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Being Sick
Apr 08, 2008 03:47PM
- 4 comments
Is highly overrated... I don't know how people do this protracted illness thing. I have just finished my hepc treatment successfully, but now I have to deal with detoxing from the interferon, getting my strength back, and stripping all of the excess iron from my system from the multiple blood transfusions. I am having a lot of symptoms now from the high iron levels due to the transfusions and my liver enzymes are still somewhat elevated due to that - not much though, not nearly as badly as when I was in acute hepc. Still, I need to get the iron out of my system.
As soon as I can get my blood count up now that I'm not on ribavirin (which should take about three or four weeks based on an earlier period where I reduced my riba) I'll need to have my hematologist bleed me a little at a time. I know in advance he is not going to want to go that route. He'll want to use the drug that strips iron from the system instead, but its a really harsh drug. I've been very successful with the bleeding method before a few years ago after a hematologist overdosed me with IV iron (she'd thought I had iron deficiency anemia when I actually have a different type). Anyway, it worked great, and also - the scientific literature promotes bleeding over the drug alternative.
I lost my phone Saturday, I had my last transfusion and left it at the hospital and they can't find it. My cell bill is overdue so I can't get a new one till I pay it and I can't afford it right now. I don't have a home phone so I am out of luck. I can't work either without a phone since I'm in sales. I am really kind of down right now. I am about to lose my house. I need to start working again. Things are just really difficult financially at the moment. Not certain how I am going to handle everything. At least treatment is over. That's one good thing anyway. Still sick from my last shot Friday, but hopefully the interferon will be out of my system soon...
I'm missing my son really badly too. He's been gone a month and a half now and he's too far away for me too visit at the moment with my finances. I've never been away from him this long and its very difficult for me emotionally. I guess maybe if I was married it might be different, but he is all I have, so we're very close. It's just hard.
As soon as I can get my blood count up now that I'm not on ribavirin (which should take about three or four weeks based on an earlier period where I reduced my riba) I'll need to have my hematologist bleed me a little at a time. I know in advance he is not going to want to go that route. He'll want to use the drug that strips iron from the system instead, but its a really harsh drug. I've been very successful with the bleeding method before a few years ago after a hematologist overdosed me with IV iron (she'd thought I had iron deficiency anemia when I actually have a different type). Anyway, it worked great, and also - the scientific literature promotes bleeding over the drug alternative.
I lost my phone Saturday, I had my last transfusion and left it at the hospital and they can't find it. My cell bill is overdue so I can't get a new one till I pay it and I can't afford it right now. I don't have a home phone so I am out of luck. I can't work either without a phone since I'm in sales. I am really kind of down right now. I am about to lose my house. I need to start working again. Things are just really difficult financially at the moment. Not certain how I am going to handle everything. At least treatment is over. That's one good thing anyway. Still sick from my last shot Friday, but hopefully the interferon will be out of my system soon...
I'm missing my son really badly too. He's been gone a month and a half now and he's too far away for me too visit at the moment with my finances. I've never been away from him this long and its very difficult for me emotionally. I guess maybe if I was married it might be different, but he is all I have, so we're very close. It's just hard.
Hang in there girly - it WILL get better. It's very hard. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done... It's a drain on you mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally = not to mention financially.
But remember --- if you can get through it --- and with all that you went through anyway --- YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOO!.
You are a strong spirit and a great idol for those of us who have never even been anywhere near your levels of pain.
I send you lots of love and warm wishes. THIS TOO, SHALL PASS.
I wish I had millions of dollars to hand out to every one of us --- so that we could afford to take vacations --- we could afford to pay every single bill ---- we could afford the best doctors and more of the best medicines. But I don't... So I will commismerate with you --- and then give you a chuck on the chin and tell you to sit your butt up --- start thinking... What can you do... where can you go... What skills do you have... Are there any temp help places that could use your skills? Anything at all? Call the cell phone company and tell them that you've been on TX --- whatever it takes... But hang in there.... Last Friday was the beginning of the end of the worst... You'll have a few upheavals between now and a couple of months...
BUT THERE IS A LIGHT... I've been there... and that light might look really small right now - it's not. It's just within your reach.
And you're gonna find it --- really easy too! Hang in there - OK?
Hugs babe!
Meki
But remember --- if you can get through it --- and with all that you went through anyway --- YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOO!.
You are a strong spirit and a great idol for those of us who have never even been anywhere near your levels of pain.
I send you lots of love and warm wishes. THIS TOO, SHALL PASS.
I wish I had millions of dollars to hand out to every one of us --- so that we could afford to take vacations --- we could afford to pay every single bill ---- we could afford the best doctors and more of the best medicines. But I don't... So I will commismerate with you --- and then give you a chuck on the chin and tell you to sit your butt up --- start thinking... What can you do... where can you go... What skills do you have... Are there any temp help places that could use your skills? Anything at all? Call the cell phone company and tell them that you've been on TX --- whatever it takes... But hang in there.... Last Friday was the beginning of the end of the worst... You'll have a few upheavals between now and a couple of months...
BUT THERE IS A LIGHT... I've been there... and that light might look really small right now - it's not. It's just within your reach.
And you're gonna find it --- really easy too! Hang in there - OK?
Hugs babe!
Meki
Congratulations on completing your hep-c treatment successfully. If you can survive what you have been through, and you did, you can survive the next few days, weeks or months of recovery. Whenever you are alone, remember you are alone with God. My prayer for you is that you will receive strength and quick recovery and that your financial needs will be met. Although the doctor said that my hep-c treatment was not successful, I feel better and am going back to semi-active ministry as an associate pastor. I believe that I am better and expect to live a full and complete life. I believe you will begin to feel better and stronger as the medecation works it's way out of your body. I'm happy for you. God bless you.
Lowell
Lowell
Hi Sweetie, I've been away but you've remained in my thoughts and prayers. I'm really stoked that your tx is over, now for the real road to recovery. With all your need for transfusions, you've had a really rough time of it, and the rest should be a down hill path. as opposed to an uphill battle. The path may be steep but you did reach the summit. Well done, Cookie!!!!
They are still trying to see if I'm well enough to start tx. They just keep treating my HCV sx. So, I continue to play the waiting game. BUT.... with role models such as yourself, I know I can keep on 'chuglin'.
I think it's super that your doing the more natural blood letting. This tx has been around for hundreds of years. They've even gone back to using leeches when people have body parts reattached. I have a lot of respect for those who take a proactive approach to their tx. Like Guaf, jmjm and geterdone. Also sfbaygirl and medicmommy.
Hang in there tootsie, Many Hugs, Aunt B, aka Bevy
They are still trying to see if I'm well enough to start tx. They just keep treating my HCV sx. So, I continue to play the waiting game. BUT.... with role models such as yourself, I know I can keep on 'chuglin'.
I think it's super that your doing the more natural blood letting. This tx has been around for hundreds of years. They've even gone back to using leeches when people have body parts reattached. I have a lot of respect for those who take a proactive approach to their tx. Like Guaf, jmjm and geterdone. Also sfbaygirl and medicmommy.
Hang in there tootsie, Many Hugs, Aunt B, aka Bevy
It so funny, I was just re-reading this post - how I cavalierly said, yeah, my blood count should be back up in three or four weeks, blah blah blah. LOL
I mean, funny in the context that this is not at ALLL how its turning out vis a vis the red blood cell count.
I mean, funny in the context that this is not at ALLL how its turning out vis a vis the red blood cell count.
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