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Three years ago today the Hep C dragon slaying commences...
Howdy happy heppers!
Wow how time flies...Three years ago today I was facing the uncertain world of hep C treatment. I had just mentally committed myself to taking this journey as I'd tried multiple things in the seven months prior to trying to kill the virus. I had tried Sho-Saiko-To (Hep Zone in the US) -a Japanese Hep C treatment, a number of supplements designed for liver health, and even the experimental Germanium IV infusion being used in veterinary care to abolish liver tumors in dogs. Although the Germanium infusion seemed to work somewhat (in 1 month, after 1 dose, my viral load dropped from 465,000 to 16,000), it didn't completely eradicate the virus. The SST made my liver enzyme levels return to normal ranges and made me feel less tired,but still, did not kill the virus.
So, I prepared for the launch. I got into the best health that I could, had my grumpy gallbladder removed, had all the appropriate tests done (liver bx was grade 1, stage 1, I was a 3A geno) and Feb 26, 2008, I began my 6 month rollercoaster ride. For the first 6 weeks, I only had minor side effects...the usual fatigue and chills for about 3 days starting about 36 hours after the interferon shot...and the itching (my God, the itching!!! -it nearly made me mad!) My electric blanket, Aveeno after bath and body oil, and benedryl/ chlorophineramine became my best friends...At 4 weeks I was RVR (had rapid viral response to the treatment with an undetectable viral load) and remained so throughout the txing.
By 8 weeks, the hemolytic anemia was beginning to rear it's ugly head. I was pooped, but optimistic the txing was working! By week 10, thyroid trouble started. The interferon began to tick off my thyroid, making it inflamed and hyperthyroid. I wasn't aware the heart palpitations were from anything other than the anemia until I was tested at week 12 when my anemia had escalated and I was beginning to experience chest pains whenever I did anything like walking a few feet to get a drink of water. At week #16, I had a thyroid storm (thyroid hormone is completely out of control and peaks causing rapid heartbeat, elevating body temp, and high blood pressure -very scary, and life-threatening) and I was placed on beta-blockers to calm things down while the inflammation ran its course. My hematocrit had leveled out at 26.5 and my hemoglobin at 8.9. (No rescue drugs for me!) I was weak and tired and, if I'd had the energy, I probably would have stolen some old lady's oxygen tank at the first opportunity....;) The "brain fog" was bewildering. One episode while I was driving on the freeway (I forgot I was driving) particularly freaked me out. Another time, I turned the wrong way on a one-way street. Yup, I kept my driving to 1 mile within my home after that..(Yikes, eh?)
By week #20, I "flipped" to hypothyroid and had to start thyroid meds until after I finished treatment. My Dr was wanting me to stop treatment early (I'm like -Are you crazy?!? -I've gotten this far and I want to do everything possible to insure this works!!!) Well, I didn't stop. I compromised. I did cut my ribavirin from 800 mg down to 400 mg (figuring it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to flush from your system) and finished out the Peg (interferon).
It took me 2 months after treatment ended to get strong enough to rejoin the working world, and another 2 months to finally have all my labs return to normal. I was SVR at 6 months and have remained UND (undetectable viral load) since and it's been 2 years and 4 months since finishing...
If it hadn't been for having a strong support group of friends and family and sites like this to go to for help, confirmation, or just morbid hepper humor (why do Mikkimoe and Can Do come to mind here?...) this war against my hep C dragon would have been a lot more difficult. I am happy to say I have made a nice set of luggage out of that dragon and I can bequeath my lucky dragon-slaying sword to whomever ventures on this trek! I emit a Howard Dean-like girlie scream in your honor! YYYYEEEAAAGGGHHHH!!!! LOL ;)~MM
Wow how time flies...Three years ago today I was facing the uncertain world of hep C treatment. I had just mentally committed myself to taking this journey as I'd tried multiple things in the seven months prior to trying to kill the virus. I had tried Sho-Saiko-To (Hep Zone in the US) -a Japanese Hep C treatment, a number of supplements designed for liver health, and even the experimental Germanium IV infusion being used in veterinary care to abolish liver tumors in dogs. Although the Germanium infusion seemed to work somewhat (in 1 month, after 1 dose, my viral load dropped from 465,000 to 16,000), it didn't completely eradicate the virus. The SST made my liver enzyme levels return to normal ranges and made me feel less tired,but still, did not kill the virus.
