Sorry for opening this thread, but I feel we need it more then ever.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Good morning all,

I didn't want to open this thread as I did one yesterday.  I was amazed at all the anger being posted yesterday and this is not helping any of us.  I realize that the riba rage is playing a large part, but we have to put it a side and get back to what is important.  The only thing right now we should be focus on is Hep C.  I understand that we move off track at times and that's fine.  But the most important thing right now is we are all sisters and brothers with one goal in sight, beating this virus once and for all. It does not matter if are jews or any other religion, black , white or poker dots.   With all the caring, knowledge and compassion on this board as a team we will win this fight.

Hope your day goes well and let's worry about getting to SVR.

Peace to all...   The Beagle

PS-- shot #6 for me tonight

[rachlevah]

first of all i have a very close friend who has hep c and i wanted to thank all of you because your words have helped me find the ability to support him, i dont know where i would be without all of you even though none of you have known it.  also he these gets these tiny cuts all over (his hands arms and inside of his mouth) he wears gloves alot to stop him from getting cut but it seems to happen no matter what.  I was wondering if this is common and if it is, is it from medication or because of hep c?  if any one has had this experience and found a way to counteract it (especially the cuts and infections in the mouth) i would be very greatful.

finaly i would like to thank you again, regardless of whether or not you have any answers to my questions, you could never know how much you have helped me already

[Mister beagle bailey]

Just got back from the store and bought the electric blanket for my legs.  I go back to NY on Wed. and will mention it to the Dr. on Thurs.
I'm finding the pain is not only my legs but my lower back. I had read on past posts that the legs and back are common for some. Hope it clears up soon.

Thanks,

The Beagle

[wMich]

Cajun: I do Peg on Friday night and feel the peak of the flu-like effects as early as Saturday afternoon and as late as Sunday afternoon. It started last night this week. This has been fairly consistent throughout my 28 weeks on Tx.

NY: Ditto to having that pesky gluemouth! Mine's worse the few days post-Peg also. I've been drinking most of my water before 6PM to get a fighting chance at a night of uninterrupted sleep and I doubt that helps. I have yet to get rid of the cracking/soreness at the sides of my mouth either, despite my growing collection of salves, lotions, lotions, potions and snake oils.
Everyone have one fine week...
Lee

[jmjm530]

No need to ever apologize for opening a thread with the intent to pull us all together in peace and harmony :) Good luck with your shot tonight.

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks for the kind words. I just feel we need to get on with what's important and I hope it works.

Jim---Thanks for worning me about being caught in the cross fire, but with friends like you I'm not worried.LOL

   The Beagle

[wMich]

Hello from one blizzardy Super Bowl state,
Right on beagle!  After all, HCV stands for Hepatitis C Virus, not Histrionic Combat Venue! Make SVR, not war! ;-)
Lee

[cajunlady]

jmjm put it best.  And, I for one, really like you and your personality here.  I have been staying in the back ground here, after I got chewed up and spit out the other day.  I am not perfect by no means and I too have faults.  I think all that has taken place here the last few days has an effect on your new people.

And, for anything I may have done wrong here; I truely appoligise.  That is all I can do.  I am only human and I was scared to death of this disease and treatment. Still am a little; and, so are other new comers.

Have a side free #6, Mr. BB.  Mine was not too bad.  I just had a nagging headace; but doable.

cajun

[Mister beagle bailey]

wmich-- Thanks and good luck with the super bowl, what you posted was LOL

Cajun---Thank you my friend and you have nothing to be sorry about.  Please don't stay in the back ground it doesn't help you or any one else---ALL IS WELCOMED HERE.  How did you do with your shot #6 besides the headache?

Rocker--- Thanks for the prayer, I think we all needed it, Amen  How are you doing?

   The Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

It's getting late, and no new threads.  I hope someone opens one soon before it's to late.  If any new comers have a question please open a thread or any one who needs to. There is always someone here willing to help.

Peace,

   The Beagle

[cajunlady]

#6 was not so bad. I have noticed that I get hit on Sat. afternoon.Take shot on Fri. nite.  And, Sundays have gotten better.  Compared to the wild ride at the begining of tx; things are much easier; not totally side free, but better, much better. My CBC's were done again the other night with my stomach pain.  I do not know why, but they have elevated themselves; just a tad.  I did switch my Synthroid to a higher dose and think this might help with the energy.

