Getting back to normal

I have been taken off interferon and my chemotherapy has been discontinued.

One of the side effects of interferon is depression and suicide ideation. The interferon messes with the serotonin in the brain and roughly 25% of patients on interferon end up being treated for depression.

I became dangerously depressed and had to be hospitalized for a week. I have been out of the hospital for a week now and I am doing MUCH better. I think the combination of being off interferon combined with proper antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications has helped tremendously. As well I have been attending outpatient therapy groups and seeing a psychiatrist. All of these things have combined to improve my mental state.

I made it through the most important part of the treatment - the 4 weeks of every day intravenous regimen - as well as 2 months of maintenance and I will continue to have regular skin checks and scans for the next 5 years. I will also continue to see my psychiatrist until I have recovered from this depression.

I am pleasantly surprised at how rapidly my energy is returning. I am no longer experiencing the debilitating fatigue, lack of strength and stamina and shortness of breath on exertion. I am also eating and sleeping normally again.

I'm feeling well enough to return to work and I am going to start back half days starting the first week of March.
Overall, I am really glad to have the treatment over with. I'm looking forward to getting my life back :)

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