Tom, I really appreciate your honesty. It's scarey, but its real!!!!
I'm in the same boat as Jenandroses. I was diagnosed in 98 probably had it since early 70's. Was ADAMENTLY opposed to tx. But I felt GOOD then! A little fatigue from time to time was my only sx. So I didn't do alcohol, tylenol or anything I knew of that would stress my liver, except, I must admit ciggies and pushing myself far too hard in a very stressful profession. All was GREAT until about 2005/06. Then the Cryoglobulemia started hitting. EVERYTHING you described about the way you feel now, is what I feel now and I've never had tx! My quality of life sucks!! I fought hard to keep working, put up w/ a lot of crap at work because I sick, finally I pretty much forced by these above me to go out on disability a little over a year ago. I loved my work and now Am on disability, struggling every day just to get out of bed, cook a little something and wash dishes. A trip to any of the Docs., or going out anywhere is usually a trip to HELL. I'm usually down and in bed for 1-2 days afterward. I can't be a wife to my husband, I no can no longer enjoy the many things I loved before, the joys that make life worth living are gone! Tx. is my ONLY hope and I'm praying that I get excepting in the Clinical trial my Doc has refered me for. I'm 59 yrs old. If my quality of life had remained close to what it was 6 or 7 yrs. ago, I'd prob. wait for tx., new meds, or just keep trying to take good care of myself. But as it is now, I have no quality of life. I pray that I do well and come out of this clinical trial (if I even get in) in better shape. I know that I may not happen. Even though I'm a 1a,Stage 2 I'm fortunate to have the CC genetic marker which predicts good outcomes as far as clearing the Hep. As far as "clearing the sides" I guess its just a crapshoot. The only chance I have for a better life, actually for life at all because I can't go on like this much longer, is to ROLL THE DICE!

I finished treatment in Jan of 2010 and although I think my joints are more tempermental than before,everything else is so much better. I had most of the common side affects cough,itchy,aches terrrible mood swings anemia ,hyperthyroid. They were all a tiny price to pay for me. I hope there is another explanation for the way you are feeling Dr's don't always have the right answers . Maybe you will have to find the solutions within yourself. Take care

First I will say, 3 1/2 months post-tx, I have bounced back (despite being sick 4 times since November - my immune system has been shattered). BUT I now realize how truly naive I was going into tx. Unfortuanely, I didn't stumble across DS until I was 8 wks into tx. I didn't know what to ask. I did what I was told. I was so focused on sides during tx, I never once asked about post tx sides. GI said you NEED to do tx and I did. At one point during my tx, my GI thought tx had caused lymphoma and had me see a surgeon. As I sat waiting to see the surgeon; I cried. I thought to myself, "I have made a huge mistake. I've possibly traded hep c for cancer!" The surgeon refused to remove the lymph node and we stuck with ultrasounds. I did not have lymphoma, but I know now it can cause it. How can anyone prepare themselves for that? It's just a risk we take? I, personally. am glad I did tx. Had it caused lymphoma, it would be another story. Its a tough decision.

yes, i too believe the age factor is important. i am 59 now and probably had this close to 40 years and i don't feel bad at all. so there are times i am in a quandry about this issue as well. def a double edged sword. my life, my decision very tough call...praying u will find peace and get some relief..wishing u the best

i hear u all and can understand. I personally am 10months post Tx and have the post sides mentioned. i learned to make it my intention in the morning and challenge the negative thinking and do the best i can physically, spiritualy and mentaly otherwise i would fall into the self pity rut and everything will go to hell. some days r better some worse i try to remind myself that i have a serious desease and its just in remission and by God's grace i am were i am 2 day. reading some of the posts reminded me how horrible during Tx was, thank God 4 the dog she really saved me, she was my only support and a friend who was going tru cancer herself

everyday hang on to that 1 thing that makes u see beauty even if its looking at a flower or being grateful 4 wrinkles cause they don't hurt :)
cultivate loving kindness

Wow........this OP is almost 6 months old...............(didn't realize that when I first saw it)...............wonder how Mcslo is doing now????????? Anyone heard???????????

