Checking in

[rearfang]

Judi, Tonyz, Genedog, Robbetz, Rifleman, dndfunnel,Imagine, Hope I didn't miss someone else....:

Judi-- I am soo very sorry to hear of your news. Please try to stay strong. I will keep you in my prayers.

Tony-- I am so happy for you. Congratulations.

Gene-- How's it going? Any luck yet w/ Pegassist? Please try to keep your chin up. I'm rooting for you.

Robbetz. Rifle -- Glad you've started the tx journey, and you've lived to tell the tale.
Dean-- I'm glad you are taking your first steps , too.
Alan-- Where have you been? What's going on?

Everyone-- I've been off-line for a few days, so catching up has taken hours!! It's like coming home to read all your words. God Bless. Lauren

[LvdByGod]

hi lauren, nice to have you around...i've been a bum too lately and can't resist being outside in this great whether...somehow sitting at a computer isn't as appealing as it is in the winter.

so i hope you are well and feeling good...i pray treatment going good and life is sweet for you...well sweet as can be on treatment that is...

how is being off school? are you doing anything with your art now that you're on treatment or you like me...just "thinking" about it? is that "conceptual" art i wonder? i had an art teacher one time that said "thinking" of art was art in itself...heehee...too funny.

i did start a photography class on lighting and flash...i'm learning alot. i really am not much for useing a flash cause it's too harsh sometimes but i'm learning some techniques to make it appear more natural. i take the kids pictures at my church and it is floresent lighting and they can look like little martians if you don't have the right filters, and flash equiptment etc...

it does feel good to do something on this treatment to get my mind off it. i'm thinking of a watercolor class in the fall. i need the classes to keep me motivated right now...

well, i hope you are well lauren...

sandi

[RobBetz]

hi lauren and everyone,

had a good weekend...no sides yet...just achy but thats it....i drink over a gallon of water and excerise each day....I know I can do this....e-mail if you wish:  ***@**** ....

thx,

robert

[rearfang]

Hi Sandi,
I'm not quite done yet with school. Friday is the end. I have been doing the "conceptual art" thing, as my nearly 4 yo does not permit me much time lately for the "real" thing. I have a portrait I've begun, and hope to get back to it next week. Thanks for asking, enjoy the weather and take lots of pictures!
Lauren

[Honey15637]

Welcome back Lauren,,,,I hope the tx is being good to you :)

[IwillBeatHCV]

You forgot me :-)

I also just started tx last week...

[DebbieDo]

Just thought i would post today and let everyone know that i had my 6 mo  PCR test today. It's late, but, not my fault. I finished tx the end of Nov, I have an appt on Aug 1 for the results.  Keep your fingers crossed, i feel confident that i have killed the dragon within me.. I'm a 1b and all you one's out there seem to be doing so well, so, we will see........
Get your dancin shoes out and ready, cause i will be needing everyone to shake their booty  with me when this is over.
Keep me in your prayers, PLEASE....
                 Thanks, Deb  :)

[Tallblonde]

Best wishes Debbie.  I'm praying for you.

Susan

[Oreos]

Will keep you in my prayers : )  I have the feeling it will be good news all around.  I go in for my 8 mos test this week...

Gail

[scruffy]

August frikken first! Don't they know you're in a hurry?
Just funnin' with ya. I'll say a prayer for svr and include one for extreme patience on your part.(all will be well Deb) frank

[bon_vivant]

I've got my fingers crossed, & bells on my toes waiting to jingle when I do the Happy Snoopy Dance....

Hang In There... I'm praying for ya!
:) Vicki

[ASmile4U]

Hope you don't mind me posting my question here, but curious what one of my 12 week PCR test results mean.  The results weren't due until tomorrow, however I had to call the doc's office regarding another issue so I asked whether the results happened to be in.  Apparently the lab mistakenly ran a qualitive rather than quantitive <50 test.  And it was still positive.  Does this basically mean I did not clear the virus at 12 weeks?  Or is there still hope?  The waiting makes me crazy, and now I have to play the waiting game a bit longer to get the quantitive results.  :)

[Imagine]

I am sorry for not being more active with my posts. I still have not started. I'm now waiting for Roche to approve my application. Should know something soon, hope by the end of week. I thought all the paperwork had been completed until I handed the hepC pharmacist the scripts my doc had written for me. I then found out about the Roche requirement. I have been waiting so long that this delay frustrated me so much and I am tired talking about starting till I do which should be in a couple of weeks. See I am talking bout should start!! lol I will stay in touch more, your way ahead of me now and I'm happy you are. Maybe if I double dose I could catch up (laughing) I know your starting to have a few problems and wish you only the best. I promise to show my face here more. Take Care, your friend - alan

[Tony-z]

Debbie,

You are definitely in my prayes...keep up the positive attitude..I am still wearing my dancing shoe and will keep them polished for your celebration..


               God Bless

                  TonyZ

[RobBetz]

My eyes are dry from the 1st shot/pills...also they feel stressed....is this normal for tx...thx

robert

[scruffy]

I really really hope I'm mistaken but I believe that the qualitative test means that there is still active virus present. If I'm wrong I hope someone will correct me quickly. frank

[rearfang]

Honey--Thanks for the encouraging thoughts.

