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Quest & Heptimax test
Well had my visit with Gastro, and he was not too concerned about HGB as long as I am getting the shots again. He says after next lab if still dropping, he will intervene and get more, but says it may take a few wks for the up'd dose to show anything. I asked for the Heptimax test,for my PCR, but doc had no idea what I was talking about. the one he ordered goes down to 50. So not sure if it was the one that JmJm tells us to get, I even asked Quest when I was there if that was the Heptimax test.. she says I have no idea. So....... Then when I was leaving told me it only takes up to 48 hours to get results back on this test. I thought it took up to 2 wks for that one ???
I'm really surprised you still order only the real-time PCR. Not that it isn't a sensitive test but why not go with the best available, instead of second best? As you probably know, Heptimax is a two-part test that uses the exact same real-time PCR as you take as part I. Then if your negative on the PCR -- and only then -- do they run part II. Part II is a very sensitive quantitative test using TMA technology that goes down to 5 IU/ml. Unless your insurance doesn't cover it, can't see any reason not to use the most sensitive available. And there is at least one study that shows folks often carry low-level viremia (below 50) on treatment and therefore test negative at EOT with PCR but in actuality are positive by TMA. 100 per cent of this subgroup group will relapse. By using TMA technology throughout treatment, there will be no guessing game in that regard because you're using the most sensitive tests possible.
Yes, the test is "Heptimax". Obviously, the Quest technician you talked to didn't bother to look it up. You can see it here on Quest's website. Maybe print out and show both to doctor and Quest tech: http://tinyurl.com/2mf73j Just keep in mind that test code numbers vary by the region, but writing "Heptimax" on the req form or rx, is all the doctor needs to do. If you want to go further, call your local lab and get your local test code, or find it on the Quest site. Heptimax goes down to 5 IU/ml, not the 50 IU/ml your doctor ordered. But since he ordered a PCR to 50 IU/ml, as an alternative to Heptimax you could add Quest's HCV RNA QL TMA to the old blood sample if enough is still available.
38lbs for a doberman, ugh! I hope he never gets another dog, poor dog.
I agree about the small dogs at this point. Both our dogs are big and though I have always had big dogs and love big dogs, I envy people that have these little tiny dogs that they can take to the store with them. My one dog makes me feel so guilty if I have to leave her home alone just to run out to the supermarket. So I try to plan any of my outings while my mother or husband is here. It gets crazy sometimes. These dogs rule our lives, but I love them so much and would do anything to make them happy.
I agree about the small dogs at this point. Both our dogs are big and though I have always had big dogs and love big dogs, I envy people that have these little tiny dogs that they can take to the store with them. My one dog makes me feel so guilty if I have to leave her home alone just to run out to the supermarket. So I try to plan any of my outings while my mother or husband is here. It gets crazy sometimes. These dogs rule our lives, but I love them so much and would do anything to make them happy.
Well I am posting more today than I have really the past couple of weeks. Can ya tell its shot day.. LOL that is the day I feel the best.. but then the evil starts over..
Yes giving up the baby was hard. I didn't want to be around any of my friends, It was so depressing.. but after about 6 mos, I forced myself to take down the nursery and move on. I am still waiting for what Plans God has for me.. Maybe it was meeting Mike and being a step mom.. who knows... I still get upset sometimes watching silly stuff about babies.. but I am 47 now. no way do I want to think about starting a family.. Finally got the house to ourselves.. LOL Its nice, I only had to start when they were teenagers.. LOL but that was pretty funny too..
My ex and the dog.. yeah.. I wanted to choke him myself. It was so sad, she was about 38 lbs I think when I took her to the vet. But she recovered and gained weight, just not quite to what she was when I sent her to him. When I moved in with Mike I did not want to take over his house with my dogs, so convinced my ex to take them both temporarily. When we decided to keep the house and not sell it, I called to get them back, and he wanted to keep them, so I said well I will take Piper and you can have Cessna.. ( she listened to him better , even though she was my dog ) and then he thought he was gonna go to jail for driving w.o.l after 2 DUI, that I got her back. and hadn't seen her for about 5 months, and she was bones.... But she had cancer, and Piper has Cancer and prognosis is guarded, she seems fine, and I watch for her to have any changes or more growths, but the time will come with her too.. and will just start over. Trying to talk Mike into Mini Pins so we can take them with us, and travel, but he says you would give up a Big Dog for an ankle nipper ? That is a good question...
Yes giving up the baby was hard. I didn't want to be around any of my friends, It was so depressing.. but after about 6 mos, I forced myself to take down the nursery and move on. I am still waiting for what Plans God has for me.. Maybe it was meeting Mike and being a step mom.. who knows... I still get upset sometimes watching silly stuff about babies.. but I am 47 now. no way do I want to think about starting a family.. Finally got the house to ourselves.. LOL Its nice, I only had to start when they were teenagers.. LOL but that was pretty funny too..
