Aa
Last Shot!!
Hello everyone,
I am extremely happy to say that I just took my last shot today (48/48). Here are some of my stats at baseline:
TYPE 1A
ALT 201
AST 109
HCV RNA 2,749,241
Pegasys 180 mcg/Copegus 1000 mg.
2 log drop at 4 weeks, <10 at 12, 24. ALT and AST normal range at 36 weeks. My HGB stabalized at about 11.6, and ABS Neutrophils at about 600 (with the help of Neupogen).
I never missed a day of work due to treatment, except for 2 days for an upper respiratory infection. Not sure if it was related to treatment because I've had them before Tx.
Side Affects:
Extremely irritable, anxiety, slight depression. Slight hair loss/weight. Low ABS Neutrophils (help with Neupogen), also was diagnosed with minor Vitiligo (slight loss of skin pigmentation in a couple of areas) this is an autoimmune problem which I hope will stop after treatment, and my doctors also seem to think that it will.
If any of you newbies have any questions, feel free to ask. I put of Tx for 10 years because of fear of Sx and happy that I finally went ahead with it. Now I have to wait and see what the future holds. I will be cheking in for my post Tx results. God bless everyone and thank you all that encouraged me to treat and that gave me advise during Tx.
I am extremely happy to say that I just took my last shot today (48/48). Here are some of my stats at baseline:
TYPE 1A
ALT 201
AST 109
HCV RNA 2,749,241
Pegasys 180 mcg/Copegus 1000 mg.
2 log drop at 4 weeks, <10 at 12, 24. ALT and AST normal range at 36 weeks. My HGB stabalized at about 11.6, and ABS Neutrophils at about 600 (with the help of Neupogen).
I never missed a day of work due to treatment, except for 2 days for an upper respiratory infection. Not sure if it was related to treatment because I've had them before Tx.
Side Affects:
Extremely irritable, anxiety, slight depression. Slight hair loss/weight. Low ABS Neutrophils (help with Neupogen), also was diagnosed with minor Vitiligo (slight loss of skin pigmentation in a couple of areas) this is an autoimmune problem which I hope will stop after treatment, and my doctors also seem to think that it will.
If any of you newbies have any questions, feel free to ask. I put of Tx for 10 years because of fear of Sx and happy that I finally went ahead with it. Now I have to wait and see what the future holds. I will be cheking in for my post Tx results. God bless everyone and thank you all that encouraged me to treat and that gave me advise during Tx.
Do you know, or what the factors are, how the percentage of liver function is calculated? Or a source where this can be found? Thanks
Glad to see you checking in. Will you have a PCR or TMA next week? I hope you have eradicated this virus forever. And, thanks for posting that your side effects were managable. I think so many of us worry about not being able to work and that is a big factor in deciding to treat.
Congratulations and good luck moving forward! Hopefully, you should be feeling better soon as the drugs leave your system -- but as many have found, including myself, you have to be a little patient in that regard. About the vitiligo, if it doesn't go away and becomes an issue, ask your doctor about Xtrac Laser http://www.photomedex.com/pages/xtrac.html
Xtrac laser helped me with the psoriasis on both my hands and feet, and is often used for vitiligo. Insurance permitting (it's expensive) the nice thing about xtrac is that you don't have to use any topicals like cortirocoids and have much less light exposure than with more conventional UVB or even UVB Narrow Band light treatments. Not to mention the fact that they sometimes see results in a relatively small number of treatments.
For anyone else with psoriasis and/or vitiligo, because of the way x-trac is delivered, I believe it's only indicated if the skin problem is on 10% of your body or less. For broader coverage, you have to use more conventional treatments like topicals, conventional light treatment and systemeics. I ended up using everything except systemics but xtrac seemed to have the quickest results.
All the best.
-- Jim
Xtrac laser helped me with the psoriasis on both my hands and feet, and is often used for vitiligo. Insurance permitting (it's expensive) the nice thing about xtrac is that you don't have to use any topicals like cortirocoids and have much less light exposure than with more conventional UVB or even UVB Narrow Band light treatments. Not to mention the fact that they sometimes see results in a relatively small number of treatments.
For anyone else with psoriasis and/or vitiligo, because of the way x-trac is delivered, I believe it's only indicated if the skin problem is on 10% of your body or less. For broader coverage, you have to use more conventional treatments like topicals, conventional light treatment and systemeics. I ended up using everything except systemics but xtrac seemed to have the quickest results.
All the best.
-- Jim
Congratulations! I'm a newbie recently diagnosed with 1A. I go to a specialist next week, so I guess I'll get scheduled for a biopsy and discuss treatment after that. It's nice to hear that you were able to work, too.
