dealing

why do some members here always expect negative avhievements?
There is such a thing as positive thinking and not expecting things to happen before they are going to happen. Sure I amlucky to be in 7 weeks and no side effects and hope my positive experiences help newer and older ones realise we cannot cure ourselves,but we can influence the way we think towards ourselves and theraphy.

[HCA]

I don't think peoples' reaction to treatment is governed by attitude.
The SFX when they come are very real.
Two weeks ago I was admitted as an emergency with Hgb of 5.4 owing to ribavirin and telaprevir.
That's beyond attitude and time for an urgent blood transfusion.
To those who have an easy time I say 'You are lucky,but not better than than guy who can't get out of his bed.
If you see yourself as a brave little soldier don't be surprised if others disagree.

[GreatBird]

I think that some people's lives are governed by attitude. Stay positive. I'm rooting for you!

[jmjm530]

I think that some people's lives are governed by attitude.
--------------
Unfortunately, some things aren't like hemoglobin values per many experiences here and HCA's post above.

Mont -- No one here "expects negative achievements" but when someone new to treatment suggests that side effects might just be in your head, people will chime in with a reality check.

[Trish77]

"why do some members here always expect negative avhievements?
There is such a thing as positive thinking and not expecting things to happen before they are going to happen."

I'm not actually sure what you mean by this statement.  If what you mean by positive thinking is to expect that everything will be lovely, you're entitled to that viewpoint on what positive thinking is.

My own personal viewpoint on positive thinking and particularly as it relates to treatment is to enter treatment with eyes wide open, knowing what CAN happen and assuring myself that I will do whatever it takes to deal with things as they happen and regardless of outcome, I will still be okay on the inside, emotionally and mentally.  To me, that is positive thinking.

When I see people post on this forum asking for us to assure them that treatment will not be difficult, I worry most about those people.  Nobody knows what treatment will be like and I don't see how anyone can properly prepare mentally for this treatment by pretending it will not be difficult.  I've seen people enter treatment with great gusto expecting that their attitude will make all the difference and almost welcoming it as a spiritual experience.  Then have seen those same people hit really hard with treatment.  I was one of those who figuratively swirled my sword over my head and said "bring it on!" (I seem to recall even saying something similar to that.)  Reality is a bit different although I would like to think I fought my battles with that same spirit even though it was false bravado at the time because the day before I started treatment, I felt incredible fear.  I think many of us go through that and then take the plunge and get on with it.

Attitude doesn't change what side effects you'll get or how hard the treatment will hit you.  If that were the case, I know some VERY brave warriors here who should have breezed through treatment as I have been humbled by how they have battled some incredibly tough and serious impacts from this treatment.  

Attitude...or positive thinking... changes how you DEAL with what is thrown at you that you have no control over.  Once we step into treatment every day is a wildcard.  To me, positive thinking is that you will grab the reins of the wild pony that is treatment, you will advocate for yourself, read, research, hang onto your bedpost if you have to and .... for some of us....come to terms with what treatment brings our way.  Whether it's being pulled off of treatment due to circumstances that are beyond our control and which we begrudgingly have to accept, relapsing or not responding.

I'm about to get my six month post EOT PCR results.  I'm not sitting here telling myself I'm clear and thinking that that will make all the difference.  There are some very good and positive thinking people who have passed away from their illnesses and it was NOT because they didn't think positively enough.  What I am sitting here thinking ... is that regardless what the outcome is, I will be okay.  Emotionally and mentally.    

That is positive thinking, to me.  

A particular salute to those who have gone through this treatment more than once and have yet to attain the coveted SVR and still continue to fight the good fight.

[GreatBird]

Life does not equal hemoglobin values. It's a bigger playing field. Hgb is but a small part of it.

I see a great deal of negativity on this board from a few posters and it's starting to get to me. Negativity doesn't do anyone any good and it can make difficult things worse.

