Lack of brain function

[Diane12855]

I finished my 48 weeks of tx on March 18, 2011. Thankfully all of my sx have gone away except one. This one has me kind of scared that it won't go away. I have lost the ability to take in very much information. I get totally confused. By not being able to take in much info, I mean that when I watch TV on my small screen TV, I can't see the details like what the people are wearing. It is all I can do to get the story line. If there are any words on the screen that need to be read, I'm in big trouble because I am never able to read all of the words before they change screens. I used to be very quick witted, which was great fun in conversations, but now it takes me so long to come up with a response to people that I prefer to stay away from people because it is so frustrating.

Has anybody else experienced this after tx, and how long did it take to go away if ever?

[Susan_1a_CC]

Given your statement that big pharma and docs are not responsible for medical woes, I invite you to check the link I posted on the social side under Rant On.  Please read this and then let me know how you feel about what you read.

[curiouslady1]

I forgot to mention that the disorders kicked in between the ages of 48 and 52.  

[curiouslady1]

I have not had any treatment.  Likely as a result of Hep c infection shortly after menopause, all the conditions you describe set in.  My thyroid had to be irradiated and I have incurable skin an oral problems along with diabetes.  I am chronically fatigued, sluggish and becoming less mentally alert.  All are well known as precipitates of HCV infection (along with a probable vulnerability). Sometimes things are not as they seem.  People can acquire conditions related to Hep C which are not liver failure or liver cancer.  If the treatment failed it is quite possible that you also are having hep c related, not treatment related, conditions.  Also, if the treatment failed, your tests are not normal.  The viral load, the most important, shows that you are infected.  All of my other tests have been normal or nearly so, for 40 years.  You can still get all these other conditions with normal blood tests.  Big Pharma and doctors are not responsible for all your woes.  It is your body mostly, that is rebelling against you.  

[Susan_1a_CC]

Here's a link that you might find interesting.  Although they are selling brain programs you can take various tests on this sight without buying anything. You'll get your test results and this will give you an understanding of which brain abilities might stil be l fine and which are not.  

http://www.positscience.com/games-teasers/mind-games/brain-speed-test

[rambleon40]

Apolgies to all for the a priori regrettably un-edited, somewhat disjointed and a titch-too-much-drama rant  ....

Diane, please just consider that your good-intentioned and honest doctor relies on drug company-produced  and FDA-approved literature for guidance.  These sources do not (and cannot reasonably be expected to) provide the whole balanced truth.  

Which is why the smart money (that's you) is here finding out more!    

Be careful and God bless!  :-)

[rambleon40]

I respectfully and from the deepest part of my heart say that I would not recommend interferon therapy.  Perhaps Hep C will cut your life short.  Almost certainly, however, interferon combination  therapy will diminish the quality of your remaining time and may very well leave you with serious, lasting problems.  

My thyroid has gone bad.  I developed psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis during therapy - these are both very isolating, life shattering diseases.  "Creaky joints" is a very, very common side effect.  I have suicidal thoughts that I fight a lot and I suffered cognitive impairment.   I was really smart before and feel pretty smart now, but not as sharp as i was.

Also, the treatment failed for me.  It does fail.  I have since failure and since developing arthritis and psoriasis started really taking care of myself with respect to food and exercise.  (I should have done it before, I know).  Anyway, I am amazed at how my liver enzyme levels have dropped to almost normal just with really good habits.  

The metaphoric "apple a day" is far, far better than interferon therapy in my opinion.   The interferon alters your body too much - it is scary - they admit in literature that they don't even know how it works.  

The CDC reports that 95% of people with Hep C die with it not of it.  

I respectfully submit that while interferon helps some, it hurts others, and on balance it is a bad deal for society and for patients to engage in interferon therapy given the costs and the risks.  

I fairly strongly believe that reason and balance have been hijacked by BigPharma for corporate profit interests, to the harm of patients and our national economy.  

Note also the following article, particularly the statements by the UCLA Director of Clinical Medicine:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/business/22hepatitis.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=health&adxnnlx=1310899764-6GubmTVURIhX4TtEhO067g