Relapsed

I just found out in the past hour that I tested positive for the 3 month PCR.  More challenges with this virus are ahead of me.  

[copyman]

So sorry to hear this. This disease is just so unfair. There are better things on the way. You will beat this dragon! God bless

[kcmike]

I am so sorry to hear this, I am 15 weeks post tx and that is news I just don't want to hear.  I am geno 1b and tx for 48 weeks.  I decided to wait until 24 week post tx to get the news.  We all know what the odds are so this somewhat prepares us, but after all that work put into tx it's still hard to take.  I wish you well with your battle and pray that you have time to rest for the next battle.

mike

[wyntre9]

I can't believe this!  

Ohhhhh, i am so sorry to hear your sad news, Grandma.

You are in my thoughts.  Don't give up.

wyntre

[dmhrdh]

I'm so sorry to hear this news.  As someone who never cleared the last time I treated I have always felt it would be much harder to clear and relapse.  It has to be the most devastating news.
Again, I'm so sorry.

[Bill1954]

Unfortunately, we’ve got plenty of room left on the bench for you; I’ll just scoot down a bit. I remember reading and doing a double take at the results when I received them. I’m so sorry to hear the news… try to take a pragmatic approach, and set your sights for winning. Have you been in contact with CPMC? I’ll be curios to hear their war plan. We’ll eventually prevail, Adie, but as you mentioned, more challenges ahead.

Take good care, and best of luck to you,

Bill

[orphanedhawk]

I am sending you huge hugs over the interweb.   Affectionately,   OH

[NYCMark]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It is such a difficult thing to go through, and we hope and pray that it will be a lasting cure, and to get this bad news is very upsetting. You have been a very great supporter for others here. I know we are all here for you now.

Mark

[honey11]

Oh Grandma,,,,This is not the news,,,I wanted to read!  (((hugs))   Take a much needed break and then start on plan B,,,,there is always more then one way to kill this virus and I know that you are strong and this is your goal!  

[kcrandy]

no you listen here missy i am not going to take this standing up, so i will sit down and digest this for you.  i know you no i am pulling for you and everyone fighting this evil empire ( hep c ) and we are going to win. the chosen one is coming it is prophcised to be that way and it will be the great conquerer of the evil empire ( hep c ). so you hang in there and do not give up as i am sure you wont.  you have been such a big help to me and so many others  and i as well all of us will be here for you.

you are in my prayers.

[CockSparrow]

This sux GrandmaA. So sorry to here this
CS

[shastri20032003]

Sorry to hear about this grandma. Take care of yourself

[goldyn]

aahh man I was pulling for you since day 1, you handled this tx with grace and greatness, you are so full of knowledge that i know you will be ready to fight again, when the time and meds are right for you.....
                                                 Blessings
                                                           Goldyn

[FloridaMouse]

Soooooooo sorry to hear this.  I know it really smarts.  Here's wishing you a quick emotional rebound.

Mouse

[Rockerforlife]

Just dust yourself off and do what im gonna do....take a break to let youir body and mind together and do a 72 week round with maybe different type of interferon....thats my plan...just dont give up....me? gonna die trying.

[jdwithhcv]

Oh Grandma, what heartbreaking news.  My thoughts and good wishes are with you.

JD

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for all your kind words. I just had a wonderful Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment today when I got the surprising news.  The Lord knows best. All we can do is our best and leave the results to Him.  I cannot do anything without Him. He gives me the love, grace, courage, everything. The treatment must have helped my liver a lot because I feel so much better now.

Bill - No I haven't talked to CPMC yet. Wouldn't that be funny if it's a false positive? Ha, ha, ha.

I just got a book  and CDs about how to keep your brain healthy. It's very good. Dr. Weil is one of the authors. On the CD he talks about nutrition to maximize your brain. And another book Train your mind change your brain, but Sharon Begley.  My 6 year old grandson beat me twice in memory card game (concentration).    