So, I prepared for the launch. I got into the best health that I could, had my grumpy gallbladder removed, had all the appropriate tests done (liver bx was grade 1, stage 1, I was a 3A geno) and Feb 26, 2008, I began my 6 month rollercoaster ride. For the first 6 weeks, I only had minor side effects...the usual fatigue and chills for about 3 days starting about 36 hours after the interferon shot...and the itching (my God, the itching!!! -it nearly made me mad!) My electric blanket, Aveeno after bath and body oil, and benedryl/ chlorophineramine became my best friends...At 4 weeks I was RVR (had rapid viral response to the treatment with an undetectable viral load) and remained so throughout the txing.
By 8 weeks, the hemolytic anemia was beginning to rear it's ugly head. I was pooped, but optimistic the txing was working! By week 10, thyroid trouble started. The interferon began to tick off my thyroid, making it inflamed and hyperthyroid. I wasn't aware the heart palpitations were from anything other than the anemia until I was tested at week 12 when my anemia had escalated and I was beginning to experience chest pains whenever I did anything like walking a few feet to get a drink of water. At week #16, I had a thyroid storm (thyroid hormone is completely out of control and peaks causing rapid heartbeat, elevating body temp, and high blood pressure -very scary, and life-threatening) and I was placed on beta-blockers to calm things down while the inflammation ran its course. My hematocrit had leveled out at 26.5 and my hemoglobin at 8.9. (No rescue drugs for me!) I was weak and tired and, if I'd had the energy, I probably would have stolen some old lady's oxygen tank at the first opportunity....;) The "brain fog" was bewildering. One episode while I was driving on the freeway (I forgot I was driving) particularly freaked me out. Another time, I turned the wrong way on a one-way street. Yup, I kept my driving to 1 mile within my home after that..(Yikes, eh?)
By week #20, I "flipped" to hypothyroid and had to start thyroid meds until after I finished treatment. My Dr was wanting me to stop treatment early (I'm like -Are you crazy?!? -I've gotten this far and I want to do everything possible to insure this works!!!) Well, I didn't stop. I compromised. I did cut my ribavirin from 800 mg down to 400 mg (figuring it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to flush from your system) and finished out the Peg (interferon).
It took me 2 months after treatment ended to get strong enough to rejoin the working world, and another 2 months to finally have all my labs return to normal. I was SVR at 6 months and have remained UND (undetectable viral load) since and it's been 2 years and 4 months since finishing...
If it hadn't been for having a strong support group of friends and family and sites like this to go to for help, confirmation, or just morbid hepper humor (why do Mikkimoe and Can Do come to mind here?...) this war against my hep C dragon would have been a lot more difficult. I am happy to say I have made a nice set of luggage out of that dragon and I can bequeath my lucky dragon-slaying sword to whomever ventures on this trek! I emit a Howard Dean-like girlie scream in your honor! YYYYEEEAAAGGGHHHH!!!! LOL ;)~MM
I have been reading this site for a couple of days now and I have to say your post about txt seems to strike a truth for me. I have know I have hepc since 1995 and like you have tried many things, mostly supplements/herbs etc. and I have managed to stay symptom free and mostly healthy. But I was going to have minor surgery 2 wks ago and they would not do it becuz my platelets were low (127) and my INR was 1.13) though not terribly bad, bad enough for the OB to cancel out. Then I went to a hematologist and had my blood work done and found out my ferritin levels were very high(299.8). So, she said I need to see my hep doc. Though I still do not feel bad, my body is telling me things are not good. My last biopsy was over a year ago and at that time I had stage 2 fibrosis. I may be in stage 3 now? So now I am back at that ol' crossroad, questioning myself...and the decisions I have made. Last year I had a chance to be in a study at the LIver Inst. and get my meds free but I chickened out a the last min. still thinking I was in charge...now I wish I would have not been so scared and would have just done it. I do not have health ins. I am self employed and cannot get it. So I either have to be in a study or go to the state ran medical service (not the best) and just do the straight interferon w/o any new drugs included. I see my hep doc next week and I can almost already hear him telling me to get txt. Your post inspired me to push on. I too will have to make that decision and be concertive. Since my body is so clean of drugs ( I eat natural, exercise etc) I am not sure how it will effect me, but I imagine in much the same way it effected you. I pray I can make it. I run my own business and it includes much of my life in my car. My fear has always been that I won't be able to run my business and support myself on txt. But I guess if I have to, I have to. I am alone and will only have friends and daughter to rely on if need be. So anyway just wanted to tell you about myself because it sorta mirrors you and I hope if I do the txt, I will be able to write on here someday like you and inspire someone else. If not at least I tried...right?
