Change of plans

[Annie441]

Hi Everyone,

Had a Dr appt. today and got the results of my 12 wk VL test. I’m less than 25 but still detected.  I’m geno 1a baseline 207,000. At 4 wks my VL was down to 492. So I’m a slow responder and will now be on tx 72 wks instead of 48. I know I shouldn’t be whining but I can’t help but feel a little down. I feel like I been lucky so far with sx, but it’s not been easy. I haven’t missed any work but feel as though I’m only functioning at 60%. I’ve lost 11lbs so far, started tx at 100lbs so I didn’t have a lot to loose. My blood levels are hanging in there but barely. I take shot 17 Friday and at this point can’t bring myself to do the math to see how many shots I have left. I’m sorry I’m sounding like such a baby and I know I should be pleased that my body is responding to the tx but I’m just disappointed that instead of a year of not feeling up to par it’s going to be 6 months longer.
Thanks for listening, Ann

[Annie441]

You guys are the BEST. Thank you for all the encouragement and possitive input.
Rita, your a doll and I love your jokes. I e-mailed your last one to everyone I know ( the toilet paper one).
Andromedae, better than Ivory Snow..lol...I like that. My husband is always giving the percentage of everything so I can really appreciate your break down.

Thanks everyone for being there for me,
Ann

[Andromedae]

The rules aren't written in black and white.  You went from 207,000 down to 25 .  You know what that means?  You killed off 99.992% of all the virus in your body.  That's better than Ivory Snow pure!  (g).

I can understand how disappointed you feel but consider:
1. You used a pretty sensitive test (down to 25).  If you used a test that only went to , say 60,, (like my crappy VA uses probably)   then you would be considered undetectable.  How sensitive were the researchers tests when they came up with the "12 week rule" ?  I don't know either.

Who's to say that your body and the drugs won't fight off that .008% of the virus that remains.  That's not much left and your viral load was pretty low to begin with so and the studies that I cam across say that works very much in your favor of getting an SVR.

There's still a lot of hope to be had here so go celebrate!

[rita863]

Annie,

Sorry that you have to do the 72 weeks.  But just remember there will be an end to it and when that happens and you are SVR it will have been worth it.  NyGirl did 72 weeks also, I'm sure she post to you and give you some good advise.
I am on shot 28 and my sides have gone from fine to a two weeks out of work, to feeling just ok.   So you just never know.

You have alot of people here who will help you get through it.  And when you want whine, WHINE!!!  We are aloud to!

good luck
peace
rita

[Annie441]

Thanks for the encouraging words... I know 72 wks is the best path for me and since the beginning of tx infact even before I started I resolved to do whatever it takes to beat this dragon. I guess this is just a bump in the road. I'm sure I'll do fine since I've been holding up so far and like I said earlier in this thread looking at it "one day at a time" makes it very doable.
Thanks and it sounds like your doing great, Ann

[FloridaMouse]

I'm a member of the 72 week club .  It really is better that you do the 72 weeks now instead of taking a risk, doing 48, relapsing and then turning around and doing 72.  That's what happened to me.  I did 48 weeks and relapsed 6 mos post.  I jumped back on tx for 72 weeks right away.  Had I done 72 weeks the first time, whether I relapsed or not, I don't think I'd be doing a second round as I would have felt that I did all that I could.  (I'm not a candidate for infergen or any trials).

Like you I am a slow responder that had a low baseline VL.  Like you I did not clear until week 24.  Any length of this treatment is hard, but 72 weeks, well, I'm sure we all know.   Going into it with a good "gotta get it done" attitude will help.  I'm 30 weeks in to my 72 weeks and I really am starting to believe I can make it to the end.

Good luck to you.

Mouse

[Annie441]

Thanks guys for responding to my post. I was just feeling a little...OK alot sorry for myself yesterday. I'm better today. For some silly reason I thought I was UND. The words "less than 25" just tricked me and I'm still learning, Guess I'll have plenty of time to learn alot...lol
  Yes Meki I will find the strength to get through this, it's called one day at a time, If I look at it that way it's not so overwelming.
  Pro thank you for the invite, I will try to make the club proud of me. I walk through the hallow doors with my head held high knowing I'm in the best company a girl could be in.

Ann

[Proactive]

Ann, having to do 72 weeks does suck.....but I'm sure you will handle it just fine.....
The upside? You are now a new 72 week club member and of course,,,,you are entiled to all the benefits that go alone with club membership (give me a minute and I will think of some, oh ya, much better chances of svr!!!!)
Hang tough,
the illustrious 72 week (plus) club with of course, frijole as our honorary member -----
through the hallowed doors you go and best of luck -were pulling for you
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/410633

[meki]

Don't feel like you're alone - because each one of us --- at some point during our TX went --- OMG WHAT AM I DOING THIS FOR?

You have to really look inside yourself and ask yourself if it is worth it... as in --- what are the alternatives?

What are the risks?

What is going to happen to you - and can you control it?

Slow response is better than NO response.

I was a slow responder. Not UND until after week 12... and I'm a Geno 3. So I beat the odds -- at least CS's stats say that I am.

So you know going 72 may be the only way for you.

I'm sending you strength to do what you need to do.

Meki