post tx issues

[ponyshel]

hey all, I am now post 11 months almost of he 72 weeks and go for my 1 year pcr in june. I've been struggling with post tx issues and am going to see my endo soon. My thyroid prety much straightened out on iits own after months post tx but I am still feeling tired all the time and gaining so much weight! I have tried to watch what I eat and exercise as much as possible but can't sem to shed those pounds! I have gained weight in many places I never gained pre tx. I have been struggling with alot of pain and swelling in the lower joints and extremeties. I am having my endo do draws to check my parathyroid ( thanks medcimommy) should I have him do an overall system check? Hope all are doing well! I just wondered if anyone else has some post tx issues. Hugs :) shelly

[ladybug52]

Well this post is kinda depressing! Starts out making me feel bad about how bad you feel....then makes me feel bad when Meki describes my symptoms completely and I just thought it was me, arthritis and old age......then Pigeon talks about how she was so weak she could only do one 85 lb leg press and walk 3 miles an hour for 5 minutes......gee that's more than I can do now, and I'm younger than she is....I can't use old age as an excuse! I guess it's perspective and personality that influence also. I'm competitive and want to turn my bu++  into a lean muscle machine.....but I enjoy sitting on it too much!
Hope you get some answers...
Hugs,
Bug

[GSDgirl]

Oh my gosh you are an exercise machine LOL.  I was in pretty good shape between training my dogs and shoveling horse stalls.  I went to training about 2 months ago and thought I was gonna die.  I didn't stall my horses this winter because it wouldn't have been fair to them if I couldn't clean and water.  I know it is bad when I can barely make the stairs to get to bed at night.  I am post tx 8 or 7 weeks tomorrow.  

Denise

[pigeonca]

As a committed PJ, I love that reference to testicular fortitude!  And as a somewhat committed gym rat, here's my two cents worth:  Take it slow.  

I lost 14 lbs during my 13 weeks of tx, and 6 of them - according to my body fat measuring scale - were muscle.  I was as weak as limp spaghetti when I finished tx, whereas before tx I was leg pressing 170 lbs (3 sets of 10) and all sorts of other feats of strength with my feet of strength.  Anyhow, I stared with one set of leg presses at 85 lbs.  That was all I could do.  And I added one rep (if I could) every time I went to the gym.  

I got on the treadmill and although I used to run or walk briskly at 4.5 mph for 20 to 30 minutes, I could only walk 3 mph for about 5 minutes.  I added a minute each visit, then  when I got up to 20 minutes, started slowly amping up the speed.  It took a good 3 or 4 months to return to my former strength, and I only treated for a short time compared to you.  

You will get there. Just be careful not to push too hard or it becomes self-defeating.  Lately I've been getting kind of lazy, so I'll think of you when I work out and send vibes of energy and strength to you all.

Love,
pigeon

[wyntre9]

I've made a clean break.  My decision.  18 months, one career, one house, one dog, 3 birds and 200 miles later . . .I ain't going back to anything or anyone.  That's one thing TX taught me.  it was actually pretty liberating (if bat-sh1t crazy) to be so friggin MEAN and nasty and think dark paranoid thought about people coz I've always been too friggin nice and got kicked around for it)  So tx gave me TESTICULAR FORTITUDE.  (Those who are PJ's know what I mean).

I feel like an Amazon phoenix.

[meki]

LMAO - I'm telling you --- HCV and TX do change your life --- even if only your perspective.

And yeah ---- because you "hide" since you don't feel good - friends tend to fall away a bit --- But if they are TRUE friends - they will come back --- as soon as you give them a chance to get past the imagined "slight" of being ignored when you couldn't cope with the world.

Trust me...

It takes awhile - but the true ones come back and love you for who you are.

