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Fatique and living life
Hello Everyone,
I learned I had Hep C when being treated for injuries some years back. Was told I am not a candidate for treatment due to other medical problems. I have had this for sometime and either contracted this via transfusions of packed cells when going through cancer tx in 1988 or via my job as a practicing RN. No matter how hard one tries to avoid needle sticks, reality is they happen, especially during codes. I retired early to care for my mother and have not actively practiced since 1993. My question is what are some suggestions any of you utilize to deal with the fatigue. For the past year this has become a real impediment to my daily activities.
Thank you,
Carolyn
I learned I had Hep C when being treated for injuries some years back. Was told I am not a candidate for treatment due to other medical problems. I have had this for sometime and either contracted this via transfusions of packed cells when going through cancer tx in 1988 or via my job as a practicing RN. No matter how hard one tries to avoid needle sticks, reality is they happen, especially during codes. I retired early to care for my mother and have not actively practiced since 1993. My question is what are some suggestions any of you utilize to deal with the fatigue. For the past year this has become a real impediment to my daily activities.
Thank you,
Carolyn
I guess its real important to take care of oneself the best one can. I keep getting the big reminder that its important what we do with the time we have. I keep putting off practicing my spiritual practice, putting time into that, while I run around trying to make a living. You are all some of the most caring, sharing people I have run into. This would be a great club if not for the virus. Buffalowoman, I wish you gods speed in finding your pace and its good to know human beans like you are around.
I have no accurate medical advise to offer you, or experience with treatment, I'm trying to take it all in, and live moment to moment.
So do you know the stage of your liver involvement? Do you actually have that biopsy to tell you where you are at? It seems some people have treated with cirrhosis with some favorable results. Just some thoughts.
M4now
I have no accurate medical advise to offer you, or experience with treatment, I'm trying to take it all in, and live moment to moment.
So do you know the stage of your liver involvement? Do you actually have that biopsy to tell you where you are at? It seems some people have treated with cirrhosis with some favorable results. Just some thoughts.
M4now
Hi, Welcome to the forum!! The jello feeling you talked about I think is what is known as brain fog. I also had the fatugue before treating. I knew something was wrong just didn't know what.
I must say that you are a very up beat person and I am really sad to hear that you were attacked. But I am glad to hear you have gone on with your life. There are many good people on here. Gool Luck
Denise Oh, BTW there is a more technical "side" to the forum, this is the social side, just in case you have more technical questions
I must say that you are a very up beat person and I am really sad to hear that you were attacked. But I am glad to hear you have gone on with your life. There are many good people on here. Gool Luck
Denise Oh, BTW there is a more technical "side" to the forum, this is the social side, just in case you have more technical questions
Thank you for your wonderful suggestions and I will look into diet. I went to Mayo at Rochester and saw a hepatologist there, Dr. Kim, two years ago and with a biopsy confirmed diagnosis and that cirrhosis had begun. Last year I returned as suggested to determine if a transplant was an option and after testing, etc. told this was not a possibility. I have had some episodes of jaundice, dependent edema which I can control for the most part with medication.
I have not seen this as a wall but another challenge and one of the reasons I have joined this group. Another wall for me is the injuries I incurred during an assault, a hate crime. One of the places broken was my lower back, vertebrae and herniation of the discs. With surgery I was able to regain some use of my legs but minimal. My brain, mouth, arms still work very well and I continue my civil rights work. Sometimes I really believe if I could just go for a good brisk walk with the heat of the sun on my face, I would shake this fatigue. I did not have this problem until lately but it is as though I am trying to move through jello.
The hepatologist I use locally told me it was related to the Hep C but did not provide any solutions. I did not have this symptom when I was back at Mayo last Sept but feel I could have obtained more info. It helps just being able to have others to vent to. I limit what I "whine" about around my husband.
My sincerest gratitude to both of you for replying with excellent thoughts I will give earnest attention to.
Carolyn
I have not seen this as a wall but another challenge and one of the reasons I have joined this group. Another wall for me is the injuries I incurred during an assault, a hate crime. One of the places broken was my lower back, vertebrae and herniation of the discs. With surgery I was able to regain some use of my legs but minimal. My brain, mouth, arms still work very well and I continue my civil rights work. Sometimes I really believe if I could just go for a good brisk walk with the heat of the sun on my face, I would shake this fatigue. I did not have this problem until lately but it is as though I am trying to move through jello.
The hepatologist I use locally told me it was related to the Hep C but did not provide any solutions. I did not have this symptom when I was back at Mayo last Sept but feel I could have obtained more info. It helps just being able to have others to vent to. I limit what I "whine" about around my husband.
My sincerest gratitude to both of you for replying with excellent thoughts I will give earnest attention to.
Carolyn
I suffered from fatigue for a couple of years before being diagnosed despite having only stage 2 liver damage.
I put off starting treatment for a year and did a number of things that helped with the fatigue... organic fruits, vegetables and meat without antibiotics or growth hormones. And a complete vitamin regime plus msm, meta lipoate, same e, thymucin and milk thistle. I also drank a tea made of schizandra and other natural liver aids. And I exercised. All these things seemed to help me.
