Waiting For that Magic Jolt of ....

[jmjm530]

I know, I know, I know, it's probably a little early to expect something -- but wondering when those of you who stopped treatment noticed that magic jolt of wellness :) Or... was it just a very gradual process. When did the energy start coming back? When did brain fog lift? How about normal taste bud sensations and appetite? How long after treatment did the sun sensitivity stop? when did skin problems start clearing? Same if you had psoriasis? If you had gastro problems how long did it take for those to reslove? What about that raw/dryness/coughing in the upper respiratory track? Anything else?

Took my last riba Wednesday night. Took my last shot, the Wednesday before. So far feel about the same as I did when treating. Nothing worse, nothing better. Did sleep a little deeper last night which was good.

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

I realize you're looking for info from a different perspective, but thought I'd chime in for a sec if you'll indlulge me.

My anxiety over stoppping lessened this morning when I skipped my first riba pills. That cements the deal, and I feel better for that. Don't want to think about that first VL test though!

Saturdays before my shot I usually feel pretty sh!tty. Today, I'm better than normal, though the headache and irritability are creeping up.

Generally, I already have more energy; clearly it's a psycological response. I just have a spring in my step that's been missing. Of course, in the last couple weeks my HGB has sored to record levels, which doesn't hurt.

Good luck, Jim. May you have relief before you expect it. BTW, not sure if I got to congratulating you on completion. You gave it more than one could ask, and correctly allowed logic to override emotions when the time came. I expect SVR for you.

[jmjm530]

We're both ***** post-tx but any info is good.

Like yourself, I also felt a lot of stress leaving my body as soon as the final decision was made. Being a couple of days ahead of you,  I took my last riba Wednesday night but frankly Thursday was a "shadow" day where in the dark, back indecisive regions of my mind I realized I could always jump back on the poison wagon only losing a day of Peg and riba. So the final, FINAL decision was made Friday morning when I decided that was it.

For some reason, I no longer have any anxiety over SVR but have noticed some irritablity lately. My guess is the poisons don't want to leave gracefully. And, also, after a year on this stuff, it's like entering a new reality -- like Farina's book title -- "Been down so long it looks like up to me"

Yes, you did congratulate me yesterday, but I'll take a second one anyday :) And here's a second congratulations to you as well. You put the time, thought and energy into the process that hopefully others will emulate, as opposed to just leaving it in the doctors or anyone else's hands.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Thanks Rock. I'll go through that thread and hopefully we'll get a lot of folks who finished tx chiming in here.

Now that I'm done, wanted to ask you more about your personal eating/supplement regimen.

Absolutely no rush cause I don't plan on changing anything right off, but when you get a chance it would be great if you could post exactly what you eat/take/supplement/exercise, etc. During tx, I had to eat lots of fat and ****, both because of severe weight loss, riba absorption, and blown out taste buds. But when the buds come back, I would like to go back to some healthier eating ways as I did pre-tx.

Like someone else inferreed, you could just be a freak of nature (in a good way of course) -- no sides, work out 3-days a week, no weight loss -- but still, when someone does that well, it's worth looking at what they eat and take.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

In case anyone is wondering what was BLEEPED out in the first post, it was the word b*a*b*e*s*   Not sure why that is a bad word but what does this oldster know. Y'know, the other day I was trying to chat up this hot 30-something listeing to music and instead of referring to IPOD, I used the word WALKMAN. LOL. Downhill from there. LOL.

-- Jim

[OnAPrettyPoison]

So where do you take girls to eat on dates? LOL - I really think it is great that you eat that healthy!

[jmjm530]

Thanks. You say you're 200lbs and fit? Curious...have you ever tried to figure out your caloric intake and/or breakdown by per cent fat/protein/carb? At first glance it would appear that someone of your weight and muscle mass would drop weight like a stone on what appears to be less than 2000 calories a day.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

You know, I may not be counting right, but I think I only got 1000-1200 calories out of your daily diet. Unless I'm missing something, not sure how you keep the weight and muscle on.

-- Jim

[can-do-man]

Note to myself..... Never ever go to rockers house to eat.

[jmjm530]

I still can't count more than around 1000 calories a day. Can you?
Can anyone? Hey, I ate almost that many calories for bkfast during treatment and at one point lost close to 30 lbs.

But all said, if Rock gets his daily protein requirement (50 grams = 200 protein calories which by some standards just might do it) -- and -- his daily nutritional requirements -- and -- he's able to maintain energy, weight and muscle mass -- then I guess it works for him. Still think this is a genetic anomoly. BTW some research suggests very low calorie diets (under 2000/day) -- with proper nutrition -- can prolong life, i.e. the proverbial fountain of youth. At this rate Rocker may be the first to make it to 200.

