Interferon is it worth it?

[anyonelistening]

I'm seriously starting to wonder if I made the right choice about treatment. I was very!! healthy prior to starting treatment and now my body is a very messed up to say the least. Will i ever get better?now instead of the virus will I be forever effected by side effects of the treatment drugs (victresis triple)I've put in my system for a " cure". I would be interested in hearing stories of post treatment.  Are we nothing more than an experiment? for pharmaceutical  profits.?  And are these companies then profiting of of our hope Maybe  I'm going mad but really starting to question

[FlGuy]

It's not the interferon that's the problem, it's the other stuff that's evil.  You listenting out there you nasty Riba? When you get the flu and the chills and the sweats and that jangley feeling it's your body's reaction to the infection which is the naturally produced interferon within you.  Interferon is your friend that other carp is the true enemy.

[lapis]

I was in a clinical trial for Incivek before it was approved, completed tx in 2009.  Would I do it again?  Yes, in a heartbeat!  I knew I had the virus for more than 10 years before I chose to do tx.  I feel very lucky to have gotten into a phase 3 trial, to have gotten the study drug, and now to be cured.  Knowing I had the virus for all those years before treating took it's toll on me.  I worried about my health all the time.  Anyone who saw me would think I was extremely healthy, and I felt just fine...but no one knew what was going on in my liver, just by looking at me.

At almost 4 years post-tx, my health is still excellent, in fact, better than before.  I no longer get painful muscle spasms which last for days.  During tx I got every side effect in the book, it was miserable, but I knew it was time-limited, and I was fortunate to finish tx at 24 wks.

Hang in there, you can do it.  Make sure you have the support you need.  If depressed, you might talk to your doc about medication.  I took antidepressants during tx then tapered off after I got my SVR report : )  

[flcyclist]

Great reply desrt!  Spot on.  

[willbb]

I was very!! healthy prior to starting treatment and now my body is a very messed up .
-----------------------------------------
If you had HCV which in time for most if let to do it"s nasty work ..you were not "very healthy" even tho possibly non-sympatomatic

I will let others debate the pros and cons of INF>

good luck with your tx.

Will

[lrup1952]

I am at the end of week 9 and had two really bad weeks 3 & 8.  I was not UND at weeks 4 and 8 so that was a bummer.  However, I feel like most this is my chance to see what it feels like to be virus free and to give my liver the best chance of being healthy.  I will be 61 this year and am sorry I waited this long but at this stage of the game I can't see doing anything but keeping it moving.  

I really feel very bad for those who are facing such life changing side effects and while I have my share and never know when I wake up what will be waiting for me, like losing words from my vocabulary, this rash that seems to have made itself at home inside and outside my body, dry mouth, dry eyes, broken teeth, etc. I really do wish us all the best and here is to SVR!  For those having really rought times, please hang on!

[desrt]

I wouldn't worry too much about "pharmaceutical  profits". They use us, we use them. Try to get the better end of the deal.