Started TX Recently, Start TX Soon?

[FlGuy]

Over the past couple of weeks I've seen several folks who have recently started or who will start soon. Some names include Merlino, headrtails, Grandma, copyman, Pdilly, Cindy10, Sunshine007, MyOwn, NiceGuy - any others??? Let's have a look at ya..

[Myown]

another speed bump, have to get appointment with shrink for Ad's then get date.female, hippy era, you can guess my age lol ,geno 2b didn't bx, but fibrosure test show 0 damage.

I pray that we all svr with little to no sx and may this disease never come back into out bodies in Jesus name.

lets beat this thing together. thanks for all the support.

we have all the experienced members,our buddies, to pull us through.

[Cindy10]

Oops meant stage 1

[Cindy10]

I am 41 year old female w/genotype 3A, stage 2, vl 1.3 mil and enzymes up slightly. Starting pegintron 10/13 for 24 weeks (I hope). I delayed it 2 years but doctor says I'm getting fat absorption so need to do now. I am laid off so I thought I would start now and see how its goes before I go back to work.
Although I have read a lot of info, ask questions and prepared myself mentally, I am quite nervous about it. But I have strong faith God will help me stay strong.

[ladybug52]

I'm supposed to start tx Oct. 13 but just accepted a new job position starting Oct. 19th. I'm geno 2, stage 2 grade 1.  Doctors say I don't have to treat but I kinda want to get this over with while I'm still a young 53 yr. old. Started talking to my husband tonight about delaying a few weeks while I transition to the new job. Any thoughts from anyone?

[Kalio1]

Welcome back. I can't remember the details of your situation. Do you have liver damage?

Your doctor is highly respected from what I can tell. Where are ou located? I can't imagine there being wo dotors with that same name but I guess anthing i possible. I think he is in the San Diego area or has worked there in the past. He is referred to as a "highly cited researcher" too. From what I read the guy knows his stuff. You might want to google him.

I'd listen to him and follow his advice, looks like you are in good hands.
Yes, I have heard of treating that way, my doctor suggested a similar treatment for my second round of tx.
I decided to stick with "regular" tx mostly because I was too sick to deal with fighting my insurance company for the meds.
Glad to see you are back and making headway. Sometimes taking the bull by the horns can help with the depression, I hope it does with you.

[zzzztime]

If I don't chicken out I will be starting sometime after 10/25, that is when my nurse appointment is. I haven't posted in awhile but I have been hanging around. I posted a few months back when I was trying to decide weather to treat or not.It's taken all this time and a bad bout of depression but I have decided to start. I am still very, very nervous about it. I'm the 45y/o female, genotype 1A, viral load 22,000,000 whose doc wants to treat very agresivly. this will be my first time treating and I'll be starting with daily inj. of double dose infergen (15mcg) and 800mg. of Riba.  Crazy, right? My doc just has me feeling like I'd be wasting my time with any other tx., he seems  to feel strongly that being 1a with such a high vl that I would be a relapser or nonresponder. He really thinks he's got something with this regimen. Oh ya the tx. is for 15 months. doc is Dr. David VanTheil.  Has anyone else done this treatment, I should ask if there is anyone with anything positive to say about this treatment. Sorry for rambling on if anyone remembers my previous posts they tended to be a bit wordy. I,d appreciate any input. Thanks

[beamishboy]

Hey brother, you will be starting day after i finish 48...a Continuem  of ..sorts..A Progression i hope..!...a tagteam match-the "virus vipers' don't stand a chance against 'the Riba Avengers"......we are,after all, the good guys!!

[FlGuy]

If the rx for the peg was for 24 weeks and the dx was 3a, no issue for the insurance to approve.  Since it's 3a and 48 now the doc has to come up with more lab results, relapse tx narrative, the consult notes from the liverhead and a bunch of other stuff.  Just more hoops.  Ya gotta wonder what the Ins co thinks.  If re-tx was the same meds and duration of the initial attempt, why would they think that the result would be anything different than the first time.  It will get sorted out, the meds will eventually get approaved and delivered - bs is standard, I guess.

