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?

[cieritaqt]

Hi! Congrats on completing the treatment, I am about to start TX in August with the new 3rd drug, Teleprevir. Anyway, Are you on other medication right now? Maybwe it could be a side effect. Are you saying that you feel "foggy"? I am sure proud of you for sticking it out. Do you have any advice for me?

[Diane12855]

My recommendation to you is to take all of your meds like your doctor tells you and don't quite when it gets bad.
I feel more than foggy... that is how I felt at the beginning of tx, now I almost feel retarded. My work requires a lot of mental acuity which isn't there so my husband is having to do a lot of my work. Thank goodness that we work together.

Still........... the virus is gone, so it is worth the price I have paid. I just really hope that my brain will get back to normal.

Diane

[charm27]

Srrry to hear your going thru brainfog. I can empathiize I went thru the same and it was bad..I will be    2 1/2 yrs I finished tx and I still have residuals of brainfog..it is copeable though.

Took me 12 months before most of it was gone. It does go away.

[Lifenet62]

I will be beginning tx hopefully by Labor Day and have brain fog now.  Having 3 closed head traumas  plus HCV is quite a blur at times.  I appreciate all the info posted here for knowledge. Using my voice recorder on phone helps much when I have thoughts. Otherwise it's like in one ear out the other even though it's in my own
head lol.   Best of luck. Stay the course! Positive minds rule.

[Diane12855]

I did the brain fog thing during tx. Wasn't too bad to be able to blame my dysfunction on it back then but now it seems to be different. I'm not sure if I'm glad or sad that it took you 12 months to deal with it. I need my brain for my job... have already been out of the loop for a year and really NEED to get back into it ASAP. I guess I'll just have to accept whatever comes along. DARN!

[Lifenet62]

Keep going forward.   We're alive and that's what counts. At least we're not alone.  Our higher power obviously had other plans for us  Find brain supporting foods and tones of water. Thank you for update. I need all the info around to prep for my tx. Good to chat w you. Behind every storm comes the peace.

[Diane12855]

Does anybody know what kind of brain supporting foods are good?

I'm drinking lots of fluids trying to flush my system clean of the drugs. I just really want to be able to be myself again. I've read about some saying that we can't say if these sx are from tx or would have happened without tx... that's a bunch of bunk. I was never anything like I am now... in 56 years. It feels like I am stuck in a stranger's body and I don't know how to deal with it.

[Susan_1a_CC]

There are a number of foods that are purported to be good for the brain - I'll check my books when I get the chance and let you know.  However, I've read that getting sufficient amounts of certain things like fish oil is not really feasible through food intake alone.  Here's a couple of recommended brain supporting supplements from the book "The Immortality Edge,"  by Fossel, Blackburn, and Woynarowski.  This book is based on Nobel prize winning research done on anti-aging.  The recommendations in the book are based on multiple studies.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)...plays a vital role in the production of acetylcholine - a neurotransmitter that is vital to the proper functioning of the brain & the entire nervous system

Phosphatidylserine... member of the lipid family that is essential component of cell membranes,,,low fat and low cholesterol diets and vegetarian diets can reduce amount of PS in the brain...impairing its ability to form, store, process, and remember.  As you age you need more PS...  (I added PS while on treatment because of brain fog and it helped.)

Exercise will also increase the oxygen flow to the brain and that can be helpful.

[Diane12855]

Thanks for the input. I'm already taking the fish oil and I bike at least 5 miles a day, but I will check into the other stuff you mention.

[cheesenrice]

from your original post it seems like vision is troubling you as much as cognition - i would think they influence each other - your posts always seem intelligent and rational - are you sure youre not being a bit hard on yourself - when we compare our past self with our present self despair is often a result - i know im not telling you anything you dont know - but sometimes it hard to think of - give yourself some more time its only 4 months post tx - maybe have your vision checked - research foods / supplements that support brain function

[curiouslady1]

Your post is scaring me away from treatment a little.  I have to maintain mental alertness to do my job.  I can only glide for a limited period and the economy is so bad I cannot afford to take time out.  I guess if (and when) I am in your shoes I would be doing very heavy aerobics, much more than biking 5 miles a day.  It would be close to an hour of sustained targeted HR in the aerobic zone  at least 5 days a week.  It is best that you get a HR monitor.  (subtract your age from 226 to get your Max HR, then exercise at 50-60% of Max for warm up, 60-70% for fitness and 70-80% for the aerobic zone).  It is the aerobic zone which will increase circulation and possible reduce concentration and attention problems.  "Aerobic Zone (Endurance Training) --- 70 - 80% of maximum heart rate: The aerobic zone will improve your cardiovascular and respiratory system AND increase the size and strength of your heart. This is the preferred zone if you are training for an endurance event. More calories are burned with 50% from fat."  It may not help of course but this is what I always try to do when I am looking at taking an exam or facing a tough surgery of some sort.  I have fallen so out of shape and have not been working out tht I am concerned that the tx sides will interfere in my ability to make use of my elliptical when I should really be accessing it.  But if you are physically able, this is what I would do and drink water the whole time of course and for a half hour before your vigorous work out.

