Interferon and the Immune System and MRS O.

[NYgirl]

Has anyone else noticed since they have been on Interferon that their immune system has been greatly STRENGTHENED?  Everyone in my family and everyone at work is very sick...except me.  I stopped and realized last night that honestly - aside from the sx flu symptoms stuff...I can't remember the last time now that I had the common cold or a flu bug or something.

I really believe that the Interferon DOES teach our immune systems how to fight.  Alot of us do go through white cell problems - mine have finally settled out even though my doc did not ever put me on Neup but preferred to let my body deal with it - but aside from those issues I really think........I am the healthiest I've ever been in my entire life.

Has anyone else noticed while people around you seem to drop like flies of the bug ... you don't?

I have to admit - always having been the one to GET everything...it's really AWESOME to be the one who does NOT.

I just didn't really THINK about the INF doing this - I mean we focus on the IFN killing the virus but this part of it's job is just HUGE and I hope it continues!

--
Val...............mission accomplished!  Talk about wanting to just WEEP.....your gift meant more than you will EVER know.  Even my mother started tearing up...she was like MY GOD these really ARE the most compassionate people I've ever heard of in my life.

Compliments to you and to the forum.  It's so amazing when someone goes so far out of their way to help someone else - that in this day and age it's almost like a literal miracle and people are just awe struck!

[Tater-ToT]

Wish I could say the same...

I have cleared the HCV, & just since I stopped TX in April, I have been sick twice, First time I would up getting one of the worst most painful head colds I can ever remember having in my entire life... & This time, I am just now trying to get over a dreaded ear infection.... So no correlation there for me!
I Think I'm Jealous...LoL...!!!
:( Whaaaaaa!!!!

[cuteus]

I will probably be on LI for at least three to 4 yrs more, even though I want out to a warmer climate NOW!
you stay well and warm.

[rosygirl]

I, too, have not been sick since on treatment.  My whole house had the flu last year but I didn't get a sniffle.  My son was sick with a 101 fever last week and I didn't get that either.  No cold, flu or anything except side effects.

[NuttiNetty]

When I was on tx I too did not get as sick as others around me. It has been 5 years now, and in the last two, I have been sicker than I can ever. I have just posted a question regarding this. Perhaps it is only a "blessing" of good health for a short time? I don't know. But I hope the rest of you don;t have to go through what I am presently going through, with the lingering side effect of the memeory loss and depression.

[susan400]

I've treated many times and come off of treatment many times.  When I'm on treatment, I rarely ever get a cold.  Flu-I've rarely ever gotten even before I started treatments.  But, now I also get flu shots every year, too.  Usually, after I've been off of treatment for a period of time, I get colds.  It's happened after the most recent treatments (not counting this last one).  They take a long time for me to get done with it, too. I've just completely my 3 month post treatment phase from this last round.  We'll see.... There's always hope that this time will be different.  Also, when I'm on treatment, I'm  avoiding crowds whereas, when I'm off of treatment, I'm going into crowds (more germs).  The church I'm attending now has a membership of over 5,000 people.  They're not all there at the same time but, in the last 2 weeks I've been to two large scale special events where there were over 3,000 people in the main church sanctuary where I was sitting.  The 3 overflow areas had more.  So, when colds, flu's and strep go around, it seems like it snowballs.  Fortunately, I'm counting on the fact that if I get exposed, MAYBE this time, I'll have enough RIBA still left in my system to help w/the anti-viral properties.  I was on 1600mg a day when I was treating, so I would think that 3 mon. after, with a half-life that it's supposed to have, that there would still be some antiviral floating around!   Jim-I still have the itching a lot. I don't notice it much until I get in the sun, or exercise and then, it's like WHAM!  Itchy-itchy.  And still the sleep problem, too.  I don't know if it's rosacea, but I have the red dotty rash on my cheeks again.  LFT's back in the 100's again.  Well, that's all.  Susan

[Morgaina]

I just got a cold but was the last one in the class to go down. It's easier than my normal viral thing this time so thats nice, but I dont think it's going to be a new improved immune system. Schools have to many bugs to fight!! (I think some of my kids have nuclear waste under their fingernails!)