Hi all,,,,,,,ya the feelings of "gosh is this ever gonna end" is always there. into week 40 and it still nags at me. had an episode of rage a few weeks ago and the doc put me on some anti-deppresants. held off as long as I could but feel better for taking them. sort of mellows me out. don't like taking all these drugs either and the headaches are almost constant. no fever, but a good size thumper all the time. But summer is here and the weather in this part of Canada is real good now so gonna put the boat in the water and use up time basking in the sun. never wanted a summer to go by fast till this year. hang in there all,,,,,,,we are winners.

Rfish

I am at week 22 of treatment. The sides have changed a lot since my first shot. In the beg. of TX I had mostly physical aches and pains (mostly bad headaches and sore neck and shoulders), major fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, and lack of concentration. Later I started to develop mouth sores. This got really irritating and painful and made it hard to drink water or eat. I got Mary's Magic Mouthwash from the doc to help with this. I also ordered some canker sore medication on line that was made from bees. That helped alot too. Then about week 10 or 12 I started getting the emotional sides. First I was really sad and feeling suicidal. This got pretty bad so I went to the Dr. for that. he prescribed anti depressants and eventually after getting the dose right the suicidal urges went away pretty much. I was still taking everything really hard. I was still crying a lot, and then I started with the raging. I had a couple of instances with my girlfriend where it got pretty out of control and somewhat physical (actually her trying to restrain me while going nuts)( I  was out of my mind, completely out of reality, with terrible terrible perception). I don't know how to handle the slightest emotional flux without a strong reaction. I took a total of 3 months in another state away from her to try to save the relationship because I knew this wasn't right and wasn't the real me. The time away definitely helped. It was still difficult over the phone. I needed constant reassurance that I was loved and cared about. If I didn't feel that, I would go into a very deep emotional sadness and push everybody close to me out of my life. (I have done this several times while on TX). Anyways, I feel very bad about my rages and the damage that may have already been done in the relationship.I know it is the medication making me do this. I only have 2 more weeks of TX but it feels like this will never end. Do whatever you need to do to keep you and your family safe during treatment. I have done things I never thought I would do. It is the weirdest thing ever. I hope to God that I come out of this emotional funk when I finish TX. I believe I will and you will too. I am lucky I didn't get arrested during these times. She threatened twice to call the police on me and three other times to hospitalize me. The rage is definitely not easy to deal with. STAY SAFE, GET HELP AND GOOD LUCK.

Rob

Hi Hope ,

I have just restarted treatment into week 4 now , I have yet to experience rage or real depression  but before begining treatment I read alot or articles and asked alot of questions,  weather I have been lied to or not time will tell , I was told from my Dr. that rage side effects are usally from people than have some sort of anger in there past  I don't mean like some lunitic but moreso like a person who just doesn't take some things so easy and tends to let people know more verballt than someone who can let things slide.

I am concerned however than these articles I am reading are from people who are in their 40 + week , my particular program runs 48 weeks and was told by the end  people who have responded well have alot of energy and feel 100% better. I wish you and all the best of recovery from this regime of drugs, Also I am hoping to correspond with other Hep C patients hoping that this may be another plus for us to give each other the support that only can be understtod from HepC patients e mail me if you like to stay in touch

Best to all

                   Ron ,,Niagara Falls Canada

I was very lucky through the whole 48 weeks that I did not experience the rage or depression that so many people do.  I really feel for the ones that it effects so drastically, I know how hard it can be and to NOT be able to control it must be frustrating.

I was blessed with minimal side effects during the whole treatment and now am on my 2nd week with the Pegatron....WOOHOO.  I am getting my strength back now and actually managing to even stay up a little bit later at night.

I know it takes about 6 months for the meds to leave your body and I know every day I feel a bit better.

I wish everyone could sail thr tx the way I did.

My son is his 26 week of this RX. My God had I known then what I know now....no way would I have put him through this. He has turned into a arrogrant, rude, selfish, explosive, suicidal lunitic. He throws up all day, he rarely eats despite the fact tht he has been approved for medical marijunana for appetite, crys, and complains of chronic pain. Our family doctor has prescripted Tylenol # 3 for him and that has turned into a full blown addiction. His behaviour has turned from white to black. He hates the world, us and himself. He at times feels suicidal, lost, hopeless. Just last night he stated that his head feels f#*cked up. I am interested in knowing if there is anyone out there under 20 taking this RX? I also would like to know if what he is experincing is in fact pain and not fatigue? His liver doctor is somewhat "not believing" what my son is feeling. I am told that there is no pain, and most of the side effects are in his head. Can someone shed some light. Is he going mad or is this the effects of the meds? I wish alot of luck to everyone out there struggling with Hep C and my prayers are with you all.

C

"I am told that there is no pain, and most of the side effects are in his head."

Hi Connie, I was on treatment from Jan.06 to Dec. 48weeks. I can assure you that sometimes the severe side effect are not in ones head. Looking back I don't know how I stayed on treatment the full time. That stuff kicked my *ss into the ground. A few times I truly past over into the danger zone. The options are either quit tx or endure to the end. I tried pot I had to do illegally and it didn't help much. Didn't do nothing for the pain that I would feel thoughout my body. I would give your son the benifit of the doubt. That it's the drug talking and not your son. The suicidal part is something to be concern about. If that is the true feeling of his doctor I can tell he's very wrong. I've met people who quit tx because the side effect were so ruff. He must have just started treating for hep c and certainly don't the truth about it's side effects. I'm not a doctor and don't pretend to be. I writting from being on tx twice, for a total of 72 weeks. Hoping You The Best, Randy

Dear Connie,

I am not on the treatment but have been by the side of my boyfriend who is on the treatment and going on week 29. I was there for all the information before treatment began and all the preparations for the treatment and now going through the treatment. The pain is not in your son's head. The pain is a part of the treatment and if he never opted to do the treatment he would have eventually had joint and muscle pain and abdominal pain too. I hope he and you can find the strength to carry on with the treatment. I too put up with very difficult behavior and massive mood swings all in the hopes that this will be a cure or in the very least add years and quality of life to those who are on the treatment. My boyfriend has had a zero viral count since his half way count was done and hopefully he will stay that way. I am in no way an expert on this just someone who is fumbling and flailing through this like many of the rest of the supporters of people on this treatment. I would suggest that if his doctor says it is all in his head to get a second opinion or second doctor. There is an interesting article you could reference and discuss with your son's doctor here is the link. http://www.ccjm.org/PDFFILES/hepadCrone.pdf

I wish you all the best and you and your son will be in my thoughts and prayers.