Jim: As always, you come through with good information. Actually I wanted to thank you personally for always giving very good advise. You answered all of my questions that I had during Tx and I am sure many people here feel the same way about you. Thank you and hope everything is working out for you.
Friole: I go in next week for blood work, but not sure if they will check PCR.
Friole: I go in next week for blood work, but not sure if they will check PCR.
Your my new hero. I want to be just like you when I grow up.LOL
Congrats. You and everyone else that can somehow drag the fortitude up from the depths to the surface really are heros.
That was no easy task. Your family must be very proud of you.
Congrats. You and everyone else that can somehow drag the fortitude up from the depths to the surface really are heros.
That was no easy task. Your family must be very proud of you.
Coming in to work isn't always an EASY thing but if you push yourself to get up and get going...you feel much better than laying in bed constantly. You know what I mean? It's like when you have a cold or something - if you get up and get showered generally you feel a bit better.
I've missed 3 days in 32 weeks (during the anemia when I could NOT stand or I'd faint). If I had my way honestly...I would have enjoyed staying home and just resting but I can't afford it.
Working during tx might not be what you WANT to do but if you are like me and MUST have the paycheck and the INSURANCE = you CAN do it.
:)
I've missed 3 days in 32 weeks (during the anemia when I could NOT stand or I'd faint). If I had my way honestly...I would have enjoyed staying home and just resting but I can't afford it.
Working during tx might not be what you WANT to do but if you are like me and MUST have the paycheck and the INSURANCE = you CAN do it.
:)
Way to go! I admire you! you did it and working too.
Take care of yourself and come back and let us know how the final tests come out. Congrats! Now go enjoy the first day of the rest of your life!!! God Bless
Take care of yourself and come back and let us know how the final tests come out. Congrats! Now go enjoy the first day of the rest of your life!!! God Bless
Hello again,
I should add that my work schedule was such that I did not have to wake up in the morning. I worked afternoon shift and was able to get 8 hrs of sleep every night. And work itself is not too physically demanding, but stressful at times. So I suppose this helped a lot. I didn't want to make it sound as if going to work was a piece of cake. During stressful situations, my irritability would make things worse. And yes, If I had the choice, I would have prefereed to have stayed home or work a lot less. I know that many of you have had to stop working due to your Tx and my thoughts go out to you. I guess I can say that I was very lucky in this department (and I am not the lucky type) so I guess the man upstairs gave me a break with this one.
I should add that my work schedule was such that I did not have to wake up in the morning. I worked afternoon shift and was able to get 8 hrs of sleep every night. And work itself is not too physically demanding, but stressful at times. So I suppose this helped a lot. I didn't want to make it sound as if going to work was a piece of cake. During stressful situations, my irritability would make things worse. And yes, If I had the choice, I would have prefereed to have stayed home or work a lot less. I know that many of you have had to stop working due to your Tx and my thoughts go out to you. I guess I can say that I was very lucky in this department (and I am not the lucky type) so I guess the man upstairs gave me a break with this one.
When you say the man upstairs, I assume your referring to Dr. Schiff. Which one of the docs there directed your treatment?
Congrats!!! This is great news a I wish you all the luck in the world. I can't wait to see you post that your SVR.
I will do my last shot on 6/11 and I'll join your club as many here have done before us.
BEAGLE
I will do my last shot on 6/11 and I'll join your club as many here have done before us.
BEAGLE
Congrats. , Good your hmg held up during the tx . Please keep us posted on your post results .
Congratulations!! Like others have said I appreciate you sharing your ability to work during tx--and like you pointed out it wasn't a cake walk but for you it was doable.
I begin tx next month and like everyone else I am soooo nervous regarding my response. It's enough pressure worrying if I am responder (1a, stage 1, grade 2) let alone worrying about the sides.
You must feel you have conquered a huge hurdle and I hope all goes well for you.
I begin tx next month and like everyone else I am soooo nervous regarding my response. It's enough pressure worrying if I am responder (1a, stage 1, grade 2) let alone worrying about the sides.
You must feel you have conquered a huge hurdle and I hope all goes well for you.
Congratulations! I'm glad to hear the wonderful news. Hope you remember to use all of the info you've learned about keeping a healthier liver lifestyle. Seems like you chose the right name! Good going.
2hep2it aka Stone
2hep2it aka Stone
Super! You've done a lot for yourself and for us, thanks for sharing the good news and thinking of thinking of those that still have traveling to do in this.
Be Well,
Don
Be Well,
Don
The man upstairs is GOD. He was nice enough to keep my HGB high enough so I never became too anemic to function. And the mt Doc was Dr. Jeffers...
Yeah, I know that the Real Man Upstairs is always the One. I recall that Snook was also under the wing of Dr. Jeffers
Yes FLGUY, I will be eating them until next Monday. I am in Pembroke Pines, FL. Where are you in FL?
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