How many are on treatment?

[mistybean]

Just curious how many on this board are on treatment?  I am a 2a genotype who is on shot 21 now.   I had normal alts going in and still have the same alt level.  No change from treatment.  I live in southern ca.  Unfortunatly, I worked during treatment.  I  even traveled for work( leaving Monday on a jet plane).  My worst momemts were around shot 12 to 18.  I was anemic and may still be.  I have not taken a blood test in six weeks.  Too lazy to find the doctors lab slip.   My hair is now starting to thin, however I am manageing the sides beter now with some end in site.  How are all of you doing?

[Pirategold]

Also, don't take vitamin C with iron rich meal as C will bind with iron and makes the liver's job more difficult.

Pirate

[Pirategold]

Some of the research I've done suggests:

**Large doses of biotin over long periods of time
might cause abnormal enlargement of the liver.
DO NOT EXCEED 100 mg/daily!!!!! NIACIN
(niacinamide and from yeast) B3* is better form of B3 than Niacin

Pirate

[wMich]

Misty were you the one keeping track of the June/July starters?Anyway, to add to the stats: I'm male, age 53, geno 1a, pre-Tx load 1.14 million, Bx was 2/2, now on week #19 (started 7/29/05) of 180 Pegasys and 1200 Riba, 12 week viral load test "undetectable" (<615 IU). Sides: aches, tiredness, shortness of breath, some nausea weeks 1 thru 5, mouth sores, minor rash, emotionally thin skinned and edgy at times. Have felt some minor twinges of pain on my RH side. WBC/ANC dipped around week 10/11 but rebounded w/o meds. All in all, sides for me really not too bad compared to many others on Tx, though for some reason this past week was one of the roughest since the first few. Haven't missed a med dose and have been drinking 3 qts. of water daily most days. Looking to do year-end Heptimax.    - Lee

[dutch_boy]

Hello everyone and hope you are all hanging in there.
I'm an unusual geno 4...so few of us out there that the researchers don't know much about this genotype (mostly in Egypt...not prevalant in the US or Europe). My doctor treated me like a geno 1 as they know geno 4's have very aggressive strains.  I started at a low vl of only 65,000 but already stage 2. A case where I have damage even with low vl. I achieved "undetectable" at week 12. I had my LAST DELIVERY of drugs this past week.  I'm on week 45 of 48 with my last shot on Christmas! What a gift that will be to myself and those that love me!  I've had almost all the sides I've read about and then a few I haven't heard about... but my main challenge has been I've been at a low hemoglobin 7.3 for over 7 months even with Procrit weekly of 60,000units. I didn't respond to Procrit as eveyone had hoped. It has been an incredible ride with lots of twists and turns, and exhaustion but I've managed to stay focused on the prize at the end!!!  I've never doubted I would get through this although it has been very difficult and am very "beat up" at this late point in tx. I am self employed as a textile designer and I took on work when I felt my best and didn't take it on when I was too exhausted from anemia.  I  consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to do this tx and now see the light at the end. Time goes by so quickly it seems like yesterday I started!
My best to you all. You have all inspired me.  Scott

[2irish]

so glad to see that you posted.  i miss you, i am used to reading your posts.  are you feeling less well?  is it starting to get to you?  you still sound good.   you are my inspiration because you are ahead of me & hanging in there so well.  i do hope you are okay.

[SnoWav]

Yes Im still riding the riba wav. I get to pick up my last box of 4 shots this week,the final shot New Years Eve. Working 40 hr + weeks and now into my busy season so some weekends, would not have it any other way takes my mind off the sides. 44/48 peace out

[friole]

Haven't felt like posting much, but try to at least read.

58 yof, 1a, pre treat VL 1.52million IU/ml, bx stage 1, grade 1, on 21/48 now - waiting for the results of a 20 week pcr. at 12 weeks, was at 40 IU/mL .  Taking 180mg Peg, 1200 Riba, also Procrit 40,000 every 11-14 days, and Neupogen, every 14 days.  I have lost a lot of hair (starting at 12 weeks) and have had a lot of Riba rash, altho it seems to have subsided a lot now.  The anemia was the worse side for me.  I was nearly side free for the first 12 weeks, and even now I feel pretty good.  I work every day (desk job) although admit that my productivity sucks.

Hi to all - Irish- good to see you here, glad your sides are still light.  Fish - sounds like you are doing great.  I look forward to seeing your 12 week results tomorrow!

[sailinlady]

49 yr old female, 1a.  Did shot 21 of 48 yesterday.  Very bad anemia, waiting for procrit.  My hair just started falling out in the last couple of weeks.  It was very thick, long & curly.  It's stopped growing and is coming out in clumps.

I am not working right now and give all of you out there who are a whole lot of credit. Some weeks seem to be better than others.  Other sides include brain fog, nausea, fatigue, extreemly dry skin & itching, joint pain, you name it, I think I've had it!

Mistybean, I'm so glad you see the end in site.  Hang in there, you've almost done it.

Best to everyone.

[jmjm530]

How did the test cream work? Did it help him gain any weight or muscle? Any unwanted sides? I still have the rx.

Thanks for the wishes and good luck on your tx. Did your husband finish yet or are you treating together?

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

47 M ; Geno 3a; Stage 4-5/6 (ISHAK); Grade 2; Shot: 12/??; Peg/Copeg; Procrit&Neupogen; Currently Working; Addtl Complication: Cranial Rectosis

[jmjm530]

I've been on double-Nexium for about three months now. Even though I still have symptons my doc suggested phasing down to one a day -- but with only 8 weeks left I think I'll stick with the two. anyway, I'm hoping the GERD will get better once I'm off the meds. They certainly can't be helping things much. LOL.

