Aa
In my 68th week, end in sight
Been doing the INF/RIBA for 68 weeks (4th try). Did the Teleprevir at the beginning. Been UND since between weeks 4 and 8. Wow! the end is finally in sight. Finishing end of Oct. I don't even remember what I felt like before starting. After all this time I still have sides just not as bad as in the beginning. I mostly just ignore it now. I mean you just get tired of it and say whatever I'm doing what I'm doing.
My Alt/ast have mostly been in the normal range since clearing. A few months ago AST when up about 10 to the low 50s (just above normal) and has stayed there and ALT when up 10 to about 45 which is in the normal range. I don't guess this means anything. The VL test they give me is good to >18. It just seems like after all this time and all these UNDs that the virus would be gone. I'm 1B so chances are a little better.
VL earlier this month was still UND. Had another draw for a VL today. I sure wish I knew this would work. It has been a long haul. Man it has been long. I persevered though but what else are you gonna do? Just wanted to clear my thoughts and write this. Feeling a little blah because of the uncertainty tonight.
Best of luck to everyone.
best, David
My Alt/ast have mostly been in the normal range since clearing. A few months ago AST when up about 10 to the low 50s (just above normal) and has stayed there and ALT when up 10 to about 45 which is in the normal range. I don't guess this means anything. The VL test they give me is good to >18. It just seems like after all this time and all these UNDs that the virus would be gone. I'm 1B so chances are a little better.
VL earlier this month was still UND. Had another draw for a VL today. I sure wish I knew this would work. It has been a long haul. Man it has been long. I persevered though but what else are you gonna do? Just wanted to clear my thoughts and write this. Feeling a little blah because of the uncertainty tonight.
Best of luck to everyone.
best, David
Unbelievable... We have all had to do things that we did not want to. But your path has been way, way to long. My God I hope it is over for you.
Congratulations for getting to UND then on to SVR. You were really strong to do the tx as long as you did
I hope you are well.
Dee
I hope you are well.
Dee
David,
I'll say it again, your my hero! Your attitude is such a role model for me. I have yet to start but when I do, and want to get on a pity pot, I'm coming back here and re-read your posts. How could I dare whine, complain, or whatever when in the face of such courage?!!
God bless you. I claim healing, in His name, for you and the rest of us in this war.
Sincerely n with great admiration,
Dee
I'll say it again, your my hero! Your attitude is such a role model for me. I have yet to start but when I do, and want to get on a pity pot, I'm coming back here and re-read your posts. How could I dare whine, complain, or whatever when in the face of such courage?!!
God bless you. I claim healing, in His name, for you and the rest of us in this war.
Sincerely n with great admiration,
Dee
You're right about how this journey to kill the HCV changes everything.
I now no longer have the anger I used to have. I'd rather find humour and forgiveness. I don't stress about things. I can't do much whilst treating, but I can't change anything that's happened. If I can't think, I go and take myself away.
I now understand chronic illnesses, and what happens to people with them. I understand fear of being sick, fear of not knowing what is going to happen.
Fear of the treatment not working. But that is counter intuitive to the path to better health. The very real chance of curing our disease is now moving up into the 90%.
And that is why we do it.
Good luck Dave.
I now no longer have the anger I used to have. I'd rather find humour and forgiveness. I don't stress about things. I can't do much whilst treating, but I can't change anything that's happened. If I can't think, I go and take myself away.
I now understand chronic illnesses, and what happens to people with them. I understand fear of being sick, fear of not knowing what is going to happen.
Fear of the treatment not working. But that is counter intuitive to the path to better health. The very real chance of curing our disease is now moving up into the 90%.
And that is why we do it.
Good luck Dave.
Well I guess I'll keep responding to my own posts kind of keeping a little record.
I took my last full INF dose today. My last Neup dose will have been two weeks ago Tuesday. Three more tapered doses of INF to go. Next week I'll be dropping down to 90 mcg. Already something to look forward to. Then another 90 the following week and I'll probably do one last 45 mcg shot on the 26th (and stop Riba that day) which will complete the 76 weeks of treatment.
Right now despite feeling a little anxiety about whether it has worked or not I'm naturally happy to be ending this treatment. I did kind of get used to it but it never got exactly nice. Used to really feel dogged the first two or three days after the shot. I used to sit in my work cubicle numb and dumb at times. Also used to get some pretty bad headaches. But that all decreased over time. Still feel it for sure but with the end game in sight my spirit's up.
