Aa
Viral load question thanks
Well, I called my pcp today and the nurse said my viral load was at 4.0. Does this make any sense to anyone? I am so used to millions, and hundred thousands this is a wierd one. Also I am getting a lap band procedure done..yeah..So, if I am SVR, then I hope it will stay that way. I cant wait to loose some of this weight. Thanks Geri
Boy girl...I know exactly what you are saying. It sounds so so so bad - but when you've spent a lifetime working to maintain your looks and appearance and then all of a sudden one day there is NOTHING you can do to look good - it's HARD. It's TREMENDOUSLY hard on a woman's ego. I never realized fully how important vanity was. There is such a difference between being vain and vanity. It's OK to feel bad about it if you ask me. It IS a part of who you are - so don't let anyone tell you it's "silly" or anything stupid like that. I swear...people that say that have NO idea. I wanted to hit someone who said it one day to me, between my Italian temper and ribarage it was CLOSE.
I tell you - this wig has made the BIGGEST difference in my life. New foundation (I blend two different kinds together now to get the right texture and color since regular makeup just wasn't seeming to work for me) and that has helped my grey complexion and all but it wasn't until I got the wig that I felt "pretty". You just can't without hair! Thank GOD for ebay I swear I could simply not afford one from anywhere else and the one I got is AWESOME. Nice and long and even has pretty streaks in it! :)
Once the Procrit kicks in - start playing with makeup. Get a book at Borders or from the library and start experimenting. Psychologically it will help you SO SO MUCH! That's really what most of it is you know. When you THINK you look good...you stand more confidant. Mostly nobody else even notices ANY difference except the confidance.
Trust me - I went from almost bald to long thick hair...and people kept complimenting me on "getting my hair done" and the "new hair color". LOL - nobody really notices THAT MUCH of what you really look like. Once you feel good again you will look 100x better. It's ALL a matter of confidance and swagger - much much more than correct eyeliner you know?
All you need is some oxygen in your blood - that is hurting you so bad now. Once it's better...you can start playing around and making yourself feel good by taking CARE of yourself. I'll have to send you a care package of makeup and stuff...it just makes you feel good to have new things.
Do you know what I'm trying to say?
Your getting CLOSE to being well again now. Every day that goes by is one day closer to the meds working. They should be kicking in any second now!
I tell you - this wig has made the BIGGEST difference in my life. New foundation (I blend two different kinds together now to get the right texture and color since regular makeup just wasn't seeming to work for me) and that has helped my grey complexion and all but it wasn't until I got the wig that I felt "pretty". You just can't without hair! Thank GOD for ebay I swear I could simply not afford one from anywhere else and the one I got is AWESOME. Nice and long and even has pretty streaks in it! :)
Once the Procrit kicks in - start playing with makeup. Get a book at Borders or from the library and start experimenting. Psychologically it will help you SO SO MUCH! That's really what most of it is you know. When you THINK you look good...you stand more confidant. Mostly nobody else even notices ANY difference except the confidance.
Trust me - I went from almost bald to long thick hair...and people kept complimenting me on "getting my hair done" and the "new hair color". LOL - nobody really notices THAT MUCH of what you really look like. Once you feel good again you will look 100x better. It's ALL a matter of confidance and swagger - much much more than correct eyeliner you know?
All you need is some oxygen in your blood - that is hurting you so bad now. Once it's better...you can start playing around and making yourself feel good by taking CARE of yourself. I'll have to send you a care package of makeup and stuff...it just makes you feel good to have new things.
Do you know what I'm trying to say?
Your getting CLOSE to being well again now. Every day that goes by is one day closer to the meds working. They should be kicking in any second now!
Hey Girl! How was Thanksgiving?
I was wondering how much your chances of SVR improve by going 72 instead of 48? Have you heard/read anything that says a percentage of change in your chances? Just wondering because I am not sure when I cleared and am thinking about extention.
I was wondering how much your chances of SVR improve by going 72 instead of 48? Have you heard/read anything that says a percentage of change in your chances? Just wondering because I am not sure when I cleared and am thinking about extention.
You would better better off knowing the exact results of that test, rather than guessing. Can you get your hands on a copy of the report by fax or collecting it at the doc's office? Too important not to be sure about it.
