I just had confirmed I do have hepatitis c. I will find out what exact type and how bad it is next wednesday. I know I have had this about 2 yrs and just blamed the symptoms on drugs and lack there of. The last month I've been stuck here in my mom's home. She helped me get into a suboxone program and taken me to the doc to get this hep thing lined out. I am so fatigued lately and have been the last 6 mths bad. I just want something to give me some energy but I will not resort to illicit drugs because that will get me started all over again. I've been drinking green tea and taking milk thistle and a multivitamin but I am still so very tired. I usually end up drinking about 4 pots of coffee a day and I've tried walking on the treadmill and other exercises and still feel like crap. I barely have enough energy to clean the house. My mom thinks I'm just being lazy and nags at me constantly. I was wondering when you do go to a specialist, does he put you on some pill to give you energy? I just wish had some speed or something sometimes or some kind of amphetamine. That was never my problem drug but I would be tempted to take something like that but I would rather go the legal route.
Does the docs write you something to give you energy while you are on treatment?
Are there any natural herbs that will give you a pick-me-up?
Anybody got any advice?
I also take Lexapro-been taking for 2 weeks. When this stuff starts working will it help or make things worse?
Thanks for all replies.
:yawn:

I just had confirmed I do have hepatitis c. I will find out what exact type and how bad it is next wednesday. I know I have had this about 2 yrs and just blamed the symptoms on drugs and lack there of. The last month I've been stuck here in my mom's home. She helped me get into a suboxone program and taken me to the doc to get this hep thing lined out. I am so fatigued lately and have been the last 6 mths bad. I just want something to give me some energy but I will not resort to illicit drugs because that will get me started all over again. I've been drinking green tea and taking milk thistle and a multivitamin but I am still so very tired. I usually end up drinking about 4 pots of coffee a day and I've tried walking on the treadmill and other exercises and still feel like crap. I barely have enough energy to clean the house. My mom thinks I'm just being lazy and nags at me constantly. I was wondering when you do go to a specialist, does he put you on some pill to give you energy? I just wish had some speed or something sometimes or some kind of amphetamine. That was never my problem drug but I would be tempted to take something like that but I would rather go the legal route.
Does the docs write you something to give you energy while you are on treatment?
Are there any natural herbs that will give you a pick-me-up?
Anybody got any advice?
I also take Lexapro-been taking for 2 weeks. When this stuff starts working will it help or make things worse?
Thanks for all replies.
:yawn:

I have lots of advice, but I have no idea what would apply to you.

Because you reference recent drug abuse and recovery and the inititiation of an antidepressant, my guess is that the fatigue you feel is likely the physical letdown after drug use and your body trying to gain "stasis." Stasis is a medical term for equilibrium or balance.

This is going to take time. And while it is easiest to point at the hepatitis C as the cause of your fatigue, my guess is that it is one of many factors.

Getting on a treadmill and then giving up is not a program to increase your stamina. Managing your energy right now is going to have to include the effects of the lexpro, plus the time and work you have to invest in building up your health and your well being. If you are considering going under treatment soon, DON'T. Get your recovery, nutritional, and lifestyle act together first. A 12 step program, an serious effort to eat nutritionally, an exercise program that is guided and builds up slowly, and time to get yourself on an even keel emotionally will all help you.

You have been infected only for two years? You have plenty of time to get yourself in better shape before even considering treatment. It's worth the work and commitment to yourself and to your health.

Lexpro takes time to work, time to get the doseage right and it may be that it will be changed to another drug before you find one that works for you. There is no instant gratification here. It will all take time.

The one thing that may help some (in MODERATION) is coffee. Just do not substitute an ocean of coffee for all the other work you need to do, but recent reports are saying that coffee in moderation helps the liver. There is no news on whether caffeinated or decaf is best, but my own take on this is that it can help. The caffeine might help with the fatigue, but it is not a substitute for good rest and energy management.

Check out a recent post called how to manage hepatitis (any type) for general guidelines.

Stick around. Find a support board for recovery and a good therapist. Being sober takes getting used to. And turn around and thank your mother. It isn't all about you. She has been through quite a time, too.

I hope this helps,

thanbey

Hi Jon,

Here's a bit of news that may be encouraging: http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/02/15/coffee.cancer.ap/index.html


There have now been several studies suggesting that coffee helps the liver a bit, studies similar to those relating tea to heart health. So, this may help a bit, just don't overdo it!


sean

Thanks Guys,
Yes it is true I am looking for instant gratification and a quick fix to my problems and I think that is my major issue now. I've always been like that and don't know why. it is one of the things I will have to work on. Thanbey, you hit the nail on the head with that and I needed someone to tell me that I guess. I suppose everything will take time and meds and other things arent gonna help as fast as I want them to. I'm gonna try to push myself to do more activities even if it is uncomfortable to me. I hope I can keep an attitude like that but I really think I am starting to get a grip on it.
Again,
Thanks
:wave:

Thanks Guys,
Yes it is true I am looking for instant gratification and a quick fix to my problems and I think that is my major issue now. I've always been like that and don't know why. it is one of the things I will have to work on. Thanbey, you hit the nail on the head with that and I needed someone to tell me that I guess. I suppose everything will take time and meds and other things arent gonna help as fast as I want them to. I'm gonna try to push myself to do more activities even if it is uncomfortable to me. I hope I can keep an attitude like that but I really think I am starting to get a grip on it.
Again,
Thanks
:wave:

We are all here together in various stages of a journey to better health. you have a lot to offer, Jon, I have been around long enough to spot that in someone.

