Aa
Still HCV free!
There aren't a lot of folks here from when I was going through tx. I always liked to hear success stories when I was going through it so thought I'd say hello to some old friends [I see MikeSimon, Cuteus, LvdByGod Susan400, chevygal55, Honey, Tall Blonde, DoubleDose, tonyz, Indyjo, and califia] and introduce myself to everyone else.
I finished up at the end of Sept 2003. I was a type 2B, infected for 30 years from working at a hospital during college [a needle stick before the days of required hard sharps containers], did 48 weeks of Peg-Intron w/800mg Ribaviron/day. I was undectable at 12 weeks in and stayed that way. I was never symptomatic before tx and my viral load was never higher than 900,000 but figured maybe I could kill the dragon before it got me [that I turned 50 while on tx was another consideration]. also had a really low score on my bx, thank God. My only lasting side effects (and there were a whopping ton of them) is cataracts in both eyes. During tx I also was on Neopogen and Procrit from week 8 on, Lexapro, Ambien, Ultram for headaches, rx cream for nasty skin rashes and infections, Nexium, some other stuff I don't remember any more [good old brain fog!] and wore sunglasses at all times.
Life is great today. I am well, feel great and look far younger than on tx! The whole experience sucked and the people on this site got me throug it. I could not have done it without you all. Thank you.
I finished up at the end of Sept 2003. I was a type 2B, infected for 30 years from working at a hospital during college [a needle stick before the days of required hard sharps containers], did 48 weeks of Peg-Intron w/800mg Ribaviron/day. I was undectable at 12 weeks in and stayed that way. I was never symptomatic before tx and my viral load was never higher than 900,000 but figured maybe I could kill the dragon before it got me [that I turned 50 while on tx was another consideration]. also had a really low score on my bx, thank God. My only lasting side effects (and there were a whopping ton of them) is cataracts in both eyes. During tx I also was on Neopogen and Procrit from week 8 on, Lexapro, Ambien, Ultram for headaches, rx cream for nasty skin rashes and infections, Nexium, some other stuff I don't remember any more [good old brain fog!] and wore sunglasses at all times.
Life is great today. I am well, feel great and look far younger than on tx! The whole experience sucked and the people on this site got me throug it. I could not have done it without you all. Thank you.
Hey Galen,,,Great to see you and glad you are doing good! Treatment is starting to seem a distant past and I don't mind that at all,,,lol Treatment did have its annoying sides that we had to treat from every thing from A to Z but one thing,,,after it was all over and said and done,,,,I know I am so thankful,,,,just to be alive! Seems like everything is in a new perspective now,,,I'm sure you know. Best Wishes!
No, I'm not trying to get pregnant! They won't treat me unless I get monthly pregnancey tests to prove, I'm not pregnant. Just more blood to poke me for. Brand new
thanks for responding, no constipation, have diarrhoea, which makes the weight gain even more surprising.
Have not changed diet dramatically but am eating a lot of fruit & low fat yoghurt - by a lot I mean 1 server a day... my body has never been like this in my whole life ?
Guess I'll just have to work it off
Have not changed diet dramatically but am eating a lot of fruit & low fat yoghurt - by a lot I mean 1 server a day... my body has never been like this in my whole life ?
Guess I'll just have to work it off
Hi, Galen. I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I don't post much any more, but I do check in about once a week to make sure mikesimon is still in one piece. In case you missed it, I'm clear now for 2 1/2 years.
GT
GT
hi galen, we treated around the same time. i didnt post as much as some did like OHC during tx. as i was so sick i couldnt spend too much time at the computer. dry eyes,etc.
im over 2 years post tx. was 2b but cleared the virus. my quality of life has improved a lot. still have some pain, fibromyalgia, sleep issues but some is due to menopause.
just had a blood draw yesterday for the fibrosure. as i never had biopsy. hoping to see damage level of my liver. my platelets never went back up to normal except for a short time after tx. they were low to begin with.
im over 2 years post tx. was 2b but cleared the virus. my quality of life has improved a lot. still have some pain, fibromyalgia, sleep issues but some is due to menopause.
just had a blood draw yesterday for the fibrosure. as i never had biopsy. hoping to see damage level of my liver. my platelets never went back up to normal except for a short time after tx. they were low to begin with.
