Kittyface is done

Hello Everyone,

I'm off SOC + Alinia.  Geno 1, big vl, cleared at week 9.  I stopped full dose tx at 48 weeks Feb 7 then tapered INF for a month while continuing full dose of Alinia.

A few days off tx I started feeling fantastic and thought I was going to be spared the months of detox I've read about here.  However, being a klutz and not a very good housekeeper I got bit by a brown recluse spider while sticking my hand under my couch.  It was a nasty bite with lots of flesh eating, swelling, streaks going up arm, etc. so I had to have the most horrible antibiotic known to man -- Levaquin -- avoid it like the plague, in fact, I believe it's used to treat Leprosy.

After dosing I begin to feel very unwell then see on the net it's very liver toxic plus other nasty sx.   So I haven't been feeling too well, fatigue, feverish, nausea, but these are all sx of Levaquin.  Of course, I jump to conclusions and think it's the BIG H but will have my 24 week test soon and hopefully allay my paranoia.

Been following you all in your journey and wishing you all the best.

Kittyface

[thegypsy9164]

Ji,

Baytown, Texas here (Mont Belvieu).  What a drag to have completed then get bitten by a recluse.  What has your doc said about the effects of the bite and treatment for it on your SVR?
Joey

[portann]

Congratulations on completing a long tx.  It's upsetting that after so much hard work, a chance encounter with a spider led to such serious consequences.

I have one of those spider stories buried in my past. Mine was with a very unusual kind and I mistook it for a 'normal' spider. It was deadly but I only found out afterwards, since I disposed of him before she bit me. She did return briefly.

I was brought up that spiders in the house are lucky and that I mustn't ever kill one or it would bring bad luck. So from an early age, I was accustomed to gently gathering them up and putting them outdoors.

Some spiders can wreak havoc when they bite and you paid the price. And the cure had its own horrible problems.

Glad you're over the worst of it and now SVR will be yours. Good luck on your 24 week post-tx PCR.

And gosh, I don't know when the last time was that I cleaned under the couch but I'll be careful.

[jdwithhcv]

Hey, that's great you finally finished.  Sorry about the spider thing and may I add......ICK ICK ICK ICK ICK!!!!!  We had those when I lived in Georgia and they freaked me out.  Hope you feel better soon.  Wishing you SVR!

jd

[jdwithhcv]

"I was brought up that spiders in the house are lucky and that I mustn't ever kill one or it would bring bad luck."

This explains a lot in my life because I was brought up to smash them with the longest instrument in the room but only if there was nobody there to do it for me while I cowered in the next room!

jd

[charm27]

First of all Congratulations on your completion of tx.  I wish you well and a speedy recovery!

As far as that @#$%^ spider thatis such a bummerino!!!!!  It seems like when we are under tx something else always happens! Death of a pet, sickness of a loved one,
loss of job etc.

But a darn spider!!
All will come together again!
BEST OF HEALTH AND WELCOME BACK!!!
Charm
Dont be putting your hands under couches anymore!!

[Isobella]

Congratulations to you for getting through tx!  I can't wait to hear the good news at 24 weeks =)

Thanks for giving me 1 more reason not to clean the house...it is dangerous and can lead to spider bites,  lol!!!

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[hopeful51]

Yeah!!!!  Clearing at nine wks ...sounds like you are on your way to S.V.R

Spiders... in my yard they have full rein in my house I wipeum' out.

Hope you feel better soon
Hopeful51

[merryBe]

how great you came through the SOC and are feeling better....but what a blow.

I know it's hard but remeber your liver dealt with all the SOC and it can recover from this too..it may just take some time.

If it makes you feel any better, an aquaintace had a daughter who got bit and reacted badly, like you.  The mother disn't want to spend the money on the expensive antibiotic...80 bucks...so she took her daughter home to ride it out...and the girl died the next day.  True story....I was friends with the father and he was devestated.
So take your meds....and ride this out....you are a survivor!!

mb

[Marcia2202]

Congrats on finishing!!!

I'm sorry to hear about your bad encounter with the spider. Hope you get well really soon.

[meakea]

Congratulations on finishing your 48 weeks!!!   I wish you a speedy recovery from the spider bite!!

[Trinity4]

Kitty I took Levaquin and didn't have any side effects from it but I'm sure some people can have a reaction to it.  Hopefully, it will combat the spider poison.  It's quite a high powered antibiotic and it worked very well for me. The medication guides always state liver toxcicity as a side effect with most antibiotics but my hep doctor approved it and I have advanced stage 3 liver disease.
Congrats on finishing tx.  Fingers crossed.

Trinity  

[IAmTheWalrus]

Congratulations! Lots of folks finishing around now, glad you are one. Sorry about the spider. I had Levaquin before from a hospital bug. Pretty pricey stuff!

Brent

[geterdone]

Boy, that poor spider, I bet he don’t know what hit him the next morning… Hey Kitty, congratulations on the finish and the taper and here is looking at SVR for you.

jasper

[GSDgirl]

congrats on finishing TX!!!  Good Luck to you and double ick on the spider.

