Ladies on treatment! There IS something to look forward to!

[Alady1620]

Ok, this may sound silly but I wanted to share this with all those treating.  I'm in week 46 (I think- LOL) so I'm almost finished.  When my hair started coming out from the pegasys, I freaked and had over 10 inches cut.  yes, that was almost all of it.  

Anyway, my hair is really short now and the strands that fell out are starting to grow back.  My hair is SOOOOO soft.  It is unbelievably soft!  It hasn't been this soft since it grew in when I was 1.  It feels like one of those long haired show rabbits fur.  It is unbelievable and I LOVE it!  I can't stop running my fingers through my own hair.  Even when I put hairspray and gel in it, it still feels soft!  

I know you guys have heard about how soft your hair will be when it grows back.  I'm here to tell you that it isn't a joke.  I am so pleased with my new soft hair.  I hope all of you have the same results.

[Kalio1]

Thanks so much for the girly good news moment, I know every woman here will relate! I hadn't heard the soft hair thing, so that is nice to know. I feel like such a hag after 50 weeks of this.

Maybe some guys will like the news too!
I wonder if it makes their beards soft? Now that would ROCK!

[GrandmaA]

I'm looking forward to my rabbits fur when it comes in. Thanks for the heads up.

[amirtracy]

umm...yes you're right. that would rock. lol.

[SoCal Lady]

Will my boobs get bigger?

[cuteus]

so cal; maybe if you run your finger through them...

I don't remember the soft hair!  mine is as unmanageable as always, but at least is a lot more than when on tx!

[stangshelly]

boy this is what i needed to hear and i agree wish the beards softer too..lol

[amirtracy]

or have your husband run HIS fingers thru them! nah. nevermind...

[Kalio1]

haha Tracy, good one.
Hey how are you feeling? Hanging in there? Hope things are going pretty good. Are you still taking Procrit? Hope it's helping.

Nice to see you. Hang in there!

[Alady1620]

Soft beards would be heavenly.

[GoofyDad]

Will my boobs get bigger?

Nah... but the hair on them might grow in softer...

Actually, my beard did soften and grow slower. Mostly returned to normal after stopping, but maybe now grows slower and less bristly. The downstairs shrubbery also seemed to get a dose of agent orange....

[Lady E]

Speaking of hair. I recently read (in another forum) that some people experienced "Llama lashes" during tx. And judging by several responses to the subject, I guess alot of other people had this happen too. I thought this was strange & interesting that the super-growth of their eyelashes happened during tx. I wish that would happen to me. :)

[susan400]

The Llama lashes thing happened to me on all my treatments.  Unfortunately, coming off the treatment they didn't stay that way.  Oh well.  It's not worth staying on it just for longer lashes!  I'll just have to be happy with my short ones for now.

Susan

[amirtracy]

hi there! thanks for asking, i am feeling better. PROCRIT!!!! and beginning to see a light at the end of this tunnel. hope you're doing great and again, thanks for always checking on me and offering your support. YOU rock!   tracy

[mari74]

This is my first time on this site. I am fighting with myself about starting the treatment for HEpC, as it is called.

I went for a phyiscal last year in October and found out that I had HepC....I was so taken back by it and still fighting what I need to do about it.

I live in Chicago and been going down to Northwestern Hospital for test. And they said I have Type1 and that "maybe the medicine will work?

And the side effects are terrible and etc...

Any advise and still fighting with myself


Lost in thought in Chicago.

[amirtracy]

Hi and sorry you had to find this place but you've come to the right place. This place was a lifeline for me when I found out 1 year ago yesterday. Try to take it slow and educate yourself. People here will help you.
I'm Tracy, also geno 1.
I'm treating- on week 35 of 48. Many here are treating, many are waiting, many are finished. The meds DO have lots of side effects (for some but not for everyone) but usually they're manageable with a good doctor. Lots of people finish treatment and are cured. You need biopsy results to make an informed decision on wether this is the right time for you to treat or not. If you can wait, based on those results, you might consider it. Some people (me) couldn't co-exist with hepc so I decided to treat right away. I won't lie to you, it hasn't been easy. Few things worthwhile are. So go slow, find out more information and then make your decision. And ask questions here. Things will be explained in plain english and not doctor jargon. Good luck, keep posting, and don't panic.   Tracy

[DragonSlayer45]