My ex and the dog.. yeah.. I wanted to choke him myself. It was so sad, she was about 38 lbs I think when I took her to the vet. But she recovered and gained weight, just not quite to what she was when I sent her to him. When I moved in with Mike I did not want to take over his house with my dogs, so convinced my ex to take them both temporarily. When we decided to keep the house and not sell it, I called to get them back, and he wanted to keep them, so I said well I will take Piper and you can have Cessna.. ( she listened to him better , even though she was my dog ) and then he thought he was gonna go to jail for driving w.o.l after 2 DUI, that I got her back. and hadn't seen her for about 5 months, and she was bones.... But she had cancer, and Piper has Cancer and prognosis is guarded, she seems fine, and I watch for her to have any changes or more growths, but the time will come with her too.. and will just start over. Trying to talk Mike into Mini Pins so we can take them with us, and travel, but he says you would give up a Big Dog for an ankle nipper ? That is a good question...
Thanks.. yes losing Mom is never easy. She had emphyzema, but refused to stop smoking. My brother was all depressed over it, and some other health issues of his own. He was on Paxil and was drinking, so I am sure you know what that does. Not a good combo.. Thats when he decided to shoot himself with a 30OT 6.. got his femorial artery on his right leg. His whole stomach area is totally gone. all the fat and tissue and muscle is gone. They grafted over it , and it looks like Jaws had him at some point.
But he survived and gets around with a cane. But they may have to remove that leg eventually, as he has a mass that is growing all around the artery they replaced, and its closing it smaller, leg is 3 times the size of his left one.
Which he had a total knee replacement on, and body was rejecting during this time of Moms death, and they were talking about taking it off, that was part of his depression. He lives out in Portland Oregon, and I am in florida. At least I do still have my Dad. I finally talked him into coming back from Mexico after Mom passed and getting a place near by. That I worry about him traveling alone all the time. So he did.
But he survived and gets around with a cane. But they may have to remove that leg eventually, as he has a mass that is growing all around the artery they replaced, and its closing it smaller, leg is 3 times the size of his left one.
Which he had a total knee replacement on, and body was rejecting during this time of Moms death, and they were talking about taking it off, that was part of his depression. He lives out in Portland Oregon, and I am in florida. At least I do still have my Dad. I finally talked him into coming back from Mexico after Mom passed and getting a place near by. That I worry about him traveling alone all the time. So he did.
That's tough, but I'm glad to hear that your father lives near you now. It helps to have a family member close by, or if no family, a person or people that is as close as family. Thats why friendships are so important. People do need people and no one really should be alone. Even just opening the phone book someone can find all sorts of support groups, religous groups etc.and if you're friendly,a person can have a bunch of new friends in a short time.
I think alot of times when someone goes through a tough time and gets hit with depression the worse thing they can do is isolate themselves. Though you do need time to grieve and sometimes even grieve alone, there comes a time you have to connect again to people. My cousin's boyfriend broke up with her. They were together for years. She was crushed. Then she lost her job,but really had no need to worry about money because my uncle is very wealthy. She didn't want help from them and had enough money saved to live off for a while, but I guess she was slipping into a deep depression and no one recognized this. She put a gun to her head and killed herself. I hadn't seen her in years and of course you feel terrible about not keeping in touch and all that, but even those around her didn't see any real sign. I guess they thought she would be down for a while because of the break up and then she would snap out of it, but unfortuanately she didn't.
But in asking questions about her to my other cousins and aunt, I found that she isolated herself, mainly due to never really hanging out with anyone but her boyfriend and not having other friends. That 'one friend' could have helped if she had one. I think sometimes people think if they don't have alot of friends that it is too late to try to build good relationships at this point. That is a thriving fallacy as far as I am concerned. Some of my best friendships are the ones that I have developed over the last 5 years or so.
So anyhow I hope your brother gets well and I hope he stays connected with people. Have a nice weekend. I can't believe it's shot night already. The weeks are flying by.
See ya later!
I think alot of times when someone goes through a tough time and gets hit with depression the worse thing they can do is isolate themselves. Though you do need time to grieve and sometimes even grieve alone, there comes a time you have to connect again to people. My cousin's boyfriend broke up with her. They were together for years. She was crushed. Then she lost her job,but really had no need to worry about money because my uncle is very wealthy. She didn't want help from them and had enough money saved to live off for a while, but I guess she was slipping into a deep depression and no one recognized this. She put a gun to her head and killed herself. I hadn't seen her in years and of course you feel terrible about not keeping in touch and all that, but even those around her didn't see any real sign. I guess they thought she would be down for a while because of the break up and then she would snap out of it, but unfortuanately she didn't.
But in asking questions about her to my other cousins and aunt, I found that she isolated herself, mainly due to never really hanging out with anyone but her boyfriend and not having other friends. That 'one friend' could have helped if she had one. I think sometimes people think if they don't have alot of friends that it is too late to try to build good relationships at this point. That is a thriving fallacy as far as I am concerned. Some of my best friendships are the ones that I have developed over the last 5 years or so.
So anyhow I hope your brother gets well and I hope he stays connected with people. Have a nice weekend. I can't believe it's shot night already. The weeks are flying by.
See ya later!
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