Yay for you MM...congrats on your continuing SVR!!!!
(thanks for the trip down memory lane...I remember when you forgot where you were going, lol!)
(thanks for the trip down memory lane...I remember when you forgot where you were going, lol!)
Always a pleasure to hear of someone knocking off the dragon and coming out the other side into happiness!! WTG!!
I just had a funny thought of someone tweeting Howard Dean and letting him know that his girlie scream was not wasted and is used around here quite a bit!!. lol
I just had a funny thought of someone tweeting Howard Dean and letting him know that his girlie scream was not wasted and is used around here quite a bit!!. lol
6 years ago I started slaying too, 72 weeks of whining and moping -interferon, anemia, thyroid disease and fog and I think that about sums it up enough for anyone to have to read through.
10.5 years ago the dragon slaying commenced. It took 3.5 years of treatment but I did reach SVR. The story is just way too long to tell and I don't want to bore you with all the details. .
so good to hear success stories and be validated as we share your journeys. it is a lonely disease and it is wonderful to have folks to share with who "get it". i hope to help others when i am done but i dont know what form it will take. i DO thank the old timers for making this trip easier. i cant imagine it alone. happy 2011, babs
Absolutley on had "I not been here'! I know I would have never finished tx.
Good to see you around too. I did not know you had tried all that other stuff! We have to wonder what some of these 'cures' out there can also do to a person?!
I am just LMAO on the driving and remembering the brain fog, etc. While we are so 'lucky' to have had just 24 wk tx's, it was still memorable, lol. (just '24 wks' not meant to sound like a piece of cake either) I remember I grounded myself from driving at all after I backed into a tree, a big very visable tree....and drove myself to Gainseville, walking into my house and did not, at all, remember driving home! And then there was the time I went in for the GYN app...they called me back for bloodwork. I then walked out, drove home and my phone was ringing..."this is Dr. *** office......uhhhh, you weren't done yet, could u please come back', lol. I hadn't even seen the Dr yet. (I did, it was an exam required for my trial, that they had not caught in their screening process before starting tx!) I too tried to go back to work after tx, then went back out for 2 more mths! In recall, I was posting here that 'My God, I feel worse now" after stopping tx. And as always, great people here worked me thru it all.
While I am very busy these days, and so grateful to be able TO be, it saddens me to see the low posting here, the place has changed quite a bit. It genuinely was my 'home' thru dx, bx and tx and post and I know many now need the same things we got from here. I know many 'oldies' are also busy, done txing, or otherwise...not able to be here as much. Off course during tx many of us had lots of time for here.....but I would think that many just dx'd or newcomers would be here, posting many of the silly ones we had, and the helpful, knowledgeable ones as well. I give my utmost respect to the many 'oldies' that have hung around, helping others here. It is hard to do when getting back to hectic life, 'normal' routine.
Anyhoooo....good to see u, hope life is going well, LL
Good to see you around too. I did not know you had tried all that other stuff! We have to wonder what some of these 'cures' out there can also do to a person?!
I am just LMAO on the driving and remembering the brain fog, etc. While we are so 'lucky' to have had just 24 wk tx's, it was still memorable, lol. (just '24 wks' not meant to sound like a piece of cake either) I remember I grounded myself from driving at all after I backed into a tree, a big very visable tree....and drove myself to Gainseville, walking into my house and did not, at all, remember driving home! And then there was the time I went in for the GYN app...they called me back for bloodwork. I then walked out, drove home and my phone was ringing..."this is Dr. *** office......uhhhh, you weren't done yet, could u please come back', lol. I hadn't even seen the Dr yet. (I did, it was an exam required for my trial, that they had not caught in their screening process before starting tx!) I too tried to go back to work after tx, then went back out for 2 more mths! In recall, I was posting here that 'My God, I feel worse now" after stopping tx. And as always, great people here worked me thru it all.
While I am very busy these days, and so grateful to be able TO be, it saddens me to see the low posting here, the place has changed quite a bit. It genuinely was my 'home' thru dx, bx and tx and post and I know many now need the same things we got from here. I know many 'oldies' are also busy, done txing, or otherwise...not able to be here as much. Off course during tx many of us had lots of time for here.....but I would think that many just dx'd or newcomers would be here, posting many of the silly ones we had, and the helpful, knowledgeable ones as well. I give my utmost respect to the many 'oldies' that have hung around, helping others here. It is hard to do when getting back to hectic life, 'normal' routine.
Anyhoooo....good to see u, hope life is going well, LL
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