Denise

[jacksonblue]

i got bit by a harmless spyder on treatment few years ago got so freaked out pinned it to a magazine beside my bed for a week just in case congratulations and best wishes

[jerialice]

hey i went thru tx twice cleared both times, both times came back-
just now got on SSI. due to extreme 2 year hangover after tx, still feeling
like i need therapy, but the VL has gone down quite a bit. it has been 2 years since i tx'd and i don't know what alinia is??? any tips on any new treatments for when i get ready to try again?

btw!!! congrats and may it stick. i am doing ok just trekking alng as best i can. oh i got a boyfriend but i'm scared to death of being intimate....any advice there?
i am going to try to be in better touch here...
yay from texas!
jerialice

[Trish77]

Now that's a whole other kind of EOT story!  I'm sorry you went through that but very glad you are UND.  Here's hoping for that 24 week test, will be watching for your post.

Good luck, Kitty!

Trish

[mikesimon]

Congratulations!
Stay well,
Mike

[Myown]

Congratulations on finishing!! I wish you the best and hope to hear you are SVR.

Spiders, that must have been so scary, OMG!  I never see really any spiders around here, just a little one now and then (pollution probably kills them;o)  ,,,but when we go to the country, I never - ever -ever  take a pair of shoes, sneakers or boots out of the closet and put them on unless I first turn them up -side down and shake them real hard. I think I saw John Wayne do that in a cowboy movie and said Ooooo never thought of that! ;o)

So again good luck!
MO

[nygirl7]

jez Kittyface stay away from those suckers - God you hadn't had enough fun yet! That is just HORRIBLE - I am so glad you are alright, my God!

I'm very glad that you are done with treatment but right now shoot I'm even happier that you are ok after being bitten....that antibiotic might have sucked but thank God for it!

Now stay out of trouble and enjoy being finished and feeling well, ya hear!!!!!!!!!!

[comeagain]

Congratulations on finishing!!

I wonder if there was any radiation exposure when the bite happened.
If so maybe we can expect some metamorphism and later on see a beautiful SVR girl swishing high between  the skyscrypers!!

Best swishes !

ca

[orleans]

ALLRIGHTY THEN!!!! I'm almost there too, 3 more shots then 4 week taper. good luck. us Aliniaers got ta stick together. love, jerry

[Deb_c430]

Recluse are some of the nastiest spiders, worse than widows,   oh yuck, I feel so bad for you!   A friend of ours was bitten by one,    they are sneaky!  

The pain they went through was awful,   Glad you finished and all is well now though!

Deb

[R Glass]

“Recluse are some of the nastiest spiders, worse than widows”
I know 2 people that have been bitten by them and both went through hell and they left major scars. But both of them waited until the damage started before they went to the doctor (my friends will never be noted for their intelligence). I am sorry to hear about it especially after all you have been through. I guess if there is a “silver lining” it would be, the spider bite/treatment will trump any recovery problems if they arise. Congratulations on completing tx and may you have a speedy recovery from both.

[willing]

sorry about the recluse ( I'll have to keep that in mind as there are a lot of spiders where I live) but congrats on finishing and on a strong strategy.  W9s a good sign - best wishes on your results...

[fretboard]

Great news!!  Glad you made it all the way thru as I know you had a difficult road to travel.  good luck

[Rosebud41]

Congratulations!!!!

It's always great to hear when people finish  treatment.
It's a major accomplishment....
Now you'll have whatever you want to focus your  attention on
It's great


God Bless

Rosebud

[kittyface]

Thanks for the outpouring of love and support.  You guys are the best and I couldn't have made it through tx without reading about all your stories and my phone a friend option which I used quite frequently.  I wallowed in bed much of the time and almost quit but my good friend Forsee was my rock.  She is a blessing from above.
_________
Gypsy: I didn't tell my hepatologist about the bite yet.  I prefer to think it ramped up my immune system which is a good thingl

Charm:  If you can believe it, tx was worse than the spider bite.  After you go through tx you can do anything.

Comeagain: Yes wouldn't that be great if I could become Spiderwoman -- I'll be sure to let you know if that happens  :)  I could use my super powers to heal everybody.

portann:  if you must clean under your couch put your hazard suit on first.  It would be a good idea to up end the couch so you can see what you're dealing with.

R Glass:  when I saw the unmistakable bite the next morning I went to the ER then a dermatologist later in the week when the first antibiotic didn't work.  Fortunately, I won't have much a scar because those little suckers can leave craters in your flesh.

NyGirl:  thanks for all your well wishes and support.  See, just when you say to yourself what else could happen it does  :)

Jerry/orleans:  I'm rootin for you bud!!  You're almost through!!  Are you going to stay on Alinia for the month you taper?

merryBe:  I can't believe a mom would not seek care for her daughter's bite.  that's criminal in my book.

jerialice: My heart goes out to you that you didn't clear after 2 tx.  That is holy h*ll.  I'll give you my opinion since you asked.  If you don't have a lot of liver damage I'd wait for the new PI's that are coming within a couple of years.  Supposedly the tx time is 6 mos. and high SVR rate.  If I don't clear that's my strategy.  As far as being intimate, I was with my BF for 8 years before I even knew I had HCV and he doesn't have it.  So unless there's blood or rough sex involved the chances are miniscule your BF will contract it.  Do you know the extent of your liver damage?   Alinia is a drug that treats parasites and it was accidentally discovered that it helps SVR, especially with geno 4.  It's already approved so I though I'd add another gun to the arsenal.  The sx are minimal, although it irritates some people's stomachs.

To all of you thanks so much for your caring.  It means the world to me.

Love,
Kittyface

[orleans]

yes, alinia to the very end, countin' on it make up the early dropping of riba(25 weeks)