Going down

[Dude]

I'm wondering if anyone here has ever felt this bad. Today I was running around a lot in the morning (rare anymore with total lack of energy), and I was over at my brothers house visiting. He was trying to get a few things put in the garage because it was about to start pouring rain, so I decided to help him. I saw a few bags of cement in his utility trailer and told him they would be ruined if they got wet... he said there was a plastic sheet in the trailer and it was supposed to be covering them. It wasn't, so I decided to go into the trailer and move the bags of cement and cover them with the plastic.

I haven't been very energetic at all lately, having a really low white blood cell count (2.7 G/L, normal range for a man is 4.2 to 10.3 according to my printout). I sleep a lot. Anyway, I lifted these bags of cement and stacked them, placing the plastic sheeting around them. It was more strenuous than I expected it would be, and I immediately felt like blood was not getting to my brain.

I was just going to hop in my Jeep and go home when my brother asked me what was wrong. I wondered if it was that noticeable (the way I was feeling) and told him I wasn't feeling good.    He noticed that I was in a cold sweat even though it was kind of cool out. I quickly began to feel more and more like I was going to black out. I laid down across the front seats of my Jeep (real uncomfortable) and then got up and stepped out onto the driveway and fell to the ground, ready to puke. I also felt like I was going to lose control of my bowels, but couldn't do much about it because I felt like I was going to black out, real bad.

My brother asked if I wanted to go in and lie down on the couch, and I said I can't. I had zero energy, and every time I tried to stand I thought I'd black out again, and down I'd go. I tried laying in the driveway, but my brother was concerned about his neighbors, and asked if I wanted him to carry me in, but I said no. I couldn't seem to make him understand that every time I stood up I felt like I was going to die. I told him I can't, I'm gone. He asked if I wanted him to call 911, and I said no, I just need to lay down. So I laid down again in the driveway. He went in to clear off the couch and get me some water, and it started to rain.

I laid there about 5 minutes and began to feel better, but not by much. When he came out again he offered to carry me in but I was finally able to get up and stagger in to the bathroom. I gradually felt better, and after sitting a while I drove home. I remember feeling like my brain was going to explode, like I was having a hard time breathing and my chest felt like a 400 pound lady was sitting on it. My entire body was aching and I was pretty afraid during the whole thing, and long afterward, because I still have this strange pressure in my shoulders, neck and chest.

It was pretty freaky. Has anyone ever felt that way while on PegIntron or any of the other med's for Hep C? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

God bless.

[hcvanon]

Wow -- I will keep you in prayer.  Have you gone to the doctor?  Maybe you should contact Maxi -- I do not know where she has been -- but she might have some info -- Lynn has Maxi's #.
Take it easy -- Thanks for all your loving kindness and support you have given to this family -- you are awesome.
Glen

[GAsoberpeach]

 :(Wow Sorry to hear this Joris . Please call your doctor and get in to see her or him , sounds like what happen to Rocky and to art. I just talked with Art and the Doctor told him He has Pulmanary Hypertension and they are looking to see if it was from Treatment Peg ext.. So please call the doctor get checked out. I think this is Rocky and terri e mail MaxieG2@aol.com Rocky had heart trouble from TX also.

Godbless
lynn

[MaxieG]

Hi Joris,

I got an IM from Lynn, to come and read this post.  Joris I don't know what's going on for sure, but with you feeling this pressure in your chest, I'm very concerned about you.  The night that Rocky's heart crashed, he couldn't breathe and felt many of the same symptoms as you described.  It was much worse when he was lying down.  

You need to seek the advice of your doctor about this.  I have heard more than my share of this type of thing happening, due to the TX.   They say it is rare, but I tend to disagree.  Rocky will go down much faster now, and has to be so very careful, so much more than before, but the main thing is, his days of doing any form of interferon treatment are over.  His heart can't take it.  It would kill him.

Go get this checked out Joris, before you continue with the next round.  Better you be safe than sorry.
We'll be praying for you.

