4 week test?

[MerrieJane]

Everyone seems to have 4 week results.  My Doctor says that she will only do the 3 month test because results would not change the protocal and that a poor 4 week result could be demoralizing.  Is this legit? Does knowing your response earlier that 4 weeks help in any way?

[painintheside]

THANK YOU!!! You make me continually laugh and that is what we all really need fighting this disease. Everyday, you make me wish you were a friend locally. Thank you again!

Sincerely,
Dana

[strator]

That's great news goofydude, keep it comin. I guess laughter does heal.

To all-thanks for your wishes on our dog. She had a good long life. Our 2 yr old shelty is taking it hardest. Hey, life is still life even on treatment. My Dad says ya just get up each day and keep shovelin' against the tide. On good days God gives you a bigger shovel. It feels easier to have people to shovel alongside. Now if I can just come up with an answer for my 13 yr old son suddenly wanting to have a girl over after school to 'help her with her homework.' This I'm too old for.
And my hands! They usually don'y chap open until December from outside work. Now they're cracking and chapping open all over. Is that from the Riba troll?

[GoofyDad]

Thanks, John. Nice theory there bud, but trust me - if rotten humor would do them bugs in they never would have gotten a toe hold, let alone survived 25 years. Humor doesn't get this bad overnight, believe me.

[johnisme]

Great news you got there, my theory is that them there critters you had just couldn't take the stand up comic routine. So they headed for the exit. Last one out turn off the lights.

John

[GoofyDad]

Goof says:
"...commented that an ultrasound indicates improvement to her grade 2 fibrosis."

Holly mother of hemorhoids ..... I DID IT AGAIN! Make that *STAGE 2*. Oh, what I must be doing to your 02 deprived brain, Jim.

Say it after me, Goofy.... Eggs come in grades, fibrosis comes in stages. Eggs come in grades, fibrosis...

[GoofyDad]

Thanks for the kind words. I was holding out for good news when I saw the enzymes had dropped into normal range at week 3 (first in 25 years). When the enzymes went further at week 4 I thought, well they haven't bottomed out yet so I'm probably still killing bugs. And surely I am, it's just a question of whether the survivors are measureable. I actually had the draw done a couple days before week 4, so there's a little more wiggle room should they detect a few by TMA.

Remember t'was me spouting off a couple weeks ago that there wasn't a material diff between under 600 and under 10 at 4 weeks? Well strike that - now I want under 10 like I can taste it. It's this funny metallic taste that makes other stuff taste bad too. Maybe you've experienced it ;-)

Jim, the last measure I had was 1.3 mill about 8 months ago. So this is over 3 log drop :)

Friole, As I understand it Heptomax is a nice test because they do the quant first, then follow with the TMA if warranted (or the other way around, dunno). Here, my Doc ordered the 2 tests, which I think are run independently of one another. Don't know why the TMA is slower. The quant goes down to < 615 IU/ml. BTW, I've been rubbing sliced onion around my groin area lately for itching. It's something I read on an alternative/naturopathy site. No improvement on the liver smell (or the itching for that matter) - but I'll keep at it. Thanks for the tip :)

NYgrl, Thanks for your kind wishes. Between you and I, your careful choice of words didn't go unnoticed. Quite unneccessary, but thanks - it wasn't lost on me. :)

Please don't think I'm insensitive to those of you who haven't yet seen the PCRs you're hoping for. I'm not, and I wish you the very best. I'm just basking in a brief moment of success.