I cant do it.

[JodyLynn]

I dont know what to do....i cant do this treatment, i dont think i could deal with all the side effects and on top of that being bipolar. Heres the thing... today i picked up the Ribavirin from the drug store and they said to pick up the Interferon i guess thats what it is in a couple of days, its shots they told me, now that ive changed my mind what do i do now with the Ribavirin that i picked up and what about the Interferon thats on its way? Im on Medicaid i dont want to make anyone mad at me, what do i do? Ive been thinking about the treatments for a year since i found out i had hep c...i just cant do it.

[JodyLynn]

I guess i didnt hear the numbers right, but she said they were high and i should have the treatments. I did have a liver biopsy last year when i found out i had hep c and that doctor told i had minimal liver damage what ever that means, he is the same doctor that told me at first he would NOT do treatments because im bipolar, then when i started crying he told me to get an ok from the doctor that has me on bipolar meds and he would do it, but after him telling me people kill themselfs on the treatments that have bipolar it scared me off. I now have a new doctor and he seems to think i should have the treatments. They just mailed me a new lab sheet today soon as i get it im to go to have all new blood test and start treatments in the next 3 weeks. I know i seem like a dummy here, but this is all so new to me some of the things yall talk about here i dont even understand lol, but im trying my best. This doctors card says ADVANCED DIGESTIVE DISEASES PC.... GASTROENTEROLOGY/HEPATOLOGY/NUTRITION. I dont understand a thing this man says because its all that doctor talk lol but his nurse called me today and said i can call her anytime because she will be the one working with me on the shots and things. Thank yall for all your help here, im so glad i found this site....God Bless you all.

[sfwandwow]

good for u..hope i get that luck

[brown_eyed_grl]

If I can do it anyone can do it. I spent 6 months on this board freaking out and going on and on. I had to be calmed down by these wonderful people b/c I really though my butt was going to blow up and my eyes were gonna pop out...well none of that happened, in fact I really have no sx except a little insomnia. Nothing a 1/2 an ambien wont fix. Jody. Just do it. Get this vile virus out of your body and move on w/your life.

The waiting is the hardest part. Now Its like this:
wake up eat 1/2 my breakfast take a riba
drink plenty of H2o
Dinner eat 1/2 my dinner....take a riba
Saturday evening take 2 tylenol, get my shot 4 hrs later 2 more tylenol (tho nothing's happened)
Thats it. A little fatigue, but not bad at all. Im still working and Its my saving grace. Oh, and exercising 2x a week and acupunture 2x a week. I am so HAPPY! Really to be getting rid on this after 33 yrs!!!

[jmjm530]

7500 IU/ml is very low, not high. But even if your viral load was 7.5 million, it really doesn't matter in terms of whether or not you should treat now or wait. Viral load does not correlate with either liver damage or progression of liver damage. What you do want to know is what STAGE liver damage you have. This is usually determined by biopsy, although estimates are often made based on other findings. Assuming you do not have significant liver damage, some doctors recommend treating and some recommend waiting. In the end, it's your decision, as it's your liver. So as not to get 'bullied' into treating (or not treating) you want to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible. "Knowledge is Power" is never more true than for patients faced with difficult decisions. If you feel you need more medical input, by all means get another consultation, preferably from a liver specialist (hepatologist).

All the best,

-- Jim

[jools57]

7,500 doesnt sound high to me, do you mean millions?..Viral loads go up, and down all the time...before i started treatment mine was at 190,000, a test a few months later i was at 101,000, then my baseline VL was back at 190,000 before treatment...I did shot #7 last friday, and my 4 week blood test came back at VL 2,000...i'm a geno 3 so that makes me a slow responder, and i may have to extend treatment...the only accurate way to know how your liver is doing is a biopsy...my doc. didnt do one since i was a geno 3, and we are supposed to be easier to treat, and i had made the decision to treat. you are a geno 1, so i would demand a biopsy. that way you can make an informed decision about treating. My dr. said he has seen people with high viral loads and little liver damage, and people with low viral loads ,and lots of damage...i hope this helps you...i was scared to start(put it off for 6 months), but i am so glad i started...so far the side effects have been doable...fatique, itchy, hair thinning, some insomnia, the first few weeks were weird, because of the lightheadedness, but that has levelled out now...i just keep repeating, i can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me...again JodyLynn we are all on your side...and are here for you...Blessings, Julie

[goldenrule]

Did the Dr do a liver biopsy?? Its very important that you find out what condition your liver is in.