anemia.inflammation of multiple joints especially the hands,very painful+swollen feet knees from water retention,chronic fatigue.need painkillers and anti-infammatory to get out of bed.depression,memory loss , confusion still. treatment finished a year ago. lots of avoidance from hospital no diagnosis just politics and me the victim.
2006-09-11 12:49:35 · 3 answers · asked by edgedeva2 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Try this info here for stopping hep C
2006-09-11 15:10:59 · answer #1 · answered by Know it all 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It took me about 2 1/2 years to feel like myself after treatment. Hep c is a disease with extrahepatic manifestations, as Stephy said in the previous response. The swollen feet and legs can be a sign of your liver not functioning properly. I also had joint pain before and after treatment. Oddly enough, during treatment the joint pain subsided. Everyone is different, this disease affects everyone in different ways. Other diseases can also take advantage of your weakened immune system and emerge as a result of the virus. Rhuematoid arthritis is one of those, and there are others. I'm sorry you've had such a hard time and did not respond. Hopefully your liver will have some histologic improvement as a result. Research has shown that to happen even in people who do not respond to the meds. Hang in there, try to drink lots of water as Stephy recommended, walk a little to help the joint pain, and watch the pain killers; they often contain acetominophen which when taken in larger doses can cause liver damage. Let all your doctors know what meds you're on so they can all watch your liver. Best wishes.
2006-09-12 09:33:34 · answer #2 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the medications for antiviral chemotherapy will aggrivate your HCV. what your experiencing is hepatitis c.
i am on the other side of the fence. i had every symtpom you speak of except for anemia prior to treatment.
you have not stated how long you have been on painkillers and anti-inflammatory's but i can tell you now that the painkillers will actually make your issues worse as it slows healing time.
when a person goes on antiviral chemotherapy it can take up to two years before you will feel good again. you should continue drinking as close to a gallon of water a day. try to wean off the pain pills.
did the virus level decrease at all during your year on chemo?
people don't realize sometimes how sick they actually were prior to antiviral chemotherapy because it can take decades to do it's damage. since it does so slowly (the nature of chronic illness) you probably did not realize the pain.
as for the fatigue...you need all the rest you can get.
furthermore, have you ever been diagnosed with another illness besides hcv like lyme disease? sometimes when your infected with two viral infections, interferon can make things worse.
do not avoid doctors. make them do their job.
as for the water retention, have you had your kidney's checked?
HCV is not just a liver disease. It affects all parts of our bodies. You may have several bi-directional diseases due to having HCV, anotherwords, without HCV you probably would not have them.
I can't seem to fathom a doctor has not put you on a diretic or even suggested the kidney testing.
I feel for you. I grew up with HCV and noticed it's symptoms...but no one knew what it was. I had skin rashes, aches and pains and swelling in joints. Memory issues, brain fog, lethargy, gallbladder surgery due to stones (first main medical issue that should of required testing for my liver as they often are seen in those with liver disease). As I got older the symptoms got worse.
I was sleeping 18 hour days. It wasn't much of a life.
Antiviral chemotherapy, aside from the anemia during chemo and the fatigue, I actually felt better. I no longer have fibro-at least not to the extent of not being able to move.
Chances are you just did not realize how bad things were before chemo like I said. The medications might of knocked out some virons, but when you were done without a sustained viral response, the virus got vengeful and hit you all at once. The medications alone did not do the damage. HCV is a *****.
Again, try to wean off those painkillers. Drink lots of water. Something will come along that you will be able to tolerate much easier....and the treatment DID do something positive! It did give your liver a nice break from the virus and quasispecies HCV is known for!
I wish you well and please keep in touch!
heppystephy@yahoo.com
HUGS! I wish it were MUCH easier on you!
2006-09-11 22:13:26 · answer #3 · answered by stephanie s 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