I agree with FLGuy. I ALWAYS get a copy of ALL of my test results so I double check EVERYTHING. Amazingly...doctors ARENT always right. IN fact the first doctor told me I had NO Fibrosis - and it turns out I am stage 3.
So I learned. Get a copy of everything and read it for yourself :)
So I learned. Get a copy of everything and read it for yourself :)
I third that. Get copies of everything. Don't play the guessing game.
You are getting the lapband procedure ON TX? Just curious - wondering why you didn't get it prior to tx since being overweight is a negative predictor?
I am also really confused on your stats and how long you have been treating. Why don't you give us your pre treatment vl, genotype, start date, and the results of all your PCR's. If you have 11,000 IU now and only have three months - or is it four months - that doesn't sound too good. What was your biopsy report too?
frijole
You are getting the lapband procedure ON TX? Just curious - wondering why you didn't get it prior to tx since being overweight is a negative predictor?
I am also really confused on your stats and how long you have been treating. Why don't you give us your pre treatment vl, genotype, start date, and the results of all your PCR's. If you have 11,000 IU now and only have three months - or is it four months - that doesn't sound too good. What was your biopsy report too?
frijole
I'm confused about it all too. If you are at 4 months and are still reading positive - I'm not sure why the doctor is continuing treating with the same meds if they aren't working.
We must have something wrong in this story but reading Friole's comment made me wonder as well and see that I didn't misread.
How long have you been on treatment?
We must have something wrong in this story but reading Friole's comment made me wonder as well and see that I didn't misread.
How long have you been on treatment?
285,000 is 5.45 log so if you are 4 log now you have dropped 1.45 log in 8 weeks. the rule of thumb for continuing is 2 log in 12 weeks so you are respectable.
good luck.
bobby
good luck.
bobby
8 weeks? Then you are doing just fine.
Rule of thumb is really a 2 log drop by week 12 and clear of the virus by week 24 or they stop you.
However - passed 12 weeks still being positive you may need to extend treatment. Studies show that if you do not clear until week 24 - doing 72 weeks of treatment REALLY helps your odds of not relapsing.
That is what I personally am doing. I cleared somewhere between week 12 and week 24. Had only 400 as my number from week 4 until 24 when it was zero. So now I am on week 63/72.
Rule of thumb is really a 2 log drop by week 12 and clear of the virus by week 24 or they stop you.
However - passed 12 weeks still being positive you may need to extend treatment. Studies show that if you do not clear until week 24 - doing 72 weeks of treatment REALLY helps your odds of not relapsing.
That is what I personally am doing. I cleared somewhere between week 12 and week 24. Had only 400 as my number from week 4 until 24 when it was zero. So now I am on week 63/72.
Reason I didnt before, never considered it. I have been on tx since May 06, at which time my viral was 4 mill. I am geno 3A, no cirr, slight scarring. Diagnoised in 1993. I did tx for 3 months in 04, had to stop because of heart sx. Been on 800 riba and 150 pegasys from May 06-Oct 06. Viral drop was only to 285K, so doc wanted to try Pegintron and upped my riba to 1200. I have done 7 of these new tx shots, so I have about 5 weeks left until 12 week check on this tx. My CBC is all low, I am still waiting for my insurance to approve rescue drugs. Not deathly low but on the low end of the norm. As for the lap band, my insurance is a bear when it comes to approval. I was able to get the money to pay for the surgery, so, I am going for it, if my doctor says it is ok. Either way, I am only on this tx until April. So, it either works or doesnt.
Lab Corp won't have results on VL till fri. When dr's office rec lab results it was the same info from last week - cbc's alt/ast. Hvae to call back fri. Not my week.
I was only down to 10 and was breathing like a fish out of water, trying to walk around walmart, im thinkin it took 2 weeks for procrit to kick in a little, Bless your heart im glad you chose to lay down.....
I am trying to stay positive.I think I has my first brush w/Riba Rage. Got home around 6 from 7:30am. Phone started ringing, dog wanted to go out kids left dishes in sink. Put dog in kitchen-shut off phone and went to bed.If I had the energy I probavly would have broke the phone. I know what you are thinking, only 5 weeks and she has lost it. Once I was in bed I felt so mmuch better.I make myself think of all the wonderful things I plan on doing after tx.
