Birthday and weaning down on my Riba other posts

[susan400]

Hi there friends.  Today is my 45th birthday.  I just got back from having a delicious scrumptious chocalate cake desert at a restaurant.  Then, my sister and I went to the store and I bought a few clothing articles.  It felt good to get out of the house.  I'm in the process of weaning off some of the Riba.  Since I was on double dose (8) and never gained remission, I'm going to be stopping treatment.  But, I'm doing this in a weaning down fashion.  I'm down 2 Riba's from my 8, to 6 now.  When I go back to my doctor at the end of the month, I'm going to have him switch my Infergen from 15mcg daily to 9mcg every other day.  I'll probably stay on that for a month or so.  I know that I'm really not hoping to accomplish anything by doing it this way, but since I never managed to get a remission, at least by stopping gradually then, my liver won't have such a shock with just stopping instantly.  I hope to be all the way off by the end of Aug.  Do I know what I'm doing??? Heck no!
Well I hope all of you Dads have a great Father's Day.

Susan

[jmjm530]

Yeah, too gradually :)

[cuteus]

happy b day Susan!
smooth winding down tx for you!


fishdoc; consuelo dos gatos?  you got two cats?

[Kalio1]

Happy Birthday! Here's to a TX FREE year! I agree with Jm, the riba wears off gradually anyway. I think it makes sense to wean off the IFN if tht makes you feel better.

[jmjm530]

Good luck Susan. I can understand weaning off the interferon, but because riba has such a long half life, even if you stop suddently you will in effect be weaned gradually.

[susan400]

I've gone through quitting treatment more times than I can count and weaning off seems to work better for me than just stopping suddenly.  I just had a final viral load and I'm waiting to see what that showed before I know what I should do.  If it was undetected then I'm probably going to try to do some sort of low dose maintenance for awhile.  If still detected then, I'll continue weaning down and stop.  The other times that I stopped treatment (when I didn't wean off), I felt pretty bad, nauseous, achy, etc.  But, since I've never gone undetected, I really want to wait on that last viral load.  Trust, I want to be off of this crappy medicine as much as anybody.

Susan

[amirtracy]

here kitty kitty kitty....

[Algernon]

Ditch that mean ole Riba.  Cold Turkey is the way to go.  You'll feel better within 48 hours (not great, mind you--but you'll be able to tell the poison is lifting).  This is a good withdrawal.  My last Riba was less than two weeks ago.  Whole new life ahead of you.  Best of luck, good wishes to you.

[friole]

susan - most happy birthday. I would opt for taking your birthday candles and setting fire to the left over riba and inf.  I am so glad your are finally winding down. I wonder how the body will feel after so many rounds.  45 is a good year!

don - sounds like your son found his nitch.  drama is a lot of fun and can carry him through life.  You are working too hard, my friend -- take a day off and all you do is clean..... not good.  happy fathers day to you and your dad.

[can-do-man]

says........I just wanted to say you guys touch me. Not literally Can-do........... I had to read that a couple times tracy before i realised your mind was in the gutter again. Shame Shame whats your name. Now why would you think i would even think anything??????? Want some popcorn little girl

[amirtracy]

I meant new friends, not new fiends. altho' there's some new fiends here too...

[amirtracy]

I just wanted to say you guys touch me. Not literally Can-do. but just reading posts from old friends and new fiends gives me hope. Not just hope concerning this dreaded disease we're all sharing, but hope for the future of humanity. Thank you all.

Happy Birthday Susan! You deserve every happiness.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hi Don,
Glad your posting again.  Our kids are the jewels that keep us going.Sorry to hear your having a hard time with tx but your almost done.  Just put in your mind that it's almost over.
I don't know how your able to work 7 days a week, I give you all the credit in the world for doing so.  It does help to keep your mind busy, it helps to forget about tx for awhile.
Don don't worry able the weight lose, it's normal to lose a lot of weight.  I've been off tx almost a week now and have gained 6 lbs already.  I to have the aches and pain, my legs and feet are killing me, but that to is slowly going away.
Please post more often as it helps to get through this cr@p.

BTW- Happy Father's Day my friend, just hang in there the ride from h@ll is almost over.


Beagle

[lilmoma]

Anise: I am doing okay, how bout yourself? You know, I havent heard a thing from fricsosue!!!
Sometimes I get too tired to get back here to the computer room and play,...I land on the couch and dont move the rest of the night. Are you also getting ready to do shot 19 this week?
Have you been able to work w/o any problems?


