DING DONG..... MY DRAGONS DEAD / Open Post

Thats right gang, I got my 1 yr post tx PCR results back.......
SVR BABY!! GAME OVER...........I WIN!!
For those who don't remember my stats....Type 1b....850,000 V/L...probably had Hcv for 30 years....No symptoms before starting....just an overwhelming desire to kick some Dragon BUTT!
I did 50 weeks of Peg?Intron combo.
I have posted my reasons for doing tx before. Tx was tough on me but not as bad as some. I consider myself to have been about middle of the road on the sides that came with my tx.
I have NO lasting bad side effects from my tx.
So now we are at the end of my story. I will not test again....at least not for at least 5 years....if then. It has been a LONG road to get to this end point....but HERE I AM! Happy, healthy, excited,and looking towards the future with a renewed optomism that I did not think was possible. I have NO regrets as I look back over it all. I view the whole thing as a positive experience that has helped me in many more ways than just killing the virus. It has changed the way I look at things and shown me how to take the positive things from ANY experience while discounting the negatives. I started tx and have NEVER looked back. I was determined. I believe my positive outlook had a lot to do with my success at this. I studied and learned about Hcv and tx and that took the fear away. I asked a lot of questions here and everywhere. GIPA helped me with my outlook in many areas of concern for me. She is an Angel.
I want to thank ALL of you for EVERYTHING.
I gotta go tip me some cows now!!
Want to be free??  FOLLOW Meeeeeee!!!!!

[slarso]

Indy, great news! congradulations!

[MajNeni]

Hellllllloooo!  Congratulations.  I'm trying really hard to follow you.  Did Bertha have any comments?  I posted a post pic on HotHeps.  Honest, couln't have wished for a better companion for this trip.  Have a great life and don't get burried in the snow.  Regards,
Maj Neni

[ringading]

OH HAPPY HAPPY DAY DARLIN, BLESS YOUR HEART JEFF......CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!...yahoo, cow tippin party in indianna!!!, and everywhere else as well.....you are an absolute inspiration.  of course your dragon would die....there is so very much love and compassion and kindness and giving in you my friend, there is no room for dragons!!!WAS THERE EVER....ANY DOUBT!!!  NAH.....oh happy happy day!!!!
loads o luv
kimmy

[pearse]

Man I am so Happy for you! You have helped so many here with your Info and story's. Now go out and tip them cows, as a matter of fact, tip one for me! Come back to let us know how your doing!

[honey1616]

Congratulations!!  I'm dancing right behind ya!!  Free...Free...Set Me Free

[mikesimon]

That is really wonderful news and I am truly thrilled for you. I felt you would get to this point and I agree that your optimism may have played a role. Perhaps also your willingness to educate and support and humor so many of us here played a role. I have been amazed at your patience when asked the same old questions by new members. You took the time to cite sources and to give complete answers when I would either not respond or respond briefly just because I had answered those questions so many times before. But you were there with your insane brand of humor and your knowledge and ability to communicate. I can't remember you ever losing your temper and you've been here for a while and have witnessed some volatile and rude behavior. I consider you a real mensch - if you know what that is, and I bet you do. Take care my friend and be well. May you continue to enjoy good health. Mike

[Tallblonde]

Wow!  Your news has really inspired me!  Congratulations!!  I'm going to print your post and tuck it away to read later when (or if) I start treament. I already have a file folder labeled "TO READ WHEN DISCOURAGED."  That's where I'll put a copy of your post.

Best wishes to you Indiana.  I'm really happy for your wonderful news.  

Susan

[GreatBird]

That's the very best sort of news. Congrats!

[cuteus]

do you moonwalk when cow tipping?

i hope my dragon is melting....melting .

Be well
Ive

[DH Bill]

Sooo very happy for you!!!! You have been much help to me. Thanks for helping me not to forget my sense of humor. Get on with your life man!
Duuuuh Bill

[DonL]

Fan-f***ing-tastic! You go tip some cows. And thanks for all you've done for us here. You are a mensch.

[Revenire]

That's a great way to start a day: Another dragon dies, another genotype 1 wins. I'm happy you got it man, real happy. You've certainly been an inspiration and source of laughs around here -- and thanks.

Best,

Scott

[raheem]

Great news, I'm happy for you (and us!)