IWillBeat-- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you out! (The brain fog thing does seem to be setting in.) Best of luck to you.

Alan-- Keep your chin up, and keep us posted.

Deb-- I will say a prayer for you.

[scruffy]

Yes,dry eyes-sore eyes-blurred vision-I could'nt even handle looking at the computer for long on tx sometimes.There are products to wet the eyes.I had one called "Tears Naturale Free" but I only used it a few times. You kind of get used to most of the discomforts of tx. One thing at a time-hang in there. frank

[ASmile4U]

Thanks Frank...That's what I thought...was just hoping for better news.  The nurse didn't want to discuss details because all the results were not in...the doc will call me when they are all in and discuss options.  I will just pray that there was at least a 2 log drop.  :)

[scruffy]

There WILL be a 2log drop. I did'nt want to answer your question cause you may end up in the situation I was in. I was <600IU/ML on quantitative but still detectable on qualitative. I believe I should have treated 36 weeks past testing undetectable but I went 48 weeks total and relapsed. I know this is not uplifting info but it may help you determine your best bet for SVR.(to go at least 36 weeks beyond undetectable) God Bless you on the Quantitative numbers. frank

[cuteus]

they might run the quant to see what the log drop was, but it does sound the buggers are still hiding and picnicking somewhere, go get them and shoot them! this is one massacre that is legal. scruffy's suggestion is the same as mine. go beyond the 48 wks.

debbi
AUG!!! my practice will give me the results by phone if the appt is not within a week of the results. ask for a copy or the phone results, if not for you, FOR US!
good luck!

[ASmile4U]

On a positive note, in the beginning I made it very clear to my doc that if I wasn't clear at 12 weeks that we would do PCR test every 4 weeks until I was and it would be from that point that I would do 36 more weeks of tx.  We didn't discuss in detail at that time, however, I suspect we'll have a long discussion when he calls.  I have to shoot for my best shot at SVR.  And I believe as long as I continue to tolerate tx with minimal sx, he'll be flexible and individualize my tx.  The only thing I continue to have probs with is platelets and last week I had the biggest jump up since beginning tx...it can't be all that bad!  Thanks again, I apppreciate your help in understanding what sometimes is confusing stuff.  :)

[scruffy]

It sounds like you are approaching this wisely. The 4 week pcr's will tell the tale. ASmile4U2,       frank







PS-let us know the numbers when you get them.

[DebbieDo]

Hey everyone
Thanks for all your support here.....I use a clinic and its hard to get a call through unless it is an emergency......I can wait, i mean, the PCR is late..should have been in May, so what the hell
I can't wait to find out  :)~
How is Chev doing?  Does she still post here........i might have missed her post.......well, take care everyone and thank to all of you who is praying for me.......
My pastor said stay focused and keep positive thoughts.
I truely believe that being positve is half the battle for anything life deals you.  Think positive....
LOVE all of you here.......this is a battle, and we all must stick together to win the war............
                   Debbie

[LvdByGod]

ya know ya really should go to the eye dr and get a quick exam to be sure it's just dry eyes and nothing else...although dry eyes can cause scratching of the cornea and other problems if not kept up with...

i'm a year and a half into the meds and my eyes are now shot...i did not take it seriously enough and now i don't think i'll ever see the same again...i wish i could go back and take care of them durring treatment...it's my fault i neglected to do this...

there may be things the eye dr can give you to prevent the damage that can occure with these meds...it does start with the dry eye feeling...also along with seeing the eye dr to get preventative meds...also get a good eye moisturizer and put it in a few times a day...i'm sure the eye dr can give a prescription for one...don't be like me and wait too long to get preventative meds for this side effect. there are some possible serious things that can happen to our eyes on interferon...

i began treatment with 20/20 vision and now i need glasses to see far away and close up...and my eyes hurt alot...especially when i don't get enough sleep or don't moisturize them...

take care of those baby blues robbetz and let me know what your eye dr says to you about the dry and pain and what he suggests...thanks, i'd love to know what eye drs are saying about this.

robetz take care and hope you kill those hepper bugs!!!!

[ASmile4U]

I've learned just about everything I know from you wonderful people here who are or have been down this same road.  I'm amazed at the support, and also very thankful.  It's a tough journey...but one I'm willing to travel.  Doc never called today...so I continue the wait for now.  :)

[ASmile4U]

The doc just called me...good news and bad news...the good news is I very well may be undetectable, the positive results of the qualitative test that they mistakenly ran instead of the quantitative test were also mistakenly ran from my pre tx blood samples.  Talk about a screw up!  Bad news is I continue to wait.  But that's not too bad.  He's hoping maybe tomorrow.  Unbelievable.  Doc wasn't too amused either.  But hey...still gives me a shot at undetectable...so I am feeling good!  :)

[scruffy]

Very Good News Just wait and see! frank

[cuteus]

you got to be kidding me!! SCREW UP doesn't describe it, MORONIC maybe...breathe easy, you are probably negative.