I have been treating for 43 weeks now, and continue to have fatigue, but a different kind of fatigue than I had before I started treating. Now, I get winded walking to the end of the driveway but its not that feeling of complete exhaustion I used to have.
I'm hopeful that when I compete my treatment my energy will return and I will be able to enjoy all the things I have been looking forward to doing.
Check into the possibility of treating again as there may have been medical advances since you last checked.
All the best
Kathryn
I put off starting treatment for a year and did a number of things that helped with the fatigue... organic fruits, vegetables and meat without antibiotics or growth hormones. And a complete vitamin regime plus msm, meta lipoate, same e, thymucin and milk thistle. I also drank a tea made of schizandra and other natural liver aids. And I exercised. All these things seemed to help me.
I have been treating for 43 weeks now, and continue to have fatigue, but a different kind of fatigue than I had before I started treating. Now, I get winded walking to the end of the driveway but its not that feeling of complete exhaustion I used to have.
I'm hopeful that when I compete my treatment my energy will return and I will be able to enjoy all the things I have been looking forward to doing.
Check into the possibility of treating again as there may have been medical advances since you last checked.
All the best
Kathryn
Hi Carolyn,
Welcome to the discussion group. Fatigue is one of those things that many with Hep C have, the problem as "LalApple" suggests is that it may not be from the Hep C since fatigue is such a common complaint in the non-HCV population. That said, I certainly wouldn't rule HCV out as the culprit since I believe I've read that our population has more fatigue than the general population. Problem is that successful treatment doesn't necessarily seem to make a difference in fatigue levels at least according to some informal surveys here and a few things I've read.
You say that you were told some years back that you were not a candidate for treatment. Did they at least do a biopsy to determine how much liver damage you have?
Knowledge and treatment protocols in this field have come a long way in the last few years and if you haven't been evaluated recently by a hepatoloigst (liver specialist) I suggest that strongly. We've simply read too many accounts on this forum of no doubt well intentioned GP's and even GI's giving out incorrect information such as the suitability of someone for treatment.
The advice on sound sleep and moderate exercise (such as 30-60 minutes of brisk walking per day) is excellent. Also, if you're overweight, getting down to your ideal weight might help as well. In addition, depending on how you eat, you can look into changing your diet and possibly add some vitamins and supplements after running them by your doctor. Some people seem to do better on a higher carb, low fat diet and some have more energy on a lower carb, higher fat diet.
All the best,
-- Jim
Welcome to the discussion group. Fatigue is one of those things that many with Hep C have, the problem as "LalApple" suggests is that it may not be from the Hep C since fatigue is such a common complaint in the non-HCV population. That said, I certainly wouldn't rule HCV out as the culprit since I believe I've read that our population has more fatigue than the general population. Problem is that successful treatment doesn't necessarily seem to make a difference in fatigue levels at least according to some informal surveys here and a few things I've read.
You say that you were told some years back that you were not a candidate for treatment. Did they at least do a biopsy to determine how much liver damage you have?
Knowledge and treatment protocols in this field have come a long way in the last few years and if you haven't been evaluated recently by a hepatoloigst (liver specialist) I suggest that strongly. We've simply read too many accounts on this forum of no doubt well intentioned GP's and even GI's giving out incorrect information such as the suitability of someone for treatment.
The advice on sound sleep and moderate exercise (such as 30-60 minutes of brisk walking per day) is excellent. Also, if you're overweight, getting down to your ideal weight might help as well. In addition, depending on how you eat, you can look into changing your diet and possibly add some vitamins and supplements after running them by your doctor. Some people seem to do better on a higher carb, low fat diet and some have more energy on a lower carb, higher fat diet.
All the best,
-- Jim
Dear Carolyn,
first off, i think you're an amazingly courageous woman.
question is, do you still have hcv? if so, i don't think fatigue is entirely due to the virus or liver condition. you see, hcv is infamous for not having symptoms until the later stages in most. here, i'm currently txing with interferon, i'm near the last 2 months of my treatment, and it seems that the Ribavirin pills i'm currently on is causing my hemoglobin to drop, thus, i feel fatigued.
i don't know what might be causing your fatigue since you are currently not on treatment. maybe get a simple blood test CBC to see how your hemoglobin is doing? also, a sound sleep is important, along with moderate exercise if possible, get some fresh air and relax.
best of luck
first off, i think you're an amazingly courageous woman.
question is, do you still have hcv? if so, i don't think fatigue is entirely due to the virus or liver condition. you see, hcv is infamous for not having symptoms until the later stages in most. here, i'm currently txing with interferon, i'm near the last 2 months of my treatment, and it seems that the Ribavirin pills i'm currently on is causing my hemoglobin to drop, thus, i feel fatigued.
i don't know what might be causing your fatigue since you are currently not on treatment. maybe get a simple blood test CBC to see how your hemoglobin is doing? also, a sound sleep is important, along with moderate exercise if possible, get some fresh air and relax.
best of luck
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