[Fubarcat]

I'm not familiar with you as I'm new to this site, but I felt such a sense of happiness when I read your latest post.  So happy for you!!!  Go get 'em - MOOOOOOOO!

[Martee]

When I signed on today I was hoping to see some good news, and I sure did.
Congratulations and AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!  :)

[simpleman]

Congratulations. Thanks for blazing the trail and keeping me on the straight and narrow. Next November I'll come up when when my 1 year says DEAD, And we"ll tip a bunch of cows. I'm so happy for you.

[Dirac]

That is the best news ever!! Congratulations!!!

[britgirl]

Well, Mikesimon said it all really, just how I feel about what a strength you've been to people on this board. I always felt close to you somehow; I liked your sense of humour and your positive outlook, and I agree with you that those things are important to get through treatment unscathed. I liked the fact that, unlike most Americans, you were doing it all without the help of antidepressants and sleep aids and whatever else the medicine men try to get you to take. I liked the way you spoke of your wife, as a friend, your best friend, who nevertheless kept out of your way for the duration (wise woman). Do you know that when BethUK and I met up in a London pub we happened to talk about YOU, and agreed that you sounded a really cool guy who we could imagine having a laugh with?! So, SVR, it's a nice feeling isn't it? I have also decided that I won't get tested again. Enough is enough! The only thing I never agreed with you about was this dragon thing. I never felt that hostile to my Hep. I had acquired it at a very crazy period of my life and from a very crazy person, but it had somehow become part of me, and I was even worried that losing it would change me somehow. So I don't only feel that I've learned something from the experience of getting rid of it, but from the experience of having got it in the first place. I regret nothing.....and I have a suspicion that neither do you! All the best, Jeff

[WackyKilkins]

I'm 1B also and now I have something to look forward to.  Thanks for making my day and best of LIFE to you!!

[ral]

Indy

I am greatful for your attitude over the past year. You have  amongst other people here have helped me a lot....

Glad you beat up on that dragon!!!

Sincerely,
Bob

[Commdude]

Wow!  That's great news....I can't say much without repeating all that has already been said...except that you are one unique dude!   And I mean that in a good way.   Don't ever change!
Have a great day, and congratulations!

[jonihs]

Congratulations!!!!Just please don't desert us. We need your wisdom and your humor. I'm really happy for you!  Joni

[layla]

That's incredibly great news! I agree with Mike, your attitude and helpfulness on this board have been great as your patience is impressive. Have fun cow tipping.  I think their hooves might be  frozen solid to the ground. Congrats! LL

[layla]

I find you comment about ad's and other drugs and "unlike most americans" in your previous post rude and insulting. I've seen you write this kind of thing previously. May people here choose not to take AD's or other drugs and some do need to and if people do take them who are you to insinuate they don't need them.

[newb]

Congratulations, Indiana! You've been such a great presence on this board- providing so many answers to questions, laughs to help ease the pain, and most of all - INSPIRATION and hope for us onesies.

When I first was diagnosed I couldn't get any answers to all my questions. The naturopath asked me first of all "How did you get this?" then told me to take milk thistle and put hot castor oil on my stomach for the pain. It took 3 months to get in to see a liver doc, so I went looking for answers online. Checked out many hep boards, and weeded through alot of chit-chat, food fights, and blabber before finding this place. It's been so wonderful having knowledgable people like you to answer questions, and we all appreciate you being here.

Thanks so much! Best to you!

[jg2001]

Congrats!  Cow tippin'...I like that!

[DebbieDo]

Hi there.......Im sort of new here..........Im on shot 5/48 also a 1b, like you, with the same VL 850,000 had the dragon within me for 34 yrs........this is so encouraging......as not alot of 1b's are able to kick booty........best wishes Debbie

[CARUU]

This is fabulous news!  You have been fun, inspiring, knowlegable, passionate and REAL.  Hope you'll stick around and keep me laughing for my last two 4 packs of pegasys, and for all of us who benefit from your posts! Be nice to those cows and badgers! caruu

[BethUK]

Oh Jeff, i'm so excited to hear your news.  I bet they are all jumping for joy in your house!  It was fun going through treatment with you, hearing all your crazy stories about your fog and rage incidents and all those poor cows and badgers! You have educated and entertained all of us on this board and are an inspiration to us all.  
Are you celebrating tonight besides tipping cows?  I think i'll tip my cat as a gesture of your success!
Enjoy basking in your glory - B

[newb]

shouldn't we be calling you Undiana now??

