Brain fog is a common complaint among Hep C sufferers. It's amazing how many people have it and don't realize how bad it was affecting you. It isn't immediate after treatment, but you should start feeling better fairly soon. Having vanquished the virus is the biggest improvement of all and that's the first gift, with more coming! There's more clarity, I've noticed that. I'm finally getting my mind back, just in time to start losing it naturally! You have much to look forward to.
Phoenix17 said
Sep 2, 2016
I am tired A LOT and have brain fog as well. It will be interesting how fast it will get better. I just thought it was a normal part of aging, and I am really busy all the time. Now I think it's from having hep c for so long.
NRA4ever said
Aug 31, 2016
I had the fog and fatigue before treatment. It was one of the things that made me go in for tests. It got worse during treatment but its gone now. I wake up with drive again. I've repaired my 4 wheeler and built the boxes for my kitchen cabinets in the last 2 weeks. Plus I have caught up on the lawns I cut. My memory is getting better but I still take notes on my days plans before I start. Good luck with treatment. Get the monster out of your body and you will lose the fatigue and fog.
hrsetrdr said
Aug 27, 2016
Hi Juliet,
I did not have the "Fatigue and fog" pre-treatment directly from the HCV, but the treatment certainly put me there. It took some time after EOT for me to get past the fog, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope that you secure treatment and get rid of the dragon as soon as possible.
Loopy Lisa said
Aug 27, 2016
I do think its very well possible that it can occur at any stage. My brain fogs started very early, early enough for me to think something was wrong as I became tired a lot and concentration was off. I went from a very active person that would move constantly to someone that felt foggy etc. I remember at the time presenting myself to the Doctor saying something wasn't right. In fact over the years I returned because I could feel something was wrong. I even had tests, but not one doctor tested me for Hep C. I was even told by one Doctor I had perfect blood, as I had convinced myself it must be a virus and tested for H.I.V. Eventually I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a term for can't explain it, once pain became an issue. My body communicated and it reached my thoughts, just I didn't have an explanation. Even my husband admits he thought I was just being lazy or finding excuses at times. It was a pure accident I found out via a I.V.F procedure and it all fell into place. Our bodies do tell us when something is not right, we either ignore it, or trust our instincts. Mine were right about a virus, just the wrong one. I do know that even after years of infection, it has improved on the medications. I've sat reading things in the past or writing something and suddenly I couldn't remember how to spell simple words because my brain went foggy. I was beginning to think I had early onset of dementia as I had "perfect blood!" I do know that infection causes IQ to drop by 15 whilst infected. Hep C does not affect just the liver, it affects the whole body, just it appears to be in some more than others. I think in the future they will more about what the disease actually does, and why it reacts differently in each individual. But don't worry, once the virus is knocked off its throne, you will reclaim back your palace. :D
Shadowfax said
Aug 26, 2016
Hi Juliet,
I am just throwing this in as food for thought because it is human nature. I am not saying in any way or form it is the case. Please beware of psychosomatic symptoms. The more we read, the more we learn we love to start deciding that little pinch we felt under our rib cage was our liver.
I think more people complained about brain fog while on treatment and from it as opposed to before although it can in fact be there.
Take care and know that you will feel yourself again once you have resolved this.
SF
Tig said
Aug 26, 2016
Hi,
While it does seem to affect people after long term infection and/or during treatment, it can and does affect us all in one form or another. Who knows why it affects some differently than others, we just know it does.
You're correct that it does affect women over 50 differently, than applies to post menopausal women. There is a connection between that and a higher risk of fibrosis development. Since you are recently infected and little or no liver damage, these symptoms should be short lived once you finish treatment successfully. So, do your best to stay healthy, eat a good diet and begin a good habit of daily hydration. Once you start treatment you will have to drink 3-4 liters of water per day. These new treatments demand that to control side effects. You may notice some improvements by beginning early. Keeping yourself hydrated and flushed is good for every part of you!
If you have always been a go getter and not a loafer, it'll return! I think your Dad and I would've got along really well. I can loaf with the best of them! Maybe you could send me your lost energy. I promise to send it back when you're ready, lol!
Juliet17 said
Aug 26, 2016
Although I've had the virus for only a year or so, I am already noticing that I float through my days and get nothing done. I know about brain fog with HCV, but it seems it is generally only with long-term infection or during tx. And many people never have it at all.
I have a long-term prescription for a low dose of ADD medication which has always helped me focus and get things done. These days, it's like someone replaced my pills with Valium or something. There are things I should be doing, even things I would like to do, but it all seems like too much of an effort. This is not like me at all. My dad used to joke about how i obviously did not inherit his fine talent for loafing because I am terrible at it. But not these days!
I had a basic exam done a couple of months ago, and my bloodwork and other tests showed no problems other than Hep C antibodies and mildly elevated liver enzymes.