[orphanedhawk]

It COULD be a false positive. I'm getting another PCR just to be sure. What have we got to lose?

[Myown]

I am so sorry to read this. I know how devastating this news is. Just know that you are not alone, lots of us are right there with you and hopefully next round we will all be svr.

You are in my prayers.

[orleans]

So sorry, love jerry  ps praying for you and yours

[moahunter]

I started crying when I read this thread. Had a shot this morning, 4 to go to wk48. I'm just so emotional on these drugs. I can't stand the way people are being hurt by this disease - but then, that's the sad way life is I guess. A colleague is thinking of treatment now, and I can't look her straight in the face and tell her anything. I just get a tear thinking about anyone anywhere going through this right now, whatever stage they are at.

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for all your comments. I had a wonderful Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment just before I called the doctor's office and got the surprising news, so I took it very well. This illness has taught me patience and I guess it has more to teach me yet.

Moahunter - please don't cry. I will be OK. Yes, the meds can make your over emotional.

Myown, Orphan Hawk, orleans, moahunter and all: I feel so much better from the treatment now. I feel like it really healed my liver a lot. We will see what Dr. Gish recommends next. He will have to take my age into consideration. If the cure is worse than the treatment I might just take Dr. Zhang's herbs. We shall see. We just take life one day at a time.

Dr. Weil has an excellent relaxation technique on his CD and it works great. I tried to last night first time. He does it twice a day. You breathe in through the nose to the count of 4, you hold it for the count of 7 and exhale through the nose (with your tongue-just behind the teeth on the gums) and make a whooshing sound to the count of 8. You do it 4 times in the morning and 4 times before bed. It helps both voluntary and involuntary. We don't want the body to outlive the brain. We want to prevent dementia if possible.    

[GrandmaA]

You can recommend treatment to your friend. It's OK. Half of us will become undetectable and maybe she will. I was a slow responder. Maybe she is genotype 2. Good luck to you and your treatment.

[moahunter]

I know - I will recommend, at least the 4-12 weeks (she is Geno 1), when I am off the meds. I will feel a lot better then too. I find it is hard to think of anyone going onto treatment though - now that I have been on it for a while. Glad you are taking this as positivley as you can - a matter of dealing with bumps and valleys in the road I guess. Inspiring - I wish you all the best.

[Lady Lauri]

  Oh God....so sorry. I really thought you'd get SVR, you do so many other healthy things, body, mind and spirit.Your attitude is excellant tho, even on the bad news day. I hate seeing these post-know we all do. :{

    God Bless sweetie, sure wish it wasn't so.                       LL

[Rangle]

So sorry ..to hear ...be gentle with yourself know your in our prayers...

[gauf]

I know how you feel. Take a breather and follow us other relapsers back in. We will all stumble across the finish line to svr together. Love your faith! Gods Peace.

[charm27]

Boy are my thoughts with you. I am so so sorry for this. You will find the strength to beat this and you will!

Charm27

[dancegirl54]

Oh no Grandma, I'm so sorry! You are such a light here, all the other things you are doing are surely keeping your body-mind-spirit in the BEST possible condition.  I look forward to hearing more from you.

[santaclaus]

so sorry 2 hear ur news, keep ur chin up, all da best in future. loads of hugs,
santa

[Lonestar823]

Oh, no.  I'm so sorry.  Treatment is not easy.  We all know that but you handled yours with such poise and grace here on the forum.  Now it seems you've handled this relapse in the same manner.  Godspeed Grandma.

[geterdone]

Hi GrandmaA,
I am so sorry to hear that this has happened, it is not something anyone wants to hear during the holidays and had this sinking feeling when reading this post and am soooooo sorry.

Hey! look at it this way, the hepa train is getting longer and needs more chugga lug power to keep the motion moving forward and you will be needed here as new cars couple up for the journey.

Take Care GrandmaA
jasper

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for all you good wishes. The doctor will probably want another biopsy and give me my choices and his suggestions. I will take it one step at a time.

