Hi Phoenix,

my EOT was 12th April and I felt good at that time and for a while after.

Have been feeling a bit down last few days and part of this is having less energy (?), OR the will to use what I have got.

The ‘recurrence of a HCC after DAA’ stuff did have a jarring note with me. More so in that when I reached EOT, I had little inclination to have another blood test until about 12 weeks later. It would be then I would find out whether the DAA’s worked. Proviso I did not start feeling really crook in the meantime.

But you can’ bugger around with a HCC so I am told (and having a great big upside down letter J shaped scar on my belly attests to this line of thought), so I am off to see the G.P. for referrals to have AFP checked this Friday.

And of course, before DAA’s my AFP went up with my Hep C anyway, so to validate any AFP finding, maybe get the LFTs checked as well…… Out goes the ‘don’t be bothered by it until July’ plan…

Enough to make me feel a bit depressed ….. Maybe in terms of ‘reactive depression’ as going through DAA treatment brings up all the feelings associated with living with this bug for many years.

Many of our posts here have been in terms of fighting a ‘good fight’ and holding onto a new hope for a HCV free future. That’s perfectly valid.

I find some of the posts recently expressing doubts and reservations about recurrence both confronting, BUT uplifting in a way as well. Uplifting in that they remind me to know my enemy – some of these new feelings and doubts are simply duplicates of the old feelings and doubts I have lived with for many years.

Hep C has f..cked with my liver, and there is always a chance it will continue to do so, but having lived with it for 20 odd years, I know when it is trying to f…k round with my head. Maybe, just maybe, these feelings I got are more in the head then the liver.

It is good to have this forum as a way people can confront the psychological warfare the bug can also indulge in.

Yours

Jeff

Hi all – Worrying is a full-on part of having this damn thing !

You know, you worry on diagnosis,
You worry when you realise what it can do to you,
You worry about who to tell due to stigma, work etc etc
You learn…and worry.
You worry about the health of your liver,
You worry about the health of your children,
You worry about extra hepatic symptoms,
You worry about accessing treatment,
You worry when buying the meds,
You worry when waiting for the meds,
You worry about customs,
You worry about starting treatment…

*brief interlude from worry once started and you feel initially brighter*

You worry about what you eat,
You worry about what you drink,
You worry about medicine interactions,
You worry about tests results,
You worry about EOT,
You end tx ….and worry about EOT test results,
You wait and worry about relapse,
You wait and worry again.

I am starting to worry about worrying !

No wonder we are tired and anxious!
Huge pat on the back to all and wishing you a healthier and happier post worry time!

ps I am still on tx and have itchy dry skin.

I can relate to the dry itchy skin I am off to have my post 12 week blood tests this morning, Nerves are setting in once again as this is the BIG one. Still have good energy levels though. The odds are on our side % wise…….Will post my results as soon as they are in.

Good luck Lynne, My good wishes go with you and everyone

Not long to go now Gaj

Yes, I have alot of very positive moments pat and do feel alot better, if a little ‘drugged’ as I’m in week 16 of tx.
My post was a little tongue in cheek, but also pointing out that the whole process is quite long and it’s not surprising that we can get a little worn down by it all and just want it over. I find I wake up full of optimism but when tired at the end of the day, worry can sometimes sneak in.

A sunny day really helps, Walking in the sunshine, here in the UK, winter seems to be dragging on forever this year, snow yesterday hmy: Roll on spring ‘proper’

Big to you and all .

Just to let you all know, I had the worries too.

Occasionally there would be liver area pains (mild). Different areas would feel inflamed at different times. Seemed to migrate.

I had a period of bloating, general inflammation sensations through the whole gut area … lasted a couple weeks.

Tingles/pinprick sensations returned in my palms and feet, off and on, for a couple weeks.

Occasional tiredness came and went.

But at 12 weeks past EOT …. SVR12. I’m at almost 16 weeks now and I may have another test at 24, but maybe not … no insurance now.

Now it’s just the occasional twinges in the liver, mostly way off to the right side near where I once had a gall bladder. And that seems to be lessening as well.

My joint inflammation has never returned. My brain fog seems to have permanently lifted. My general attitude is much brighter. And while my energy levels aren’t where they were during the second/third week of treatment, they are far, far higher than before treatment.