Aa
They say 3rd Time Is A Charm...but
They say that three times is a charm. I hope in my case, six times is a charm, because I failed five treatments, with the last one literally nearly killing me. I say six times should be a charm because today I took my first pill of Harvoni. Yes, it’s a 24 week trip, and as the Grateful Dead sang, and which has been true in my case of my past treatments, “What a long strange trip it’s been”. Actually in my case it should really be, “What a horrible long trip it’s been”.
As with most of you, I don’t have to read “Dante’s Inferno” to know what it’s about. I’ve been there several times. I’m sure most of you can relate. Surprisingly, my insurance company authorized Harvoni, and to make matters even sweeter, I didn’t even have to go to the pharmacy to pick it up. It was delivered to my home by a smiling courier, although I wish he would have brought a pizza with extra cheese also.
The way I look at it, and I don’t know if I believe 100% in fate, but after 14 surgeries including the most intensive one (the liver transplant), there must be a reason as to why I’m still here. In my mind, that reason is that I am destined to continue to be an entertainer. I’m blessed to not only get a liver one month before I would have literally died, but I’m blessed that I can perform my music again as if nothing happened, and make people with long faces smile.
Here’s hoping each and every one of you clears now that we have this new ammunition. The treatment cost? What is the price of life? The insurance companies now have to cough up the money they raped from all the people throughout the years who could barely afford health insurance. If you think I’m going to get into a political rant about how I feel about insurance companies? Yes I am, because as they were paying out money for drugs to help keep people alive, they were still financially raping them.
When you consider that the American pharmaceutical companies alone in 2012 reaped $350,000,000,000 in profits, you have to weigh the good and bad, and take a minute to think about the insurance companies’ handling of future obese generations gorging themselves on Chicken Wings, Twinkies and Big Macs, oh and “excuse me waitress, can you also bring a chocolate milk shake and an order of onion rings?”.
At any rate, doing a 24 week treatment after what I’ve been through and after what most of you have been through, I can do standing on my head. Although, I wish I was standing on my head on the beach in the Bahamas, then getting back on my feet to finish my Piňa Colada, while the waitress who looks like Pamela Anderson brings me another one and asks me “Is there anything else I can do for you?”.
Magnum
As with most of you, I don’t have to read “Dante’s Inferno” to know what it’s about. I’ve been there several times. I’m sure most of you can relate. Surprisingly, my insurance company authorized Harvoni, and to make matters even sweeter, I didn’t even have to go to the pharmacy to pick it up. It was delivered to my home by a smiling courier, although I wish he would have brought a pizza with extra cheese also.
The way I look at it, and I don’t know if I believe 100% in fate, but after 14 surgeries including the most intensive one (the liver transplant), there must be a reason as to why I’m still here. In my mind, that reason is that I am destined to continue to be an entertainer. I’m blessed to not only get a liver one month before I would have literally died, but I’m blessed that I can perform my music again as if nothing happened, and make people with long faces smile.
Here’s hoping each and every one of you clears now that we have this new ammunition. The treatment cost? What is the price of life? The insurance companies now have to cough up the money they raped from all the people throughout the years who could barely afford health insurance. If you think I’m going to get into a political rant about how I feel about insurance companies? Yes I am, because as they were paying out money for drugs to help keep people alive, they were still financially raping them.
When you consider that the American pharmaceutical companies alone in 2012 reaped $350,000,000,000 in profits, you have to weigh the good and bad, and take a minute to think about the insurance companies’ handling of future obese generations gorging themselves on Chicken Wings, Twinkies and Big Macs, oh and “excuse me waitress, can you also bring a chocolate milk shake and an order of onion rings?”.
At any rate, doing a 24 week treatment after what I’ve been through and after what most of you have been through, I can do standing on my head. Although, I wish I was standing on my head on the beach in the Bahamas, then getting back on my feet to finish my Piňa Colada, while the waitress who looks like Pamela Anderson brings me another one and asks me “Is there anything else I can do for you?”.
Magnum
Yes, it's not easy. There were moments I wished it would all have ended, but then my inner strength came into play and I fought. Just as you must fight now. To me, life presents you with two paths to walk down. One is to give up, drug yourself to death, the other is to fight and eventually overcome the bumps and face a straight and even road.
You will be victorious. I have no doubt...
Magnum
You will be victorious. I have no doubt...
Magnum
Thank You Magnum I just posted a pity post then read yours I forgot how strong I use to be. People like you give people like me strength. May this time be your magic bullet.
I second Advocates prayer, I pray number 6 is the charm.
oh I like Pat's about your magic bullet
My best to you
Dee
I don't think I could do 12 hours in coach :)
oh I like Pat's about your magic bullet
My best to you
Dee
I don't think I could do 12 hours in coach :)
Thank you for all the laughs! The endorphins are the best medicine (does that mean you are the best medicine?)
May this be your magic bullet!! You go, guy! Pat
May this be your magic bullet!! You go, guy! Pat
The only thing I felt after the first pill is pressure on my head. The pharmacy did warn about possible headaches. I don't have that, but I feel like I've been in the coach section of a plane for 12 hours. I understand that the trip to new Zealand from Los Angeles, with all the transfers is 22 hours. If you have to be in a plane for more than 12 hours, kill yourself.
What you want do is go to the bathroom, stick your head in the toilet and flush. The pressure is such that it will rip your head right off. Because it's better to have your head in a toilet than to be in coach section for 12 hours.
Magnum
What you want do is go to the bathroom, stick your head in the toilet and flush. The pressure is such that it will rip your head right off. Because it's better to have your head in a toilet than to be in coach section for 12 hours.
Magnum
Forgot to mention, thank you for telling us your story, 6 times tx including a transplant? Amazing, and very inspiring, you are blessed as we all are but we just don't know it. Cheers to you!
Congratulations! Your gong to love Harvoni. I am soooo happy for you.There is something about that pill that I LIKED A LOT. For now it seems they got the right dosage for immediate need, hard to treat. Yay "24 weeks" one pill. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
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