Dr. Weil says the cortisol that builds up in your brain from stress is very bad for you (and can lead to brain deterioration, dementia or senility). That is why he recommends the breathing technique. I'm learning mental exercises to keep my brain young. It is much more maleable than Scientists used to think.

[Myown]

I agree that cortisol can really cause problems with health (excess cortisol) and have discussed with all my doctors that this is my biggest problem, due to stressful events that had taken place in my life prior to dx and the dx topped it all off.

I have been reading more about how our brain has a direct connection to our immune system and how it can effect outcome of disease etc. Our thoughts effect our cells in fact. Real interesting stuff to read about. I just wish I could grasp it a bit better. Alot is difficult to understand. I have to study more about T cells and exactly how the immune system works in order to get a better hold on what I am reading, but what I can understand, it is very interesting. If you get time, you may want to get a book or read more on this subject below. I think you would find it interesting

"psy·cho·neu·ro·im·mu·nol·o·gy
nouna field of medicine that deals with the influence of emotional states (as stress) and nervous system activity on immune function esp. in relation to their effect on the onset and progression of disease"

[jmjm530]

Very sorry about the relapse. I know you didn't finish, but your profile suggests you were going to treat 51 weeks. Was that something Gish came up with based on
Drusano (15 plus 36)? Given your slow response, I would have guessed they would have gone for 72 weeks per Berg, etc. In any event, you ended up having less exposure to the drugs, so that should be some sort of a silver lining. Truly hope you the very best moving forward.

-- Jim

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for everything you wrote. I love the subject. From Jin Shin Jyutsu I have learned many things. Holding the fingers is excellent. The thumb is for worry, the index finger for fear, the middle finger for anger, the ring finger for grief or sadness and the pinkie for try to's or trying too hard (forcing things). Hold them a couple times a day. Right hand is for the present and left hand is for the past. Might be reversed if you are a lefty, I don't know.

[mikesimon]

I'm sorry about your news. Mike

[Myown]

Your welcome. I know you love this kind of stuff - I do too. Everytime I read your posts I see that we have alot of common interests in how we view our body/mind/spirit connection.

What I find so interesting is that I found out something crumby, but its good in a way that I found it out...and what I found out is that "I am my own worst enemy"

I'm way too excitable - worry too much, I know its not good for me, I always have known it,,,but heres the thing,,,,I have always believed the bible once I read it, but things such as "Take no thought for tomorrow for tommorrow will take care of itself," or another "Cast your cares upon me, for I careth for you," or "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," or "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." etc etc etc.

God doesn't go on to explain how all this scripture effects our body in keeping us in good health, He just tells us to trust Him. But the way I am, I want to SEE everything, the whys and the hows,,,well, I know that my negative thinking has had an impact on my immune system. My fears, my doubts, my worry etc has all affected or lowered my immune system. I am not saying that is the reason I relapsed, but I am saying that being more positive about things would help my body to get well.

To hear it from people is yes nice, its encouraging, but unless I can SEE and understand that my negative thoughts can really impact everything for the bad, I just didn't try hard enough to stay foucused  on getting well. Reading doctors write about how cells can actually communicate is beyond facinating to me and I see it not only from the natural perspective, but very much from a spiritual perspecitve also.

Gods Word even says "For a spirit of heaviness put on a garment of praise," meaning sing or dance or be joyful,,,,,He doesn't explain in the bible that it will help your immune function,,but guess what - it does and you know that as well as I do. So all in all, this sickness has made me realize even more how true Gods word is. He even says "A merry heart (laughter) is good medicine." And we all know that laughter increases serotonin etc. So in it all though its sad I had to learn the hard way, but in order to help others we have to go through trials too so those we speak to can relate to us. I volunteered at hospitals for many years right up until dx and I thought I understood what it was like to be sick and feel hopeless cause I would be crying for these people on my way home, but not until I face my own sickness did I really realize what these people have to face everyday and they are alot worse off then me and some alot younger too.