Don't feel as much as anxiety because of all the new drugs on the horizon. I sure hope those will be the final virus killer and we can all just become like war veterans of this thing.
best, David
I took my last full INF dose today. My last Neup dose will have been two weeks ago Tuesday. Three more tapered doses of INF to go. Next week I'll be dropping down to 90 mcg. Already something to look forward to. Then another 90 the following week and I'll probably do one last 45 mcg shot on the 26th (and stop Riba that day) which will complete the 76 weeks of treatment.
Right now despite feeling a little anxiety about whether it has worked or not I'm naturally happy to be ending this treatment. I did kind of get used to it but it never got exactly nice. Used to really feel dogged the first two or three days after the shot. I used to sit in my work cubicle numb and dumb at times. Also used to get some pretty bad headaches. But that all decreased over time. Still feel it for sure but with the end game in sight my spirit's up.
Don't feel as much as anxiety because of all the new drugs on the horizon. I sure hope those will be the final virus killer and we can all just become like war veterans of this thing.
best, David
Wow David 76 weeks? I couldn't imagine. Your one helluva trooper. I can relate to the "neup factor". Been there, done that, hated it! Wishing you the very best
Well, somehow I miscounted actually had one more to go than I thought. Anyway after tomorrow night's shot I'll have four to go. I took my last Neupogen shot Monday. If some of you all take that well it ain't exactly a nice feeling either. OTOH the sides always predictably last only about 36 hours or less so I knew its effects would be gone by Wednesday. And they were.
So anyway rather than ordering more Neupogen I asked if I could taper my INF dose down to 90 mcg for the last three shots and they agreed. That'll make a little softer landing. I wanted to taper anyway because of being on the INF so long. So as to let my body ramp back up its immune system not so suddenly. I might even take only 45 mcg on the last shot.
Do you ever read posts from people and wonder what will happen. I do. :)
-David
So anyway rather than ordering more Neupogen I asked if I could taper my INF dose down to 90 mcg for the last three shots and they agreed. That'll make a little softer landing. I wanted to taper anyway because of being on the INF so long. So as to let my body ramp back up its immune system not so suddenly. I might even take only 45 mcg on the last shot.
Do you ever read posts from people and wonder what will happen. I do. :)
-David
As a one time, 24 weaker (g3/f3) I find it hard to fathom your ordeal. You are a strong dude with a story humbling to for me to read when I look back at my own rage while on a comparable 'mini-program'.
Anyway, I had similar concerns. My doc said it's not unusual "your liver is being taxed processing the treatments"... Peg/wt based Rib.
My ALT's/VL's:
pre-tx ALT=66/VL=100,000,
tx wk 4- ALT=12/VL=UD,
tx wk 24 - ALT=50/VL=UD
post tx wk 4- ALT=16/VL=16,
post tx wk 24- ALT=16/VL=UD.
Wishing you the same. Good Luck Bill, you've sure paid the dues.
Anyway, I had similar concerns. My doc said it's not unusual "your liver is being taxed processing the treatments"... Peg/wt based Rib.
My ALT's/VL's:
pre-tx ALT=66/VL=100,000,
tx wk 4- ALT=12/VL=UD,
tx wk 24 - ALT=50/VL=UD
post tx wk 4- ALT=16/VL=16,
post tx wk 24- ALT=16/VL=UD.
Wishing you the same. Good Luck Bill, you've sure paid the dues.
Congratulations on staying with the treatment so long. Can I ask why the docs felt you needed to treat this long? I didnt know they were going that far out with the incivek especially if you were und at week 4 and 8 even if you were cirrhotic . or was it between 4 and 8. I thought you just did 48 wks at that point. I did the 48 with incivek due to still being detected at week 4
Wow. 6 left. That is great. Almost there.
Congratulations on the UND again.
Wishing you the best.
Congratulations on the UND again.
Wishing you the best.
Took my 7th to go shot tonight. 6 left.
Starting to feel it a little bit. Hands and feet get a little numb or something. A little wired but brain slowing down. I normally feel pretty good the next day and then Monday kind of rotten. Enjoyed this afternoon. You know how it feels. Kind of warm and fuzzy, no little INF aches and stuff. Nice.
The VL came back UND again.
best to everyone, David
Starting to feel it a little bit. Hands and feet get a little numb or something. A little wired but brain slowing down. I normally feel pretty good the next day and then Monday kind of rotten. Enjoyed this afternoon. You know how it feels. Kind of warm and fuzzy, no little INF aches and stuff. Nice.