Cando: hello my friend  :)  :)  :)  :)

How have you been feeling? I read your posts, I see you still maintain your humor, thats a good sign.

I have a doc appt about my arm, very painful.

[dyce]

Ha goldyn, thats a ole hank spirirtual there. How have ya been?

[strator]

Hey Susan, meant to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Didn't realize what thread I was in. I really hope things work out and ease up for you. You know I have to say with all you've been through you really seem to have a great attitude lately showing through in your posts. You are one amazing person. Sincere best wishes and thoughts to you.
Be Well,
Don

[goldyn]

what a beautiful thing, when we get a chance to see our kids shine:" This little light of mine im gonna let it shine"

[strator]

Hey Beagle up again huh? I'm just did shot #40. Thought it was gonna be 39. Apparently that was last week so the PCR I had Friday was  not a 38wk but a 39 wk. Oh Well. When I went in to get the paperwork Friday my doc said...okay you ready for this? Yeah, sure...and shrugged my shoulders. No expectations, outta my control. When the results are back I'll start thinkin bout it again. He did get a lttle concerned cause I just saw him not too long ago and lookin at me he knew I lost more weight. Probably break below 130lbs this week. I still eat good tho I have had a few more occurences lately in AM of returning my breakfast after I eat it.

Sx have been getting to me. Mostly fatigue and aches that juts won't go away. Between 6:30 and 10am I an one miserable dude but then I get to work and at least get my mind off it. Actaully took the day 'off' to scrub floors, mow and weed wack, laundry, errands and gettin ready for siblings and all comin by tomorrow for Dad. Lucked out and started cleanin at 11:30am, stopped at 11pm. Life was good today.

Hope everyones well. I just haven't been able to post much tho I've looked in some. Been workin 7 days a week thou nit full days. End of the 8th school year for the kid. Lots of activities this past week. Kid was in the school play. He did great. I helped grease his longa** bushy hair back in a pompadour ala the 50s. Heard a couple of wows when he walked out on stage. First time he entered the stage  alone. He did a great job, totally unbiased as I may be he was so natural and confident lookin on stage I couldn't believe it. Told me later he was shain like a leaf. Not bad considering he started off just as an understudy and they wrote some speaking scenes in for him and a fewv other scenes... Best part for me was seein him comin down the hall to the lobby after the play. Kid was pumped and beamin. I know that look from my sport days. Total excitement that doesn't leave for hours. Waited all through his baseball days to see it on his face. He never got it even playing in 2 league winning championship games. Looks like the kid finally found a place that gives him that. He signed up for drama next year in HS.(I thought it rather poetic that the play was the 50s HS musical...'One Magic Moment'. Bingo.

Well I'm gonna go chomp some ice cream and maybe hit the sack. Be well Mr. Beagle, I been missin all of ya's here.
Don

[Mister beagle bailey]

OK, where is everyone?  My tail is wagging and I'm up on all four's waiting for you guys to post.

Beagle :)

[anise]

Hey, thanks for asking how we are doing!  I finally got ahold of the acid reflux problem.  I was so sick and vomiting, yuck.  My NP finally tried Nexium. Wish they tried that before Prelosic (sp).  My hair is falling out by the handfuls.  There is the worst taste in my mouth.  I just can't wait until this treatment is over with.  

So how have you been?  Haven't seen you around much.

[amommy]

Happy Birthday! :)

[tulsatime]

Happy birthday! Thanks for sharing with us. I do wish you the very best. I admire you for your courage. You do inspire me to keep trying. I start my second treatment before long. Hopefully in July. Trying to find a new doc.
Take care and God bless you!!

[bobbyullc]

happy birthday and sorry bout the results.
i am with lackluster, i stopped tx 10 days ago and felt wonderful in just two days. still have a way to go but no need to continue the torture. i bet your liver will be grateful for every day without the pioson.i do not know your liver grade but am optimistic you will be fine when the new treatments come out. i love the quote by a pastor who was held captive in lebanon for 5 years when asked if he was angry at the captores. he said he refused to give them even one more day of his life. do not give hep c one more day than nesesary. keep your eye on all the new treatments but enjoy every day.
bobby

[lackalustre]

Happy BD!!!     i would just quit all the stuff.  i dont believe there is evidence that it will be a shock to your liver.   if you arent getting remission and going to stop tx.  just stop.   this stuff is extremely hard on our bodies and minds.   you need a rest.   i dont see what you have to gain by staying on it longer.

[can-do-man]

Hey girls how we doing today? Hope your behaving And feeling ok.