It really is getting a bit better; I know yours will too.  Have a side FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE #6.

And, Yes, we are about to lose the threads if someone does not open one.

Off to planning my day for the Super Bowl. I have money on a few pools.

cajun

[NYgirl]

Took your lead and opened another thread.  You've made this disease such a livable thing for me with all of your positivity. I hope you know what you mean to us all in here.

:)

Anybody have a huge problem with GLUE MOUTH at night? Especially on shot night weekend?  I find that no matter how MUCh water I drink I need to wake up ten times a night cause I'm just DREAMING about soda and ice pops and all sorts of things cause my mouth is so DRY it's almost inconceivable.

Love ya B!

[cajunlady]

Thank You again for your posting of prayer.  It always makes me put myself in check again and become more humble.  It really does inspire me.

Have a Great Day,

cajun

[jmjm530]

Thanks again for your words of brotherhood and reconciliation. You're a real treasure to this discussion group.

Just one piece of advice that I finally gave myself some time ago. Don't let all the nonsense that sometimes goes on here make you sick -- because it can. And the last thing you want during treatment is more stress.

Do what you can to make the place a bit more civil, but in the end, I've found you can only do so much, given the number of strong personalities here with very minimal moderation.

Just don't want you to get hit in the crossfire, you're too valuable for that. Take care.


-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Someone else posted that they stop drinking water in the eves, so they can sleep through the night. Not me. I figure I need to keep fushing this cr*p right on out the pipes. I have water throughout the night - pee-drink-sleep-pee-drink-sleep. I guess I'm lucky because I fall right back to sleep each time - though I do use an Ambien on nights when I have to get up in the morning - which is most.

On the flu symptoms from the shot, at about week 17 I started getting symptoms 36 hours before shot. Not too bad, but it's the worst part of my week, for sure. About 8-12 hous later, I'm fit as a fiddle. Not sure what to expect when I stop INF... or whether I should ask about tapering down. Comments?

[jaroman]

Yes, I do the same thing now. The shot makes me feel alot better.
After 6 weeks of double dose, I decided to do just do 180ug this last time and will do that for 3 more. That is my detox plan!!!
If this PCR is not UD, I quit. Or do a maintenance????  I have no biopsy to guess about.

[jmjm530]

Kalio said:We are close to the finish line now. I worry more and more about relapse or if I should go for a longer duration to increase my chance of remaining SVR. I go back and forth, one day I think I should and the next I feel like it is time to stop treatment.
--------------------------

Yes, the head games begin as the treatment nears an end, so that's why it's so important to turn to our doctors for objective advice at times like this. Only problem is none of them seem to agree. LOL. I had planned on stopping a week ago at week 48 based on two medical opinion. Now it looks like 58-60 weeks based on another.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the thoughts. At this point all I can do -- all any of us can do -- is pick a date to stop treatment and then leave it to the gods.

Whether I SVR or not, this chapter of my life will thankfully be over soon. And while SVR is not a certainty for any of us, SLR (sustained life response) is something we can all aspire to.

As my treatment chapter nears the end, I truly look forward to moving on and returning to my old life, for better or worse.

"Willing" had a really good post on this recently. He said waiting two years for his post-tx PCR altered his expectations. Something like he would have been crushed if he was found postive at three-months post tx, but at two years post, it would be more like he needed to put on a new roof :) He really puts a wonderful perspective on things.

All we can do is control the process and make the best of the outcome.

-- Jim

[Forseegood]

I certainly did not take offense at anything you said...I'd bet that many other people didn't either...

Tator's post on how edgy people feel on tx just made me think that I should be more patient w/ people on tx and those who have advanced disease too, if they get too pissy or argumentative maybe just let it go...after all, I have no idea how I'll be...it's hard to get perspective sometimes...

Just this disease can cause frayed nerves though in some people...and even though I'm not treating, I have plenty of issues too, ha! Not to mention menopause itself...what a wonderful ride this is, yikes! Just wanted to say I get a lot from your posts...be well...

