Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
I write this for those of you going through the "dark days" of triple treatment. First let me clarify, I am approximately five months post a successful treatment. I had no symptoms pretreatment from my Hep C. I had no other medical conditions prior to treatment.
The side effects I experienced during treatment were as follows:
1. unbearable, unrelenting, painful itching
(To the point I could concentrate on nothing else)
2. Severe anemia, shortness of breath, coughing until my ribs were
killing me
3. Skin breakdown...Which has led to rosacea
4. Major hair loss! Actual balding! Burning scalp sensation!
Skin peeling off my head, scalp infection
5. suppression of red and white blood counts/ bone marrow
suppression
6. bone and muscle pain leading to sleep deprivation
Five months post treatment :
1. no itching
2. no anemia
3. Skin has aged considerably! Rosacea remains and is being treated
by a Dermatologist
4. Hair is definitely coming back!!! The color has changed to an ash
with some white hair as well. I believe the treatment damaged the
melatonin in the hair follicle. Just thrilled I have hair!!!
5. Red blood count has rallied back with the help of Procrit, now 4.36
White blood count remains low 2.3
6. Occasional joint pain, normal sleeping pattern
I am optimistic that I will remained "cured" of the Hep C virus. I pray for a shorter, less debilitating treatment for those whose lives journey down this dark path. Treatment has changed my outlook on life. Thanks to all my comrades that helped me in my time of need. I will never forget you!
God Bless, Emma
The side effects I experienced during treatment were as follows:
1. unbearable, unrelenting, painful itching
(To the point I could concentrate on nothing else)
2. Severe anemia, shortness of breath, coughing until my ribs were
killing me
3. Skin breakdown...Which has led to rosacea
4. Major hair loss! Actual balding! Burning scalp sensation!
Skin peeling off my head, scalp infection
5. suppression of red and white blood counts/ bone marrow
suppression
6. bone and muscle pain leading to sleep deprivation
Five months post treatment :
1. no itching
2. no anemia
3. Skin has aged considerably! Rosacea remains and is being treated
by a Dermatologist
4. Hair is definitely coming back!!! The color has changed to an ash
with some white hair as well. I believe the treatment damaged the
melatonin in the hair follicle. Just thrilled I have hair!!!
5. Red blood count has rallied back with the help of Procrit, now 4.36
White blood count remains low 2.3
6. Occasional joint pain, normal sleeping pattern
I am optimistic that I will remained "cured" of the Hep C virus. I pray for a shorter, less debilitating treatment for those whose lives journey down this dark path. Treatment has changed my outlook on life. Thanks to all my comrades that helped me in my time of need. I will never forget you!
God Bless, Emma
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
Glad you are feeling better!!!
HUGS|!!
I am post triple tx 4 weeks and have remnants of rash as well, especially in my head/ hair. I still have injection sight bruising, kind of a lavender color now but fading.
I am fatigued a lot of days but am eating vegan and it is realllly helpiing gaining my strength and alertness back quickly. The dr said that's the best way to get my iron back is to cram leafy green veggies!
I'm so very happy you are doing so well and i'm sure this post will give inspiration to those on triple! Thank you and have a blessed day =)
Kristen
Incivekt treatment is shorter, very attractive
I had no rash with VIc, and haven't heard that anyone else has. It seems common with Incivek
2 weeks post treatment my red, white, hgb, platelets were almost back to normal, and at 5 weeks there were fine
BUT, i think we'd both agree that you cannot overstate the joy of breathing and walking and talking at the same time. I never expected anemia to be as tough as it was
Ladies, I feel confident in saying your hair will come back. Patience, as I had no new hair growth until three plus months post treatment. Dilly, oREBo, Artyom, Quasar, you were a few of the many people who took the time to assure me my hair would come back. Thank you for bearing with me through all my whining. I love you all beyond words!
Bluselady, I just wanted to post my experience with treatment, as it was, without glossing over the tough times.
I appreciate Daily Strength and all the Hep C members that supplied me with so much humor, support, friendship, understanding, and knowledge... you were my life line during the darkest of days. This message board was a much needed diversion!
Mike, you are like a kid brother to me. Remember, I'm just a phone call away.
Bikaone, I cherish our friendship. You are my "twin" for sure. I dearly love you.
oREBo, I totally enjoyed the days we spent at the bearhug den! Thank you my friend.
God Bless, Emma
Fellow dog lover, Emma
And btw- Artyom is no longer here and no longer reads here. :-(
The other reason this post is so valuable is that most of our doctors don't actually have enough experience with these new drugs, or enough patients who have completed therapy, to be able to tell the newby's what to expect.
I got thru therapy, but it would have been nice to know that as side effects came up it was predictable and nothing that was unique to me
I would also add this side effect:
During treatment my eyeglass prescription changed 3 times. I was certain I had eye damage, but Opthamologist assured me it was just a prescription change. Then 2 months later I needed another.
And then another. Now that therapy is done I'm starting to wear the old, pre treatment, glasses again. one theory is that your optic nerve is "tired" and once you're done with the crud it returns to normal. But it was scary since I didn't know that it's a side effect
also, if you ever had a sense of humor, it tends to disappear during therapy, but does return.