Mari,
Sorry to hear that you have contracted this too. Deciding to treat or not is a personal decision for some people. Standard Treatment (Peg and Riba)is tough on a lot of people, some don't make it and drop out. some have success and some do not respond to treatment.
Being that you have geno 1 like most of us, you are one of the lucky ones who happens to have the most difficult geno to treat (don't you feel special now). All kidding aside, Traci gave you good advice. Read, read, read, learn all you can and talk to the wonderful people in this forum. there are some really good people here that will help you and answer questions.
From all I have learned in the last few years, having type 1, depending on level your viral load, seems to have a bearing on your success rate. People with lowe VL seem to respond better than people with High VL's. I am also suggesting to read because some doctors will steer you right into treatment while some won't. Keep in mind you will most likely die with this not from it. Obviously I do not know about your particular situation so I would not attemp to steer you one way or another. Some good sites to check out are http://www.hepcchallenge.org
http://janis7hepc.com/index.htm
there are new drugs in clinical trials right now that look very promising, particularly for treating geno1, but they are a few years away at best. Good luck
If you have not been to these sites I recomend you visit them

[2irish]

mari,
    am also in chicago.  Also, type 1.  did 48 wks through university chicago.  finished in aug.  Not too bad of a ride.  definitely doable.  water, water, water & be ready for procrit sometime after 4 wks (YOU may not need it, but it got me through). Exercised throughout & kept moving.  Did not change my schedule.  Seemed to work best for me to keep moving.  Oh, yeah, was rx xanax in last two months for a little anxiety.  Good luck to you & if i can be of any help...let me know.

[DragonSlayer45]

Can I run my fingers through your hair:-)

[Forseegood]

gee, that at least gives me something to look forward to! My eyelashes are nearly gone, well, they are short now and not as plentiful, the dang menopause blasted all the hair from my body cept on my head...it's kinda nice barely having any hair on my arms and legs (and this natural Brazilian wax, if you know what I mean:) but my eyebrows and eyelashes? what a drag...thank god for eye make-up, even considered wearing false eyelashes again (like the 70's) but that glue on the eyes is yucky...it would be wonderful to have long eyelashes again, and throw a wig on my bald head I guess...young people take hair for granted..little pukes...ha ha!

[GoofyDad]

<b>..and this natural Brazilian wax, if you know what I mean</b>

Well actually no, some of us <b>non-metrosexuals</b> (cough-cough) are having trouble following that <small>(bikini)</small> line of thought. Details, please. Or, as they say... a picture's worth a thousand words....

[mari74]

Thanks to everyone, I felt so allow with myself and to embarrass to let my friends know.  

I have put off the treatment for one year now and I have finally agreed with myself to go foreward and see what happens.

At Northwestern Hosp., I was told to start the meds right away.
I thought it was going too fast for me and that's why I have waited this a year.

When I first found out, my general doctor called me and said to me...."are you sitting down" and told me about the results.  He scared me so bad to where I was crying for my life. And in turned said that Dr Flamm at Northwestern was the best Hep C.
So I went to him, very in personable and as of matter of fact...you need a biopsy and meds right away..

Does anyone know the cost of these drugs...very expensive from what I hear.  I have Blue Cross & Blue Shield PPO

[mari74]

Did you like that hospital?  

Have you heard anything good or bad about Northwestern Hosp?

[cotagirl]

i have guardian ins. (ppo) so far its covered most of the costs. I would like to hear comments about northwestern hosp.

[2irish]

mari,
   I had the same reaction as you did when you first found out.  So does EVERYONE!!!  don't be so hard on yourself.  It actually took me a year to wrap my brain around it.  I LOVE University of Chicago, the doctors and the nurses.  That has been my only experience.  I do not know anything personally about Northwestern.  However, I do no see how it could be anything but GOOD.  Their reputation is tremendous.  I would google your doctor and the hospital and see what you come up with.  Then if it makes you feel better, google Univ of Chgo, as well.  Then you can compare.  We are all in the same boat here aND it looks like you, me & dmhrdh are all in the same area.  Look back at all the threads you posted on and check your responses.  You have a lot of support.  Good luck, let me know if i can help.

[cotagirl]

i currently have my labs done in a suburb of chicago.

[mari74]

Cotagirl and 2Irish,

I have a PPO from Blue Cross & Blue Shield.  It is an individual policy. I'm self employed.  I just hope they cover the drugs.

I got a letter from the Board of Health here in Chicago. They want me to call them...I guess my doctor told them I have HepC...now embarrassing it that.

Cotagirl...where is your treatment at....which hospital>>I know Northwestern Hospital has a great name , but just a little unsure about them.

[mari74]

I also live in the burbs.