Hep C Symptoms

[Kel]

The symptoms that had me going crazy and drove me to the doctors office that eventually led to the diagnosis of HCV were/are: fatigue, nausea, hair loss, extremes of temperature, headaches, joint pain, ankle swelling, easy bruising, and sweating, especially at night. So they rule out a lot in 4 years, not cholesterol, not lung cancer, not menopause, not hormonal, not heart related, not rheumatoid arthritis, not thyroid. Oh it's HCV but the extreme sweating is still there as are the other symptoms and all my gastro says is that they are not hep c - liver related. Well, everything I read tells me these  are, in fact symptoms of HCV and I have no idea what to do to alleviate them. My GP won't treat because he's not treating me for Hep C (that's stupid IMO), my gastro (who is treating me for Hep C) won't treat because they're not related to liver trouble. So I am trying Estroven and Estrace which helps the cold and sweats during the day but not so much at night. I need sleep, any suggestions?

[willie g]

WOW SOUNDS CRAZY KEL, YOU HAD MY HEART GOING JUST READING IT. I TAKE TEMAZEPAM FOR SLEEP WHICH I WAS ON BEFORE TREATMENT BUT THE BOTTLE SAYS TAKE ONE OR 2 AT BEDTIME SO I WENT TO THE TWO. 15MGS APIECE AND I AM A BIG GUY. IT IS FROM THE VALIUM FAMILY, DAIZEPAM IS VALIUM, CLONZEPAM IS ANOTHER WHICH HELPS WITH DEPRESSION, SLEEP, BIPOLAR, WHICH IS CALLED CLONAPIN, THE PAMS SEEM TO BE IN THOSE FAMILYS IF YOUR FOLLOWING ME ,SO THEY ARE ALL CONTROLED DRUGS BUT UPING MINE TO TWO KINDA HELPED BUT THIS SLEEP THING HAS ME BAFFELED AT TIMES TOO. I WAS TAKING MY MEDS ;HEP] AT 9;30;AM  THEN I WOULD GET TIRED SO I ASKED DOC IF I COULD TRY 9;30PM, OK HE SAID AND I AM IN MY THIRD WEEK AND I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF ;I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL TIME I SHOULD TAKE THEM!LOL  I KNOW MORE ACTIVITY MAKES ME SLEEP BETTER BUT ME AND ACTIVITY HAVENT REALLY BEEN KICKIN IT TOGETHER LATELY, CAUSE OF THE SUN[GIVES ME A GOOD REASON LOL] AND I DONT KNOW IM JUST KINDA HANGING AROUND WAITING FOR THE LAST ROUND TO HAPPEN BUT YA KNOW I WENT TO AN EVENING WEDDING THE OTHER NIGHT AND BOOGEY DOWNED TO MY AMAZEMENT ,WITHOUT MY USUAL TOTTIES CAUSE OF LIVER AND WHEN I GOT HOME I SLEPT. SO I THINK ACTIVITY IS KINDA LIKE A MAJIC BULLET EVEN THOUGH LIKE I SAID YOU HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF BUT IF YOUR LYING THERE AT NIGHT DWELING ON THIS, DWELLING ON THAT IT CAN DRIVE YOU NUTS LIKE YOUR NOT COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN,SO THATS WHY FOLKS SOMETIMES GET ON A MED FOR DEPRESSION OR SLEEP.LUCKILY MY DRS ARE GOOD EVEN THOUGH A COUPLE TIMES I FELT THEY WERE OFF COURSE BUT THATS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. THATS WHY I SAY SOMETIMES YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST DR. BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU! TRAZADONE[NON CONTROLED] IS GOOD FOR SLEEP TOO BUT WHAT WORKS FOR ME MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU SO SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR FAMILY DR AND SAYING HEY, THIS IS WHAT MY HEP DR SAYS AND YOU SAY THIS BUT PLEASE THIS NO SLEEP THING IS REALLY EFFECTING MY LIFE AND IF HE DOESNT BUDGE DO THE SAME WITH HEP DR.. I WISH I HAD THE MAJIC BULLET FOR YOU BUT I AM NOT A DR. I HAVE WORKED IN THE MEDICAL FIELD FOR 25 YEARS AND HAD TO GIVE MEDS TO CILENTS AND KNOW OTHER MED ISSUES BUT ONCE AGAIN GETTING THEM OUT TO THE YMCA OR WALKING OR WHATEVER HELPED THEM BE CALMER AND IN THE END THEY SLEPT BETTER.THANK GOD! CAUSE I DEALT WITH SOME MENTALY DISABLED PEOPLE AND I WAS THERE AT NIGHTS SO YA, NO REAL COFFEE, NO TONS OF SWEETS BEFORE BED ETC. HELPED ALOT AND DONT EXERCISE RIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED BECAUSE IT TRRIGERS THOSE SEROTIN GOOD FEELINGS YOU GET BUT YOUR ALL PUMPED UP.A,AND I DO NOTICE A NAP HERE AND THERE SOMTIMES IS NECESARRY AND RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF OUR LIVERS AND IMMUNE SYSTEM SO WHEN ITS TIME TO GO NITEY NITE  WE ARENT THAT TIRED. WE ARE EXAUSTED BUT THE BRAINS SAYING ONE THING AND OUR BODY IS SAYING SOMETHING ELSE. ID BE A GOOD POLITICAN PROBABLY BECAUSE IM KIND OF TIP TOEING AROUND ALL THE SCENARIOS BUT IN THE END I HAVE ;COMPLETED NOTHING;  [TYPICAL POLITICAN,LOL BY THE TIME YOU GET THE ANSWER YOUR TAXES HAVE WENT UP AND SO HAS YOUR BLOOD PREESURE ,AND THEY GET BIG BUCKS TO MAKE YOU FEEL THAT WAY LOL]  WOWWW I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO GIVE YOU SOME KIND OF HELP BUT THATS ALL I CAN DO. THANK GOD ITS JUST NOT ME AND YOU ON THIS FORUM,HE HE,, I HAVE STARTED MEDITATING WHICH HAS HELPED AND REALLY IS EASY TO DO, I PICKED UP A BOOK CALLED MEDITATION FOR DUMMIES, YA KNOW THE DUMMIE BOOKS[DUMMIE BOOKS WORK GREAT WHEN YOU DONT HAVE A CLUE AND WANT A SIMPLE FORMAT TO FOLLOW OR THERE ARE OTHER INEXPENSIVE MEDITATION BOOKS,, IT HAS REALLY HELPED ME WITH CALMNESS, NOT DWELLING AND SLEEPING AND ALSO JUST READING IF YOU WAKE UP WITH A DIM LIGHT HELPS,ILL BE WIDE AWAKE, START READING SOMETHING AND BANG SOMETIMES I DROP THE BOOK AND CRASH FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO AND ACTUALY NOW WHEN I WAKE UP I DONT GET SO CRAZY BECAUSE I NOW HAVE TWO THINGS THAT HELP. I TRIED TV BUT THAT HAS NEVER WORKED SO NOW IF YOU DO ;EVERYTHING ; I HAVE SUGGESSETED HERE YOU WILL BE FINE!!  HA HA  WHAT A JOKE THAT STATEMENT IS. WELL HOPEFULLY YOUR READING THIS AND ITS ONE IN THE MORNING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD WILLIE YOU GO ON AND ON AND ON, SO MAYBE  ILL PUT YOU TO SLEEP.,LIKE I DO OTHERS.  GOOD LUCK, I HOPE I HAVE HELPED A LITTLE BUT I MUST SAY YOU HELPED ME BECAUSE AFTER ALL THIS TYPING I AM NOW TIRED,, LOL  THX  NITE  WILLIE G