You almost had it right. Next time, put the phone outside, dog in the dishwasher and muzzle the kids. Going to bed was ok.
said: I was wondering how much your chances of SVR improve by going 72 instead of 48? Have you heard/read anything that says a percentage of change in your chances?
The odds go from a 48% chance of relapse way way down to like 28%. Those are HUGE damn differences if you ask me. That is why I decided to go for it. A 48% chance of relapsing seemed really really HIGH. Have you read the Berg and the Sanchez Tapias studies? They REALLY are what gave me all of the numbers and data that pushed me to do it. I've only got like 10 weeks left now and at least when I go to bed at night I don't ever hve to say "I wonder if I had done the 72 if I would have gotten this back anyway", at least I'll KNOW I've done everything you know?
I'm crazy - you have to remember that...and it would have made me WORSE.
So the odds really do go down from a half to only a third. That is HUGE.
Now...........I just have to hope it pays off. But either way my liver has had a great break and should have regressed quite a bit. Plus...it really helps us not to get liver cancer. so all things involved...it's all good you know?
How are you doing? I loved Thanksgiving - we ate TWICE that day hahahahahaha. I LOVE the sandwich at like 7pm...so we ate early enough to get hungry again. Isn't that just piggish? It was SO MUCH FUN! :)
The odds go from a 48% chance of relapse way way down to like 28%. Those are HUGE damn differences if you ask me. That is why I decided to go for it. A 48% chance of relapsing seemed really really HIGH. Have you read the Berg and the Sanchez Tapias studies? They REALLY are what gave me all of the numbers and data that pushed me to do it. I've only got like 10 weeks left now and at least when I go to bed at night I don't ever hve to say "I wonder if I had done the 72 if I would have gotten this back anyway", at least I'll KNOW I've done everything you know?
I'm crazy - you have to remember that...and it would have made me WORSE.
So the odds really do go down from a half to only a third. That is HUGE.
Now...........I just have to hope it pays off. But either way my liver has had a great break and should have regressed quite a bit. Plus...it really helps us not to get liver cancer. so all things involved...it's all good you know?
How are you doing? I loved Thanksgiving - we ate TWICE that day hahahahahaha. I LOVE the sandwich at like 7pm...so we ate early enough to get hungry again. Isn't that just piggish? It was SO MUCH FUN! :)
LOL you made me laugh. Honey you did GOOD with your first real riba rage experiennce! You didn't stab the dog or shoot the phone...so you did much better than I did when it first started hitting me! My GOD I would yell at people for BREATHING too loudly LITERALLY. Thank God my family totally understood because it was like a switch would turn on all of a sudden and this absolute RAGE would just take over. Then just as soon it would be gone. CRAZY!
You are getting closer and closer to feeling well. Hang IN THERE i KNOW you can do it, even though it sucks. You have two big reasons to push you on (and neither are me...I will be the third).
As soon as you start to feel it...that will be the edge you need to carry you through. As soon as the ringing in your head or the pounding in your chest goes away fro just a minute and you can really BREATHE you'll go WOW it's happening! And right after that.....you will be fine.
It's horrible. But you are ALMOST THERE. Just remember that. ALMOST THERE.
You are getting closer and closer to feeling well. Hang IN THERE i KNOW you can do it, even though it sucks. You have two big reasons to push you on (and neither are me...I will be the third).
As soon as you start to feel it...that will be the edge you need to carry you through. As soon as the ringing in your head or the pounding in your chest goes away fro just a minute and you can really BREATHE you'll go WOW it's happening! And right after that.....you will be fine.
It's horrible. But you are ALMOST THERE. Just remember that. ALMOST THERE.
Hi Deb. I'm still alive and kicking (Barely).Thanks for the pep talk. I need all I can get. I still can't believe that ugly girl in the mirror is me!!! I was cute - REALLY. My co-workers don't even comment anymore. At first it was oh, you don't look so good. i guess I am so beyond that. But, if i could just breath and walk up a flight of stairs or not feel faint showering I would stay ugly for the whole tx!!!!!! ha ha
It might not be your week but in a few days it will be another week behind you and procrit should be making a difference by then.
Thanks...well my last viral test in sept before I upped the riba and went to the intron was 285,000. So, I guess this is good since I have another month to go before I do three months on this..It has dropped quite a bit, I guess???
I'll guess that a viral load of 4.0 was reported using a log scale. This would mean a viral load of 10,000.
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