The VL came back UND again.
best to everyone, David
I commend you on your diligence to endure 68 weeks of tx. That is an amazing statement in the fight against HCV.
Im in wk 9 w/ incivik, UND since wk 3, and I could not even begin to imagine facing that amount of time. Best of luck to you. Thanks for your post and the encouragement you radiate.
Im in wk 9 w/ incivik, UND since wk 3, and I could not even begin to imagine facing that amount of time. Best of luck to you. Thanks for your post and the encouragement you radiate.
Wow! 68 weeks is a long time and you undoubtedly deserve to be cleared! Best wishes!!!
SVR means Sustained Virologic Response. And that means cure. The virus is gone.
"Sustained viral response (SVR) is an efficacy measure of a hepatitis C treatment. It is defined as the absence of detectable RNA of the hepatitis C virus in blood serum for at least six months after discontinuing the treatment."
"Sustained viral response (SVR) is an efficacy measure of a hepatitis C treatment. It is defined as the absence of detectable RNA of the hepatitis C virus in blood serum for at least six months after discontinuing the treatment."
God bless you for the role model you have jut become. Here I was afraid of 48 wks.(Haven't started yet. Next month I will.) You certainly taught me not to complain, let the fear in, and so on.
Yes, as you say the glass IS half full! I am very happy for you. Your obviously strong willed and aren't just giving lip service to having a positive outlook. I truly believe your living it!
I have a question: And please don't think me stupid, but what does SVR mean? Everyone wishes it for you and I can't because I have no clue what it is. :(
As said in another comment; I wish you an uneventful times until EOT. I know what that one means! LOL
Take care. Your amazing to have withstood it this long. You can dang sure hold out until it's over!
Yes, as you say the glass IS half full! I am very happy for you. Your obviously strong willed and aren't just giving lip service to having a positive outlook. I truly believe your living it!
I have a question: And please don't think me stupid, but what does SVR mean? Everyone wishes it for you and I can't because I have no clue what it is. :(
As said in another comment; I wish you an uneventful times until EOT. I know what that one means! LOL
Take care. Your amazing to have withstood it this long. You can dang sure hold out until it's over!
Thanks for the nice comments. Feeling upbeat again today. If there's anything this thing has taught me it's to be positive. And more importantly that being positive is a discipline something you work on. And it really pays off. It's not just something you say "be positive" it's something you make yourself do every day, that's the discipline part.
I was surprised at how it's changed my feelings and day-to-day outlook on life, it feeds over into every aspect and people notice. Why be cynical mopey sarcastic negative about anything, who wants to feel like that? Be half-full about everything. Forgot your cellphone on the way to airport? Well at least you remembered before getting on the plane (and maybe avoided a crash or something who knows).
Positive feeds on itself and grows and then you start to realize you feel better and have a better outlook than many people who don't have any disease at all and have much. Pretty cool really.
I was surprised at how it's changed my feelings and day-to-day outlook on life, it feeds over into every aspect and people notice. Why be cynical mopey sarcastic negative about anything, who wants to feel like that? Be half-full about everything. Forgot your cellphone on the way to airport? Well at least you remembered before getting on the plane (and maybe avoided a crash or something who knows).
Positive feeds on itself and grows and then you start to realize you feel better and have a better outlook than many people who don't have any disease at all and have much. Pretty cool really.
What an accomplishment. Thank you for sharing your strength and determination to win this battle. It provides so much inspiration to me and many others who have wondered if we could do this treatment even at such a shorter course of therapy than yours. Hoping that you get the SVR that you definitely worked so hard for!
Yes 68 weeks, whew, very commendable indeed, and wishing you an uneventful 8 weeks ahead. Wow EOT in sight and I sure too SVR!
All the best wishes to you,
Shyrl
All the best wishes to you,
Shyrl
68 weeks is definitely commendable, David. I guess you are doing 76 weeks. You are almost there. I know it gets long and tiresome, but hang in there. Being UND since week is very positive. Wishing you the very best and hoping for SVR for you.
It seems strange anymore to see someone in week 68, a few years back that was pretty common. Now days people don't think they can even do 24. Really wishing you the best as you have done everything possible. You have earned a SVR for sure and at the very least you have bought you some valuable time..... Hang in there.
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