Hi Galen,I just happened to look here today. We finished tx the same month. I did 52 weeks and I hope I never have to again. We 1's kicked some ass! I'm glad your life is going so good. There is life after tx!
some folks have posted some residual stuff. can't remember all of it, none too severe, some thyroid problems and some depression. DId you become anemic and were treated for it? I wonder sometimes if the leftovers from tx is not actually O2 deprivation issues that were allowed to linger too long. I find some cognitive issues still linger, I believe I had them and memory issues prior to tx, in a milder form. Hard to say if it is not aging when I am in my 50's. If I was younger and got those symptoms, it would be easier to attribute to the meds. Overall, I am doing considerably better than while on tx, and bettter than pre tx.
as for the wt, I struggled for a few months with 10lbs, but now a yr later, it has stabilized. I am at pre tx wt.
as for the wt, I struggled for a few months with 10lbs, but now a yr later, it has stabilized. I am at pre tx wt.
Galen, thanks for sharing your marvelous story. As far as beginning a relationship with a man with hepatitis C, I can understand your dilemma, but knowing the way this disease is transferred should put you at easy. Personally, I would rather date someone with hep C than a smoker. LOL btw, contacted hep c 35 years ago, been married 30 years, and hubby is hep C negative.
Niko, I am still in treatment, but I can see that I have been less diligent about my eating habits lately. That is, I can get away with eating more fat - in fact have purposely changed some eating habits to bring more fat into my diet for Riba absorption, like high fat yogurt - and not gain. Therefore, I am aware that I may need to make some eating adjustments after tx. Your reference to a brick in your stomach sounds like constipation. My remedy for that has always been regular All Bran cereal. Not the best tasting stuff, but makes me like clockwork - I eat it with yougurt and bananas. ---- don't need it much on tx tho.
friole
Niko, I am still in treatment, but I can see that I have been less diligent about my eating habits lately. That is, I can get away with eating more fat - in fact have purposely changed some eating habits to bring more fat into my diet for Riba absorption, like high fat yogurt - and not gain. Therefore, I am aware that I may need to make some eating adjustments after tx. Your reference to a brick in your stomach sounds like constipation. My remedy for that has always been regular All Bran cereal. Not the best tasting stuff, but makes me like clockwork - I eat it with yougurt and bananas. ---- don't need it much on tx tho.
friole
Hi all,
Some of you old timers might remember me. I was a 2b v/l 10 million. 48 weeks of tx....March 28 2003 - Feb. 28, 2004.....
The hep C was undetectable after just 6 weeks of tx. I am still undetectable today....YEAH.....
I have a question for those of you who have finished tx....
Do any of you still have any post tx sides?
Iam still not back to where I was b4 tx. I have FMS and severe depression. Along with Short term memory and cognative thinking problems, I also get shakey and have amxiety attacks.....never had thse probelems b4..
Thanks
Sioux....
Some of you old timers might remember me. I was a 2b v/l 10 million. 48 weeks of tx....March 28 2003 - Feb. 28, 2004.....
The hep C was undetectable after just 6 weeks of tx. I am still undetectable today....YEAH.....
I have a question for those of you who have finished tx....
Do any of you still have any post tx sides?
Iam still not back to where I was b4 tx. I have FMS and severe depression. Along with Short term memory and cognative thinking problems, I also get shakey and have amxiety attacks.....never had thse probelems b4..
Thanks
Sioux....
Galen: people like you always inspire me to have faith, you got it done! So happy for you - glad that you can go on with your life without this weighing on your mind.
I decided to put this up on the board in case it got lost in an older thread. Don't mean to bogart! he he he
Having been around the block for awhile now, not too much on this board but on some others, I have come to the conclusion that these boards are not publicly run democratic institutions, they are clubs> And like any other club, the administrators can ban or admonish as they see fit, it's pretty much arbitrary. This goes for every hep c board I've ever been to. People who have befriended the adminstrators and have been around for a much longer time will usually be given some lattitude that a newer member will not have. Cliques form, enmities form and fortunately...really good and long lasting friendships. You see this phenomenon happening in any long term grouping of human beings. Or short term for that matter, he he he. For all their faults....I am really grateful for these boards, it's really great to have some other people to talk to and get information from - re this disease. And the administrators are greatly responsible for keeping these boards going, it's prob a lot of work.