I wish you the best and I'll send you a very interesting website that I found recently. I don't have time to look for it now, but its a doctor who after he lost his son, got testicular cancer and he believes that the shock of loosing his son triggered all of this and he has done many interviews with people that have cancer who just prior to getting cancer had a very sudden shock or traumatic event in their life. I believe this can happen BUT the UP side of this all is this (what I feel) IF our shocks or negative thoughts can destroy or cause illness to our body, then this must mean our positive thoughts can heal. ("life and death are in the power of the tongue)  I think the biggest problem though is that we have more faith in our 'fears' than we do in the 'good thoughts.'  We meditate sometimes ( I know I do - not that I want to, just can't help it at times) on all the things that can go wrong and next thing you know our thoughts manifest into reality. So, right now I am trying to cancel out the negative thoughts. I know some of it is hard cause my hormonal imbalance is the culprit at times, but I ask God to help me and I have to trust Him more that He will cause he is willing to, but I have to be receptive and receive - break up the fallow ground so to speak.

Good talking to you. Thanks for the info too,

[Forseegood]

this virus just psses me off...dang...I'm so sorry, but I think youre a very strong person who is very centered....you'll get though this and come up smiling at a much better result down the line...you believe in healing oneself, you'll get there...

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for all your good comments.

Jim: I did finish the 51 weeks of tx but it was very, very difficult. I don't think I could have done 72 weeks. They say age is a factor in tx results. I feel my liver is in very much better shape now. I would rather keep this virus (under control) than exchange it for an autoimmune disease.

Myown: I don't get my answers very fast, but usually have to "sleep on it" I get many answers through my sleep or dreams. The Lord never gives us a burden we can't carry with His help. He can do ANYTHING.

[Teufelhunden]

I'm so sorry Grandma. It just isn't fair. Hang in there. We're going to win this battle yet. My prayers are with you!

[dointime]

I am very sorry to hear this.  I know how it feels.  Wishing you well,
dointime.

[pigeonca]

I can't believe it.  Your attitude has been so fabulous, you just don't deserve this.  But hopefully 2008 will bring newer and better treatments for you and for every other relapser.  Best wishes for a happy new year.  
Love,
pigeon

[GrandmaA]

Thanks for all the kind comments and encouragement.

I have not seen the test results. The Medical Assist. just told me over the phone that "you are still detectable for the virus". So I will have another test done on Mon. just to make sure there was no error and I should have my copy of it in a couple days.

[jamimapuddle]

Just read this, I am so sorry.  

[BThompson4]

Sorry to hear about your relapse.  I got the same bad news a couple days ago, with 3.7 iu/ml viral load four weeks after doing 72 weeks.  Hope that at least your liver got better from treatment.

[Myown]

Very sorry to hear that you received bad news. So, so sorry.

[GrandmaA]

Yes, my liver is much better thanks for your kind words. I'm so sorry you relapsed also.

[pitter]

...it will all work for the best...please read Romans 8:28...and keep your faith...
Pitter

[l-horn]

DAMM !! I haven't been over here lately so didn't see this post. I'm so sorry. Hang in there.

[ejoli]

  So sorry  to read your news.   I hope you have been feeling better being off the meds.
                                                                        Take care,   -Libby

[scratchinghead]

:-(

[ladywhy]

Always when reading your posts, I think of you as such an example for all of us. I am so sorry to hear this crappy news...
Your strength and faith just shines through....and fortunately it is and will continue to get you through this.
Whatever you decide to do I know it will be the right thing.
You are in my prayers and I am so thankful to hear that your liver is better.
Sincerely,
Yvonne

[antman]

hey Grandma,
so sorry for this setback. i know it's disapointing and frustrating but you can retreat again and beat it. so many have!
now i just finished a few days ago. i did 48 weeks Peg/riba (180/1200 mg). can you think of anytime during tx when there may have been a chink in the armor? perhaps low dose, skipped doses due to sx? how about your reponse rate throughout? did you clear at 12 weeks and stay clear? don't mean to burden you with questions, just looking for answers or patterns. thanks,
ant

[frijole]

I am so sorry.  Another case of slow responder = 48 weeks is not enough. The good news is that you were a responder and according to the experts, you can clear by changing strategy.  I can't remember what your liver biopsy indicated -- do you have to treat again?  

