12 weeks and use for other posts

[DH Bill]

I'm almost at my 12 week blood test on the 27th. I saw my doctor on the 8th and he said he is hoping for the best but I should be prepared for the worst (non responder) being male,54, 1b. This really depessed me. OCH I can't imagine your anquish. With the short fuse I have had lately I may have lost it.
I have learned I can't do anything physical anymore. I work about a half day go home and lay on the couch till about 9pm then go to bed and start over again next day.Itch, itch, itch. Lost 30 lbs. For some reason I look forward to my shot on thurs night, I'm strange I guess.I REALLY MISS MY MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HANGING OUT WITH MY BUDS! DAMN IT ANYWAY!!!!!!!
Dive, good to hear from you man. HANG IN THERE.
All things considered I still feel very fortunate for the way things are going my blood work is still good so far. Just feel like a piece of **** lately. Waaaaa
Bill

[myrtles]

I hope you have a wonderful time with your grand-daughter tonight.  It sounds like she is very special.  My daughter is concerned about me too.  She always prays for me.  We are blessed to have such fantastic girls in our lives who love us so much!!

I pray the "loudness" in your ears eases up some soon!!  Have a great weekend!!

[OkieJim]

I thought so, I only do 800mg. Yes on the perfect number. It really made me happy this morning when I sent you the post on #7 and now you tell me you feel better.  Amen he does hear us.
Gotta go will be thinking of you tonight.

[DH Bill]

I just took #11 and am on 1400mg 4-morn 3-eve. My ears have been ringing for years from banging on sheet metal (work) so I wouldn't know except things do seem loud to me like phone and tv. It can really make me irritable at times. My grand daughter is 13 today we are going to her birthday party tonight. She really worries about me and my hcv. She is a real sweetheart.

[myrtles]

Sorry, I forgot to tell you my riba mg.  It is 1200 mg.  Three in the morning and three in the evening.  What are you taking?  The same?

[myrtles]

Today is my break.  I finally feel a little better.  With the exception of the ear thing and being a little short of breath I am good.  I have a better attitude.  That makes all the difference in the world.

Today is my daughter's birthday.  She is seven!!  She was so excited this morning.  I think her enthusiasm is wearing off.  I want to make this a good day for her so I am taking it easy today and saving all my energy for dinner tonight.

She is seven and I am taking shot #7.  We are both on the "perfect" number!!  And for all of us who are on #7, this is the "perfect" one!!  I am praying that this will be the best since starting tx for us all!!

God bless you all!!

[OkieJim]

So sorry about the ears thing. Your ride has really been bumpy lately.  It's time for a break for you real soon. How much riba are you taking just curious, I think the riba is the main culprit causing most of the bad sides.

#7 and thinking of heaven

God bless you sister.

[myrtles]

My ear ringing is better today.  It is not so much the ringing as it is everything sounding really loud.  I have never experienced anything like this.  Talking on the phone is really painful.  I have to turn down the handset on my phone to be able to listen.  I hope it goes away soon.

Let me know how it works out for you ok?  I am on week 7/48.

God bless you!!

[chicagogirl]

Another question about the ringing in the ears; Does it eventually go away?

[chicagogirl]

My ears have started ringing too.  Am getting concerned.  I am week 24 of 48.  Any and all responses regarding ear problems welcome!

[willing]

hey OHC - your results look strong!. 615 IU is the lower limit of a standard Quest Diagnostics quant test and you showed undetectable on it. The 2.79 is the same number expressed in log(iu) units: log(615) = 2.79. So the important result is that you got both a 2-log drop and undectable by week 12: your odds of getting to SVR are up. Ideally the test would have used a more sensitive lower limit, since if the VL was, say, 600, you might have wanted to go past 48. What matters is that you got the 2-log drop  -  you're now a responder and on-board for 36 more.Congratulations!.

The hemoglobin is getting to the point (<10) where you should be talking to your Dr. about Procrit to help control the anemia. The WBC is a little low but nothing to worry about yet. If your ANC, when it comes in, is < 700 make sure to bring that up with the doctor too.

This is a good time to thank you for all the positive energy and humor you contribute  -  I appreciate it a lot - thanks!

PS I'm too out of it tonight to look up refs for the above - but if any of it sounds strange please say.