That's nice to see Veggie has so many supporters here, to me she's a very sweet woman who means no one harm and if she made a transgression, she probably did it because of having her feelings hurt and nothing more. As was said, I've seen other members here act far more aggressively towards one another...over and over again too. Sometimes it's just a question of style for me...it's not always what is said but how it's presented, sometimes people get a little "snippy"...sorry if I've done this.
Fisheress: have you considered Al-anon? It's a great program and it's a really good place to go when you have a family member that is slowly killing himself with booze or drugs. They'd be very understanding of you being on treatment, and it always feels good to go to some other people who are suffering the same issues you are, like these boards for instance. My younger sister was in the hospital for almost 5 months due to end stage liver disease from drink and drugs. She "died" twice, they kept calling us from England telling us to make funeral arrangements. Her liver shut down, and her kidneys. But somehow she pulled through and they flew her back here and she is still at my mom's house and she's much better now, almost 3 years later. It took that to get her sober, nothing or none of us worked in getting her sober before something like that happened. Others are more lucky, and of course others don't make it. The good thing about programs like al-anon is that they help you understand that none of us can change other people most of the time, we can only change ourselves and a lot of us have plenty of trouble even doing that. Good luck to you and your brother.
I decided to put this up on the board in case it got lost in an older thread. Don't mean to bogart! he he he
Having been around the block for awhile now, not too much on this board but on some others, I have come to the conclusion that these boards are not publicly run democratic institutions, they are clubs> And like any other club, the administrators can ban or admonish as they see fit, it's pretty much arbitrary. This goes for every hep c board I've ever been to. People who have befriended the adminstrators and have been around for a much longer time will usually be given some lattitude that a newer member will not have. Cliques form, enmities form and fortunately...really good and long lasting friendships. You see this phenomenon happening in any long term grouping of human beings. Or short term for that matter, he he he. For all their faults....I am really grateful for these boards, it's really great to have some other people to talk to and get information from - re this disease. And the administrators are greatly responsible for keeping these boards going, it's prob a lot of work.
That's nice to see Veggie has so many supporters here, to me she's a very sweet woman who means no one harm and if she made a transgression, she probably did it because of having her feelings hurt and nothing more. As was said, I've seen other members here act far more aggressively towards one another...over and over again too. Sometimes it's just a question of style for me...it's not always what is said but how it's presented, sometimes people get a little "snippy"...sorry if I've done this.
Fisheress: have you considered Al-anon? It's a great program and it's a really good place to go when you have a family member that is slowly killing himself with booze or drugs. They'd be very understanding of you being on treatment, and it always feels good to go to some other people who are suffering the same issues you are, like these boards for instance. My younger sister was in the hospital for almost 5 months due to end stage liver disease from drink and drugs. She "died" twice, they kept calling us from England telling us to make funeral arrangements. Her liver shut down, and her kidneys. But somehow she pulled through and they flew her back here and she is still at my mom's house and she's much better now, almost 3 years later. It took that to get her sober, nothing or none of us worked in getting her sober before something like that happened. Others are more lucky, and of course others don't make it. The good thing about programs like al-anon is that they help you understand that none of us can change other people most of the time, we can only change ourselves and a lot of us have plenty of trouble even doing that. Good luck to you and your brother.
Congratulations and God bless you Galen. I so needed good news today and it came from you. I am also 2B, with hair falling out left and right.
I had my 12 week blood work done last Sat., Oct 29, and got the call today that the California lab refused it because it was sent in the wrong tube, wrong lid for frozen blood, too easily contaminated. I'm angry, I'm frustrated, I waited each day to hear the "good news" and nothing. My doct. office is encouraging me to call lab and complain, their fault, but I am just getting it redone at a different lab. I'm too tired to fight. Viral count before TX was 1.5 million. On top of everything, the lab told my doct. office of the Cal. labs refusal on Friday and I was there this Sat. for the stupid pregnancy test. But no one at the lab alerted me, or they could have taken a few more tubes.
Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for letting me vent. Please say a prayer that this time it will go well. signed Brand new, but not so new anymore, Brand old
I had my 12 week blood work done last Sat., Oct 29, and got the call today that the California lab refused it because it was sent in the wrong tube, wrong lid for frozen blood, too easily contaminated. I'm angry, I'm frustrated, I waited each day to hear the "good news" and nothing. My doct. office is encouraging me to call lab and complain, their fault, but I am just getting it redone at a different lab. I'm too tired to fight. Viral count before TX was 1.5 million. On top of everything, the lab told my doct. office of the Cal. labs refusal on Friday and I was there this Sat. for the stupid pregnancy test. But no one at the lab alerted me, or they could have taken a few more tubes.
Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for letting me vent. Please say a prayer that this time it will go well. signed Brand new, but not so new anymore, Brand old
man! I always wondered what I would do should I meet a partner with hCV. After our bout with hcv and these meds, the thought of a re infection is not appealing at all, even if it is only 3% risk. From my standpoint it is a big percentage! on the other hand, If he is such a great catch and possible soulmate, there are those stupid Trojans you can use. And there is a good chance he will hcv free in the future with the present or new meds. Ok, I guess I would go for it if he is such a great person.
good luck
good luck
Galen,
Great news. I didn't get to know you, but it's obvious how much you were loved.
nyhepc,
Hi Lorrie. How's it going? Are you doing any better on the redduced dosage? What are the docs saying? do you see Polito each time or do you see Yvonne as well? I've been wondering about you. Let me know.
Lauren
Great news. I didn't get to know you, but it's obvious how much you were loved.
nyhepc,
Hi Lorrie. How's it going? Are you doing any better on the redduced dosage? What are the docs saying? do you see Polito each time or do you see Yvonne as well? I've been wondering about you. Let me know.
Lauren
Thanks so much for your update! It sounds like your cup runneth over. You deserve it, Galen. Cataracts are a small price to pay to be rid of this disease. I hope you continue to look younger and feel better with each passing day.
All my best,
Susan
All my best,
Susan
can someone on this thread give me some post treatment advice, sorry can't open new thread...
have been putting on so much weight, feel like I am carry a brick in my stomach, have heavy night sweats every night & have had 5 migraines in past 2wks. Am 3mths post tx, negative PCR, have run thyroid - all clear, just got new ALT's which has gone from 14 to 29. Can anyone tell me if this is normal.
Could never keep weight on thru whole time with HEP C now I seem to be going the other way.
have been putting on so much weight, feel like I am carry a brick in my stomach, have heavy night sweats every night & have had 5 migraines in past 2wks. Am 3mths post tx, negative PCR, have run thyroid - all clear, just got new ALT's which has gone from 14 to 29. Can anyone tell me if this is normal.
Could never keep weight on thru whole time with HEP C now I seem to be going the other way.
Hi Galen. I finished 48 weeks in 8/03 and I'm SVR too. Your posts gave me a lift. The tx gave me cataracts too. Neither the hepc dr nor the eye dr believe me. I'm going to have to get them removed soon.
If your friend wants to try tx he'll have the best possible support(you!). Best wishes.
If your friend wants to try tx he'll have the best possible support(you!). Best wishes.
Hey, Galen,
I just dropped in for a quick glance, and I am so glad to see you here. Yeah... 3%... our odds with tx were much lower, LOL
Good relationships are few and far between, and I know you're careful. Has he done the basic testing (biopsy, etc.)? Maybe you could inspire him to combat his HCV; the odds are better now than when we started, or at least when I first got diagnosed.
I had cataracts, too; my eye doc diagnosed them more than a decade ago, long before tx. I wonder if hep-c, or possibly the auto-immune side effects and the palliative meds I used over the years (eg steroid ointments for exzema and dry-eye-related eye miseries) were the direct or indirect causes, rather than tx. Anyway, I've had the right eye operated on, and it's literally a 15-minute miracle! I just need reading glasses now, threw away the distance ones. I'll probably have the left eye done soon; it was not as bad, but now I'm ready. The operation sounds scarier than it is. It is quite painless, though nerve-wracking. With the new lens implant, my vision was INSTANTLY almost perfect in that eye. Painless recovery; a few days of not lifting or bending down.