-- Jim

[can-do-man]

Breakfast= Bacon and eggs, orange juice. Or leftover cold pizza and pepsi.

Lunch= Big mac, french frys. Or left over cold pizza

Dinner=Meat,potatoes,veggies. Or Hot fresh pizza

Desert= Well i won't go there. But pie is my favorite

calories = 100,000

[can-do-man]

You could take pretty poison to a health food store for dinner.

I wish i did eat more healthy like that, well some of that anyway. BTW what do you have for Thanksgiving Dinner?

[jmjm530]

LOL. Pizalogic studies suggest a  HP/CP (hot pizza/cold piza) ration greater than 1 is a positive predictor of SVR. How do you say, "Microwave".

--------------------------------------

This is a sample pre-tx diet (at least on a very healthy day:))

Bfast: Egg whites, oatmeal, bran, banana, whole grain bread, skim milk

Lunch: Salad with some white meat chicken, yogurt, fruit

Dinner: Salmon, brown rice, steamed veggies, salad and olive oil.

---------------------------

Tx diet due to mutated taste buds and severe weight loss.

Bfast: Scrambled egg whites, crispy bacon, home fries, two orders of toast with butter, RIBA.

Half hour later -- two egg whites on roll with butter. Maybe another bagel with butter.

Dinner: Red meat or chicken, mashed potatoes with butter, bread and butter, more bread and butter, cookies or ice cream, banana or mango, whole milk. RIBA.

[can-do-man]

I totally agree.. if I had to give, in my opinion, the most contributing factor in living longer.

_____________________________________________________________

That and not walking in front of a moving bus.

your ole mutt here

[Mister beagle bailey]

man oh man! I give Rocker credit don't know if I could handle all that, guess I'm from the old school. I'm all for eating well and I have soy protein, supplements, etc. each day.  However, I still like a good steak from time to time.

Bob

[jmjm530]

Rock said: i dont eat meat everyday,but of course on holidays i do pig out.
--------------------

Speaking of pigging out...

When I was researching (and later on) the Pritkin Diet
http://www.pritikin.com/ I learned that it was partly derived from the old traditional diet of  New Guinea natives -- mostly a mixture of various kinds of sweet potatoes and I'm assuming some vegatables or other greens, but absolutely no meat or fats.

BUT...every three or four years... all the tribes and villiages would launch an enormous pig fest...where wild pigs would be hunted, slaughtered, roasted and literally gorged upon for several weeks.

To the New Guinean's this was what they always did, but to some scientists that analyzed the diet, the Pig Fest is what apparently supplemented (mostly b vitamins I suppose) what they were missing inbetween.

Pritkin studied them because of their extremely low rate of heart disease.

-- Jim

[can-do-man]

Maybe thats why im a stage 4. I really don't eat that bad. As a matter of fact i don't eat much at all

[can-do-man]

I never knew turkey came from pigs. Man this is the best site learn summin new everyday

[can-do-man]

oink oink

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the reminder! A nice medium rare steak sounds good for tonight :)

I almost took a half-dose of Procrit after my last riba Wednesday, but in the end decided NO MAS. LOL.

So in lieu of Procrit, steak just may jump start my hgb while waiting for MS Riba to leave the premises.

-- Jim

[can-do-man]

says.... I give Rocker credit don't know if I could handle all that
______________________________________________________________

Handle what? not much there to handle, all 3 meals only takes him 1 minute total to swallow.

[susan400]

Personally, I can't do that 'healthy foods and/or vegetarian and high fiber diet.  I tried it the last time I came off of treatment and was attempting to detox.  I need to eat a normal diet.  Not a lot of fat.  But, I do want my meat.  Heavy fiber gives me too many problems with my stomach and digestive tract.  My gastro doctor says that not everybody does well with high fiber and with my history of other gastric things, I can't go there.  Most of the meat I eat is chicken or fish anyway, with occasional beef or post thrown in for variety.  I also eat my spag. w/o meat, just tomato sauce.  And I eat eggs. And I eat salads and soup.  This works out okay for me

Susan

[Mister beagle bailey]

Jim-- I may be wrong but I think you can still take procrit for a week or two after stopping meds, to get your #'s up.

Yes, I'm thinking the same a STEAK and spinach (spinach is very high in iron) and a bake potato, let's not forget the butter. LOL

Can-do-- What can I say? LOL I'm still laughing at your comment.

The forum will never be the same if both of you's stop posting now that you's are both ending this wild ride.

Bob

[Mister beagle bailey]

I had posted this somewhere below to Jim, but don't think he saw it.  


About detox--  When you detox from meds what do you go through?

I've seen some post about detoxing from meds and have know idea what to expect.

   Bob