Another dragon bites the dust (feel free to start a new topic here)

[girlwithcurl]

Hey all,
just got my 6 mo. post tx pcr and I'm still negative!!!  Yay.  I was a 1a so this is really great news.  Now I just have the 1 year test to go.  For those of you on tx, there is good news around the corner, so hang in there.  Take care.  

gwc

[mikesimon]

Great news. Stay well. Mike

[Tallblonde]

Congratulations!  Best wishes for continued good health.

Susan

[Dirac]

wonderful wonderful news. Congratulations!!

[GreatBird]

Huzzah!

[dheana]

I feel so good when I hear this kind of news as I expect my result for two weeks after finish of the treatment.
I was 1b and finished 3 weeks ago. Feeling a lot better, some anxiety still there as the treatment was tough for me...
Hopefully good news will make me more relaxed.

[MajNeni]

Girlwithcurl, that is wonderful news.  I'll be in touch.
How did you get the PCR results back so fast?  
I can't believe my tx is finished!  Today my doc said I could stop everything right now, since basically all my trouble came from the Riba.  I feel obligated to take pills, Procrit & Neupogen until Friday am, though, just to know that I did everything I could... I'm preparing for another wait; got the EOT Heptimax drawn today.
Timbo, it's great that you're still undetectable.  Six weeks will go pretty fast, and the light will be coming back to AK.  I think we're sharing the cold... So then come on out to party!  At least you and Seashell, you'll finish together, just have to decide who's driving across town.
Keep at it, everyone, there is an end to tx!
Maj Neni

[dheana]

How are you. I'm glad to hear from you again. How were your last weeks?
I finished three weeks ago and feeling much better phisically, still trouble with anxiety. Depression seems to have desappeared.

[meandhepc]

MORE GREAT GREAT NEWS!!!!

[Indiana]

WOOHOO! YOU GALS DID IT! I KNEW YOU WOULD! WELCOME TO THE DRAGON SLAYERS CLUB!
Whew...what a wild ride,eh? I have yet to find any way to really describe what it was really like. I'm just glad its over!
Girlwith curl....That is the BEST news. That 6 month test is the "BIGGIE" for us. Your odds just went WAYYYY up with that news. I'm SO happy for you.
Majneni....Wow girl. What can I say? You have amazed me watching you fight your way through all the problems you had. You hung tough through it ALL. You can now sit back and honestly say that you DID give it your BEST shot this time. I'm thinking now that just having that Badger around could "maybe" be a GOOD thing. Now that you are gonna get your sanity back, I have a feeling he may just be packin up to go and harass someone else. Your next test should tell the story. I will be watchin for that post from you.
Now GET HAPPY and be well you 2............

[britgirl]

May I , as one oldie to another, wish you my heartfelt congratulations. That was the "biggie", now you can relax.

[Eyedeas]

Been way too long since we heard from you, or I missed your posts.  Congratulations and hugs all around.  Every time a dragon dies we all rejoice.  

Kim

[fellow traveler]

I also just got back my 6 month post tx test and am also clear.  I was 2a.  My doc said I may want to test in another year but he thinks it will probably be a waste of money.  I loved hearing that.  Anyway, I've decided that I will finally allow myself to truely believe hcv is part of my past now.  I'm still feeling alittle tired but everything else is so much better than it was before I was diagnosed - no more booze (18 mths since last drink)or cigs, no more fights with my wife or kids - no more problems at work and no more thinking I'm a peice of ****.  I can't remember the last time I got mad at someone or something (and I don't even take ad anymore but sure am glad for the lesson they taught me)and I look for the good in people and try to understand the bad and I don't judge anyone.  For me, hcv turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.  How weird is that?  The best to all of you.
Jeff

[DownThisRoad]

Way to go  !!  You should be very proud of yourself for doing this treatment and winning the battle.

Stay well and never forget this experience.  This has made you so much stronger in so many, many ways !!

Congratulations !!

[Ambush]

Congratulations!  Your news is what give us all the hope we need to keep on going.  Live happy, happy lives enhanced by a new appreciation for every day!
ambush :)

[Galen]

Girlwithcurl - Yea for the Florida team!!!!!  You rock, girl!  You probably missed it cause you've been gone from the forum, but I finished at the end of Sept and was clear at 3 months in Dec.  I'm right at your heels!

FG, hats off you you, also!!  Now we all have to stick around for the newbies to let them know it can be done and there is life after HCV.

[CARUU]

Yeah!!! Way to go!  This is great news. caruu

[yucatanchic]

As Oprah says "It's a Hallaluha Moment" Crongratulations!! Rock On!

[AK - Hepper]

This is great news, too damn bad for the dragon, he's losing more all the time!!! Maj, congratulations on finishing up, shore is a long journey, ain't it?

[lackalustre]

girlwithacurl:  love that name.  congratulations. so great!!  im gettin my 6 mon. post pcr next month!!

dheana:  so glad to hear your depression is better. my anxiety took a while but it is better too now after tx.  doesnt overwhelm me now.  i shopped for 2 hours today.

majneni:  and the others who are finishing up.  what a relief huh?   i have yet to find words to really describe what treatment  was really like either- as was stated here!!

[willing]

'tis wunnerful, 'tis grand. You're now officially an  SVR, and a 1 at that. Enjoy your hard-fought victory!