Other aspects of aging have not stopped... tx did age me several years in 1... but actually I feel "younger" than I did for many years before tx.
Best, as always, Maj Neni
I just dropped in for a quick glance, and I am so glad to see you here. Yeah... 3%... our odds with tx were much lower, LOL
Good relationships are few and far between, and I know you're careful. Has he done the basic testing (biopsy, etc.)? Maybe you could inspire him to combat his HCV; the odds are better now than when we started, or at least when I first got diagnosed.
I had cataracts, too; my eye doc diagnosed them more than a decade ago, long before tx. I wonder if hep-c, or possibly the auto-immune side effects and the palliative meds I used over the years (eg steroid ointments for exzema and dry-eye-related eye miseries) were the direct or indirect causes, rather than tx. Anyway, I've had the right eye operated on, and it's literally a 15-minute miracle! I just need reading glasses now, threw away the distance ones. I'll probably have the left eye done soon; it was not as bad, but now I'm ready. The operation sounds scarier than it is. It is quite painless, though nerve-wracking. With the new lens implant, my vision was INSTANTLY almost perfect in that eye. Painless recovery; a few days of not lifting or bending down.
Other aspects of aging have not stopped... tx did age me several years in 1... but actually I feel "younger" than I did for many years before tx.
Best, as always, Maj Neni
you are an inspiration! also a 2b here, on week 6 of very reduced doses, but plugging away. thank you for posting
Make that a 1B - 48 weeks is still standard, I think?? It is all a bit foggy now. 2B or not 2B, that is the question. Alas, I was not.
DoubleDose, my doctors, especially the retinal specialist, were not at all averse to blaming the tx for my cataracts.
I have a question for you all. A month ago I met a great guy. Big problem... he has HCV. I am not inclined to improve my chances of recontracting that **** but he IS a really great guy. Opinions?? Part of me wants to overlook that little problem, the other side of me wants to go screaming into the night.
DoubleDose, my doctors, especially the retinal specialist, were not at all averse to blaming the tx for my cataracts.
I have a question for you all. A month ago I met a great guy. Big problem... he has HCV. I am not inclined to improve my chances of recontracting that **** but he IS a really great guy. Opinions?? Part of me wants to overlook that little problem, the other side of me wants to go screaming into the night.
Good to hear from you and particularly that you are doing very well. I hope your recovery continues to bring you excellent health and a sense of optomism and excitement about the future.
I am now over two years post-tx, and still SVR. I also developed some early stage cataract opaqueness in both eyes, but not enough to interfere with vision in any perceptable way. Of course, interferon does not cause cataracts, if you ask the medical experts! Interesting how many of us have developed them after therapy! I do continue to experience bouts of fatigue and autoimmunity, especially as relates to dry eyes, joint pain and sun sensitivity. I am gradually feeling better every month though, and am a different person from my pre-tx, and tx years. I did a total of 33 MONTHS of interferon and ribavirin over two tx'es, so I guess the after-effects are a bit more pronounced.
What is your take on the controversial issues surrounding viral persistence after SVR, and in those who spontaneously cleared the virus?
Anyway, continued great health and best wishes!!!! Stay in touch with the board whenever you have the time!
DoubleDose
I am now over two years post-tx, and still SVR. I also developed some early stage cataract opaqueness in both eyes, but not enough to interfere with vision in any perceptable way. Of course, interferon does not cause cataracts, if you ask the medical experts! Interesting how many of us have developed them after therapy! I do continue to experience bouts of fatigue and autoimmunity, especially as relates to dry eyes, joint pain and sun sensitivity. I am gradually feeling better every month though, and am a different person from my pre-tx, and tx years. I did a total of 33 MONTHS of interferon and ribavirin over two tx'es, so I guess the after-effects are a bit more pronounced.
What is your take on the controversial issues surrounding viral persistence after SVR, and in those who spontaneously cleared the virus?
Anyway, continued great health and best wishes!!!! Stay in touch with the board whenever you have the time!
DoubleDose
Wow.. you did 48 weeks and you were a 2 genotype. The standard is 24 weeks now and most of our doc's are trying to pull us off earlier than that. Congrats
Congratulations! Always wonderful to hear success stories. And it's always helpful to hear what sx remain and what diminish. Here's to your continued good health!
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