Why would we ever want to tel anyone who has yet to encounter sx "you just wait and see." Some people never do get sx. Don't you think we're potentially frightening people away from treatment? How many posts start out "After reading all the horror stories here I'm afraid to start . . . "

That's what I'm saying.  

[GreatBird]

I think you are misunderstanding. Just because one is positive does not mean they "expect" certain things to happen. That's more like being foolish (the false bravado of which you wrote). Being positive may have more to do with hope and faith.

I don't read the original poster as saying they expect things to happen, in fact they said the reverse. They are doing treatment without expectations. They are not anticipating things to happen before they happen.

[jmjm530]

Life does not equal hemoglobin values. It's a bigger playing field. Hgb is but a small part of it.
--------
Spoken by someone who obviously was never incapacitated by anemia. You talking about scaring people but lets not sugar coat treatment either. Not everyone needs to treat and everyone deserves as objective accounts of treatment as possible. Read carefully both threads started by the poster today and you can better understand why people responded the way they did. Had the poster simply stated they had no side effects, I doubt the responses would have been the same. But thats not how the posts were written. The poster started out criticizing members negativity. Frankly, that was the only negativity I saw up to that point.

[Trish77]

"I see a great deal of negativity on this board from a few posters and it's starting to get to me. Negativity doesn't do anyone any good and it can make difficult things worse.

Why would we ever want to tel anyone who has yet to encounter sx "you just wait and see." Some people never do get sx. Don't you think we're potentially frightening people away from treatment? How many posts start out "After reading all the horror stories here I'm afraid to start . . . " "

What, exactly, do you classify as "negativity"?  Are we supposed to pretend that treatment is other than what it is in case people get scared?  Would you do that to a cancer patient about to undergo chemotherapy?  Lie to them about what they can expect so that they are less scared and then have them unprepared and shocked as hell when and if it actually DOES hit them instead of grateful that it wasn't as hard as it CAN be?  Same with Hep C treatment.  My doctor asked me if I was ready for a year of hell.  I am very glad that he approached it that way with me.  For some people, that is exactly what it is.  For me it was not hell, but I knew it COULD be not that it WOULD be and I was ready for anything.  I was ready to be unemployed, I was ready for anything.  I was ready.

The scenario that really gets to me is the person who has already started treatment and then posts "I had no idea it could get like this, I don't think I can get through this" and who hasn't prepared their life properly for six months to a year of treatment as in their job situation, their family, their social life and their mental health.  They haven't been properly prepared by their medical team or by anyone for that matter and don't know what to prepare for themselves.

And sometimes, because of that, they've made poor treatment decisions about proceeding with a treatment that actually may not be a wise decision for them at this point in their stage of liver damage or their stage in life because they didn't have enough information.

I do worry about scaring people off but it concerns me more that people enter into a potentially difficult treatment that will impact their life without a frigging clue what they're potentially in for, no backup plans and without an adequate support network lined up because they didn't know what to prepare FOR.

If your approach is to pat people on the head and say "there, there, it will be okay" then to each his own.  If someone is truly truly scared off by the TRUTH about what they MIGHT encounter, then perhaps treatment is not for them at this time.  If telling the TRUTH about what they MIGHT encounter, means they make adequate backup plans for their children, their employment and their mental health (i.e. I put a personal counsellor in place for me so that I would have someone to talk to other than friends and family and it was a great resource during treatment).

I fail to see why you call that "negative".  Talking reality is not talking negative.  Personally, I think more harm is done by people who hide the truth about treatment than those who tell it like it is.

[GreatBird]

I've not only been incapacitated by the anemia, but more so by its cure and I stand by my statement.

It's impossible for people to be objective about treatment. Everything we say here is subjective. Objectivity is for trials and studies and statistical reports.

I have read and reread the posters posts and I see no negativity. I see responses that have a "you'll change your tune" snarkiness. That's getting old. Why do some people find it necessary to be so negative? Can't people give it up and move on?

[jdwithhcv]

"Life does not equal hemoglobin values. It's a bigger playing field. Hgb is but a small part of it."

