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1711722 tn?1356487554

THE FINISH LINE with Victrelis

This is gonna be long…

It’s 7pm and I feel like I should be doing something.  What oh what could it be?? My cell phone alarm is ringing, but……I have no more tx pills to take!!  Wuuuu Huuuuuu!!  The Victrelis bottles are empty, the Monday – Friday pill case of Ribavirin is empty, and the fridge doesn’t have any syringes of Interferon waiting for the Friday Night Darts Club injections. I am done!  I have survived.  I am nauseous and exhausted today, relieved and happy, grateful and humbled.  The last 2 months have been extremely draining for me and I have missed many a post on UND and otherwise.  

How do I even begin to thank everyone in this forum?  For once, I am ‘almost’ at a loss for words.  Almost.  Where else could I make 43+ friends, have over 650 posts (to date) and receive 100 notes…in 10 months…from total strangers??  In the Hep C Community on Med Help, I have encountered the most supportive, honest, and knowledgeable problem solvers.  I have felt GUILTY for enjoying my time here but it gave me such a safety net and sense of purpose at the same time.  While family grows weary of the week by week details (of which I am certain I gave too much), this is full of members willing to listen and lend encouragement.  THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS, right where you are.

This process has taken me through many stages: DENIAL – How can I have this??  I have no idea how I got Hep C; ACCEPTANCE – Okay, my tests keep showing my Viral Load is chronic; FEAR – My life just got shorter; DECISION – being African American, it made no sense to me to treat, as odds were so low, but the new P.I.’s offered much more hope, so I finally agreed; TREATMENT – September 1st,  2011 – March 16th, 2012.

I don’t have any labs to report at this time (UND at week 21) but expect to in one month.

For all my cyber-friends, official and otherwise…….YOU ROCK!!  I will always appreciate you more than you can ever know.  Wishing the very best for EVERYONE, and giving a special shout out to those who started this journey in September/October with me, just as scared to walk through that door:

Aj7538! Arlenedupee! Brianmo! Cieritaqt! Coeric! Dee1956! Dreamcat! Hondapatches! Jillybean! Indy531! Libzo2! Livingontheedge! Mykids247! Needinghelp213 (wishing you well) PJHep! Pooh55811! Screaming48! Starshine1ca! Vannh9!

Special thanks MUST also go to Frijole, for maintaining spreadsheets, from which I got most of the start dates.

Thank you to ALL the experts here for sharing your journies and advice, and also to the volunteer moderators (Claire and Emily).  And most, most of all, I give thanks to God, for whom I could never have done this without.  Time will tell if I am off and running to SVR-land (as ElPasolady would say)!

Blessings Always,
Bee :)
46 Responses
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1972385 tn?1343827076
Another one crosses the finish line.It must feel great.Congrats.I stopped a month ago and had after effects which were short lived.The morning headaches,body aches,fatigue,and over sleeping didn't last long.I got a little worried there for a couple of days.Every morning was different.My wife said I acted like I was recovering from an addiction.These were strong drugs and quitting them had like withdrawal feelings.I still have them but every day now seems better than the last day.It is now onto to SVR.My next blood test is in 5 mos.I noticed my blood looks different now.I work with my hands,in the past I would cut my finger and put it in my mouth till I treated it.It tasted bad.Now my blood tastes fine.I guess it is finally over with the hepC.
Helpful - 0
910090 tn?1332167460
Congratulations to you and I am sooo very happy for you, Bee!  you have been such an inspiration to me and so kind.   I cannot imagine how joyful it must be to know that spring is here...and you have sooo much to look forward to this year. SVR!!  :-))  

It's soo good to read such positive posts like this when you are getting down and cannot see the light sometimes and this shows me it is shining bright!  God bless you always,  Anita

Helpful - 0
1714930 tn?1319644573
Congrads - its been a long road. I'm so very happy for you! Now its time to help your body recovery from all the meds.

Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Dear Bee, what a wonderful post, you ROCK!  You were so helpful to me when I was going through hell of the medication interaction
I am so very happy for you, that you made it to the end.  Now we will all wait for SVR.  I finished mid Feb and while so much better can not wait to regain my energy and my hair
Bless you
Dee
Helpful - 0
1711722 tn?1356487554
Still exhausted but......less than yesterday.  I'm healing.
There are so, so many here I wish I could thank personally (Hector, Cando, NYGirl, Eureka, Working Dog, Willb, Flcyclist, Crossroads, etc, etc) but ya know what.....if you have commented even once on my threads......you have made a difference and I send you a very heartfelt THANK YOU!

From diagnosis to decision......I was completely overwhelmed.  Finding this forum was a gift from God and just what I needed to guide me through.  Starting, continuing or discontinuing tx is such a personal, individual decision.  Go with your gut.  Asking questions here takes the shadows away so that we can see more clearly and feel more secure (and knowledgeable) in all the steps.

Wishing strength to everyone still treating.  Wishing SVR to those who have finished.  And for those of you still faced with the decision.....I pray you find what you're looking for from the wonderful people here.

Hugs & Admiration,
Bee

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Avatar universal
Congratulation on compleating treatment!1
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