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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Epclusa fatigue
Post Info TOPIC: Epclusa fatigue
JB


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Epclusa fatigue
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Try exercising some. When I started treatment- actually a few weeks prior, I started walking quite a bit. Gave me energy and kept me motivated. On July 4, I even participated (run/walk) in a 10k. This was right in the middle of treatment. I felt good. Very few side affects knock on wood. Only 12 pills left!

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39/M, Dx Apr 2018. GT3. Possible HCV since birth. Pre-treatment VL 653,000; ALT 201, AST 116, Fibroscan w/ Fscore of 3 w/ some fatty liver, Tx 12 weeks Epclusa ended Aug 18. MRI June showed no cirrhosis, but something on liver - possibly artifact 1.4x0.6cm. EOT VL undetected w/ ALT/AST normal. 
Hoodietree


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Thank you so much for the replies observer and lamassu

Observer my fellow leg cramp survivor!! They are the worst, as you know. Picturing you trying to sleep with one foot on the floor, ugh I can relate so much! I never connected it to Hep c but this has been ongoing for years for me and I dearly hope and pray for all our sakes that this symptom is IRRADICATED at SVR. 

Lamassu, Thanks for sharing your experience with fatigue and energy returning at 10 weeks. It gives me hope and Im very grateful for that!

Hang in there my friends and thank you so much for your support - it means the world to me  



__________________

F, 51, GT3, HCV since 1989, no alcohol since 1999, Fibrosis score F0-1 (.36), VL 216,000, ALT 23, AST 26, Epclusa SOT 7/26/18 EOT 10/18/18. Thank you God. 
lamassu


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Hi Hoodie,

The first four days of Epclusa hit me like a brick: could barely leave bed due to heavy fatigue. Improved on the fifth day but I had significant fatigue during treatment. The worst was around week 8 too tired to leave the house. Fatigue lifted suddenly at week 10 and at EOT I was fatigue free and remain so. I get my EOT + 12 week viral load August 22. Drinking that full gallon of water a day seemed key to minimizing the fatigue. Epclusa was difficult for some of us but undetectable HCV at EOT will make you forget the discomfort. Hope you feel better, be good to yourself and don't forget the gallon of water a day.



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Male, 67, Dx 1990, GT 2a/2c. Pre-tx VL 11,500,000, ALT 10, AST 18, F3, 12.4 kPa. Rx: 12 weeks Epclusa, SOT 3/8/18, EOT 5/30/18. Week 2 VL 50, ALT 12, AST 21. EOT + 12 weeks: VL not detected, ALT 11, AST 19. EOT + 24 weeks VL not detected, ALT 9, AST 24. 8/15/19 F2 8.8 kPa.
Observer


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I did a completely different drug treatment than you are doing, it included  the dreaded ribivaron furious, so I had a fair amount of side effects. It seemed as soon as I realized I was having a side effect (and not just regular hepC symptoms) ....my side effect would morph into a new side effect. Itching, headaches fatigue.....

As for tips for dealing with fatigue, rest as much as you can and make others jump up to....get you stuff, fill your coffee, let the dog in, etc, its a pretty short time in the big scheme of things and the payoff is wonderful.

 

I have also noticed you complaining about getting leg cramps... I used to sometimes weep at night because my legs cramped so badly, I could only stop the cramp by pressing my toes against the floor, which also meant I actually had to *try* to sleep with my feet on the floor and my upper body on the bed..Im sure it looked ridiculous but I was desperate for sleep...

anyhoo...magnesium glycinate was and is the magic pill for my leg cramps... magnesium citrine can help too (but gives me the runs which you might not mind according to your other threadaww)



__________________

61 y/o, Infected via transfusion Oct'83, GT-1a, F-4 cirrhotic,
tx Holkira pak/moderiba 12 weeks

4 years.... successful dragon slayer 
Hoodietree


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Thank you SeeTheLight and Tig for your replies.

STL, Im glad to hear you were able to avoid the fatigue but that is a bummer about the insomnia. Hope youre sleeping better now?

Tig I am hopeful that my energy will return with a vengeance!

I am going to try to relax and be patient. 

Gnight everyone



__________________

F, 51, GT3, HCV since 1989, no alcohol since 1999, Fibrosis score F0-1 (.36), VL 216,000, ALT 23, AST 26, Epclusa SOT 7/26/18 EOT 10/18/18. Thank you God. 
Tig


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It affects people differently, but shouldn’t be a long term problem for you. The first 2-3 weeks often take some adjustment. These are powerful anti virals and are busy slaying a Dragon. Even though the side effects are minimal, your body is still fighting quite a battle. Things are happening around the clock and once you give your metabolism a chance to adjust to the changes, you may even notice a burst of energy. Continue to hydrate, a lot and get all the rest you can afford to take. It will pass. 



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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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SeeTheLight


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Hi Hoodie,

I'm Gen 3 and I didn't suffer with Fatigue. I am a terrible insomniac so maybe that's why.  (EOT 2 weeks ago) My worst experience on treatment was late that first week. With me it was a nauseous woozy feeling particularly a horrid pressure round the ears that I recall. Constipation quite a lot also which surprised me with the amount of water being consumed along with my diet. I hear a lot of people talking about the fatigue so its very, very common, yet it did not plague me. I wonder what other things factor into the side effects people suffer. I'm guessing its not just the hep itself or the genotype since I didn't suffer with fatigue. Just curious I guess......



__________________

66/F Contracted Early 80's First Diagnosed Early 2000's 2017 re diagnosis and referral for treatment Gen 3a Fibroscan 8.7

Epclusa 12 weeks commenced 1 May 2018 ALT 72 AST 67

28 May 2018 4 weeks ALT 16 AST 23 ...... 23 July 2018 EOT ALT 23 AST 30 .....Oct 16 2018 SVR12 UND
Hoodietree


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Hi friends. I find that Im too fatigued to leave the house this weekend and it bumming me out. Drank my gallon already and its only 3pm.

Going to an A.A. mtg at 630 and dinner afterwards so will probably be out past my bedtime heh. Good thing I had a 4 hour nap, lol.

Planning to have the yummy wild salmon at our usual Thai restaurant for dinner. Looking forward to seeing my friends. 

Any strategies or advice around fatigue will be greatly appreciated. 

Its only week 1 for me am I expecting too much?

If you did Epclusa for genotype 3, Id be interested in hearing - when did your energy return?

All other comments/advice welcome and appreciated.



__________________

F, 51, GT3, HCV since 1989, no alcohol since 1999, Fibrosis score F0-1 (.36), VL 216,000, ALT 23, AST 26, Epclusa SOT 7/26/18 EOT 10/18/18. Thank you God. 
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