That may be true, but if your hemoglobin tanks your focus will be rivited on that, regardless of the size of the playing field.  When you are lying unconscious on the floor because your blood is not delivering sufficient oxygen to your brain, positive thinking help much.  Hypoxia can kill you.  So there are situations where life DOES equal hemoglobin values

Some people can undergo treatment with minimal side effects.  Others will suffer horribly and may be unable to complete treatment.  Most will have an experience that is somewhere between those extremes.  Many people who are having difficulties post here looking for advice and support.  They are relating their own experiences, and if you find their "negativity" dismaying just skip those posts.

If you are sailing through treatment without side effects, good for you.  Those who are less fortunate need our support and understanding.  How can anybody be so insensitive as to censure them for speaking up?

jd

[montanabln1]

I appreciate aand understand where you are coming from and fully am aware that many do suffer from side effects.
I have undergone chemo for cancer and am 25 years HIV + and realise what medications and theraphies involve.
I saw with HIV in the 80 and 90 how many reacted and how many of my friends passed away. I also saw a positive movement in thought and pushing HIV
Hep C is officially recognised for just over 10 years and medications are still being trialled and of course some or many will suffer from the side effects.
I just believe we all need some positve encourangement and even when one is down and thinks the world is over there is a guardian angel somewhere which will pick back our energies up.
I am one on here who will not post something negative unless there is real concern on my part. I am here to relate to gain information to meet people and learn through others experiences both neagtive and positive. However, I doi believe it is not always warranetd to inform newbees they will one day suffer. Perhaps this causes them to feel negative to treatment and reluctant to begin.
Hope is like a candle and if we protect it against wind we have a wonder warmth and light

[GreatBird]

The negativity I'm responding to is the snarkiness that shows up on posts where people post about alternative tx or lack of side effects. And by what I mean by negativity, I mean your basic pessimistic, defeatist, gloomy, cynical, fatalistic, or dismissive comments.

Who needs that? Especially on tx.

I am complete agreement with you about those who jump into treatment without understanding its potential. I feel the same way about people who jump into marriage and parenthood. But I can't fix them all. Most often people who are jumpers will continue to jump whether I've given them the benefit of my wisdom or not.

>>If your approach is to pat people on the head and say "there, there, it will be okay" then to each his own.<>If someone is truly truly scared off by the TRUTH about what they MIGHT encounter, then perhaps treatment is not for them at this time. <<

True (according to Websters) means: in accordance with fact or reality. If it hasn't happened, it isn't either. There is no truth about what you might encounter--only possibilities. And I do agree that people should be aware of possibilities. That's one of the reason that this forum is such a valuable resource because it allows people who do want to know how people have handled treatment to get that precious information. Yet, what has happened to you is not my truth--it is your truth. And my truth will not be so for others.

[jmjm530]

I have read and reread the posters posts and I see no negativity.
--------
Maybe that's because you don't see how negative your posts are to the majority of folks here. Telling people who are having severe side effects that it's merely in their outlook is not particularly sensitive or in fact accurate. Like "JD" says, playing field does not matter when you're flat on the floor from anemia which "montan" does not have as he has conveyed to me.

-- Jim

[Trish77]

"I have read and reread the posters posts and I see no negativity. I see responses that have a "you'll change your tune" snarkiness. That's getting old. Why do some people find it necessary to be so negative? Can't people give it up and move on?"

That's cr@p, frankly.  I would be eminently pleased to see that person sail through with no side effects.  What pisses me off is someone who is not having side effects lecturing those who DO have side effects about what their attitude should be.

Response is in defence of reality posts being branded as negative and the criticism that the post levelled at people.

I see plenty of people here dealing positively with very difficult situations on treatment and the great majority of posters here are constantly rallying and supporting each other while going through their own treatment battles.

[GreatBird]

You misunderstand me completely. I do not find people's honest response to side effects negative. That's not what I'm talking about at all. I'm talking about attitudes. In fact, I'm actually talking about attitudes toward others. I'm talking about the lack of courtesy in allowing differing viewpoints. I'm talking about people being rude in their disagreement. That's the negativity of which I write.