[Merlin51]

I am also getting concerned -Was getting excited about new TX after relapse  on Peg Ribo in 2003 after 44 wks tx Just learned my company is being taken over by equity grp so I have fear of brain fog big time!!  I cannot afford to lose my job - wondering what can be done to ease fog and sx??

Anybody know of best HVC guys in Dutchess Cty NY??

[cheesenrice]

no need to be scared - if you cant keep up with your present exercise levels when on tx then you cant - do what you can - its always different for different people - im sure theres people that did no exercise made it to work and svrd and im sure theres people who exercised every day - well maybe not every day - that did not clear the virus

[curiouslady1]

Yes.  This is the biggest deterrant to tx. for me.  I am in a profession that requires mental alertness and is competitive.  I cannot not work and coasting will only do for a day here and there.  I have to be able to get off the toilet even if it means constipating myself with pain meds.  Heavy green tea usually keeps me awake and I have contained my caseload to late afternoon and eve. but during the times I work, I have to work well.  Billing and paying bills, seeing clients, organizing the office, etc. and now, trying to get paid for the work I have already done without losing my cool!!!  No one does it but me and no one will be available to do it.  The sides have to be minimized otherwise I have to take my chances with fate and the virus.  Life is not worth living if you no longer have a profession or a family.  I have lost one and I will not lose the other.  This is probably more than anyone needed or wanted to know but there it is.  This is why I am trying to get into the Pharmasset all pill trial.  At least I won't have to deal with interferon.  Dealing with a virus in an aggressive way when you have coexisted relatively peaceably for the last 40 years may not be a priority for all.  For many, maintaining a meaningful work life is essential.  

[flcyclist]

Brain fog hasn't taken its toll on me yet at week 13 on SOC.  Many people on this forum have stressful, demanding jobs that are/were able to continue working through trt, and took little or no time off.  Some days I have long board meetings that I have to chair and I get through it fine, but do come home exhausted.  The only time I've taken off so far is due to doctor's appts.  Others haven't been so lucky and needed to schedule for a leave of absence, etc.

Regarding exercise, I think it helps mental alertness and mood.   However, since fatigue is something that most experience during and after trt, maintaining your current exercise routine will be a challenge.  I wouldn't suggest to attempt an aggressive exercise regime at the beginning of trt.

Diane, I recall someone mentioning that one of the AD's seem to bring them out of the brain fog, but due to brain fog, i can't remember when/where I read it, lol.   It was an old post I read when doing a search.  If I find it, i'll post or send you a pm.

[curiouslady1]

Thank you fly.  I needed this post.  Sometimes it is hard to detach from the forum and put things in perspective.  Truth is I have evaded treatment lo this many years because I didn't like the odds.  But things could as easily go in my favor.  Ok, now what does AD stand for again?

[curiouslady1]

Along the same lines, the head of the liver dept. and the keeper of the keys to the trials at the university hospital told me that my LP and OLP could get worse,stay the same or improve! under treatment.  I had decided that it could only get worse.  Of course, perhaps the Riba rash is a distraction from other skin problems.  

[flcyclist]

Curiouslady: AD = anti depressants

Diane: not what I was looking for but interesting article on brain fog:
http://www.medkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/hepatitis-c/6323/Brain-Fog-and-more-HCV-plus-Tx

[curiouslady1]

Fly that is so very helpful.  Thank you.  I forgot to ask my liver guy whether I could take steroid creams, antidepressants, pain meds on the trials.  I need to have access to these meds. for my own piece of mind if nothing else.  I had it in mind to take ADs prophylacticly because they take so long to kick in.  What good does it do if you are feeling depressed 4 weeks in to take an AD which doesn't kick in for another 4weeks to three months?  Of course, then you have to cope with the side effects from that drug too.  

[James10500]

I finished about 6 weeks before you did Diane.  Definetly have brain for ZERO memory I put my phone down about a week ago to put my dog on a leash AND FORGOT to pick it up !!  Walked away for a minute or so and was like wtf, it was weird.  vision pretty bad in the morning.  Like I've said in the past I'll give it a year.  Just glad to be virus free, I was stage 3.

[Diane12855]

I appreciate that article.  I tried to read it but my brain isn't up to it tonight, but I'll give it another try tomorrow.
Thanks

Diane

[curiouslady1]

That sort of thing happens to me a lot and I am not on treatment yet and I probably do not have cirrhosis yet.  I am 64 though and I know that diabetes when it is uncontrolled can also have this effect.  

[curiouslady1]

I think the upshot of the article is that we can have problems with our mental status because of the HCV infection alone, without significant liver damage and without treatment.

[rambleon40]

I finished interferon 12/08.  I was in a fog during treatment and for about two years afterwards.  I do not feel as though I have ever recovered my "sharpness".  Another under-reported side-effect ignored by FDA, physicians and certainly Big Pharma, IMHO.  

I found a discussion re: this issue, but please note the presenter (Dr. Blatlock, a neurologist)  is selling a "brain repair formula" so take it with a grain of salt.  He does, however, cite a number of recognized and legitimate medical journals at the end of the article.  

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/14/interferons.aspx

Please also note that I had become convinced that interferon / ribavirin damaged my brain before I ever found the above article.