Congratulations on being undetectable.

[mbaez1953]

Congratulation you have inspired so many of us, IM very glad for you,I wish you all the luck in the world.
IM on week 38/48 and you were one of the people
that kept me going when things got bad, I thank you for that. I feel like IM in the last lap of the new York
marathon and its stories like yours that keep me going that
extra step. good luck Morgan

[Galen]

First of all, it is 7 pm here (Florida) and I can't believe that this thread is still open!!!!  You have helped, inspired, and raised the spirits of so many many of us.  I could not possibly be any happier for you than I will be when I get my own all clear.  It couldn't happen to a better man.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Congradulations seems so inadequate.  Rejoice, my friend, you've earned it.  
With love and tears in my eyes, Galen

[britgirl]

I didn't mean to be rude or insulting but I am genuinely puzzled why rates of AD use, both on and off tx, can be so different from one country to another. I have been reading posts recently from people who comment on the problems they have had from ADs or coming off ADs, which confirm so much I have heard or read myself as to the unacknowledged serious and damaging side effects of these drugs. While I acknowledge that some people may genuinely need them, it seems to be the case that doctors in the US (unlike their British counterparts) put nearly everybody on these drugs as a matter of course, or "just in case". Here they are only used in special cases which is the way I think they should be used. I am sorry if I have offended. I didn't say "like most Americans" as an insult but as a fact I have observed from over two years of reading this board. I just believe that it cannot be right to prescribe ADs in so cavalier a fashion, especially at a time when we are bombarding our bodies with so much other medication and I wonder if some of the side effects people attribute to the interferon/riba do not in fact stem from the use of ADs. In any case, I apologise if it came over a bit strong and I will now step off my soap-box!

[scruffy]

Okey-dokey then! Live Large & be Happy.

[DownThisRoad]

GO BABY GO!!!

[lackalustre]

it appears the bad part is coming off of the AD's. although some have side effects to bad to take them at all.  most people start the AD's BEFORE treatment so they can tell if they can tolerate them.     i really needed them but couldnt tolerate them except for a small dose of trazadone.

[harley dude]

"RIDE ON DUDE"

[raheem]

Indy, I was just thinking....slaying the dragon? Tipping the cow?  I hope we don't have any PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) activists lurking around here, you'll be their new poster bad boy! lol, Take care.

[ts2010]

Indiana,

Congratulations!!!!  You have been a great deal of help to me and many others on this board through your contributions here.  Way to go guy!

[Eyedeas]

I cant tell you how happy I am for you.  I've been asked by the American Badger, Gopher, Beacver and Other Yard Pest Society to pass on JUST HOW HAPPY they are at the news.  This is especially true since they diversified their portfolio to include Huffy and Schwinn.

It seems the idea of you having to do another round of tx had them very concerned for some reason.  I have assured them that that will not be needed and they are overjoyed.  

The only reassurance we need here is that you'll hang around and help out as you've done in the past.

Kim

[giddyup]

Congratulations Hoosier.I'm truly happy for you.In fact I'm listening to some Tom Petty right now!

[Tosser]

I'm sitting here...shaking my head...almost in disbelief and halfway in shock...because...you know how hard I have wished, hoped and prayed that you would receive this devine grace. Your joyful spirit, fun filled personality, and tremendous desire to win this battle has no doubt been the strongest power in the fight, and from whom or whatever supreme being you pull your energy from. I am so excited and I hope to know exactly how you must feel pretty soon.
You have been such an inspiration to the good folks here and I know there were days that there wasn't anything funny about life to a lot of us here until we read your comments. Your love for life and your fellow man shines through the darkest clouds, and to know that somewhere out there, there is a man with with a great big heart and a smile to match holding a clown's baloons in one hand and a slain dragon's tail in the other...It's almost more than I can take. You truly are one of the Hep-C forum heros and we all will remember you the rest of our lives. Take good care and stay in touch with us all. You're the greatest!
Roger

[eyehavegr8life]

This is great news on your SVR!!! I'm genotype 1 and really NEED to hear that the dragon can be slayed!! I'm a "newbie" since Dec, and you've posted to me before with encouraging comments! I thank you for this! I wish you well and send positive thoughts your way.Annette

[psychdoc]

Congratulations. That is awesome news. It helps us all have so much hope.
Love,
Barb