[jdwithhcv]

"When you are lying unconscious on the floor because your blood is not delivering sufficient oxygen to your brain, positive thinking help much."  

That should read "...positive thinking does not help much"  At the risk of being labelled "negative" I must confess that I still suffer from some brain fog!  That's my story and I'm staying with it.

jd

[GreatBird]

>>Maybe that's because you don't see how negative your posts are to the majority of folks here.<>Telling people who are having severe side effects that it's merely in their outlook is not particularly sensitive or in fact accurate.<<

I have never done that. Have had way too many sideffects myself and felt way too sick to even think that is possible.

[GreatBird]

SORRY--REPOSTING BECAUSE IT INTERPRETED MY ARROWS AS HTML AND ATE A COUPLE OF LINES

..Maybe that's because you don't see how negative your posts are to the majority of folks here.

Please show me one of my posts that is negative.  

..Telling people who are having severe side effects that it's merely in their outlook is not particularly sensitive or in fact accurate..

I have never done that. Have had way too many sideffects myself and felt way too sick to even think that is possible.

[Trish77]

"The negativity I'm responding to is the snarkiness that shows up on posts where people post about alternative tx or lack of side effects. And by what I mean by negativity, I mean your basic pessimistic, defeatist, gloomy, cynical, fatalistic, or dismissive comments."

Really, that just makes me laugh.  Six words that people who know me better than you do would never use in regards to me, in life in general aside from treatment.  Rather, they are the antonyms of the words people would use if they were going to describe me.  You're entitled to your opinion, however.  I know my reality and I'm pretty secure in that.  

"True (according to Websters) means: in accordance with fact or reality. If it hasn't happened, it isn't either. There is no truth about what you might encounter--only possibilities. And I do agree that people should be aware of possibilities. That's one of the reason that this forum is such a valuable resource because it allows people who do want to know how people have handled treatment to get that precious information. Yet, what has happened to you is not my truth--it is your truth. And my truth will not be so for others."

Actually....it's not MY truth.  It's the truth of years and years of people going through treatment for Hepatitis C, documented side effects and the prevalence of those side effects, the impact of those side effects.  It isn't MY truth that I share with people.  It would be an incredible disservice for me to tell people that treatment will be for them like it is for me and it is not my habit to do that, except in those cases where people are asking to hear from people who worked throughout treatment and how they managed, etc. etc. where I feel my experience specifically will help them if I share it - either because they will know they are not alone or because it will give them strength, courage or strategies to deal with their own situation.

When I DO share my truth with people, I am able to tell them that I managed to work through treatment, take courses, be involved in my community, be a good mom and deal with some really difficult things that would not wait.  Most people here know that I had excellent quality of life during treatment.  MY truth that I share with people is that treatment can be managed and dealt with and that you CAN get through it and I'd like to think that, during my treatment time, I was encouraging and supportive to others who came through here looking for the strength and courage to tackle this head-on and deal with it.  

I disagree and now take exception to your posts on this subject but not to you.  While it will not matter a whit what *I* think, I feel compelled to make it clear that I  have great respect for you and your journey through treatment and it will please me mightily to see an SVR post from you.  Just had to say that for others who need to understand that people can disagree on topics on this forum and yet still hang tough together.

Trish

[montanabln1]

I never metioned silencing the post or comments of others.
We are all living with hep c and this a forum and  like all forums  our  views should be allowed and negaitivity in forgetting sometimes to  give cuddle tto hose around you who are suffering or positive encouragement to push them back up again.
I mention here I am not suffering from side effects and the response what medication,weight,how long and my blood levels and not well done or this is a positive example of theraphy working and the body coping.
Sure I many eventually have side effects, but like with HIV and dealing with cancer, where I was told I would die and still am kicking and so I havce a strong idea of medications and treaments and suffering.
I am not here to propose any change and all I am doing is putting forward my expereinces which until now have been positive ones. I use this site for information and to chat and of course to keep up my fight.
again whether we have side effects or not we are all in a  battle and sometimes a postive comment without a catch staement would be nicer,especially for newbees and those who are down and are hoping for a silver somewhere.
We are human beings and we are robots and we all need to be greased,oiled up,and pumped with energy and sometimes especially when we are down.
we can all have negative moments but positive ones are also important

[GreatBird]

..That's cr@p, frankly.