Love,
Maxie

[Dude]

Thanks a lot Glen, Lynn and Maxie. Yeah I think I'll be telling my doc at the VA clinic about it, although he seems like a bit of a dud. Hopefully I can get an EKG or something that will tell more.

I think if I just make sure not to overexert myself I should be okay. It's just that sometimes I feel like it's the old me, able to do all kinds of strenuous effort, and then it catches up to me and I get all worn out quick. This time it really hit harder than ever before and surprised me. I've always been a tough cookie and could do extreme stuff all day long. It feels so disappointing to be at this low a level of energy now. God, I feel like I'm 90 sometimes! It totally sucks! I want my old self back so bad!

Well, no use going there. Glen, you are the awesome one, my brother. None of us would have this place of refuge if it weren't for your compassionate heart. I believe there are angels in the form of humans, walking among us. You are one of them, Glen. I believe God sent you to help us. Thank you so much for being such a loving brother, Glen. We all need you and the kindness you give so freely. We all learn from the examples you show us.

God bless you all abundantly.

[BBP]

Dear Joris in Florida;
I Love  you and want you to know when I get, excuse the pun, taken down, I strive to be thankful to the Lord for showing me the strength of attempting things. Everything happens for a reason and no matter the length of time it takes to feel better, believe this, you will feel better.
My positive attitude gives you love and support.
All my LOVE, BBP in cold north Canada.

[Dude]

Thanks a lot, BBP for the warm words. I hope you're able to stay warm despite the northern weather. I love you, too, and welcome you in here... come back often and share your words with us.

I pray some of your cold weather drops down here in Florida, and you get some much needed warmth.

God bless.

[Pinky]

Hey Joris: Pinky here. It was nice to get your email. Thanks. I haven't had exactly that, not with the heavy chest and head wanting to explode. BUT I have gone through something weird. Maybe you too?

I have very little energy and sleep a lot. Severe fatigue. There are times when I just "go down." What happens is that I can't function. I am awake, I can hear but basiclly can't move. It's like everything in me just shuts down. I just hang out in this weird state and then pretty soon I can move again. It happened when I was walking one day. I couldn't get home, couldn't sit down, couldn't move. I was just stuck there in the middle of the path. Please let me know if this or something like it has happened to you.

I am worried about the cold sweats and chest pain. PLEASE see your doctor and report back to us so we all can know what is up and if/when you are ok.

Prayers for you. Pinky

[Dude]

Hi Pinky, welcome back.

I have been the same way, very low energy levels and usually just hang around like I'm waiting to feel better. It drives me nuts because I was a normally very active man and loved to go places. I also sleep a heck of a lot, and often feel like I'm shutting down, but not completely. Just generally exhausted. And then there's times I think I feel good, and then I attempt to do something that requires physical exertion, and boom, it hits like a ton of bricks. I also have a feeling of heating up rapidly if I do anything, even just move around the house or play with my dogs.

But I have never had the feeling that I just couldn't move to the point of not even being able to sit down. If I get to that bad a point of energy loss I have to sit down. If it were me on the sidewalk I'd probably lay down right there, if it were like the experience I started this post with (above). I was at the point where even if I didn't want to lay down it was happening anyway. It was like my brain let go of all my muscular energy and just shut off and I was laying down. I had no choice at that point but to relax and focus on normal breathing and prayer. I really didn't care if the neighbors thought I was wierd or not... I didn't think of them at all.

You should talk to your doctor about that. I can't imagine not even being able to sit down. Were you light headed, like feeling as if you might black out? In that case I would highly recommend laying down or sitting and raising your feet above your head level somehow, you know, so the blood gets into your brain. I think thats what saved me that day... I laid down and my head was lower than my feet, or at the same level and my blood could flow easier up to my brain. I just hope it never happens while I'm driving or out in the woods 4 wheeling. I do that a lot, even by myself... just a habit. I love the boondocks and wildlife in Florida, and I'm into photography so I go out now and then if I find a nice trail.

See your doctor about that, and don't forget. You may have some kind of motor impairment or something that's being created by your med's. God bless and thank you for your thoughts and concerns.

