Open Thread for all to use

[cajunlady]

Threads are open now.  I will check back later on my earlier post about Reading and Vision.  Still feel good, and hubby is finally home for once on a Saturday, YEAH!  

Everyone enjoy the tread.

cajun

[Mister beagle bailey]

Tomorrow will be shot #3 for me.  When should I get my PCR test?   Is it right after shot 4 or later?

  BB

[jmjm530]

Are you talking about a week 4 PCR? If so, you want the blood drawn on the day before your fifth injection. Alternatively, you could have the blood drawn on the day of your fifth injection but before the injection. Whatever you decide, best to have all your PCR's done on the same day and preferably with the same lab. Also, if feasible, ask your doctor for a sensitive PCR that goes down to at least 50 IU/ml. Better still is a test like Heptimax (Quest Diagnostics) that goes down to 5 IU/ml.

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks jim, I use Quest for all blood test, but will ask for the sensitive PCR.  Yhe dr. called me this morning to see how I was doing.  He also said with my anemia I will probably be on procrit the 6 months I'm on tx.

Take care,

  BB

[jmjm530]

If you ask for the sensitive test at Quest, make sure you specify "Heptimax".

I say this because Quest also has an excellent sensitive qualitative test. The problem with the sensitive qualitative so early in treatment is that it just gives you a positive or negative reading, while the Heptimax will give you viral load in numbers.

All the best luck.

-- Jim

[friole]

What great news.  I am a tad confused about the enlarged spleen, but I am glad she can go ahead with college and deal with the C issue later -- maybe after the meds are easier on one.
frijole

[Mister beagle bailey]

I just looked at my results before tx, from Quest:  
      HCV RNA QUANTITATIVE
         REAL TIME PC-----------318000
         HCV RNA< QUANTITATIVE
         REAL TIME PCR-------------5.50
The foot note said this test was develpeded by Quest

What do you think?

  BB

[dyce]

No need to apologize,I get bx next Fri.The reason I can remember so good B.B.is I'm not txing yet,but who knows later when I start tx.I'm going to set up for eye exam monday so I'll possibly have the results when I go to doc on Feb. 8th.Getting ducks lined up so I can start tx in Feb. sometime.

Dyce

[Mister beagle bailey]

I'm so glad you are starting tx soon.  You will have much support here, but you alredy know this.

Let me know how you make out with results and I'm really happy you decided to tx.  

  BB

[Dale_Ray]

Good Morning Everyone. Nineth shot last night of Pegasis and had a good night. Little joint ache but not bad. One of you had told me to keep the water going down and that has helped tremendously. Do any of you have problems with the cold weather or at least more than normal. I seem to stay chilled to the bone but I have to have cold air to breath in or I feel like I am out of air. Tonight is the dreaded Nupogen shot but maybe it will be better this week. I have to go to Nevada on business this week and I can't even think about sitting for three and one half hours in one spot. At least I can still work so that is a blessing. All of you have wonderful weekends. Dale

[Forseegood]

Goof: I guess you hadn't heard, between the menopause, Hep C, and the sixteen year old girl in her life, Forseegood kinda flipped out and wandered off... dogs finally picked up her trail and found her in some brush... somewhere outside of San Luis O, off the 101 I think. She was muttering something about "going up North to visit her friends Curly and Califia"..., don't know what else. It's back to the old "rubber room" for her I'm afraid...Hey Goofman, don't be the "Green Berret of the MedHelp set", I read a post that worried me a little, you be cautious Otay????

Spacecoast...I'm just scratching my head about this "circle of love" youre always referring to. Perhaps you realize that in a public grouping of people, any type of grouping, there will always be people that connect or whatever, and some will pursue each other off line, whatever...But only speaking for me, anyone can join my conversations (I can understand reasons for not wanting too necessarily, ha ha) and I don't purposely "exclude" anybody, I don't see many people excluding other people here, unless a person is overly rude and objectionable, etc.

When I see friendships forming etc, this fact doesn't threaten me in the least...it's just a natural occurrence...we all have Hep C and we all have to suffer everything that that entails and that's plenty.... There are plenty of people helping and supporting one another here and at other boards... I have to say I admire Chev and some others for their above and beyond "reaching out" to people who seem to be very easily threatened by friendship and caring and the like. Instead of being so "put off" by this supposed "circle of love" youre always going on about...maybe just join in and help and support with whatever info you can share, and I'm sure you have plenty to share. Just my take, you can do what you want of course.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Have nothing to add, just wanted to let you know you said it all.  Thank you,

  BB

[jmjm530]

Quest probably has at least half a dozen different PCR tests the doctor can order. Can't tell from what you posted which test that is. However, if you ask your doctor to specify the "Heptimax" test you will get their most sensitve PCR. Heptimax is a trademark of Quest Labs.