Thank you.

..I would be eminently pleased to see that person sail through with no side effects.  What pisses me off is someone who is not having side effects lecturing those who DO have side effects about what their attitude should be.

I didn't see that was happening in this case. I have seen the "holier than thou" posts and find them irritating. But sometimes its best just to let them go. Are you doing anyone any favors by arguing with someone who is feeling okay?

[jmjm530]

GB: And by what I mean by negativity, I mean your basic pessimistic, defeatist, gloomy, cynical, fatalistic, or dismissive comments.
---------

Trish:  Six words that people who know me better than you do would never use in regards to me, in life in general aside from treatment.  Rather, they are the antonyms of the words people would use if they were going to describe me.  You're entitled to your opinion, however.  I know my reality and I'm pretty secure in that.  
---------
For those who don't remember Trish circa early treatment, she was one of the most positive members here in terms in terms of cheering people on. She's still a very positive person just perhaps a bit wiser having gone though the entire treatment experience. Early on she had hardly any side effects like our poster, but later it became more difficult. Being positive and relaying the realities of treatment are two separate things.

[Rockerforlife]

Think positive   emm,,,,just lost my job of 20 years ago,,,,i have hep c....i may have just screwed up my employment insurance by mentioning im on TX .and that i just started a temp job that was physically impossible for me to do...it didnt matter if i was on TX or not...this new job was outright slavery...they asked me me for a docs note stating i am on meds and could not do this slave labour,,,but stating im able to do my regular job and normal work...and they say i should be able to continue with my regular benefits....im so worried abd streesed out over it all i finally had to go on a small amount of adivan    i am not going to take no more than 1 mg a day as ive read they are so addictive thet will cause seziues and herion like withdrawl (withdrawal).....THINK POSITIVE?

[jdwithhcv]

Positive moments ARE important too, and we experience them at the oddest times.  For example, I collapsed from hypoxia at home, but when I came around in the ambulance I was surrounded by really HOT firefighters who were kind and solicitous and just as cute as can be!  Very easy on the eyes.

jd

[GreatBird]

Sorry, did not mean to personalize that last line. Should have said . . .


Is anyone doing anyone any favors by arguing with someone who is feeling okay?


And my explanation of the term negativity was not directed at you at all. I was trying to make sure what I meant by it was clear.

[Trish77]

"I didn't see that was happening in this case. I have seen the "holier than thou" posts and find them irritating. But sometimes its best just to let them go. Are you doing anyone any favors by arguing with someone who is feeling okay?"

Then we saw it differently as did others who also responded similarly on this issue.  

And for the record, I don't call it arguing.  I call it stating my own point of view in response to someone else's.  If they are entitled to state theirs, why am I not entitled to respond to it with my own?  

And frankly that would be TWO people who are feeling okay discussing an issue with each other.  I'm six months post treatment and feel *terrific*.  Now there's a truth for you.  I just hope you will allow those who don't feel terrific to also have their voice.  

[GreatBird]

Hah! You were holding out on us. That's the best part of the story. ;)

[GreatBird]

My HUGE apologies . ..

When I said "your basic pessimistic, defeatist, gloomy, cynical, fatalistic, or dismissive comments" I meant the general "you" and not "you" in particular. I am so sorry. Even re-reading before posting, I didn't see what I had done. I am NOT accusing you IN ANY WAY of being negative. I am just messing up with the English Language.

[Trinity4]

Ideal world verses real world.  Let's face it, some of the posts on here are foolish and dangerous.  Snake oil peddlers and incorrect information.  If we don't speak out negatively we advocating the behavior.  