[eyehavegr8life]

Congratulations, I'm a newbie genotype 1. I need to hear these positive results. I just came back from my FIRST visit to the GI. I really dislike him...he is very negative. I'm trying to stay strong and be informed through this forum. You guys are my support system. His comments to me were definately from a Dr that isn't as informed on the SVR of Genotype 1. As soon as he found out from my History that I HAD BEEN prior to 1991, an IV drug user, his attitude changed towards me! The eye contact disappeared and apparently so did I as far as he was concerned!!! I tried to tell him that there are plenty of geno 1s that are attaining SVR...he kinda "blew me off" and stuck to his prepared "speech" that 2&3 clear fine but not 1s. I asked as many questions as the time allowed (9 min.) and then he dismissed himself and me! Tomorrow I'm going to my primary care Drs. office to see how I can get a second opinion. I have an HMO and I'm not sure how this works? He's fortunately referring me for a biopsy and ultrasound! I've gotta figure out how to get to a Heptologist that deals with HepC. I'm so frustrated right now.I'm trying not to state all the things he was saying to me because, I think he isn't as informed as he needs to be and I don't want any other newbies to "latch on" to HIS PESSIMISTIC ****! Thanks for letting me be angry here!, Annette

[lizzee]

HI THERE..
I JUST READ YOUR FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!
WHOO-HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU..YOU FOUGHT HARD!
I WAS ONE YEAR UNDETECTABLE IN OCTOBER.
BE WELL,
LIZE   :O)

[eyehavegr8life]

Thanks for hearing me! That's exactly how I felt! Like a druggie again. I've worked very hard at changing my life and lifestyle! It's hard enough getting clean at age 40. I'm 52 now will be 53 in March! I've made "great Strides" and I'm proud of them! I would have expected a Dr of Medicine to look beyond where I came from and see who I am! He just really got under my skin and rubbed me the wrong way!! Sheesh, I'm having Riba Rage and I'm not even on treatment yet! LOL I would like to ask your help regarding how to get a second opinion if I have problems with my primary dr if thats OK? I'll know more after my visit there tomorrow.  Thanks again, and positive thoughts your way, Annette

[cindyazure]

Thanks for sharing infor about clearing.  I am 1a at week 32 and am getting so tired of this and discouraged.  Hearing about svr at 6 mo. gives me hope to get thru another day (week, month).  I believe the stats say you are 98% sure of svr if still clear at 6 mo.  Wow!  Also went to gyn last week for ultrasound (cyst) and when he started talking surgery I felt obliged to let him know I was in tx for hcv.  He actually made some "shooting dope" gesture w/ his hand asking me about past drug use.  What an a**hole!  Why does everyone want to know how u got this?  I don't know.  It didn't announce itself.  I could have this 2 years or 20.  All they told me is level 2 bx results "don't happen overnight"  Whatever.

[layla]

Sorry to hear the doc treated you badly. That is so unproffessional. I do hope you find a new one. I would think your HMO will allow you a second opinion.
I had problems with my first two docs. They just were not informed or up to date on the latest HCV info. I saw them because there was such a long wait at a hep docs. Well I finally did go to a hepatologist and it was the best thing. Sure I can't talk to him anytime I want but not only is he very up to date but his staff is too. I call the GIPA or RN if I have question in between appointment. I now realize this is  slow acting disease and the wait wasn't really a problem. If you see another GI or another type of doc maybe it would help for you to put together a list of questions for him so you will be able to tell just how up to date they are. There are informed GI's too. Hope you find a better doc. LL

[eyehavegr8life]

Mornin' thanks for answering me! Yeah this GI Dr was DEFINATELY not informed enough for me! I DID take in a list of questions but,everytime I(tried)to asked my questions, I felt like he just "blew me off" by countering with the "uninformed" comments about genotype(1s) not responding well.There's no new treatments on the horizons, a very low percentage rate of SVR...ALL THAT KIND OF ****!!! I did get to ask if he treated many patients with HepC, he just kinda rolled his eyes while shaking his head like that was a real stupid question and NONE of my business! At this point...I was DONE WITH THIS IRRESPONSIBLE, UNINFORMED JERK!! I didn't LOOSE my cool there, but I'm DEFINATELY going to my primary care Dr to find out about seeing a Heptologist, which is what I wanted in the first place! They will have my best interest in mind! FOR ANY "NEWBIES" READING THIS...PLEASE DON'T READ INTO THIS THE WRONG WAY...we all have chances of clearing this dragon...read the post here from ALL THE SUCCESSFUL DRAGON SLAYERS!!!!Best best to all,Annette

[terriri]

Hey, I am so happy for you! I “was” a 1a as well. There sure seems to be a lot of 1a’s biting the dust lately. I wonder if those 50% odds are correct. I wish you my very best on your new healthy life.

[eyehavegr8life]

I went to my primary Drs office today and explained my horrid experience with the GI...how I was judged on how I got HepC and not on HOW OR WHAT we can do about it!And how he just "Dismissed me".I found I have a compationate woman that does ALL the insurance referrals etc...She assured me that after I get the biopsy, she will HELP me submit the appropriate letters to the carrier in regards to obtaining a Hepatolist with HepC knowledge (preferably my choice!). I very calmly explained to her that, I will need to be comfortable with whomever is providing my care especially if treatment causes the side effects that so many here have. I was concerned that I wouldn't have the fight in me MID WAY through treatment to battle this uniformed Dr if I needed any other medications to HELP the side effects. She understood and will be waiting to hear from me regarding the 2nd opinion and change of this "aweful" darkages dr. So the moral of this is: be your own advocate, even if you think the cards are stacked against you! My Best to All, Annette