Post viekira pak...feeling crappy

[drummerman]

Good news = no longer having the riba hyper rush and no longer panting and running out of breath.

bad news - feel like crap.  2 nights of restless on and off sleep... maybe 3 hours total sleep each night.

Any other post tx viekirians having these problems?

Is it withdrawal symptoms?

thanks,
dm

[KimInTheForest]

Good news = no longer having the riba hyper rush and no longer panting and running out of breath.

bad news - feel like crap.  2 nights of restless on and off sleep... maybe 3 hours total sleep each night.

Any other post tx viekirians having these problems? Is it withdrawal symptoms?

thanks,
dm

Hi DM. Sorry to hear you are feeling like crap post-tx. I think that has happened to many of us - both V-Pak and Harvoni alike. Various theories about what is going on. I have heard some mention the withdrawal idea.

I am amazed (and happy for you!) that you are no longer panting and running out of breath just 2 days post-tx. Wish I were so lucky. I am just finally getting to that stage 9 weeks post-tx. I take it that the ribavirin did not cause a big drop in your red blood cells and hemoglobin? Some people do much better than others on that score.

this too shall pass! it's all temporary. what's lasting is the eradication of the virus.

kim

[Philadelphia]

No, sorry. I just seemed to segue from treatment to non treatment fairly incident free.  Give yourself time. Riba takes a long time to leave your system.

[drummerman]

Hi DM. Sorry to hear you are feeling like crap post-tx. I think that has happened to many of us - both V-Pak and Harvoni alike. Various theories about what is going on. I have heard some mention the withdrawal idea.

I am amazed (and happy for you!) that you are no longer panting and running out of breath just 2 days post-tx. Wish I were so lucky. I am just finally getting to that stage 9 weeks post-tx. I take it that the ribavirin did not cause a big drop in your red blood cells and hemoglobin? Some people do much better than others on that score.

this too shall pass! it's all temporary. what's lasting is the eradication of the virus.

kim

Thanks Kim,

your are correct, my hemoglobin dropped very little (which makes no sense when you consider I was constantly winded).

Anyway, just getting a little panicky , even though it took me about 4 months to get over interferon.  I guess I thought I would just wake up the next day and feel fine.  Shoulda known better.

I think I feel a little better today (even though only 3 hrs. sleep last night) and I have been off caffeine since the start of tx.   Weird. 

Maybe I'm just freaking out and need to just chill.

dm

[drummerman]

No, sorry. I just seemed to segue from treatment to non treatment fairly incident free.  Give yourself time. Riba takes a long time to leave your system.

Thanks Philly,

damn Riba.

dm

[Philadelphia]

yeah, you have to remember when you look at me not getting much in the way of post tx sx - I was down to 400mg of riba a day. One tablet in the morning, one at night. That was all. 

[drummerman]

yeah, you have to remember when you look at me not getting much in the way of post tx sx - I was down to 400mg of riba a day. One tablet in the morning, one at night. That was all.

good point.
dm

[KimInTheForest]

Maybe I'm just freaking out and need to just chill.

dm

I think the body has been through a HUGE event with the eradication of the virus AND the bombardment with some very intense chemicals over such a short period of time. I am surprised there aren't more people experiencing some post-tx aftermath as the body adjusts to civilian life and post-HCV life. One of the primary theories here on the forums is that the treatment leaves some of us with a temporarily hyperstimulated immune system. Perhaps that is an intentional part of the treatment, to get our immune system involved in some of the clean-up.  But then the job ends, virus is gone, drugs stop pouring in. Nothing left but our jacked-up immune system and our own tissues, cells and organs… It's a possibility.

And of course, feeling crappy post-treatment can just be some opportunistic infection taking advantage of what we've been through.

It is frustrating though. I still have not had a chance to catch a glimpse of my new life & self post-HCV because I have been too busy recovering from this post-tx malaise. I had very much hoped to experience the astounding energy and mental clarity I had after just one week of treatment when most of the virus had been eradicated but the ribavirin had not yet laid me low. I think that week or two was my only glimpse so far of what my post-HCV life will be like. But It was beautiful! I am finally pulling out of my post-tx malaise after 9 weeks. Here's hoping yours just lasts a few days. Everyone's different.

best,
kim