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Avatar universal

Thank you all

Tonight at 9:00 pm I will take the last three pills of
ribavirine. I had my last shot last Thursday and just received
my viral load at week 48 which came back undetectable.
This is the third time during treatment, I got the same
result at week 12, and week 24 before.
I just would like to thank every and each one of you.
You are my family. You see, we are all different in
race, religion, color and nationality but this disease
made us one group. I smiled with your good news, I cried
with your bad news and hoped for every one to reach his or
her goal no matter what your background is.
I am writing this to thank you all and to apologize if I
ever was rough or tough in my discussion (fatboy, do you
hear me?).
Wish me luck in my next PCR's.
Dirac
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Avatar universal
How nice of you to answer.  I guess I was ashamed of what I had wrote or I wouldn't have come back down here to see if anyone answered.  Thanks for being so sweet to me.  I couldn't help but grin that you felt sorry for my AIH.  I've always felt lucky I didn't have the HCV !  I may have mine for life, but you guys have really BAD days to get through.  I truly admire you for working behind that shop chair through tx.  I don't think I would have had that strength.  My mother and two sisters are beauty operators.  My mother had her own shop from the time she was 19 so I grew up in a shop.  I've watched you and your wonderful advice to folks on here about the hair and skin.  I think it's great that you have helped so many people here.  Thanks again for your nice words to me today.  I needed them.  They have put my in a better mood.  My family thanks you!  
:-)))  God Bless.  Pattie
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Avatar universal
Whoever Scoutdill is, he/she has only posted that one day in reaction to my comments.  I know I should preface all remarks with "I'm not a doctor, but IMHO...", but after over a year on this site, I feel I know you all and you know I'm just trying to get through this like everyone else here.  Occasionally, someone gets upset about my or someone else's postings, but it is usually someone new and/or cranky from drugs.  I don't let it get to me anymore.  
Hope you are feeling better soon.  Is your medication helping you?  You have AI hep, right?  I feel bad for complaining around folks like you who are going to have to battle forever.  I've learned the difference from all this between true problems and inconviences.  It has been a long year, but in the over-all scheme of things, it is an inconvenience.
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Avatar universal
This is so far down I doubt anyone ever reads it, but I don't care.  The venting will be good for me.  I wish everyone on this forum would bother following directions and read the "Terms and Conditions" for forum use.  We ALL know (all that bothered to read anyway) that this is "An un-moderated patient to patient support forum" (top line).  It is stated MANY times that "This site does NOT provide medical advice".  So to all of you who run around screaming about someone on here giving "medical advice" who aren't a doctor, LEARN TO READ.  We KNOW it's not medical advice!  It's a support group.  Let's TRY to support each other.  OK?  Geezzzz!!  

Thanks for letting me vent.  Sorry.  Bad day I guess.  (But I meant every word!  :-))   Pattie
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Avatar universal
Congrats!! I'm very happy for you. It an inspiration to hear this good news. LL
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Avatar universal
What is this person supposed to do. Call  his/her Dr and say "yeah, this girl on some chat room told me I need procrit AND neupogen". That is a decision for a medical professional to make.. If anyone on this site disagrees with that, I have some really good herbs that will cure you. Dill
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Avatar universal
So sorry, for some reason I simply thought you were a guy. Male, female, black, white, red, yellow, hermaphrodite, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, married, single, engaged, separated, kids, no kids, divorced, young, old, fat, bald, toothless, smart, dumb, yadda yadda yadda...I guess it matters not! LOL
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Avatar universal
Hi - really sorry your Dr's being so unresponsive. If you need documentation, here's one of the <a href="http://hepatology2.aasldjournals.org/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=searchDB&searchDBfor=art&artType=fullfree&id=ajhep036s237#head6">paper</a> from last year's NIH HCV consensus conference on managing sides. It cite s an HgB drop below 10 or an ANC drop below 750 as the cutoffs for dose-reduction or remediation with epoetin-alfa (Procrit, epogen) or granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (Neupogen). Also check your riba/ifn medication inserts - they should have similar numbers. With an ANC of 516 and an HGB of 8.9 you're well below those cutoffs.
Note what happened to Maj and April(tigerpants) recently - if your Dr's still dragging his feet  might be worth switching..Best wishes to you.
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Avatar universal
Knock it off. There you go telling someone what they need. Next time you diagnose, please sign your name with your Medical Title. Dill
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Avatar universal
Stop already! Do you want to take this to fight songs or what!
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Avatar universal
That is "dude-ette" to you ;-)
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Avatar universal
Thanks dude, I just got an appt. on Monday 9-15.  We will discuss dose reduction, Neupogen and Procrit.  Feeling pretty draggy!
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Avatar universal
Dear Dirac:  I remember when you started tx.  Great news...sounds like another dragon bites the DUST!  Good luck and God Bless!
Deb
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Avatar universal
You need Procrit AND Neupogen.  An ANC that low should trigger dose reductions till your count gets higher.  In the meantime, be very careful about exposure to anyone sick, keep your hands washed at all times, and treat ALL cuts and scrapes like you may lose a limb.  You are suseptable to any opportunistic infection as well as pretty anemic.  
I had no trouble getting Rx for both and am on BCBS Health Options.
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Avatar universal
Dirac, It
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Avatar universal
Procrit question, just had bloodwork, RBC 2.73, WBC 1.2, ANC 516, HCT 26.7, HGB 8.9. It's been running low for several weeks. With these numbers shouldn't I be a slam dunk Procrit candidate? How much does it cost?  My doc is concerned about the paperwork documentation to support it's use. Do you know what the requirements are for prescribing it? I have Medicare.  Thanks guys.
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Avatar universal
Dirac,

