My experience with interferon (pegasys) in the treatment of acute hepatitis and its side effects, including: night sweats, lymph node enlargement, low wbc, low platelets and TSH.

[HopefulHopeful]

Throughout my treatment, I was able to find reassurance reading through some of these posts and I hope my entry will do the same for others.

Before I continue, I found three things to help me get through the process.  First, is hope.  The fact that there is treatment and people have gone through it successfully should help quell your anxiety.  Second and third are family and a Faith.  My faith was a believe in God.  

I was accidently stuck with a needle from a patient that was very sick and had both HIV and hepatitis C.  

I took HIV prophylaxis and had scheduled HCV and HIV testing.  At one month, I had a detected HCV viral load for which I urgently saw a gastroenterologist and decided to begin treatment.  She recommended pegasys monotherapy as in the acute phase ribavarin only adds a few percentage benefit but with added side effects.

I had very mild if any side effects that night.  I was afraid maybe my body wasn’t absorbing the medicine.  Even four to five weeks into it, I had minimal side effects.  Fortunately, my viral load became undetectable at four weeks.

It was maybe 6 weeks into treatment, that I noted I was easily irritable but never really had depressive symptoms.   Most concerning, around that time I began to experience night sweats and noticed a painful and enlarged lymph node on my posterior thigh.  I was convinced I had also contracted HIV.  As these can be early symptoms if HIV infection.  (I was still getting scheduled HIV antibody tests).  My GI physician was re-assuring and after reading some posts here I gave myself hope that this could just be medication induced.  

My labs also revealed a wbc of 3, down from 6 and platelets of 120, down from 180.  Again, this can be seen in early HIV infection.  Again, my GI doctor was reassuring and again reading through these posts, many of you guys had gone through the same from the interferon.  

Bottom line, forward time many months, I’m two months out from treatment ( I did 24 weeks), my night sweats resolved, my lymph node resolved, my wbc  and platelets are normal and my viral load is undetected.  Also my HIV antibody was negative at 6 months.  These were all reversible side effects of the interferon.  Also, at one point, my TSH was high but after it was rechecked, it normalized on its own.  Thank GOD!  I still have four more months for a sustained viral reponse but Im feeling hopeful.

Other issues I went through and I feel can help others: midway through treatment,  my ALT went from normal to 180.  I was afraid I had relapsed but my viral load remained normal.  Two months after tx, my ALT is normal.  This was likely medication induced.  Lastly, one month after treatment, I felt itchy and nauseas and again I thought I relapsed, but my viral load was non-detected.  Interferon can stay in ure system for quite an while and trick you different ways.

In summary, interferon does cause side effects, in my case they have been reversible.  If you have an elevated TSH, have it checked again with a thyroid panel as it may normalize on its own even while on interferon treatment.  A low wbc and low platelet count may also normalize however your physician should know when to intervene.   You may experience an elevation of your ALT while on treatment but this does not necessarily mean you’ve relapsed.  This  can be medication induced.  You can experience some itching after treatment, this again does not mean you have relapsed.  Each case is different, always talk to your doctor about your concerns and symptoms.  He/she should help reassure you or guide your further care.

[Deb9991]

Hello Sly:

I just talked to Bill.  I know that you are apprehensive about treatment.  It is a normal response that we all feel.  Treatment may not be as bad as you think.  I tried to send you a message, but there was another message in your profile saying that I couldn't send you a personal message.  

Anyway, please feel free to discuss anything you want here on the forum or with me in private messages.  I have learned a lot about Hep C.  Also, I know very well about the anxiety, depression, and other emotional conditions that can arise just having Hep C and also during treatment.

Hope to hear from you,
Debbie

[Deb9991]

This was a beautiful and inspiring read, and thank you for your words, which will mean so much to so many.  Your words meant a lot to me.  I'm only in week three of treatment, and so far, nothing to really complain about.  I do itch on occasion, and had a real issue last week with an itching situation.  

You have been so brave -- it must have been so frightening to think that you, in addition to contacting HCV, could have contacted HIV.  What a relief!  

Good hearing from you and I wish you the best.

Debbie