Thanks for all you advice........

[Dunrider]

Thank You all....... I guess I was wondering if this was a normal thing or have the pharmecuetical companies brain washed all the drs. to make more money, one never knows.    I was so hoping not to have to ruin another summer with all the sides.  And I'm not sure my husband can handle it either.  I declined the antidepressants after trying two they made me fell like hell, and I've had some family members who have had problems with Anitdepressants.
Thank You all again
Dunrider

[meki]

Be aware that EVERYONE reacts differently to EVERY medication.

So don't expect what happens for a normal person --- to work for you --- until you "experiment" with it.

I'm one of those that work like this: Coffee makes me sleepy - Ritalin makes me calm - Valium makes me grumpy and Percocets wake me up and make me bounce off the walls until I get used to them. Xanax mildly makes me comfortable in my own skin when I was feeling "weird" or panicky... and Lorazepam made me feel "calm" but still functioning.

Others --- well --- each person - has different reactions...

You'll just have to figure it out for your self.

As far as your summer.

I don't know who told you "just a summer".... But I will tell you this --- For me --- a Geno 3a --- it's been 2 years for me... 6 months of TX (and I had a bad TX) --- and a year and a half later AFTER TX, I'm starting to function humanly again.

So - just a summer --- don't let yourself believe that... OK?

If it happens --- FABULOUS...

But if it doesn't --- be prepared for it.
Because that's one of the things that really bothered me --- I expected to feel Better as soon as the chemicals were out of my body --- but I didn't...

In fact, I felt worse for a couple of months.

But --- honestly - I do feel better now... A lot better.

And I'm glad I did go through it.

HepC ---- the diagnosis --- to the Treatment of it --- Changed my life profoundly.

It changed the way I think - the way I view the world --- and people and medications...

And even the way I view myself.

I will say that I love the new me --- but I also loved the "old" me.

And while I am glad to be on the healing side of life --- and trust me --- I'm very glad to be healing... LOL! I'm also sad to have lost the old me.

I don't know if anyone else has discussed that with you...

But that's what happened with me.

Dun - it's very nice to meetcha...

And just know --- that each person has a different experience with everything -- because not only do we have unique individual personalities - we all also have unique DNA makeup --- so our bodies are different.

Similar - but different.

Hugs!

Meki

[meki]

Dun --- it's a catch 22.

We have HEPC.

The only way known currently to clear it that is approved by the FDA is by Interferon Alpha 2a and Ribavirin... Currently it's the fastest - most likely to clear route.

This combination therapy causes problems in your body --- just like any chemotherapy that is out to "KILL" something --- it also has side effects...

Those side effects can be very brutal for some people ---- up to and including depression --- and suicidal ideation...

I seem to have a difficult time with serotonin reuptake medications (Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Lyrica... etc.) They tilt my world sideways (literally I feel like a crab walker...)

Anyhow - I managed with using short term - fast acting anti-depressants... Lorazepam (Ativan) and also Xanax... Some folks use Valium...

Each person reacts differently to EVERY SINGLE Medication --- Including treatment.

You could go through absolutely no side effects ---- to devastating side effects.

I had a very VERY hard ride on TX. I don't think everyone is like me --- and have seen the majority of folks just feel worn out --- feeling icky... but fairly functioning...

Most of us tough it out thinking it is "normal" --- the side effects...

Some are and some are not...

And doctors --- well to be honest --- make sure you have a doctor who is willing to work with you personally --- and find out what works FOR YOU...

Make sure your doctor is willing to listen to your complaints and actually do something about them... Because the worst thing for you is to have you feel bad --- sick or in pain ---- and the doctor to look at you and say --- nothing is wrong.

HA! I say.

As to the pharmaceutical companies --- yeah --- they are in this to make money ---  and yeah -- they promote their items to doctors and patients...

And yeah --- they push a lot harder than I think is appropriate --- especially for newly created - barely FDA approved items with no long term effect studies...

BUT --- without the pharmaceutical companies - we with HCV would probably die off a lot faster from awful liver --- and HCV complications...

And it isn't pleasant.

So --- it is a catch 22.