Meki

[wyntre9]

TX is the ultimate opponent!   *LOL*
Once brain fog subsides more I'm gonna post about what I've realized (in retrospect) the huge toll TX has taken on me over the past 18 months.   Now that i've survived it, I find myself in a new place, with no acquaintances, and in desperate need of doing something!  So a gym membership would help in that department as well as get some routine back in my life (other than the Friday nite blood ritual).

So DON'T be MEAN Meki!!!!!!!!   hehehehe.

[meki]

Can we just beat Wyn up please? LMAO!

You go girl!!!

That is so awesome that you feel that way ---- Will you do a couple of sit ups for me?

Hugs,

Meki

[wyntre9]

Good to see you, shelly.

I'm just 10 days post TX and I gotta say Looking back at it i don't see how i survived it.  I feel so much better, already!  Brain fog is melting, energy is returning, irritation is down . . .

But it's only 10 days....  I'm already thinking about joining a local gym and going for personal training coz while i weigh less than when i started what's left is pure lard!  (jiggle jiggle jiggle)  Hope you issues clear up in time for you to enjoy summer in PA!  

[ponyshel]

comeagain    thanks for the direction to mremeets post it was great.
ny,meki ...I am ready to go for liposuction! I never had weight gain in my upper abdomen its really weird. I do crave alot of different foods now and I am trying to stay away from the bad ones ( love my icecream) I wonder if just getting out and exercising is whats triggering my aches and pains and swelling?  I was active even when txing still did steps and walked dog etc. I do tend to push myself. Then I always worry what if I am not clear of the virus? I am pretty sure that is just nerves knowing I have my one year coming up. I am still having the endo do a system check. Just to be sure that there is nothing else. If all comes back o.k. then calling jenny craig...or a good plastic surgeon;)  lmao:) hugs to you all :) shelly

p.s. my daughter was accepted into college for this fall!  

[meki]

Pony - I go into the docs (gen) tomorrow - and I'm lookin for any connection to fibromyalgia ---- We're talking I'm having a hard time sleeping I can't get comfortable... And my bones and muscles ache... Like I don't understand.

This started on TX --- so I'm thinking it is either TX related or HCV related... Or heck - just what was going to happen... But it's very "stressing" in that --- I have about the lowest pain tolerance.

But something else is that I have IBS (or what I call IBS -- one day I can too easily - one day I can't at all... next day --- get the heck out of the way - next day can't even think about it.... don't work... nada... then whooosh...) LMAO!

Anyhow - I'm thinking that TX may affect some folks.

But I'm of the mindset that it's probably based on genetics... So for example --- if you had it in you to get oh... say... Rheumatoid Arthritis at 75... but you took the TX --- it kicked in a whole lot earlier... and stuff like that.

But I wanted you to know - some residuals are not unusual it seems.

Much luck to you sweetie - it's GREAT to see you posting!

Meki

[nygirl7]

Jez Shell you sound just like me. I don't understand this weight gain at ALL.  I mean seriuosly - I've NEVER had this problem I've always been so thin and now...I'm up a whole size in my clothes at least.  I don't get it. My thyroid with the synthroid is straight my numbers are perfect so what gives?  OK I am sitting here at work having a piece of cinammon raisin toast but... ;)

I'm sorry you are going through it to my friend.  We are SVR and have to remember that.  It's so hard though I do understand. I think I'm going to have to make an appt with my endo too and have the parathyroid test or whatever else he can think of.  

I'm so sorry you are in pain that is the one thing I skipped out on.  Where you on neup at all during treatment? I know people got some bone pain from that and just wondered if it was a residual pain type thing. i wasn't. I only had the red cell problems.

I love you girl...hang in there.  About 15 months I started to feel "normal" - still have gainned weight but FEEL pretty darn good again FINALLY.

if it takes the 48 weekers a year you figure it would take us about 16 months........so that is right on schedule.  Hang in there my friend!

Deb

[comeagain]

Sorry to here about your trouble, have you read mremeets post on the other side if not, I suggest you do.
I think he have some valibul tips about weight problems he is in the same age as you aswell.

Good luck!
comeagain