Congratulations on completing tx!!!! May all of your future PCR's come back undetectable.

I too will finish shortly.  I am not sure if you had the same experience that I am having but it seems like the last few weeks are going by sooooooooooooo slowwwwwwwwww.  However, looking back the past weeks of tx seem like they flew by.

Thanks for participating in the forum and helping us out along the way.

TS
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Avatar universal
Thanks all for posting your genotypes, ages, week on tx and Pegasys or PegIntron.  We will be chalking up the resonders and nonresponders for our "yearbook" kind of unofficial by lil ol me.  They will cost $40 and have your name embossed . . . KIDDING!!!   Oh Im so funny.   Anyways, thanks all for contributing to the data.   Hugs,  OHC
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Avatar universal
You know, I have no idea.  I will have labs on 9/29 and a CBC will be part of that, along with the usual PCR and liver enzymes.  I guess it depends on the results.  My hemoglobin dropped another gram in the past 2 weeks, so it is possible I'll stay on it for an extra week or so.  Once the riba starts to clear your system it should resolve itself.  I never had anemia in my life before now, so no reason I should off tx.
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Avatar universal

This would be a good time for me to tell you thank you for supporting and posting on this forum.  I know you have been a tremendous help to me and you have always been kind and answered everyones questions.

You are strong ! Keep your chin up high.  You've worked really hard this entire time through your treatment and put each day in front of the other.  I am extra happy that you are reaching that finish line and that you will receive good treatment and test results.  I know everyone else on this forum shares in my feelings.

Since we both take procrit, I have a procrit questions.  Do you know or has your doc told you how long you will take procrit after your last treatment meds? Or will you extend procrit past your last week at all?

Take care galen, please stick around and continue to share with us. We still need your help and a 'shoulder to talk on'.

Can you believe I'm commin up on my 22nd week?  Whew !!




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Avatar universal
Congratulations Dirac.Wishing you the best and a Hepc free life.Newbie here.Geno1(no subtype)vl 5million+ grade2 stage 3.Anxious to start tx(even tho I know its hard).Have to see a pyshc doc on the 29th( because of past depression problems gastro won't start tx til pyshc doc gives the ok).If he oks it I should start tx a few days later.Praying he clears me cause I wanna live.age 44 father of 5.
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Avatar universal
I'm a couple of weeks behind you and glad to hear your news.  Hopefully, a few years from now maybe, tx will be easier to tolerate and there will be many, many success stories.
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Avatar universal
This is great news, congrats you did it and finished it.  I'm very proud that you made it.  

I have one shot left and my doctor dosen't want to give me a 48 week viral load test.  How did you get him to do it?

Lori

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Avatar universal
Dirac,
What great news!

...don't forget us.  

Shebee
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Avatar universal
Dirac, great news.  Good to hear a positive story. You are inspirational to all of us. Folks like you who have invested the time, maybe money, and made the sacrifices that go along with tx deserve some good news and good thoughts.  OHC67, I'm a genotype 1b, on week 15 of 48, 50 yrs. old, undetectable at 12 weeks; or <600 (assay range only went from 500,000 down to 600), 180iu Pegasys/week, 1000mg Copegus/day.
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