We'd like to think that ideally a positive attitude on treatment will take you to the end unscathed. But we know a positive attitude goes just so  far and then the reality kicks in.  Maybe that person won't experience harsh sx and he's entitled to say so as we are entitled to say the majority of us have found that not to be true.  What some view as brutal honesty other see as rudeness.  Life is like that ya know.

MH takes down the threads or the post when someone comes under direct attack in such a manner that it is injurious to that person.
Otherwise, the board for everyone to speak their own opinions in any manner they choose as long as it does not personally attack and it's not always going to be pleasant, just like life isn't always pleasant despite despite our best efforts to make it that way.

Trinity

[Trish77]

"You misunderstand me completely. I do not find people's honest response to side effects negative. That's not what I'm talking about at all. I'm talking about attitudes. In fact, I'm actually talking about attitudes toward others. I'm talking about the lack of courtesy in allowing differing viewpoints. I'm talking about people being rude in their disagreement. That's the negativity of which I write."

I pulled this from your response to someone else.  

Okay.  I see where YOU are coming from.  You're stepping in to defend this poster from what you see as unfair treatment.  Hoping I've got that right now.

I haven't seen anybody be rude to this poster or showing any discourtesy in this thread.  Any time you post an opinion that's potentially controversial, you open yourself up to differing and even strongly voiced responses.  I've seen us disagree with some vigour.  I feel pretty strongly about what was said and that's going to happen.

I think you might be injecting some of your feelings about other posts into this one, but that's just my own personal opinion on that one.  Anyway, I think I'm all spent on this topic.  I need to go get some painting done.

Good discussion, actually.

[GreatBird]

..And for the record, I don't call it arguing.  I call it stating my own point of view in response to someone else's.  If they are entitled to state theirs, why am I not entitled to respond to it with my own?  

Maybe it's because of my background (Jewish and Italian) I see lots of things as arguing but I don't think that's necessarily bad (although often a waste of time). Arguing or discussing, to my people there is really no difference. ;)

Of course you are entitled to your POV. But no one can predict someone else's outcome. If the doctors could do it then lots of people wouldn't treat because they'd be able to tell ahead of time who would clear (wouldn't that be lovely), or who will run into such serious sx that they'll have to quit early.

[Trish77]

"My HUGE apologies . ..

When I said "your basic pessimistic, defeatist, gloomy, cynical, fatalistic, or dismissive comments" I meant the general "you" and not "you" in particular. I am so sorry. Even re-reading before posting, I didn't see what I had done. I am NOT accusing you IN ANY WAY of being negative. I am just messing up with the English Language."

Funny how people can each read something that was posted and take it a multitude of ways amongst themselves, eh?  Vive la difference!  :)

Thanks for the note.

Trish

[GreatBird]

..I think you might be injecting some of your feelings about other posts into this one

Mea culpa. That's exactly it. You have nailed me. :)

Happy painting. I am going to go eat homemade tamales at the local farmer's market.

[GreatBird]

I'm so glad you saw that before going off to paint. I feel really bad seeing how it could have been read.

..Funny how people can each read something that was posted and take it a multitude of ways amongst themselves, eh?

Yeah, but I consider myself a writer. Maybe I'm having more brain fog that I've allowed myself to see. Hmmm.

And yes, I get your point. :)

[jdwithhcv]

Tamales!?!   YUMMMMMM

[Trish77]

"Positive moments ARE important too, and we experience them at the oddest times.  For example, I collapsed from hypoxia at home, but when I came around in the ambulance I was surrounded by really HOT firefighters who were kind and solicitous and just as cute as can be!  Very easy on the eyes. "

I adore you.  :)  Thanks for the "laugh out loud" moment. :)

[T246]

Keep up your posts and thoughts.  I have learned a lot from this site.

There are folks that are going to have and have a tougher time with treatment and some that will and have an easier time.  I think we cannot know what it will be until we are in it. I do, however think we can prepare for TX and manage it all the best each of us can.  That is all we can try and do.