[DH Bill]

Thanks, reading everyones responses has helped a lot. It appears OHC may be that great word. I sure feel better, thanks all!
Bill

[DH Bill]

Look back to post Oct 3 dollface. <600 undetectable?

[odessit]

Bill, hang in there! Keep positive attitude and I'm sure you'll make it!
My 12 week PCR (down to 600) will be on Nov 5 and I'm so anxious:(
Since week 6 I get virtually no sides... my ALT/AST go up&down, HGB stabilized at 115 and WBC keeps dropping (latest was 2.9).
At week 10 I started feeling pain in the liver area every now and then. Waiting for that magic word 'undetectable':)

[oldhippiechick67]

Bill,  I dont know!! I think everyone missed my post up there, no one has answered.  I had a VL of l,l90,000 before tx, so if its at 615 or less now, that is fantastic as far as this zoned out, brain fogged, tx zombie can figure!  
Maj- thanks for your reply, I am rooting for you too, cant believe you are saving all your wrappers, I only saved every vial of Pegasys!  But do whatever it takes to have a grand celebration!   G'Nite to you now!  OHC

[DH Bill]

So what do those numbers mean?

[MajNeni]

Whatever you do, don't strangle that nurse and give up your happy life after tx.  I hope you, too, get through to the Procrit/Neupogen ride; I would have had to quit around week 3 or week 15 without those.  I often have to go around the doctor's new nurse; she's not very involved, and new to HCV.  
Just looked at my pile huge of empty wrappers: Pegasys, Neupogen, Procrit, syringe wrappers, package inserts, pharmacy info sheets... all  waiting for the bonfire at the end of tx.  It's going to be a splendid blaze!  There should be snow (end of Jan.) to reflect all the light.  Then we'll set off some fireworks.  You'll hear them, wherever you are.  Until then, everyone hang on tight, it's a long and sometimes bumpy ride.
Maj Neni  

[whybabe]

Hang in there Bill!  You can and will kill the dragon!  God bless!
Deb

[layla]

Thanks everyone, I'll be trying thngs to see what works. It's not horrible but annoying enough. Hope it doesn't get worse.

DH Bill, now that's postitive. You hit me just at the right time. It was good to crack up! lol LL

[jonihs]

one thing i have found for itching(not scalp) is a lotion called Sarna.You can get it at any drug store. Joni

[myrtles]

I thought with the Neupogen you would feel better also.  well...show's how much i know huh??  hehe  I don't blame you about not wanting to go back to the dr.  

Yes, i'll be armed and ready tomorrow.  I'll be praying for all of us Friday night fighters also!!

God bless all!!

[DH Bill]

SCRATCHING!

[OkieJim]

I'm feeling OK thanks for asking. The neupogen is to help produce the neutrophils to help the body fight off infections like colds, flu, and other ailments we don't need. It does nothing that I have felt as far as feeling better. The Procrit for RBC is supposed to boost the energy i guess. I am not on this yet! I just haven't gone back to the DR to do more bloodwork yet. I don't want to go back. I don't want more meds. But I will be there tomorrow night praying for us at 8PM CST as usual.

[oldhippiechick67]

There have been lotsa comments about itching.  Some say Aveeno oatmeal baths help, some say soaking in Epsom salts in the tub helps.  Benadryl anti itch Gel for topical/skin... and pills helps me some.  Also using baby oil (any ol cheap store brand) after a shower really helps me, I slather it on, if it feels too greasy to you, dab it off gently with your towel. It will help seal in the moisture your skin absorbs during the shower, but can evaporate quickly in the dry winter/fall air. They say that Nioxin shampoo and conditioner help the scalp itching and with hair regrowth. You can only get that at salons...I think so go to Nioxin.com if you are interested.  I havent tried it yet, but it has had some good reviews here.  My doc ordered Zyrtec for itch, but I didnt notice any great improvement, went back to the cheaper store brand of benadryl (diphenhydramine 25mg).  Two at nite help ya sleep also if you are lucky. I also got some triamcinolone cream from the doc, or hydrocortisone cream OTC helps some.  Hope this helps!  OHC

[myrtles]

The one thing I found that works for me is Aveeno Anti-itch cream.  Here in Houston it is about $3/small tube. OHC said that it was about $5 where she is.  I use that and lotion, lotion and more lotion.  A good one I found it Wal-Mart brand "Healing Lotion".  It is very thick and comforts those little itchies when you put it on.

Hope that helps some!!  God bless you!!