[Penney]

Hi Joris.

Today is the 12th of March.  You posted this subject on the 9th.  Have you been to the doctor yet?????????????  Have you called him???????  I think I remember you saying you just found out you had gallstones.  Are you getting that taken care of????  It may all be related....it may be your heart....it may be the meds....who knows!  But, it's defintiely SOMETHING and talking about it is all well and good, BUT it will not help you with this one!  Please....just go to the doctor and THEN keep all of us posted!!!!!
Take care...
Penney

[jjgirl]

HI Joris
I would like to say AMEN to what Penney just said!!
Get your butt to the doctor!!
Julie

[Dude]

Hi Penney and Julie. Thanks for your ideas. Yeah, I started in a Hep C support group last night and was there for hours. There was a guest speaker, a Dr. Rashid, and he was very well informed and a great communicator. I was the main guy asking questions! Well, a couple of others there were asking an occasional question, but I was all over it. I could see in his eyes that my interruptions were a bit annoying at times, but hey, I'm there to learn.

After the meeting I asked him about the problem with my event at my brothers house, and he said I am not supposed to exert much energy while on this medication. My own doctor never mentioned that! Nice. So, my advice to others now: don't over do it. I have a doctor appointment in two weeks, and a lab work next week, so I plan on talking to my own doctor about it then. In the meantime I'm just kickin' back and taking it easy, doing the usual water intake and Milk Thistle, med's, and so on. I have begun to do some very mild exercises, like lifting dumbells in a variety of lift styles, stretching exercises, meditation, and deep breathing. I need to pump up my tires on my old beach bike and get on it once a day around evening time for some casual riding for my leg muscles.

I feel a lot better, but then tonight I found a new Chinese restaurant in my area and went hog wild. Jesse and I ate like a Chinese king! I bought too much food! So we'll be eating Chinese tomorrow night, too. Man, good stuff! I think their diet is a great one for people with Hep C. Lots of fresh veggies, rice, shrimp and seafood, soy, and all kinds of great stuff! Man, I'm full and now I want to eat more! No, I won't, but it is tempting.

Anyway, thank you all so much for your caring words and advice. I have listened and will heed your advice and speak to my doctor about it as soon as I get to see him.

God bless you all with calm and sensible decision making. And thank God that Elizabeth Smart was found alive! I remember praying that she would be okay and reunited with her family way back in June 2002 when she was first reported missing... prayers answered again! Praise God!

[yiehya]

Well,
I just reda what happened to u at your brother's house.. what is that.. and till now u didn't go to doctor concerning what happened??!!!  
Now this is really makes me upset.. u posted ur message on March 9th.. and today is 14th.. what is that..

Listen Joris, u read a lot, and u have much more info that I know, but everyone here read knows that u should contact your doctor immediately with anything new happen to u.. so u shouldn't stay 5 days without even contacting your doctor??!!!

what Dr. Rashid said at the meeting might be right, but what he said was not enough because he is not your trating doctor which he knows everything about your stuation and your case.

So,
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Contact your doctor today and estimate the time with him for the meeting.

Joris, sorry, but u know that we all love u, and we all care about u.. as u do yourself to everyone..

So, as u r always after making us better.. Give us the right to know that u r always better.

My love and prayers to u Joris, and to everyone

[Dude]

Thanks Yiehya, you're right. I was thinking about it last night and I decided to contact my doctor on Tuesday when I go for lab work. I may have to wait a while, but thats not a problem... I'm bringing another Viet nam vet with me. He's in real bad shape and needs a bunch of work done which will require knocking him out. He has to have a colonoscopy but from both ends. I've never heard of that, but thats what his doctor told him. So since I'll be there anyway waiting on him I might as well wait to see my doc about my condition. It does seem like it's important enough to insist on seeing him.

Thanks again to each of you. It's been rough enough being a single dad these past 12 years and now having to deal with Hep C on my own. Having your concerns and advice means the world to me. For years I felt as though I was living in a world where nobody cared, but now I see that this just is not true. I love you all very much, my brothers and sisters.

God bless.