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SVR - I Made It!
I went through treatment twice but now I am happy to say that the virus was undetected when I took my viral load test at six months post treatment.
It has been quite an ordeal spending two years taking (1st TX - Pegasys and Copegus and 2nd TX - Pegintron and Rebetol) but it is such a good feeling to know that I can now recover. I was Stage 3-4, Grade 4 during treatment and now am approximately Stage 2-3, Gade 0 after being SVR. I say approximately because I seem to get different values for Stage when I have different fibrotests done. Has anyone else gotten different values for fibrotests? I think the fibrotest results can fluctuate.
In any event, I thank God and the forum for helping me during this struggle. Through both of my treatments the forum was helpful although I sent messages only once in a while. Actually, during treatment, my memory was so bad I kept forgetting my username and so I would create a new one.
Now, my challenge is to work on getting my thinking back as well as my memory. I am writing notes to myself and this helps. My job has become more interesting but also more demanding and I have new responsibilities so I am finding ways to double-check myself so I can avoid forgetting critical steps.
I would also be interested in hearing how you all have recovered from side effects caused by the treatment. In some ways, I feel like I am a teenager learning new ways of thinking all over again. In some ways, it's like being reborn.
Another thing that I am working on is being more outgoing and so I look forward to continuing our discussion.
Good luck to all and thanks again!
Traveler-SVR
It has been quite an ordeal spending two years taking (1st TX - Pegasys and Copegus and 2nd TX - Pegintron and Rebetol) but it is such a good feeling to know that I can now recover. I was Stage 3-4, Grade 4 during treatment and now am approximately Stage 2-3, Gade 0 after being SVR. I say approximately because I seem to get different values for Stage when I have different fibrotests done. Has anyone else gotten different values for fibrotests? I think the fibrotest results can fluctuate.
In any event, I thank God and the forum for helping me during this struggle. Through both of my treatments the forum was helpful although I sent messages only once in a while. Actually, during treatment, my memory was so bad I kept forgetting my username and so I would create a new one.
Now, my challenge is to work on getting my thinking back as well as my memory. I am writing notes to myself and this helps. My job has become more interesting but also more demanding and I have new responsibilities so I am finding ways to double-check myself so I can avoid forgetting critical steps.
I would also be interested in hearing how you all have recovered from side effects caused by the treatment. In some ways, I feel like I am a teenager learning new ways of thinking all over again. In some ways, it's like being reborn.
Another thing that I am working on is being more outgoing and so I look forward to continuing our discussion.
Good luck to all and thanks again!
Traveler-SVR
I agree the brain fog side effect is both funny and seriously a challenge. One aspect of this that I am trying very hard to overcome is the way in which I problem solve. My job involves looking at things from different angles and I find I don't do these things in the same way that I used to. This combined with the loss of memory means I need to develop new techniques. I am always interested in hearing how anyone has tackled these challenges.
At times when I am working on my computer, I think of something I need to do that involves retrieving a document somewhere on the computer in a specific folder but by the time I start opening files to go there, I forget what I am looking for and end up staring at the screen. I have various notebook and calendars and they help for some things but am always on the lookout for new theories on how to retrain our minds. Anyone know of any good self-help books on this topic? Specifically, my short-term memory seems shot; my long-term memory is there as I can remember phone numbers of kids I played with when I was a boy 50 years ago.
Well, in any event, I will continue to improve I'm sure and I do appreciate the forum.
At times when I am working on my computer, I think of something I need to do that involves retrieving a document somewhere on the computer in a specific folder but by the time I start opening files to go there, I forget what I am looking for and end up staring at the screen. I have various notebook and calendars and they help for some things but am always on the lookout for new theories on how to retrain our minds. Anyone know of any good self-help books on this topic? Specifically, my short-term memory seems shot; my long-term memory is there as I can remember phone numbers of kids I played with when I was a boy 50 years ago.
Well, in any event, I will continue to improve I'm sure and I do appreciate the forum.
Lol, your story about writing down your usernames and passwords in code and then forgetting how to crack your own code sounds like me BEFORE I went on treatment! To be honest, I think I have always had and always will have brain fog - being on treatment just made me notice it more as I was constantly scrutinizing my responses and behaviour.
Another heartfelt congrats to you :)
Another heartfelt congrats to you :)
Congratulations this is wonderful wonderful wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the fact that your liver improved is just icing on the cake it's truly wonderful!
And the fact that your liver improved is just icing on the cake it's truly wonderful!
The never ending brain fog stories... Almost one year post tx, I'm still fighting it. I'm going to see my doctor about it tomorrow, as I don't think it is funny anymore.
Thanks for all the good wishes.
You're right about forgetting my username being humorous as I think this perspective is key to getting us through to the other side. I think the way to deal with treatment and post treatment is to not take everything so seriously.
As I mentioned, I have been trying different devices for remembering things and so the other day, I made a list on my computer where I can keep various usernames and passwords. Since I didn't want to have an actual list of real usernames and passwords, I wrote them in crytic ways with clues attached. Unfortunately, I couldn't understand a couple of them when I went back at a later date. And then I couldn't remember which folder contained the list.
You're right about forgetting my username being humorous as I think this perspective is key to getting us through to the other side. I think the way to deal with treatment and post treatment is to not take everything so seriously.
As I mentioned, I have been trying different devices for remembering things and so the other day, I made a list on my computer where I can keep various usernames and passwords. Since I didn't want to have an actual list of real usernames and passwords, I wrote them in crytic ways with clues attached. Unfortunately, I couldn't understand a couple of them when I went back at a later date. And then I couldn't remember which folder contained the list.
A BIG Congrats Traveler!!!! It's amazing to me how anyone can go thru this more than once. I know this is not funny but your comment ...
"Actually, during treatment, my memory was so bad I kept forgetting my username and so I would create a new one."
...made me chuckle, I can totally relate!!! But this aside, wonderful news!
"Actually, during treatment, my memory was so bad I kept forgetting my username and so I would create a new one."
...made me chuckle, I can totally relate!!! But this aside, wonderful news!
Congrats Traveler!!!! I'm so pleased that you made it, especially after a 2nd round of tx!! I'm sure that you'll find it a little dreamlike to believe that it really has happened... ENJOY!
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