Aa
On your mark, get set... start tx!
It's finally a go! All of my husband's (6) docs say he's ok to start treatment! It's been a long 8-month journey since he decided it was time to try treating his Hep C, and I owe so many of you on this forum a world of gratitude for all the information, discussion, and encouragement in helping me make sense of the past year. Thank you all so much for being here.
My husband's been stress-tested, CT-scanned, blood-tested umpteenth times, and we now finally have the prescription in hand --- and, with some arm twisting, all three meds! We're feeling a little overwhelmed and somewhat nervous but very determined :).
The stats:
Geno 1, Current VL: 7.79 million, Log 6.89
Grade 2, Stage 4 compensated (if you don't count HCC)
MELD: 7
hgb: 13.7
Platelet: 140
AST: 54
ALT: 42
Alk Phosphatase: 98
Treatment naive
The plan:
Start 10/3 with 4-week predose of Alinia (nitazoxinide) 500mg twice daily
Start 10/31 with 1200 Riba & 180 Pegasys (appropriately scary, huh?)
PCRs planned after 4 week predose before SOC, as well as 4 weeks and 12 weeks after starting SOC.
The options:
Treatment coordinator has recommended my husband consider an anti-depressant and/or meditation classes as good options to pursue (though he's not thrilled about either option at this point).
Hoping to be able to say in a year that another virus bites the dust!
~eureka
PS: If I should have posted this on the social side of the forum, please let me know.
My husband's been stress-tested, CT-scanned, blood-tested umpteenth times, and we now finally have the prescription in hand --- and, with some arm twisting, all three meds! We're feeling a little overwhelmed and somewhat nervous but very determined :).
The stats:
Geno 1, Current VL: 7.79 million, Log 6.89
Grade 2, Stage 4 compensated (if you don't count HCC)
MELD: 7
hgb: 13.7
Platelet: 140
AST: 54
ALT: 42
Alk Phosphatase: 98
Treatment naive
The plan:
Start 10/3 with 4-week predose of Alinia (nitazoxinide) 500mg twice daily
Start 10/31 with 1200 Riba & 180 Pegasys (appropriately scary, huh?)
PCRs planned after 4 week predose before SOC, as well as 4 weeks and 12 weeks after starting SOC.
The options:
Treatment coordinator has recommended my husband consider an anti-depressant and/or meditation classes as good options to pursue (though he's not thrilled about either option at this point).
Hoping to be able to say in a year that another virus bites the dust!
~eureka
PS: If I should have posted this on the social side of the forum, please let me know.
I prefer yoga at home rather than a class. It really works to de-stress. Good luck getting your husband to do yoga (mine would never) but you may enjoy some de-stressing yourself.
I like 'A.m and P.m yoga for Beginners'. (Rodney Yee and Patricia Walden) Especially the p.m. part with Patricia Walden. She really takes you through the steps to deep relaxation. ****.*** has it.
Best wishes for a smooth beginning. I hope you will share the results of your husband's predose PCR. I'm very interested in Alinia.
I like 'A.m and P.m yoga for Beginners'. (Rodney Yee and Patricia Walden) Especially the p.m. part with Patricia Walden. She really takes you through the steps to deep relaxation. ****.*** has it.
Best wishes for a smooth beginning. I hope you will share the results of your husband's predose PCR. I'm very interested in Alinia.
Best of luck to you & hubby...I'm also G-1...it's taken me over 3 months to get to this point...after all the poking & prodding, I've been cleared to treat. I'm just waiting for the final go from the insurance. So, I'm right behind you.
Let's kill this thing...
Peg
Let's kill this thing...
Peg
toots62:
I get a thrill everytime I see the words "I cleared"! I really appreciate the prayers and personal experiences -- my husband's at least keeping an open mind about the ADs right now. He has a couple of weeks to mull it over since SOC won't start for another month.
Trish77:
Thanks so much for your kind words, well wishes and encouragement. Now that we're down to the wire, hubby is actually starting to ask lots of questions -- and wondering what I've learned/can learn from this forum :) ! I mentioned your/your friend's recommendation, but his concern is similar to yours: not enough time to "fit it into" life... at least he's agreeing to the regular walks. (That alone can be quite a challenge as the New England winter starts settling in...)
child24angel:
Angel that you are, Elaine, thanks for always being an inspiration ... I hope you are taking good care of yourself... hugs back to you!
comeagain:
It's really nice to hear from you! The blood numbers are normal for now, thank goodness, but he'll be be drawn a minimum of every two weeks during SOC so that we can keep a close eye on the platelets & hgb. Thanks for checking in :).
I get a thrill everytime I see the words "I cleared"! I really appreciate the prayers and personal experiences -- my husband's at least keeping an open mind about the ADs right now. He has a couple of weeks to mull it over since SOC won't start for another month.
Trish77:
Thanks so much for your kind words, well wishes and encouragement. Now that we're down to the wire, hubby is actually starting to ask lots of questions -- and wondering what I've learned/can learn from this forum :) ! I mentioned your/your friend's recommendation, but his concern is similar to yours: not enough time to "fit it into" life... at least he's agreeing to the regular walks. (That alone can be quite a challenge as the New England winter starts settling in...)
child24angel:
Angel that you are, Elaine, thanks for always being an inspiration ... I hope you are taking good care of yourself... hugs back to you!
comeagain:
It's really nice to hear from you! The blood numbers are normal for now, thank goodness, but he'll be be drawn a minimum of every two weeks during SOC so that we can keep a close eye on the platelets & hgb. Thanks for checking in :).
Hey eureka never said hi to you before take the opportunity to do that here, Ivé been admired you a long time, seems your hubbys platelets have gone up well.
Best of luck with the treatment.
ca
Best of luck with the treatment.
ca
I'm excited for both of you and very much hopeful that he gets this first time round. He's lucky to have you and you're a great support for him which is a huge factor in his chances for success. You know we're all here as you go through this next phase. Continue to have the courage and strength you've displayed and you'll both do just fine. I have no doubt you'll get through with your usual grace and wisdom. ` `
Treatment plan looks good to start with. Good luck with the Alinia. As for the meditation...yoga was recommended to me and I haven't done it but it's something to consider and I'd still like to fit it into my life at some point. It really does help to have something that helps you focus and to be able to do something. A very physical very male friend of mine recommended it, if that helps him any. :) Getting out for walks really clears the head too .. helps me sort out my bits and pieces. :)
Wishing you all the best.
Trish
Treatment plan looks good to start with. Good luck with the Alinia. As for the meditation...yoga was recommended to me and I haven't done it but it's something to consider and I'd still like to fit it into my life at some point. It really does help to have something that helps you focus and to be able to do something. A very physical very male friend of mine recommended it, if that helps him any. :) Getting out for walks really clears the head too .. helps me sort out my bits and pieces. :)
Wishing you all the best.
Trish
God Bless you and him!! Yes get him in the meditation and or meds. I was so depressed it was absolutely terrible.
I have my life, I cleared after 48 weeks of Peg/Rib treatments.
I just dont know if I could go through that again, it was very depressing, felt like mega flu for 1-2 years after treatment.
Good Luck let me know how he progesses
I have my life, I cleared after 48 weeks of Peg/Rib treatments.
I just dont know if I could go through that again, it was very depressing, felt like mega flu for 1-2 years after treatment.
Good Luck let me know how he progesses
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