Good luck to you.  Regroup and take it easy
frijole

[jools57]

I am so sorry for your news...you have an awesome attitude, and your faith will get you thru...know you are in my prayers, and may you be totally blessed in the new year!

[GrandmaA]

I had lots of nausea and vomiting where I all my riba came up. I never missed a shot. I switched doctors after 11 weeks. So I wasn't tested at my new clinic (Gish) until week 15 when I was UND. Eventually I learned to keep the riba down with fat. I was very gray looking the last month or 6 weeks of treatment and there is no way I could have gone 72 weeks. I'm 65.

frijole: Biopsy is quite old now but said between stage 2 and 3.

I'm going to get Gish's and Cohen's revised book. Maybe I can go to S.F. and see Misha Cohen.

[ponyshel]

I am so sorry for the news..keep your chin up...If you can give tx a break I would consider it. Theres new things in the horizon..hugs :) shelly

[mremeet]

Sorry to hear about the relapse grandma, that's just awful. But you sound like you have a very positive attitude and I know you live a very healthful lifestyle. Hang in there, better treatments are coming. In the meantime check out the antifibrotic substances that HR has been discussing, these substances sound very promising for helping to retard and possibly even reverse fibrosis.

[Pinksmything]

Grandma, I'm sorry to hear the news. My prayers are going up for you.  :)  Janet

[GrandmaBRZ]

I am sad to read your news.  You have been an inspiration and great help to me.  You are in my prayers.  Jenn

[alagirl]

I am so very sorry :(

Like you said, maybe at the very least this has given your liver some respite during the time you've treated.  I'm so upset for you though.  It's just not fair!

[sfbaygirl]

Oh yuck, yuck, yuck!  Sorry to hear this.  Really, really sorry. You went through a lot and have always been here for everyone. I am so sorry to hear this!

[merlino]

I am so very sorry to hear this. You lost the battle not the war!! I will hear my results today. My dr was away and I wanted to wait for his return. Whatever my news is I hope I can be as positive as you.  Merlino

[beamishboy]

my deepest condolences...You are one rocking grandma and surely this will be resolved..i'm hoping false/positive....GOODLUCK

[nygirl7]

Grandma please remember I too tested positive for the virus - and yet - it was a good old fake out on me and I was SVR in the end.

I pray to God in Heaven this is just a small viral bump, fake positive whatever it is that seems to happen to some of us after stopping treatment.  Nobody knows why but it DOES happen.

I'm sorry regardless though that you got this news.  One doctor told my sister she was dying of malignant cancer and the next day called her and said "sorry we mixed up the results".  Yup ... gotta love that one.

I'll be praying yours too is a count of 60 or something stupid and it GOES AWAY NEXT MONTH WHEN YOU TAKE IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debby

[GrandmaA]

I just took the test again today. I need to make an appointment with the specialist. I hope I can wait for the new meds and just do 24 weeks in 2011. Thanks for all your kind words, support, information  help and prayers. I appreciate it very, very much. I still feel better every week now. I'm taking lots of things to get rid of the rest of this brain fog, but exercize helps a lot too.

[merryBe]

so sorry to hear this.....keep the tests may be wrong idea going....it happens.
good you are Gish, who is Misha Cohen??
I hope they can turn it around, if you are grey, shouldn't they  procrit/ transfuse you...that would help!!
mary

[katerika]

I have been on a "denial" vacation from the forum and wondered how you were doing and then saw your post. I am so sorry. I won't see my Dr. and discuss tx. again until March. Right now my homework is to try and lose 20lbs. duh I am stuggling to keep off the weight I lost on Tx. It's a New Year, we can beat this time
hugs
Teri