After 11 months of Valcyte I'm finally done!!!

My leg/foot pains have gotten worse over the past three weeks I was in the Emergency Room because my leg pains were getting severe. At my doctors appointment I told her about my pains.On bad days my legs/feet hurt from light walking around the house and up the stairs, and from being lightly touched. The inner part of my foot below the big toe and above the heel hurts the worst and the weird thing is it's on the exact same spot on both feet!

It is listed that Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect of Valcyte. I tried icing my feet two nights ago and it made my pain worse. Icing is apparently not good for neuropathy so I am pretty sure I have it. I have also have started to feel burning/tingeling sensation in my hands, another reason for me to guess it's neuropathy. Dr. Bateman thinks it could possibly be a component of the virus manifesting itself. I read an article on neuropathy stating that one cause of neuropathy is from the herpes family viruses. Since my leg pains didn't start until I was on valcyte and have been getting worse she thought it best that I stop. I've been on valcyte for 11 months and was going to try to do a year, but at this point we both agreed that 11 months was a good shot and that one more month wouldn't impair my healing process. I've been taking Ultrum, Loratab, and Gabapatin to manage the pain, all which have a sedating effect so my head is in outer space a lot! But don't worry I don't drive. The drugs still are not cutting it pain wise and I really don't want to take anything stronger than Loratab so I am trying acupuncture tomorrow. I pray that this helps because I really want to start feeling like my normal non-druggy self again!

The good news is that I have good days with my energy. I drink this stuff from Costco called Zip Fizz. It has caffeine in it through green tea so it does not deplete the body from its minerals or give you a "crash" like coke. The Zip Fizz helps with my energy. We got a new kitten named Hermione that is so cute and playful. I have grown so attached to my other cat, Mama Kitty. She left our house for few days because she got jealouse of the kitten. When she came back we had quit reunion! She is the most affectionate cat ever! I went on a garden tour of Avenue homes in down town Salt Lake. The beautiful flowers and outdorrs got my mind off the pain and I held up well for the day out. I have been going to a chiropracter that has really helped my back and shoulder/neck pain due to a hip misalignment and just fibromyalgia in general. I am wearing my hair up these days because my sensitive scalp and headaches are gone:) My anxiety is only brought on by pain. I know of a few people who have had a terrible time with anxiety after stopping valcyte. I have been off valcyte for 2 weeks and have not had that problem with abnormal anxiety. I recently started drinking GAC and Acai berry juice to boost up my antioxidant levels. My cognitive function is continuing to improve and I try to read every day. Being off valcyte is a process as well and I hope I am one of those people that continue to progress after stopping valcyte. I am going to ask my doctor about taking Valtrex, a less potent anti viral that Dr. Montoya puts his patients on after valcyte to prevent the HHV-6 from replicating. Take care everyone and all of you on valcyte hang in there!