Anybody have any positive experience with tx?

[Missy4306]

Newbie here.  I am starting Peg-Intron/Ribavirin tonight and dread it like you can't believe.  I am Geno 1, stage 3 and "trending rapidly to chirrosis" as the doc put it.  My hubby is blind, I am the one working and taking care of everything so the thought of being down for the count just terrifies me.  All the posts regarding treatment seem so negative... has there been anybody who has been able to maintain a pretty physically demanding job and active lifestyle?  The doc said hydration would keep the side effects to a minimum and that I should get used to it after a couple of injections.  I don't have the luxury of waiting on a new treatment to be approved since I already have a pretty burnt out liver and all the nasty symptoms that go with it.  I don't have very much faith that the treatments will rid me of this since I am a geno 1 with a viral load of nearly 17 million but what do you do?  I am trying to get a better attitude but for now I am just ticked off at life.  I know there is always someone worse off than me so I shouldn't whine or complain but man, I am so tired of dealing with all this already and I have only been in the diagnosis, tests, doc visits circus for a couple of months now.  I have the utmost respect for you guys that have hung in there so well despite all the **** that is laid on you.  If anybody has any soothing "it won't be that bad" kind of advice, I could sure use some.  Then again I guess I might as well know what I am in for.  Thanks, and enjoyed reading the posts.  

[jdwithhcv]

By now you are well into your treatment.  How's it going?

jd

[strait_texan]

hi missy beautiful baby in profile, new to this site but i will share my take on your question and mission for the great positive response,we were all searching for that at one time or another, the negative is that you will hear a million negatives before you hear 1,2,or 3 positives that will answer what you are looking to hear. here is my attempt at positive response for you humor me pl as i dont know you personally #1 it's just spilt milk and if you wipe it up it will all be ok- oh serve some more milk , #2 the outcome can only be better than living thru not doin any treatments.#3 did you wake up this mornin and open you eyes? then thank you lord ,all will be fine.  I was dignosed hep-c in 96 i'v had it aprox. 25 years went thru 2 tx 1 infergen in 1996 back  when it was still tagged as non-a , non-b , whatever!, but did not respond, oh well got on tx again in 2003 pegasys was the next tx , would you believe did not respond again . I am geno type 1a have gone from 240,000 vl to 17000 to 27000 and at present 3,700,00  , not so high but i also have chronic arthritis from previous accident, as well as chronic cirrhosis,and osteoperosis as a result of this, in 2007 had a episode that is a sx that will happen at some point if not prepared esophageal varices , lost 2 pints of blood almost expired due to that nontheless i'm still able to write this ha-ha, as well as a few other things will happen because of imune deficiancy, oh did i mention almost exited again feb. of 2009 per pneumonia. i am still waiting for 2 unicorns;1 a tx  protocall for non responders that can put my version in remmission,2 that society removes the stigma of our desease from their mind and does everything possible to get federal aid for research and assistance for individuals living with this ., when all is said and done,  missy you will have to cry when you have to , laugh every chance you can, rest as you need to because you will need to, and for all those times when family doesn't understand your situation, your support is not there, look for your higher power and all will be fine. family will always be their. now that i'v exhausted all my breath- whsh , i hope this was helpful .oh and i did lose my hair and it did grow back , lost my teeth , didn't get those back ,but bought me some so now i smile all the time .

[jdwithhcv]

And this was a positive experience for you?  Oh, honey, you have GOT to get out more!

jd

[GoofyDad]

"Anybody have any positive experience with tx?"

Well, I walked in on a fat gal doing a number 2 in the unisex bathroom at the local Chevron station. Does that count?

Other than that - I was able to work throughout but honestly wasn't on top of my game, nor terribly effective. But I survived and no one seemed to notice too much. I took occaisional sick days as I felt like it - very few that I really needed to - but it helped keep the batteries charged.

Good luck - you'll be OK. Just remember to lock the door at the Chevron.

[Isobella]

At week 37 I can say for sure.....I am positively experiencing tx =)

It's not that much fun....but has been doable and not at all that bad.

In the risk/reward train of thought.....it's very much worth it.

[chuckles333]

I'm in week 6 of treatment and so far it's been nowhere as scary as I was led to believe. I'm sure others have had a really bad time with it but for myself, and I suspect, a large portion of those treated it's just not the horror story we're led to believe. Is it worse than no treatment? Obviously! Is it a total hooror story? Hardly. Is it worth the result if you are cleared? You had better believe it! Hep C is not a benign thing. it kills people! Be strong.