties....unfortunately it did not work, I am a non responder to triple therapy, basically interferon.

If you make it through, and you acheive SVR then its all worth it...good luck hang in there!!



__________________

 geno 1, started peg and riba 7/5/13, now 29th day is vicrellis ***tonib VL started 6 million, after 5 weeks 374,000, after 8 weeks 150,000....the big test for VL is 9/27 at 12 weeks  TAKEN OFF THERAPY JUST NOT WORKING FOR ME...12 WEEKS STILL HAVE 9000 VL
globetrotter


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Hello MoM

There is a common thread with a lot of people suffering with the mental aspect and depression type feelings on this treatment. My Dr made it very clear to me that I was to speak with him if I felt depressed and coping less well at any time. As others have said it is the meds bubble and if AD's get you through that in order to clear the virus please ask for them. 

I have to do the 48 weeks and wonder if my current anti social tendencies and constant fight I am in to stay out of depression will ever subside, but reading the post treatment stories I know its not forever...I have asked my husband and close family to tell me if I seem to be sliding into depression.



__________________

51 year old Geno type 1A,  possibly 30 years HCV. HBV detected but currently dormant. viral load over 1,000,000. Started triple with Telaprevir Nov 2013 for 48 weeks.

VL week 4 -179,

VL week 12 -50. 

VL WEEK 24 -UND
robertsamx


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my diagnoses came when i was 30 yrs old, im 57 and just started treatment. the last 27 years have been hell, knowing i had hcv and too chicken to treat it. if i could go back and treat at 30 years old i would do it in a heart beat. your young, you have the rest of your life to enjoy life to the fullest, but draging the hcv virus along with you will take its tool on your body and on your mind. there hasent been a day in the last 27 years i havent thought of the hep monster in my body, it will wear on you mentally. Do this treatment. its only temporary, and then get on with your life and live well and prosper. your numbers are low, you will respond well and cure yourself. Man im pulling for you and praying for you, we all want you to clear the monster.   RC



__________________

 M-68, 3 Treatments)( SOF-RIBA 2014)(SOF-RIBA-PEG 2016)(HCC 2016) (LIVER TRANSPLANT 8-2017)(VOSEVI-RIBA 2017)   SVR-12. 3-13-18   
Scruffy


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Gotta roll with the punches mindovermatter. That "I just wanna be left alone"is the bubble the meds put you in I talked about in another post. The " damaged goods " remark is not acceptable. If some one branded me weak they would be on the top of my "riba rage list" :) You have to fight those feelings. It could be worse. I'll share some thing that happened to me this week. I made a close friend in prison many years ago, he also had hep c. I've stayed in touch with him for the past 20yrs "brothers forever". A few years ago he told me they found spots on his liver that come and go. This week I got a call from a prison official asking if I knew his next of kin he was very sick. He had nobody.  A little while later I got a call from the prison chaplin.

The next day I got a call from my NP. At 36 weeks I'm still undect. my alt and ast were both 20.  Do I feel lucky? You bet I do and so should you! The way your feeling is the tx try to not let it get the best of you.



__________________

Geno 1a null responder 2004 inter/riba   finished incivek,peg/riba 48 weeks May 17th 2014. undetect weeks 4-12-32.  EOT+7 undetect. EOT+24 SVR!!!!! EOT+!YEAR SVR!!!!
Gracie


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I have good days and bad days. I have a group of friends who do know, but whom I'm not really close to. Since two others from that group have both successfully been treated for hep c, I was not afraid of being judged. My business friends however, I haven't told. I'm just afraid of discrimination, and that dreaded "how did you get that?" question that seems to pop out of everybody's mouth. I even had a root canal specialist ask me that once like its any of his business.

Now of course people who I see a lot can tell I've not been well. I tell them I am struggling with low platelets and anemia. (which is true ...lol). A couple have asked why I have that, and I just say its something I've been dealing with for awhile and it will take time for my body to build itself back up. Seems to work fine. If I have to stay home like I did last Monday, nobody questions why.

I'm certainly not as social as I was. That I miss. And not making plans for Saturday and Sunday is hard too as I was pretty active before. I think the combination of such a lifestyle change, feeling yucky most days, having no energy etc. does make us irritable and sad. And the meds encourage that as well.

If you do try an AD, start with a mild one with minimal side effects and do some research. I started with one that had widespread nausea as a side effect and it made me sick and not eating for two days. I have a different one now that is easier tolerated, but haven't started it yet. Been feeling pretty good this week so dont feel the need. Another thing I noticed is the mood, side effects and problems change weekly. You never know what's around the bend.