Have patience with us and the world around you and remember not to fast forward into the future. Enjoy your "now." It's the place you will find the wisdom that you will give to those who come next.

And give Mom a hug.

thanbey

I just had confirmed I do have hepatitis c. I will find out what exact type and how bad it is next wednesday. I know I have had this about 2 yrs and just blamed the symptoms on drugs and lack there of. The last month I've been stuck here in my mom's home. She helped me get into a suboxone program and taken me to the doc to get this hep thing lined out. I am so fatigued lately and have been the last 6 mths bad. I just want something to give me some energy but I will not resort to illicit drugs because that will get me started all over again. I've been drinking green tea and taking milk thistle and a multivitamin but I am still so very tired. I usually end up drinking about 4 pots of coffee a day and I've tried walking on the treadmill and other exercises and still feel like crap. I barely have enough energy to clean the house. My mom thinks I'm just being lazy and nags at me constantly. I was wondering when you do go to a specialist, does he put you on some pill to give you energy? I just wish had some speed or something sometimes or some kind of amphetamine. That was never my problem drug but I would be tempted to take something like that but I would rather go the legal route.
Does the docs write you something to give you energy while you are on treatment?
Are there any natural herbs that will give you a pick-me-up?
Anybody got any advice?
I also take Lexapro-been taking for 2 weeks. When this stuff starts working will it help or make things worse?
Thanks for all replies.
:yawn: Jon, I know so well the feeling of no energy. You did not say if your liver was throwing off bile. Anyway, I can tell you it takes time for the liver to heal itself after abuse. It took me years to get back to normal. The liver heals when you sleep. If you feel like sleeping, then sleep. The liver can heal itself. You will always have the agent in your blood, but you can get will. But healing the liver is a slow process, sometimes we heal and do not realize we are better until we look back and realize we are doing things we could not do when we were at our worst. Please read my post under alternative treatments. In all honesty, once I learned it was my liver (35 years ago) I began paying attention to what I put into my body. It took me a whole year to become functioning normal again, and several years to realize I always felt well when I slept until my body awoke on its own. Never be forced to wake up to an alarm clock or any other wake up. I can't express enough ...Always sleep until your body awakes on its own. That's your body saying you have enough energy to function until next sleep call. It will take time to feel good again. But you will if you listen to your body.

I am also new in recovery! I just got past the WD stages of getting off of pain pills. I have been on lexapro as well but for longer. It helps alot. The only thing with that type of drug is it eigther gives you energy or knocks you out. I got lucky and it gives me energy but have seen it knock people on their butt very badly. I go TODAY to find out all of the details and I am scared. I have though alot about giving myself recovery time before I start this treatment if need be, I'm in a situation though where I'm not working right now and it may be beneficial to get it over with before i go back to work, you know, while I have this time. I'm scared though. I understand the fatigue very very much so. I think it has to do with my body getting use to life without the high of pain pills to pull me through. it's hard and I'll just ask the doctor what he thinks I should do. My ex has hep c and I had an antibody so I go find out what exactly this means. I'll get back to you when I know more after my appointment which is soon. Getting sober is a ***** in itself so we do need time. The 12 step recovery program does help alot. I can't believe after years I finally did it, wow!! Now I don't know weather or not to deal with this hepc stuff just yet. Seems so much to handle all at once. Plus hearing horror stories about the treatments, I just don't know if I can handle feeling any worse right now. I want to feel a little better first, then again, I want to get it over with. I don't know what to say exept, I am right there with ya. Kim

Bluryane,
I have never treated. I do not believe in the Hep C treatemnts for me. I healed myself with herbs and caring for my own body. I do not believe in destroying the immune system when the body CAN heal itself. Please do the research before you do the Hep C treatment. It is not a cure. And no doctor will tell you it is a cure. There is no cure at this time. Doesn't it make sense to build the immune system to heal yourself? rather than destroy the immune system in an attempt to put the virus in a hipnotic state for only a time. Either way it's a slow process. I was near death 35 years ago from Hep C. Today I am well and live a normal life. Doctor keep telling whatever I am doing to keep on doing it, because it works for me. I take herbs daily, I don't abuse my body, I sleep each day until my body awakes on it's own. Your body will heal if you do all this and pray. Faith and prayer is the number one healer. My prayers I know healed me, and God's wisdom about healing herbs as my guide.