23 Days Down.. only 159 to go!

Only 159 left to go!

The good news is that the side effects seems to have leveled out some.  At first I was having pretty bad headache and body aching, but now it is not so bad.  Then on the 3rd week, I was having emotional issues where I was crying at the drop of a hat, for what seemed like no reason.  I'm taking Wellbutrin for this, and it seems to be working.  

So far, no appetite loss (though that was the only sx that I wouldn't have minded so much, I could definitely lose some weight and be happy about it).

My skin is very dry, I'm thirsty a lot (which is good, because I'm supposed to drink something like 80 oz of water a day).  I've bought myself some nice (aromatheraputic) lotions to use, and I take a bottle of water to bed with me because I get very thirsty after taking the ribavirin tablets, (which I take at 3:30 or 4:00 am so that my 2nd daily dose is not too terribly late in the evening because have to be at work very early.  I generally wake up around that time anyway, so I take the pills and often go back to sleep until 6, and boy am I thirsty when I wake back up.)

Anyway, I'm posting this info for anyone who is about to go on tx.  I know I was pretty scared when I read the long list of side effects.  I know it is early in my treatment, and that it is different for everyone, but since it is no where near as bad as I was imagining it would be, I just wanted to pass that ray of hope on to someone who might need to hear about it.  

Maluhia (Peace)

[Isobella]

My tx was that way in the beginning also.  The relief of just getting the started gave me an emotional high that carried me a looooong way.

And, no....I don't have any horror stories about it getting really bad.  It was always manageable.  You learn to adjust and take every day as it comes.

Stay hydrated, get some excercise.  Try to eat right, get rest and listen to your body.  That was my mantra.

It's not a beast for everyone.  Wasn't for me, but I'm glad to be done and soooo thankful that I did it.

BTW, you don't have to get up in the night to take your Riba.  You can take it with breakfast and lunch and be OK.  But it's mostly about what works for you and your schedule.  Just take it with food as that helps absorbtion and helps the tummy.

[Isobella]

Don't know how I lost the bottom of my entry......but it should've said:

I wish you the best,

Isobella

[DD9th]

Thanks Isobella :)

I have found that I am the most foggy shortly after taking the tablets, although that seems to be getting somewhat better.  

I wake up around that time anyway (all that water...), and this way I can give myself a couple of hours before having to drive, and be 'on' for work.  So I take them at 12 hour intervals.

[Lindaz]

Hello there

the first three months of treatment were not too bad for me.  Really wasn't too bad.  It wasnt till the last part of treatment, when my hb level dropped to 8.5 during the last weeks of treatment became hard........Good to hear your side effects have leveled out though.
all the best with treatment
Linda x

[14cheri]

My sx'shave been the worst in the end. The depression is the worst. I have 10 wks to goI'm trying to stick it out, I don't have much choice

[DD9th]

I'm sorry to hear that 14cheri.  Have you had good reports from your doctor?

I'm going in today for my 4 week report.  *crossing fingers for good results*

I still have 20 weeks to go as of today.  It seems like forever.  

Then I read a post on this board by someone who is facing a more difficult path, and it helps me feel less sorry for myself.  

20 weeks.... I can do that.  It should be Spring (my favorite time of year) when I'm done.  

You will be done right around Christmas?  You have a great new year in 2010 to look forward to.  :)

Maluhia (Peace)

[Isobella]

Good luck on your 4 week PCR.

Let us know how it goes.

[Marcia2202]

Rooting for your UND!!!!


Marcia

[DD9th]

Uuhg!!  

The doctor did not have the viral count repor back from the lab yet, so I still don't know (maybe tomorrow).

The other tests came out good, particularly my ALT/AST.

Prior to treatment, my viral count was only 383,000
Prior to treatment, my ALT was 210 (normal is 0-65)
Prior to treatment, my AST was 143 (normal is 0-37)

The super high ALT/AST was the huge red flag that started this lovely journey where I was diagnosed with HepC (genotype 2b)

So now, at week 4, my ALT is 89 and my AST is 64.   This is a marked improvement.

The doctor seems hopeful for an UND.  I'm crossing my fingers!

[DD9th]

I just got the news today (in week 6), that my 4 week viral load is undetectable!  

I wish that meant that I was done taking this awful stuff, but of course I have to complete it, I know.  

The doctor says now they won't be doing any more tests until the end of the treatment.... is that typical?

[Marcia2202]

That is wonderful news!!!! If I'm not mistaken that gives you a 90% chance towards SVR, if you finish your course of tx!

Congratulations!!! The best news you can have during tx!

[Marcia2202]

All docs are different, some like to check again at 12 weeks.

I had a VL done at 4 weeks and one more at 8 weeks, cause I wasn't UND at 4 weeks.

Then I didn't have any more until 4 weeks post tx.

[Bill1954]

Hi DD—

That’s very good news! I forgot your genotype; but any way you slice it, this is excellent information. It will hopefully give you some motivation should things get tough in the future.

I think there might have been some confusion; your doc should test at again at 12 weeks; if he doesn’t, I’d want to know why… some docs now check periodically for viral breakthrough; this is when virus reappears while remaining on treatment. While this is a rare occurrence (<5%), it would percent you form enduring a very long Tx needlessly.

Be sure to ask again around week 10 or so; I think this might have been an error.

Best to you—

Bill

[DD9th]

Will do Bill, thanks!

[Isobella]

Great news!  UND at 4 weeks is awesome.  

Keep strong and get through tx....the only thing that feels better than hearing UND is hearing SVR!!

All the best,

Isobella

[Bill1954]

Ahem…

“it would percent you form enduring a very long Tx needlessly”

Should have read:

“it would prevent you from enduring a very long Tx needlessly”

Geez…. :o) Good luck, DD!