ANOTHER UPDATE

[DH Bill]

Got a voice mail from nurse late yesterday, she said "have really good news for you and I'm still working on the other thing. Will call you on your cell" Well since I haven't heard back yet nor am I going to waste my time calling THEM they get upset unless I use voice mail line and I'm pretty good at cutting off my nose to spite my face here goes.... I'm going to assume (makes an ass out of you and me)that the good news is I'm undetectable at 24 weeks and the other is they haven't resolved anything with the insurance co. yet. As some of you may have picked up on by my questions lately I am no longer on effexor. After much thought and soul searching I decided to wean off the stuff as I really felt it was not right thing for me. I had been advised to start it before tx which I did but had no history of depression. Took 2 weeks decreasing 150mg dose and went cold turkey last Saturday. I believe it was the right decision FOR ME ONLY just my blood pressure has went from the 140's to below 120's were it used to be before the effexor and I am feeling better everyday it has been harsh at times. Had my "finest reba moment" yesterday just ask my wife and watch for the broken glass that may still be in the kitchen. I think it may have did me good to cry for the first time in years. My relationship with docs office is down to zilch or I would asked first. So kids DONT TRY THIS AT HOME!  No one ever told me I had much brains to race a bicycle down a mountain at 50 + mph but I do believe I made the right decision. Knowing what I know now I would not have started AD unless I had too.

[DownThisRoad]

I meant 9 weeks to go to my 48th week.

[Kat001]

You sound alot like me. I finished Pegasus in October, I start Infergen and Ribavirin on Sunday.  I felt the same way with joint pain, it went away for about a month after treatment, and now it is back. Mostly in my knees and elbows. I just think all of this treament does wierd things to our bodies that nobody will really know about until years from now. I try to get a massage every six weeks and that really helps. I'll let you know how the Infergen does. Kat

[DH Bill]

I think were at about same shot. I do #27 tonight and I do experience the mouth thing, sometime feels raw it took my wife a while to understand it's not her cooking it's me. I think it is getting better.
I'm 3 weeks thru stopping the effexor the last week was ROUGH when I totally stopped had very bad ringing in ears, something called brain shivers which srared me until I read it was normal. My biggest concern was my blood pressure. Before I started tx I got EVERYTHING checked out and my heart had some problems. Heart doc said it would be ok if I kept it down to 110-120 which is normal for me. As soon as I started AD it went to over 140. Brought letter from heart doc to to hep doc and he handed it back to me holding it from the corner by his index finger and thumb like it was dirty and said I always have the option of stopping tx. Thats when I first said to my self HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM. This guy has a cookie cutter aprouch he will no deviate from.
Wish some of the old timers would step in here about stopping AD's. I think it would helped to have valium or some pot to help along.
My bp is under 110, feel less fatigued and my ambition and manlihood is comming back : ) NO DEPRESSION OR BAD THOUGHTS I'm just pissed at this doc and will just try to get thru to end.




























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[DH Bill]

Sorry about that space, also ment bp is under 120

[OkieJim]

YaHoooooo!!!
This is wonderful news. I know I haven't been up for awhile. I'm so happy for you. I know when I got the news it made the rest of the travels easier. You will make it. Keep up with the meds. and you will be fine. <b>CONGRATULASTIONS!!!</B>.

[DownThisRoad]

I know what you mean.  I'm heading towards the finish line w 9 weeks to go to my 45th week. I have mixed emotions right now with it all.  I can't figure out if the first 24 or the last 24 are more painful and difficult.

I'm getting myself a little worked up as my GI will probably want me to do and extension of 6 - 8 on the meds, further to my 48 weeks.

Hang in there  - nothing about this treatment and meds are/were easy, to say the least.