Hi all,

Thanks for your responses.  I'm not cirrhotic but I do have GERD.  I take Omeprazole and have been for a long time. I'm positive that some of the intestinal issues will resolve somewhat after treatment. 

Rubye: Your doctor is wrong about not getting hot flashes after menopause.  My 86 year old mother still gets them every so often.  However, I'm convinced that my persistent hot flashes had something to do with the Hep C.

Isn't this interesting that no one, including the medical community, seems to know anything about this?

Is there anyone out there who has had kidney issues that may or may not have resolved after treatment?

Femapples

Cirrotics can get what's called Gerd. My stomach has been bothering me these past few months as well. Omeprazole once a day helps. Keeps the acid that causes the pain at bay. I'm seeing my hepologist tomorrow and plan to ask her about it. It's hard to know if the liver radiated pain is what I have or stomach related pain, either way, it's a pain! Lol. I also get hot flashes now again, and am not on treatment. Maybe from the virus itself? Not a lot but a few for sure.

Hi Fem,

I have hot flashes, for lack of a better term. If I move about much my head gets so sweaty it looks like I've washed my hair but I've found if I sit still and am relaxed then I'm fine. I saw a utero-gyn the other day and she said you do not have hot flashes after the age of menopause but when I asked her what was going on she had no idea. I had thought about hpt but she was against it and besides I think estrogen is bad for the liver.

For me, I think there is something wrong with my stomach or intestines and that combined with cirrhosis makes my body overheat in an attempt to get rid of the cause of the irritation. I also get terribly nausea. Both of these came about with treatment with Sovaldi and Olysio. I'm waiting for a gastroenterologist appointment but that's 3 months away and so for now I try to avoid stress and movement - something that is not real doable. 

Let me know please if you find any resolution and I will do the same.

Hi Fem,

I don`t have the medical knowledge to discuss your kidney issues with you, I think that`s something you`ll need to talk about with your nephrologist.

I would like to comment on the hot flashes though.  When I was on treatment with Peg/rib I was already several years post menopausal and all symptoms had long gone, but at some point during my 24 weeks I started getting hot flashes again and they felt exactly the same as the ones I`d experienced during the menopause.  They continued on and off for a few months post tx and then completely disappeared again.  I do remember 2 or 3 other women mentioning hot flashes as a side effect too in the past, but whether this is hormonal or not is difficult to say.   It seems to be fairly rare but on the other hand I don`t think it`s something that`s often talked about openly.

You`re almost at the end of your treatment now so hopefully they will calm down soon! 

Best of luck!

Hi all,

I'm starting my 11th week on Viekira Pak and Ribaviron.  As you can see by my signature line, my kidneys are involved.  The other day, I had a urinalysis which showed my protein level to be 2+.  This seems to be down from 3 which was measured in June 2014.  On June 24th, the day after I end this drug regime, I will have a comprehensive blood test which will include measuring my cryoglobulin level.  I will be making an appointment with my nephrologist after I get those results.  Is there anyone else with similar kidney issues or knowledge of same who can discuss this with me?

Also, I am post menopausal but was experiencing hot flashes and night sweats for 13 years before I couldn't take it anymore and succumbed to hormone replacement therapy (which I am off since starting this treatment).  I read that some women have them all their lives but I tend to think this may have had something to do with the Hep C or my kidneys.  It seems as if my hot flashes have diminished somewhat although yesterday and the day before, they seemed to return.  Has anyone noticed a change in hot flashes?  I can't seem to find any information about this anywhere and my doctor told me no one has ever asked that question before.

Any information about these two seemingly unrelated topics would be appreciated.

Femapples