[aiuta]

Thanks for the post.  I wish you the best (SVR this round) and I'm rooting for you.  Aiuta

[pigeonca]

I'm hoping to start tx within the month.  Am presently getting the ducks in a row -- AD prescription, eye exam, consultation with rheumatologist -- and have hep appt. on 10/16.  I'm actually anxious to begin and get it over with.  Geno 2, Stage 2, Grade 2, and VL of 1,250,000, so hopefully it won't be more than 24 weeks.  Best of luck to all who precede me.
pigeon

[niceguy2007]

sorry i meant "high potency homeopathy" not high dose homeopathy.

[Pdilly]

Good luck and keep us posted.     I do shot 2 friday.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hey you guys, I just want to wish you all good luck on you trip of a life time and just know we will all be here to carry you guys over the finish line.  I wish I was running along side of yous but I'll have to wait awhile to see if I can treat again or wait for newer drugs.

Just remember you are not alone on this trip and it will not last forever.

Beagle

[sunshine007]

Count me among the winners. Here's to all of us killin' the little buggers dead.  We will win.  I'm here for eveyone.  Be strong - Be well.

[motheroffour]

Husband started Sept. 18. 1a, 25 yrs+ Hep C, starting viral load 269,032 Stage from bx probable 4, Inflamation 3. So far so good after 3 weeks. Neuts went waaaay down week one, but came back up the next week, still low, but husband tells doc...let's keep going when doc wanted to lower Peg Intron dose.  Doc only has 2 patients on Neupogen so he says. Relatively few sides so far, alittle tired and achy night of shot, minor headache now and then, but other than that seems OK.  No difference in sleep or work schedule that he/we can tell. Psoriasis has not flared yet.  It's getting alittle worse, but it's fall now and not too much sun in our neck of the woods. Snores, now, never used to. On Lexapro, very amusing he's become.  Next week is the big 4 week viral load check.  That will tell alot I think.

[niceguy2007]

good luck to you FLGuy :)

i had some ideas about improving the tx experience:

- make a table of side effect reducing herbs and supplements, with each side effect corresponding to a herb or supplement

- make a list of post-tx herbs and supplements that would prevent a relapse. this could include milk thistle.

- we could combine the tx experience with very high dose homeopathy. (CM Potency homeopathic medicines)  my dad recommends this.  high dose homeopathy has almost non-existent drug material.  the tiny amount of material that does exist provokes an immune system response that lasts a month to a couple of months. it is mild and subtle, yet is of "strategic" value, as opposed to the low-potency that is of "tactical" value and yields almost immediate results.

for example, the pure milk thistle would count as a homeopathic mothertincture.  it wouldn't provoke an immune response, yet would act directly on the liver.  Lycopodium CM, on the ohter hand, would provoke a subtle immune response that would last a month working to slow fibrosis, followed by another dose, and so on.

[NYgirl]

You said: which is why ins. has questions and requires more doc stuff).

Thanks.......this gives me encouragement to continue to fight my company!  If they do approve a Pegasys 48 week...that is no more "experimental" than they are saying my dumb 72 weeks are!

[jmjm530]

I answered your question regarding double-dosing in the "Double Doses of Interferon" thread below.

[Myown]

Hi Flguy,
I'll have test results end of week and hopefully have date to start. I'll post then my info then. Don't have much to go by as of now.

see ya then

[FlGuy]

Expect to start 10/13 if the ins. guys get it in gear, otherwise 10/20.  55 y/o male, geno 3a.  Tx'd 6/05 - 12/05 (24), relapsed with 1st post pcr 5/06.  Early/beginning cirrhosis.  This time will use Pegasys and 1200 riba (1st time PegIntron and 800), scheduled for 48 weeks (which is why ins. has questions and requires more doc stuff).  As of last week vl is 4 mil, was 2 mil in May. Not looking forward to tx but not a lot of alternatives. Hemo doc agreed to procrit at 11.9, Neupogen at 500 and will let platelets go to 25-30 (shouldn't get there though).  Want world peace, but svr more important.