| russ |
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| #1 |
I've taken my last pills today of 6 months worth of Pegatron. I still feel sick and very out of control emotionally. Does it ever get any better? Can someone talk about what life is like after Interferon? Is there any truth to the permanent brain damage effects I read about on one suspect internet page. Can someone brighten the light at the end of my tunnel??
much love - russ
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| smile |
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| #2 |
Were you taking Ribavirin too? Were you on anti-depressants to help with the emotional aspect?
I have been off Peg for 2.5 months but I was taking Riba and Lexpro with it. I am still having problems with headaches if I dont drink water but that is slowly getting better. The brain fog is dimishing too. It is supposed to take a bit to recover. Your body has to repair itself just like you broke a leg. You arent going to go running the day after you get your cast off. Give us more info on your treatment and maybe we can give you better advice.
lee
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| bent | |
| bent |
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| #4 |
When I finished my last pill, I waited to feel better, and waited and waited. Then I decided that I should stop waiting and start living.
My progress, post peg, was so pitifully slow. Then one day, I remembered something. Nothing real important, just something I was using, set down, and then needed again. Wow. Slowly my energy returned. I celebrated the small things. The day I could open a bottle of water for myself. (I had gone down to 84 pounds and had no muscle tone left).
Now, it's 2 1/2 years after and I have my weight back, I am working 4 days a week. I recently laughed, a real, from the heart, from the stomach, laugh. That was the first time I had felt any real emotion since starting treatment. I had only felt confused, depressed, sad and weak.
I have heard much more encouraging reports from many others. Was it worth it... Who can say... I am a non-responder, but as my very wise brother reminds me, if I forget, I got the disease stopped for a year. That counts for something. And I am very aware that I am much stronger than I ever believed I could be. Treatment was tough for me and I completed it.
Good luck to you...
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| Bob |
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| #5 |
Finished Pegetron treatment last week. Have questions on how quick the medication flushes out of your system. I would like to get my mind back and loose some of this depression. |
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| smile |
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| #6 |
We still more specifics on what other meds you were taking. I feel very fortunate after listening to Bent's story because I am already lifting weights and bulking up again. I have easily put on 20 pounds of muscle. I decided not to push myself for the first 6 weeks and then I really started rehabing my body. The mind will follow. I am super frisky again with my wife. She loves and hates it. HA!!! I am about three months out of treatment with Peg, Riba and Lexapro. I still have headaches and a bit forgetful. I hear the estimated time is six months.
smile
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| bob |
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| #7 |
I completed 48 weeks pegetron/ribavarin last week. Am on no other drugs at this point quit the olanzapine last week as well. How are the first 3 weeks after treatment. Does your mind come back soon I hope so? Any comments help me cause I am stuggling some days thank all. |
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| Leeboo |
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| #8 |
I completed 48 weeks of Interferon / Ribivirin TX last October and feel as well as I did before I started the TX. I'm still taking Wellbutrin every morning and Remeron every night. The only thing I know for sure is that I'm zero detectable and glad the TX is over. I'm pretty sure the effects of the Interferon are gone. I'm able to exercise more than I could before TX and I am getting stronger every month. My only advise is to keep drinking the water. I don't know about any brain fog, memory loss or anything of that nature. Perhaps the antideppressants are working too well. |
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| smile |
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| #9 |
I think the brain fog tapers off instead of going away right off the bat. I believe your brain has to repair itself just like your body does. I can definitely say that my wife noticed a big difference in the last 5-6 weeks. Our conversations are much better.
Good luck Bob.
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| russ |
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| #10 |
Thanks guys for the replies! Really means alot. I was on just the basic Pegatron packages which were the weekly injections and the 6 pills a day (3 morning and 3 at night). I was on this regime for 6 months and feel lucky to this point that's all I had to endure. I am so sorry to hear that "bent" was a non responder - God bless you bro! In all you seek and beyond this life that is far from fair.
The rage is the hardest part for me to control and live with post Pegatron. Physically I feel somewhat better, but I still get my moments of absolute exhaustion. It really sounds like this stuff will improve based on what you guys are saying... THANKS BE!!! The resentments I have towards family and friends that disappeared from my life for the 6 months I left the working world and suffered daily in quiet seclusion are something else I wonder if I'll ever get over. Sometimes I genuinely wish equal pain on people who outwardly seem to take the ease of life so much for granted. I've pretty much stopped trying to tell anyone how sick I was - they simply don't get it and when you look fine on the outside,.. well - you must be fine.
Well kids! Russ is far from fine yet, but very hopeful. I just wish my blood nurse would call and tell me what my viral load is now. Wondering if I got over the Hep C is no picnic either,.. but on that I'm super-hopeful too. I didn't expect to have 8 replies when I looked back on here. Bless you guys so much for that! Means a boatload of love.
ROCK! - russ
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| russ |
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| #11 |
OH! Forgot to say that I did the 6 months without any anti-depressants. I'm basically a sadist and wanted to prove that I could tough it out. Mostly because I was in the psych ward when I 1st met my liver specialist and he made me wait 8 months to start the treatment for fear I would commit suicide on it. He was and still is a pompous prick to deal with. I guess I wanted to show how tough I could be and how wrong he was. Probably wasn't the smartest thing, but the Dr. with no sign of human personality is now very quick to point out how good a patient I was. I got the Hep from the needle and was a very out of control drug addict this time last year. This month on May 24th I will be one year into absolute recovery, no drug or alcohol abuse whatsoever. I even quit smoking cigarettes during the last month of Pegatron! Like I said... SADIST
:-) russ
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| Milret2 |
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| #12 |
I suspect the power that you had to deal with the demons of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, tobacco use, and dealing with treatment for hep C will make your future life a lot better no matter what that viral load test shows .. and I bet that will be normal. At least I will keep you in my thoughts and hopes. Good luck.
You said "The resentments I have towards family and friends that disappeared from my life for the 6 months I left the working world and suffered daily in quiet seclusion are something else I wonder if I'll ever get over". I say there are people out there that are just not that worth knowing and that can include family. That does not mean you will not form new and much better relations. Hang in there.
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| russ |
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| #13 |
Thanks for that "Milret2" - it means a great deal because I was having a guilt complex over my feelings and I really think I'm learning to let go. Some of that is finding people on this message board that have been through similar things or at least the difficulties. It also seems that the Hep Cats have a deeper sense of empathy because of going through the treatment. I have one friend only in this world still there for me - thankfully he's my roomate and equally committed to recovery and I've learned that's enough. I'm taking steps towards leaving the province I live in and moving to the other end of the country. I need a change after all this. This message board is a damn good thing. God bless you all!
russ
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| bob |
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| #14 |
you guys on here are great the support is priceless. It really is nice to talk to others in the same situation. I am in my second week post treatment now and as of yesterday had a burst of energy starting to feel good again. That pegetron/ribavarin really knocked me around during treatment I so glad it's over there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. God bless all of you |
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| Leebo |
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| #15 |
The the fellowship that is shared on this site is uplifting and the information is usually accurate. By sharing our experiences, we all learn a little more about Hep C, and life in general. Keep posting and God blees You All. |
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