BTW is that 318,000 IU/ml for your vira load? If so, that's a very low pre-treatment viral load which is very good, and some believe a positive predictor for successful treatment.

-- Jim

[cajunlady]

Boy am I sorry I opened this thread.  You know one day I am thanked for it and the next I am spat at for it. Go Figure.  When I opened the site I did have a question just not the main topic.  I had no clue it would cause this.

I will say this I will not bring my positive energy to a negative state; so my friends I bid farewell for now.

Try not to chew each other up to bad today.

And again sorry for the open thread; and yes I guess I understand about the topic thing and I will be considerate from now on. Peace / Love

cajun

[jmjm530]

I hope you didn't misunderstand what I was saying about putting "topids" in the "comment bar. It had absolutely nothing to do with your "open thread" because all the threads here are open in the sense that we use them for other topics.

I also know Goofy well enough to know that he was only reflecting on a change in recent events and meant nothing personal. In fact, during the "lock-out" period, a number of people, including yourself took the time to give us some open threads. And we're all grateful for that.

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks Jim, that's what I thought, and needed to know. I was infected around 1997 from a tatoo gun.  That may be why the load is low, It's been around 8 or 9 yrs.

Thanks again, I feel really good with what you said about the positive success ----

  BB

[cuteus]

it is the dynamics of the forum, some days our actions are measured one way and the other day, they are viewed differently. I don't think it was meant to criticize you, though. Try not to  take things too personal in Med HElp. Things and words are misinterpreted all the time.  Don't fret it too much, please.

[jmjm530]

I'd also like to add that I think having let's say one out of the 8 daily allocated threads designated "Open" is a good idea because it allows an easy place to put those posts that don't necessarily require a separate topic, plus those new to the forum may find it less intimidating than cutting into a topical thread, although that is the custom here anyway.

-- Jim

[cuteus]

when was the vl measured? I find the vl results to be less useful than some think, unless it is taken right before your first shot. I had a 376,000 result in March'03 and in April it was over a million. I started tx in July, I found no benefit whatsoever in my case, and in the case of at least 5 other members who also started with "low" vl but did not clear at wk 12. IF your PCR was right before the shot, then it might be an advantage to be that low.  DOn't fret the VL too much, until your first PCR while in tx shows a negative or significant drop. That is when the numbers mean the most.
take care

[jmjm530]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it hard to follow a particular topic in the so-called "open threads" but in reality all the threads here are open with mutiple topics.

One thought -- and it's only that (thought is short of "suggestion" LOL) is to add a descriptive comment line to the thread specific to the topic as opposed to just having it default to "Everyone" or addressing a particular person. That way someone can scan quickly individual threads within the open threads. Hope this makes some sense.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with studies/books, etc., suggesting laughter not only makes people feel better but perhaps can even improve one's health via some mechanism in the immune system.

Not sure if it's everyone's cup of tea, but Spike TV has been running the old "Three Stoogies" series. I've TiVoed (sp?) dozens of the episodes and whenever I get down, I have Larry, Curly and Moe to put things back in perspective. Another funny show on TV is "Everyone Hates Chris". It's sort of like the ole' show "Wonder Years" but takes place in 1970's Bed Sty Brooklyn based on Comedian Chris Rock's youth. While Rock does not appear in the episodes, he's a co-writer and narrates.

-- Jim

[dyce]

Good morning and yes Mr.B.B. I'm fine today.Got my tsh test back and was normal(normal range is0.40-5.50).I don't know if it's the hcv its self or if the thyroid fluctuates up and down.When I had the inital test I was not having the sx's,so I'm still not sure.Shot 3 for you tomarrow right BB.hope all goes well!

Dyce

[GoofyDad]

In general, I like Jim's non-suggestion on adding a topic descriptor to posts. Seems when a few threads get going within one master thread, identifying the subject matter of your posts can be helpful to everyone.

Also, since the various K2 incarnations don't seem to be finding sport in stealing threads this week, perhaps we don't need to open generic 'Open Threads' anymore?

[fishdoc]

Good morning from the land of UFOs...
had my HepC education thursday and ordered my scripts.  Of note, if you remember I asked about the testing for ANA (antinuclear antibodies) and SMA (smooth muscle antibodies).  I asked the doc about the positive results.  He said my numbers were borderline, as in 1:10 was the threshold and that is what mine was.  He said if it was two or three times that, they do a biopsy before treatment.  So of course my fertile mind decided that those tests (which are for autoimmune stuff) are for indications of autoimmune hepatitis, and the literature that came with my handy dandy kit says "contraindicated in autoimmune hepatitis or decompensated liver disease".  Just fruit for future thoughts.....

[jmjm530]

I'm glad you like my non-suggestion and I might add that those that don't get Larry, Moe and Curly on Spike TV are lucky that they can get Goofy here at MH.

-- Jim