Glad your esophagus healed but my problem goes higher up into the larynx (laryngopharyngeal reflux). That area has very little of the esophagus' protective coating and therefore heals much slower.

-- Jim

[Jody Blonde]

I have the same problem with the gerd since starting treatment with the steroids almost 4 yrs ago so I guess mine will be a lifetime thing since you can't cure AIH.

[ASmile4U]

Female, 44, Type 1, a/b undetermined.  Started 2nd round of tx last night.  So, merely 1/48, wow, that sounds discouraging. Infergen, 15 mcg 3 X weekly along with 1000 Riba.  Pre tx VL 827,000...go for 4 week PCR January 3rd.  Definitely didn't get a good nights sleep last night, guess I'd forgotten what these meds can do...the headaches began shortly after taking morning Riba yesterday.  Still early, but hopeful I make it through with minimal sides.   My hair was just coming back in nicely, still a few, well, quite a few grays, but no more curls!  :)

[sailinlady]

My husband is on the same schedule as I am.  His muscle tone was much better in the beginning with the test cream but he was also working out.  It hasn't been easy for him to do for several wks now.  His weight has been stable.  The cream may have helped, I don't know.  He said in the beginning that it seemed to give him more energy.  He does not suffer from anemia as much as I do.  He does have gerd, nausea, headaches, muscle & joint pain and what he calls "the crawlies".  Says it feels like his skin is crawling.  It drives him crazy.

[jaroman]

Still on tx here!  47yo female, 1a,on 27/48. All the above sides, but managing most days. Getting very worried about 24 week PCR results.

[strator]

All-Should have mentioned that despite all the babble about my sx- I've actually been more productive and more organized on tx. Maybe cause I don't feel procrastination is an option in case the bottom suddenly falls out with the blood counts. But regardless it has been kind of a blessing. I've gotten way more accomplished around the house and with this board helping me to be a more proactive person with tx it has spilled over to the rest of my life. Then there's the tx putting things in perspective -what's important and whats not.

ASmile4U - Not to worry about the 1/48. I can't believe I'm 12 weeks in. Last week thought I was actually 1 wk less into tx. It blows by even if certain days or hrs feel like they are in slow motion.

Goof - The good thing about you and cranial rectosis. All the laughter you give us must create quite the imressive acoustics up(or down) there. And the ECHO!. OMG!!

Jim - what the heck is gerd anyways? Is that the reflux thing? I don't feel nauseus much but get real close to losing my innards the time or 2 a day I start to cough. Kinda like the dry heaves I use to have before a quick 1/2 pint for breakfast.

Hope all have a day filled with little blessings. They add up.

Dynon Don and his Bang, Bang Western Moving Picture Show is off to Home Depot to buy remodeling supplies for the house. Might actually do something with 'em too. The overhead here is worse than work.

[GoofyDad]

I just need to remember to eat my binding foods regularly. I can usually mask the the gurgling, but it can sure make a sticky mess out of a thong!

[BronxRican007]

I'm 47, male, 1b, did shot 15 of 48. hair, rash, exhaustion, pain in my liver, insomnia, etc. I work everyday but brain fog is a problem at times.

Peace
br007

[cougareyes]

1a, 45 yr old male on 22/48, Sunday is shot night for me. I've settled into what I call a restless zombielike state. I am miserable but everything is managable at this point. Not only is my hair thinning badly, I just noticed small patches of complete baldness. My hair was to the middle of my back when I started.
I've been wotking a limited work load for 2 days a week, and for the month of December I'm trying to do 3 days.    Peace

[mistybean]

You are about the same age as me.  I will be 45 in March.  This hair thinning thing sucks.  I am thinking about looking at wigs.  I still have a full head .. it is just thin.  Good luck to you.

[omyst]

Hi Mistybean

I'm also from Southern California, I am type 4, stage 2 and just did shot 27 last night. I worked for the first 8 weeks of treatment, then I started getting severely disabling headaches. These headaches lasted until shot 22. During that period I could not eat or sleep very much and lost 20 lbs ( I was a skinny vegatarian to begin with) then I went on disability. Since then I still get headaches that are sometimes bad, but they are not the constant severe ones I had before.

When I think back to that period of headaches I really don't how I stuck with the tx.

I now have brain fog, a good deal of fatigue, losing hair and a very itchy whole body riba rash. But these are nothing compared to the headaches.

All in all, with the headaches diminished, I feel good these days, put back about 8 pounds and have renewed hope of actually making it through the tx.

Misty and to everyone else on tx, I hope that the days ahead are kind to you

[brightoneason]

46 male, live in UK, 5/24,  G 2/3.

Sides horrid up untill this week, feels a bit easier now, not so much fatigue, tried ADs a few days ago cant do um, not now, by the way I rarley have an erection, and libido may as well be an island in Greece! The mood swings are very difficult, loads water as directed by otherthreads, changed my times for the evil RIB now do 8.00AM and 6.00PM, on the pig/interferon, one shot weekly, waiting for results of first bloods.

[Fisheress]

Jim.....did you ever try the prescription Nexium for your Gurd?  I took it about a week before starting treatment, got my esphogus healed and have not had a problem since.   If I do feel like i am fixing a have a problem, I take one and am fine.

Oh... 1A, 46 yrar old female, tonight is 13/48.......so far so good!  No unmanagable sides.  Hair thing, just whacked off 6 inches 2 days ago.  I actually like it!

Best to all...

Fisheress

[beamishboy]

49 yr old male type 1b stage 2;lvel2--week 3 peg/interferon&riba1200--brain fog? you bet!! lethargic,nauseous,joint pain(had plenty pre-trx too) i am doin ok,but sleep is more difficult then usual..i am not even tryin to work during trx....Just tryin to take care of this damnable virus...Good luck to all---Farewell