I am hopeful that my treatment will be ok, but I will not know until I start and see what it is for me.  Positive encouragement is a good thing.  It is also good to know that there are some folks that do NOT have bad side effects.  This site has more posters that have the tough experiences and as one poster said, yesterday, the folks that do well on treatment may just not post on the site because they are away living their lives.

TX may be tough for me, it may be easier, I will see.  No assumptions either way, but I will approach it with my glass half full, not half empty and none of the whiners on this site will change that.  No reason to sugar coat treatment, no reason to assume it may be worse than it may be, either. !!!

Montanablin, you are Ok in my book.  I am happy your treatment is going good for  you.  I do not think you are telling people they can change their treatment just with attitude, but folks a positive attitude and approach will not hurt.  Stop whining, too many half empty glasses gets old unless you like self pity.

Good luck Mont, sounds like you have gone through a lot.  If others stopped  focusing on their own pain long enough they too might be able to support you.

Come on folks, take a breath and wish Mont well.

[RonniePATWebb]

Kind of makes me want to check out our local firefighters....J/K  my bro in law is on the force....
I am new to forums and read alot even if I am not a poster  I enjoy reading the DISCUSSIONS/DIFFERENCES  IN  OPINIONS  etc...you all will be my rock when needed so I have nothing bad to say about my new friends... even if you are not on my list yet.  I know I will have tons of questions.  I am diagnosed with HCV and my VL was 13,600,000.. I have an appt at Duke University teaching hosp on 5/19.. Wish me luck my new friends..
Pat

[jdwithhcv]

Best of luck on your treatment.  I just wish I had some warning that day, I would have shaved my legs and brushed my hair first!  Oh well....

jd

[jmjm530]

Are you being seen by John McHutchinson's group at Duke? They have an excellent reputation. Welcome to the group.

-- Jim

[Marcia2202]

I think that people's so called negativity is based on experience. People are just being realistic, 'cause we all have or are going through tx. The first few weeks on tx I was not really feeling the physically debilitating effect of the meds. And then it hit me WHAM big time, all the way till the end I was bedridden. I think it is important for ppl to know how hard tx can be, so ppl who haven't treated can prepare themselves psychologically.

Fortunately for me I had read all the possible horrors of treatment and was prepared for the worse. My motto was and still is, expect the worse hope for the best. I have always been a positive person and still, I would never paint anyone a rosy picture about tx. It can be hell, but one just has to get through it. No way around it. Definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  

Anyway, I really wish you will continue with little sides on treatment. My thoughts are with you...

marcia

[newleaf09]

I think about all that positive thinking will do for you while you are on this chemo is guarantee that if you get a mood effect from interferon it will be anger instead of depression.  I agree with all, that when the treatment turns you into a wet dishrag, it's hard to muster cheerfulness.  My blood has crashed continuously and I've felt rotten for weeks and months at a time, but I'm one of those natural optimists and NEVER stopped feeling eternally grateful & thankful that I was diagnosed before I decompensated, that my daughter knew a researcher who was starting a trial right away and that my husband has not freaked out like I expected him to and has been really helpful and supportive (though he cannot cook worth a damn).  I hope the original poster can remain clear of the worst side effects.  I have heard of one or 2 who did.

[Marc1955]

First, I vote with Trish77.

I think part of what is going on here, and not yet commented upon, is an old strain in American thinking called "the power of positive thinking" which started with Norman Vincent Peale. The idea is that with positive thinking you can influence your fate and your health.

It's typical American quakery. It has a pretty big place in our culture. And it can be destructive in so many ways.

Personally, I don't buy into it at all. A positive outlook is important in one's life, but it won't keep the rain from falling, and simply telling someone to have a positive outlook is a simplistic view of life. And telling someone a positive attitude can influence his health is often simply wrong.

All that being said, how can I not admire someone battling HIC, HCV, and cancer. Hopefully Montalablin1 will continue to experience no side effects of his treatment.