Hi everyone. Been done with tx 2 years and 4 months. I am still around but on other DS sites. I am now hypothyroid and I am still fighting to come back. I have been diagnosed with Q fever. I tested positive 4 times. The infectious disease Dr at UCLA thinks all 4 tests were false positive. He thinks they are false due to interferon. No one is sure why I have felt so bad for so long.
I have now been on radical antibiotics since Thanksgiving. I am hoping they will help
I still take the stance I WOULDN"T DO IT AGAIN. I know there are very few with life long side effects and I hope Im not one of them. But so far things have been bad.
I do miss all my friends who were so much help and support.
Be well
Tom

Mcslo..............thank you so much for updating us:):) Nice to hear you are still around..........but sorry to hear whats still going on:(:(

Wishing the beary best for you in the future:):)

Hello Msclo!! I'm so glad your old post was bumped up so that it prompted you to update us. I had never heard of Q fever so I had to google it. Sorry you are having this issue.

As far as being hypothyroid after treatment, I do too but my daily thyroid pill controls that issue. I hope it does the trick for you too.

Taking heavy duty antibiotics are surely adding to your feeling of ill health but I hope they fix the problem.

Please keep us posted!

Glad to see you again Tom and I am truly sorry for all the post tx issues you are having. I have had several egd post tx due to the riba closing off my throat and the leg swellings that is similar to gout. Doc's tell me it is due to tx and hopefully will go away as time passes. All I can do is try to deal with it. But I think it is always a valid discussion so others will know the true experiences of hcv tx not just what the pharms and doc's tell us. I hope you can find the remedies to heal your ailments and please keep us posted on how you are doing.

This is all so depressing to read about. Starting tx in 2 days. Ugh is what comes to mind. :-(

So sorry to hear you are having such a hard time of it. I have never done Tx, I chose to do what I could to heal naturally, and it's been up and down due to my personal situation being turbulent. Having problems with health, finances and relationship all at once has been a real devil. Not to mention the bank sending a notice of default after a bankruptcy and a failed refinance. But we are still negotiating with the bank, after 3 years, so I'm keeping my eyes crossed. I can't type and cross my fingers, you know. ;-)

I ended up with terrible rage about what I considered terrible injustices and of course the rage just fed the virus and made me really sick. I just heard about a book called Power vs Force, by David Hawkins. He graphed emotions according to scores measured by machines. I would say I spent way too much time in the lower energies since about a year before my diagnosis. Anger, fear, apathy, guilt, grief and shame and all it took was anything critical, or even perceived as critical when it wasn't, from my spouse. The dragon took over and I could not find myself until something shifted, generally he shifted, but I learned to do the shifting, it was hard, but I did it.

I've broken a lot of things......but this spring something happened, and I have not been so angry anymore. I've let go. And when I let go, I got better. I started being able to do more and hurt less. Sunday I hiked my first hike of the year, to the overlook of Grandeur Peak. I developed sore muscles the following afternoon, and fever blisters from too much sun, but hey, anyone can have that happen on their first hike of the year.

Might I offer that you check in with your thoughts and feelings? Are you getting up every morning and saying Thank you? I find that really helps. When I feel grateful, it boosts my immune system and helps me feel better. I got my garden all planted too! It's pretty big. Hubby tilled it and then I shoveled it into 3 long raised beds. Planted tomatoes, melons, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, beets, onions, and mixed salad greens. The garden is about 35 by 20. not as big as before I got sick, but bigger than last year.

What I did was just accept that I wasn't able to do things, but I wasn't sick enough to get SSI, or just couldn't find a doctor willing to help me without making me do Tx. So I just decided to do what I could and quit being hard on myself. I'm finally in the mood to clean up after myself and get the dishes done before I go to bed, instead of 3 or 4 days later! LOL

I'm happy. I feel that if a person is willing to eat a damn near perfect diet of veggies and fruits, whole nuts, seeds and grains, no refined foods, no junk foods, and very little animal if any, that that will take a load off the liver so it can handle the virus. I may not live to be 100, but who knows, maybe I will!

I have created a news article about recovering from Tx, but I can see now it is not complete. I would love to make it better, so that people struggling to detox from Tx can have hope. Maybe you can help me with some feed back.

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/alternative-treatments-for-hep-c/news/view/1713412

Wow can i soo soo relate to you. after 5 years. and i also agree quality vs quantitiy. I will take a few good years rather then the rest not good. So glad for all the folks it does so much for, and a life saver. Wish there was a way to tell if the sides will outweigh the outcome. I did drink alot of water which was hard but i do believe it helped the sides to not be as bad. God bless all of u who are struggling with being on it and pray god will give u wisdom as to weather u should. I am a relapser after 5 years.