So if you think you need an AD, try one. If you need to be alone, be alone. If you feel anti social, don't go out. This is all just temporary and you will be back to your normal happy funny self before you know it. And you'll have more energy without those drasted hep c bugs sucking all your energy stores..

__________________
  1. Gracie

1A. Previously treated non responder Rebetron in 2000 And Incevik in 2014 with a breakthrough at week 12. Fibroscan 15.5. VL 6,000,000. Finished 24 weeks harvoni on Dec. 19, 2015. SVR. Latest Fibroscan 8.8.
mallani


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Hi MoM,

What you're experiencing is not uncommon. Accept that it's the drugs, not you. We've all been there to some degree, and I was a miserable bastard for the last 3 months of Rx. My darling wife cancelled all visitors, as I had no interest, and I did some angry posts, upsetting some good people on this Forum.

Tig has a good point with the antidepressants- I probably should have tried them, but was too proud to ask. Discuss your problems with your doctor.

Everything returns to normal after EOT- keep telling yourself that. Cheers buddy, you're among friends.



__________________

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
mindovermatter


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Hi Tig56,

Thank you for sharing your views. I don't know if its interferon or if its just me.

I have become insecure. Everything looks okay at work. But I keep on wondering whether they are planning to fire me.

I don't think its interferon. Or may be it is.

But I feel lonely, hassled and prone to negative thoughts. These days I generally have a grumpy face. I don't smile when I see people. I don't feel like greeting them. I just want to avoid everyone and be in my shell.

 

I know that I might be pissing off people with my attitude but I can't really help it at the moment.

 

This forum and people like you, Matt Chris, Mallani and Jill are life savers for people on treatment

 



-- Edited by mindovermatter on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 07:16:40 AM



-- Edited by mindovermatter on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 07:23:01 AM

__________________

31 year old Indian

Starting viral load 2.3 million

Started treatment: 31/12/2013 with pegylated interferon and Ribavarin.

Fibroscan score : 5.3 kpa

GT : 3

EOT: 16th June 2014
Tig


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Hi MoM,

I'm sorry to hear about these issues during treatment. Are you aware of the documented fact that Interferon is a well known cause of depression? It affected me so badly the first time I took Interferon/Riba treatment I had a hard time shaking it. I wasn't made aware of the possibility and when I finally approached my doctor with it, he knew immediately what it was and started me on anti depressants. They resolved the trouble very quickly. Before I would consider treatment this time around, I insisted that my doctor start me on an AD ahead of time and he did. I didn't suffer at all like I did the first time around. Some people can tough it out during treatment, and some aren't as affected by it. I wasn't one of those people. There is plenty of literature on the fact and we've got several threads on the subject here. Use the search function and read on some of the solutions and stories. The combination of Interferon and Ribavirin are a double whammy on your emotions. I wouldn't hesitate to mention this with your doctor and hopefully get it resolved quickly. You're in the right place and we're here to talk you through this whenever we can. Hang in there and be sure to let those that are supporting you know about this side effect. They can help you through this and as long as they understand this is a side effect of the medicine and not you, will help them and you deal with it. But please be sure and let your doctor or nurse know about this ASAP!

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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mindovermatter


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I don't know why but I have started feeling low these days. There is no definite reason. As, I have shared with you all, my family is super supportive. Things are okay at the work front too. Infact, yesterday was my birthday, and we went out for a team lunch. We also had cake cutting in the office. Even, when all this was happening, I just wanted to run away from it all. 

I am known for my sense of humour and easy going disposition. But after returning to work , in the same office, after being on leave for 3 and a half months, I just don't feel as comfortable anymore. I am more serious these days. Not that I snap at people. But I am quieter and I just want to be left alone.

Sometimes I feel like I am damaged goods. I don't know.

I had shared with one of my friends that I had Hep C. Days later, I had a trivial argument with him.

And he branded me as a 'weakling' because I had Hep C. I am the last person on earth to seek sympathy from anyone. But that was kind of below the belt. Not too many friends know that I have Hep C. They do however know that I am not keeping well for some time.

Family has been great. Colleagues have been okay. Its just that sometimes I feel let down by my friends

I don't even know why I am writing all this here. But I just wanted to ask people about their experiences while being on treatment. How were their friends and family to them. Just want to talk a bit.

 

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by mindovermatter on Saturday 22nd of February 2014 06:53:29 AM

__________________

31 year old Indian

Starting viral load 2.3 million

Started treatment: 31/12/2013 with pegylated interferon and Ribavarin.

Fibroscan score : 5.3 kpa

GT : 3

EOT: 16th June 2014
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