| Post Treatment - Recovery from HCV Treatment |
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Monday, 11 January 2010 00:55
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- For some participants, clearing hepatitis C infection resulted in renewed energy, improvements in mood and relief from worrying about future health consequences of hepatitis C infection. - However other participants had difficulty noticing any improvements in their health following treatment, while some perceived that new health problems had emerged after treatment. - Participants who did not clear hepatitis C infection reframed treatment nonresponse in order to cope with the stress that it provoked. Reframing was assisted by factors like improved liver function test results and the likelihood that more effective treatments will become available in the future. - Of the 27 participants in this study, 25 reported persistent physical and psychological side effects/symptoms after completing hepatitis C treatments. - Eleven participants said that their symptoms had lasted for up to one year after treatment had finished and 14 participants said that their symptoms had lasted for more than one year after treatment. - Cognitive impairments like fatigue and ‘brain-fog’ were the most commonly reported ongoing side effects/symptoms. Ongoing physical symptoms like muscle aches and skin problems were also commonly reported. Persistent physical and psychological symptoms impacted on everyday activities like sleeping, socialising and employment. - Informed consent procedures did not address the post-treatment period and participants were not forewarned of the possibility of ongoing side effects after treatment. Similarly, participants said that they were given unrealistic expectations about increased energy levels and improved quality of life from clearing infection. - The end of treatment was a time when participants’ demand for information was high. - Little or no information was provided by specialists about what patients could expect in the months after treatment, and what to do and where to go if they experienced health problems. - The clinic environment often intimidated participants and was a barrier to them seeking post-treatment information and medical care regarding persistent health problems. - Specialist physicians rejected an association between the treatment regimen and participants’ accounts of persistent side effects/symptoms. - On the other hand, most participants perceived a direct causal link between treatment and their ongoing symptoms. - The clinics and specialists’ private practices had no comprehensive treatment termination protocols. - Access to clinic staff, support and resources were severed after the administration of drugs had ceased. - The notion of treatment ‘success’ was contested by participants. Clearing infection did not necessarily translate to feeling well. On the contrary, it could actually mean feeling worse than before treatment. - Re-adjustment to life after treatment was difficult and exacerbated by persistent symptoms and no end of treatment referrals, support, information or advice. - The post-treatment period often involved repairing relationships which were damaged during treatment. - Participants' difficulties with emotions, strained relationships and trouble in coming to terms with non-response were exacerbated by a lack of posttreatment information, advice, referrals, support and medical care to address ongoing symptoms. - The effects of treatment on wellbeing can last longer than the 24 or 48 week regimens. To view the full article please go to this link: http://www.hepqld.asn.au/resources/Reco ... tments.pdf Add this page to your favourite Social Bookmarking websites;         
 
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Its disappointing to read that on the whole most people do not feel better after treatment - this is the only thing that keeps me going. I have a real sense that I'd have to have a whole lot more energy than I currently have. I am half way through 48 week treatment and find out tomorrow whether the virus is cleared completely from my system.
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March 31, 2010
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