I read a few things online about Hep C symptoms hitting you much earlier if you contract the virus after age 50, which I apparently did. But my liver seems to be undamaged at this point, so it seems strange that I'm already feeling so dumb and lazy. Anyone else going through something similar?
Brain fog is a common complaint among Hep C sufferers. It's amazing how many people have it and don't realize how bad it was affecting you. It isn't immediate after treatment, but you should start feeling better fairly soon. Having vanquished the virus is the biggest improvement of all and that's the first gift, with more coming! There's more clarity, I've noticed that. I'm finally getting my mind back, just in time to start losing it naturally! You have much to look forward to.
I am tired A LOT and have brain fog as well. It will be interesting how fast it will get better. I just thought it was a normal part of aging, and I am really busy all the time. Now I think it's from having hep c for so long.
I had the fog and fatigue before treatment. It was one of the things that made me go in for tests. It got worse during treatment but its gone now. I wake up with drive again. I've repaired my 4 wheeler and built the boxes for my kitchen cabinets in the last 2 weeks. Plus I have caught up on the lawns I cut. My memory is getting better but I still take notes on my days plans before I start. Good luck with treatment. Get the monster out of your body and you will lose the fatigue and fog.
Hi Juliet,
I did not have the "Fatigue and fog" pre-treatment directly from the HCV, but the treatment certainly put me there. It took some time after EOT for me to get past the fog, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope that you secure treatment and get rid of the dragon as soon as possible.
I do think its very well possible that it can occur at any stage. My brain fogs started very early, early enough for me to think something was wrong as I became tired a lot and concentration was off. I went from a very active person that would move constantly to someone that felt foggy etc. I remember at the time presenting myself to the Doctor saying something wasn't right. In fact over the years I returned because I could feel something was wrong. I even had tests, but not one doctor tested me for Hep C. I was even told by one Doctor I had perfect blood, as I had convinced myself it must be a virus and tested for H.I.V. Eventually I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a term for can't explain it, once pain became an issue. My body communicated and it reached my thoughts, just I didn't have an explanation. Even my husband admits he thought I was just being lazy or finding excuses at times. It was a pure accident I found out via a I.V.F procedure and it all fell into place. Our bodies do tell us when something is not right, we either ignore it, or trust our instincts. Mine were right about a virus, just the wrong one. I do know that even after years of infection, it has improved on the medications. I've sat reading things in the past or writing something and suddenly I couldn't remember how to spell simple words because my brain went foggy. I was beginning to think I had early onset of dementia as I had "perfect blood!" I do know that infection causes IQ to drop by 15 whilst infected. Hep C does not affect just the liver, it affects the whole body, just it appears to be in some more than others. I think in the future they will more about what the disease actually does, and why it reacts differently in each individual. But don't worry, once the virus is knocked off its throne, you will reclaim back your palace. :D
Hi Juliet,
I am just throwing this in as food for thought because it is human nature. I am not saying in any way or form it is the case. Please beware of psychosomatic symptoms. The more we read, the more we learn we love to start deciding that little pinch we felt under our rib cage was our liver.
I think more people complained about brain fog while on treatment and from it as opposed to before although it can in fact be there.
Take care and know that you will feel yourself again once you have resolved this.
SF
Hi,
While it does seem to affect people after long term infection and/or during treatment, it can and does affect us all in one form or another. Who knows why it affects some differently than others, we just know it does.
You're correct that it does affect women over 50 differently, than applies to post menopausal women. There is a connection between that and a higher risk of fibrosis development. Since you are recently infected and little or no liver damage, these symptoms should be short lived once you finish treatment successfully. So, do your best to stay healthy, eat a good diet and begin a good habit of daily hydration. Once you start treatment you will have to drink 3-4 liters of water per day. These new treatments demand that to control side effects. You may notice some improvements by beginning early. Keeping yourself hydrated and flushed is good for every part of you!
If you have always been a go getter and not a loafer, it'll return! I think your Dad and I would've got along really well. I can loaf with the best of them! Maybe you could send me your lost energy. I promise to send it back when you're ready, lol!
Although I've had the virus for only a year or so, I am already noticing that I float through my days and get nothing done. I know about brain fog with HCV, but it seems it is generally only with long-term infection or during tx. And many people never have it at all.
I have a long-term prescription for a low dose of ADD medication which has always helped me focus and get things done. These days, it's like someone replaced my pills with Valium or something. There are things I should be doing, even things I would like to do, but it all seems like too much of an effort. This is not like me at all. My dad used to joke about how i obviously did not inherit his fine talent for loafing because I am terrible at it. But not these days!
I had a basic exam done a couple of months ago, and my bloodwork and other tests showed no problems other than Hep C antibodies and mildly elevated liver enzymes.
I read a few things online about Hep C symptoms hitting you much earlier if you contract the virus after age 50, which I apparently did. But my liver seems to be undamaged at this point, so it seems strange that I'm already feeling so dumb and lazy. Anyone else going through something similar?