[Forseegood]

Don't worry, I consider you a "person of reason" here and even if we don't agree all the time, I value your input...right now I'm just finishing up some dental work (takes a long time because the only dentist I like is practicing only on Saturdays (he's studying to be a full time endo guy (root canal specialist) and he's booked up a lot of the time on Satudays...I just can't force myself to go to anyone else...

I have a dentist phobia (I know ridiculous, but I had a very bad experience and I'm working on it) and this dentist is the best I've ever had, so fast and accurate - he takes half the time other dentists do and never any pain or mess - he's worth his weight in gold to me, plus he doesn't have hairy hands or bad breath! ha ha ha! Just kiddin!

I also am in the process of doing cardiac tests, the cardiologist my hep doc wants me to see is some big Grand Pooh Bah of Cardiologists, because my doc told me that there are recent studies out that women my age have a particularly hard time being diagnosed for heart probs...and this guys is supposed to be the best around here...my doc's kind of anal (prob a good thing) and wants me to undergo all these tests...even with docs that take an eternity to see...I have palpitations like you...it really made my day when you told me that youre palpitations dissapated once you got on tx...palpitations are a hard one to call...could of been the anxiety of waiting to start or just having the disease itself, or menopause or some underlying probs (I hope not.)

And of course, my recent labs and over all testing (a fibrospect test) were really good and a year ago or so I had bx'ed out at a stage 1, so my doc figures I have time to wait for all these procedures to be carried out...and sure, when I'm not feeling that bad (like now) it's harder to "jump into the river" as our revered Goof says...but I'm pretty intent on doing it...though I'm still looking around some trees at you guys while you're all swimming, ha ha! Also, my doc says in the interim he's looking at some trials, maybe viramadine, whatever, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up doing the horsey (peggasys.) Thanks for asking...I hope the sides have been good to you and maybe we'll all have a SVR party sometime soon!

[Mister beagle bailey]

To all my friends and I do mean ALL,

If you followed all the posts since yesterday, it's amazing how it went from anger to compassion.  As I followed the posts I could see it made a complete turn around for the better.

Now we are working as a team and I bet every one feels a lot better I know I do, as they say no man is an Island.  We all don't need the extra stress, we have enough stress from the tx and it will help us all get to SVR.


Did shot #6 tonight and I have a question:  Since I started tx, every night I have pain in my legs and find it hard to sleep through the night. Every thing I tried doesn't work, does any one have the same problem and if so what did you do for it?


     The Beagle

[jmjm530]

Beagle said: As I followed the posts I could see it made a complete turn around for the better.
----------------------------------------------------------
Sure was a better day in Dodge :) Maybe you can do another pull-together thread each Sunday, and Rocker can follow with another of his wonderful prayers.

Regarding your legs and sleep.

My sleep patterns have waxed and waned during tx. Lately, I've been doing more physical exercise and it seems to make my sleep deeper. Earlier in tx, I was only able to sit around mostly, and had restlness nights. Also, I think we all go through cycles with the interferon which can account for different sleep patterns. Like Chevy, one thing I found helpful early on was doing some sort of progressive relaxation exercises with or without relaxation and healing tapes. As to your legs, maybe you need to move them more during the day? The massage idea is also good  but probably a good idea to run the problem by your doctor.

Thanks again for not leaving things be, but opening this thread.

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks for the advice, I did wrap a hot towel around my legs tonight. Will start on bananas tomorrow and buy an electric blanket.  Will also do some exercise, I hope this works.

Thanks, and maybe now we will have the peace on the forum we all need.

  The Beagle

[jmjm530]

For deeper penetration with the legs, you might invest in a Thermaphore pad   http://www.thermophore.com/  A very convenient way to deliver moist heat to specific parts of the body. I lived with one around my neck for about four months :) Still think you should mention the leg thing to your doc, just to rule out any circulatory problems, etc.  

-- Jim

[mikesimon]

Thank you beagle and, of course, you are absolutely right. Unfortunately or fortunately, as I should say, I cannot use ribavirin rage as an excuse for any untoward behavior I may have exhibited. I apologize to anyone & everyone who I offended. Mike