[lporterrn]

Hi Kel - Hmmm - not sure why your gastro doesn't think these symptoms aren't related to hep C, but they sound classic. Be that as it may, these problems may go away after you are treated, although it may take months or years. In the meantime, you could see a sleep specialist or read up on as much as you can about sleep. It takes a huge commitment, because sleep problems aren't usually fixed with a pill - they take behavior modification. It took me a long time to correct my problems, but honestly, now that I am cured, I am not having anywhere the problems I used to have.

[Kel]

Thanks Lucinda and Willie. Really I think I could sleep if it weren't for the hotness and the sweating. My rheumatologist thinks I have Raynaud's' now if it's due to the Hep C or not, she isn't sure. My OB/GYN gave me Estrace and I started Estroven which has some Black Cohosh in it and it helps in the day but at night I sweat and get so hot it wakes me up. Any suggestions there, maybe?

[lporterrn]

Kel - Black Cohosh is not advised for people with liver disase - esp if you are on treatment. Here is a link to something I wrote: http://www.hcvadvocate.org/library/herb_glossary.asp#b
Have you tried a fan? Also, I assume you researched some of the other causes of night sweats (alcohol, certain foods, apnea, certain meds, etc.). I'd consider a sleep specialist if you and your doc run out of ideas.

[Kel]

Yes, this is more than night sweats, it's an unbearable heat, it's not food, I've changed my diet; it's not alcohol, I stopped drinking upon diagnosis. It's not cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid and/or menopause/hormones all that's been tested over and over. The only thing it can be is related to HCV and fans don't help. This is my day and more so in the night (days are manageable some what). I get hot (like I'm out in horrendous heat) with a prickling, almost painful sensation down my back then sweat for 5-10 minutes then get very cold like my feet are in snow. I've at night it wakes me up several times  like ants are on my back and I have a fan, get in shower nothing helps. Black cohosh at least minimized them. Since I haven't started treatment, yet. I guess I'll finish it and then stop once we find out when I am starting treatment and maybe my rheumatologist will prescribe me one of the PAMS to help with sleep. Thank you for your reply and work.

[willie g]

KEL JUST A THOUGHT,YOU SAID YOU QUIT DRINKING WHEN THIS HEP C THING STARTED. THE SWEATS, THE COLD, THE PRICKLY AND ALL THE REST HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN IN THE PAST HAD TRIED TO QUIT DRINKING OR COME OFF CONTROLED DRUGS PLUS I WOULD BE CONSTANTLY MOVING MY LEGS AND ROCKING BACK AND FORTH ASKING THE CREATOR TO PLEASE HELP. ITS AN AWFUL FEELING .SOME FOLKS I HAVE TALKED TOO WHEN THEY QUIT DRINKING SAY WILL I ONLY DRANK TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK AND ITS BEEN 6 WEEKS NOW SINCE I QUIT""WELL IN MY CASE AND OTHERS IT TOOK A WEEK BEFORE INITAL BAD WITHDRAWL WOULD KICK IN ,FOR SOME ITS 2 DAYS 3 DAYS BUT THEN IT GOES AWAY. YOU HAVE THAT GREAT EUPHORIC FEELING CAUSE NOT DRINKING FOR 2 WEEKS MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD MENTALY AND PHISICALY. DRINKERS CAN GO FROM A SO SO LOOK TO A GREAT LOOK IN TWO WEEKS. BUT HERES MY POINT, DRUGS ARE ALOT HARDER TO WITHDRAWL FROM THAN BOOZE, I PERSONALY KNOW BUT I ALSO KNOW I COULD BE DRY FOR A MONTH ,SIX WEEKS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS BAD PHISICAL FEELING WIULD KICK BACK IN. THAT AWFUL FEELING, PLUS YOU HAVE INTRODUCED NEW,SERIUOS DRUGS INTO YOUR SYSTEM WHICH MAY HAVE TRRIGED THE LACK OF ALCHOL YOU USE TO CONSUME. LIKE I SAID THIS HAS BEEN MY SECNARIO,MY BODY, MY MIND BUT BOY WHEN YOU MENTIONED THOSE SIDE EFFECTS AND HOW YOU HAVE QUIT DRINKING IT BROUGHT BACK SOME BAD MEMORIES AND TO BE TRUTHFUL TO YOU I WOULD STILL HAVE A NIGHT LIKE THAT 6 MONTHS INTO QUITTING.DONT KNOW HOW MUCH YOU DRANK AND REALLY THATS NONE OF MY BUISNESS, I AM JUST SHARING WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE OF DRINKING, CONTROLED DRUGS, YOUR SYMPTOMS SENT UP A BIG RED FLAG FOR ME AND I THANK YOU BECAUSE I NEED REMINDERS IF I GO BACK TO THE DRINK IT IS CAUSED BY ME NOT REALLY REMEMBERING THE NIGHTMARE IT WAS FOR ME. I ALWAYS BRING IN MY THOGHTS THE GOOD TIMES I HAD DRINKING LEAVING OUT THE BAD. WITH HEPC I ESPECIALLY DO NOT NEED TO BE ROMANCING THE GOOD DAYS. MY LIVER, MY MIND ,ETC, HAS HAD ENOUGH.IM NOT HAPPY WITH ONE OR TWO OF ANYTHING SO THANKS AGAIN CAUSE THIS MAY BE MY LAST SHOT OF GETTING HEALTHY AND REALIZING ITS NOT A JOKE, ITS MY LIFE. GOOD LUCK, LUCINDA HAD SOME REAL GOOD THOUGHTS AS USUAL BUT HEY YA NEVER KNOW I MAY HAVE HELPED YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ALITTLE BUT I SURE HELPED ME. WILLIE G

[Kel]

Willie you're awesome and your reply did help. I was diagnosed back in April and before diagnosis I only drank 1 or 2 glasses of wine here and there 1-2 times a week. I'll just keep driving the old man crazy with the freezing cold room and then throwing the blankets off and snatching them back. Maybe I try a cooling pad on my neck. But will definitely stop the Estroven and black cohosh drops. :-)