Aa
Just Started Tx Four Days Ago
before I say anything else I want thank everyone who shares so much useful information. I was diagnosed in April with HCV and was devastated. After I pulled myself together I did some research and this forum was one oft he places that Google brought me. I have lurked her for two months and you have all given me so much useful information and gave me much hope as to my outcome. So you should all know that your posts meant something to me and I'll bet that they mean a great deal to a great many that you never hear about or know.
As for me, I fought my way for treatment at the VA as I do not have insurance that currently covers the treatment.Thank heaven for the VA but it was a struggle - if I had not been EXTREMELY proactive and vocal I would not have begun treatment until next September and even a week before treatment both my treating PA and the head of the Gastro-Ent department tried to talk me out of treatment saying that I was not yet "sick enough" and that I should consider waiting for better treatments. - I heartily disagreed with both of them and came in with studies showing that a better physical condition led to a better potential outcome. I was prepared.
Personally i think that such attempts to talk people out of treatment are cost cutting measures at the VA and though I have some sympathy for that (that are grossly understaffed and underfunded) this is my life we were talking about and for give me for being selfish but I want treatment and I want it yesterday. I want this virus out of me. don;t we all?
A little about my condition - based on blood work that I had (including a negative HCV anti-body test) over the years I contracted this sometime between 10/96 and 3/97 so I'm lucky that I caught it so early. I'm in great physical condition save for being 20 kilos over weight (love the metric system here) . My bloodwork is great save for the ALT above the highest limit and my AST being 50% above the highest. I tend to heal very quickly and fight off most things. My PVR is 800,000 and I have Genotype 1b. I have been diagnosed with fatty liver and I am actively dieting and eating a healthy sensible diet .
After being diagnosed, I gave up all cigarettes, the little alcohol that I did drink, all diet soda and cut down to 2 cups of coffee (or caffeine) a day. After starting treatment this past Wednesday I drink at least 3 25 oz of bottled water a day (the bottles help me keep track of what i am drinking - I know I am on track if I drink 3 bottles). The put me on 1200 Riba a day and 150 weekly dose of Pegasys a week . I am serious and determined to lick this thing and have done a LOT of research about it . If this regimen doesn't cure it then i know of two trials now in process that likely will (R7128 is one) . I AM the Virus Shiva - destroyer of HCV.
I was a little hinkey about giving myself my first shot because I have a stupid phobia about needles ("What ? In my belly?? ! Oh just great... why don't I just jab this thing into my eye and be done with it? " ) but I got over it because I'd rather be alive and healthy then have a stupid phobia.
So this has been pretty long and I should stop now. I'll write more later and actively participate. I'm also going to write a journal about how I feel as I go along because I think that would be theraputic for me as well as possibly helping someone else. Talk later...
A.
As for me, I fought my way for treatment at the VA as I do not have insurance that currently covers the treatment.Thank heaven for the VA but it was a struggle - if I had not been EXTREMELY proactive and vocal I would not have begun treatment until next September and even a week before treatment both my treating PA and the head of the Gastro-Ent department tried to talk me out of treatment saying that I was not yet "sick enough" and that I should consider waiting for better treatments. - I heartily disagreed with both of them and came in with studies showing that a better physical condition led to a better potential outcome. I was prepared.
Personally i think that such attempts to talk people out of treatment are cost cutting measures at the VA and though I have some sympathy for that (that are grossly understaffed and underfunded) this is my life we were talking about and for give me for being selfish but I want treatment and I want it yesterday. I want this virus out of me. don;t we all?
A little about my condition - based on blood work that I had (including a negative HCV anti-body test) over the years I contracted this sometime between 10/96 and 3/97 so I'm lucky that I caught it so early. I'm in great physical condition save for being 20 kilos over weight (love the metric system here) . My bloodwork is great save for the ALT above the highest limit and my AST being 50% above the highest. I tend to heal very quickly and fight off most things. My PVR is 800,000 and I have Genotype 1b. I have been diagnosed with fatty liver and I am actively dieting and eating a healthy sensible diet .
After being diagnosed, I gave up all cigarettes, the little alcohol that I did drink, all diet soda and cut down to 2 cups of coffee (or caffeine) a day. After starting treatment this past Wednesday I drink at least 3 25 oz of bottled water a day (the bottles help me keep track of what i am drinking - I know I am on track if I drink 3 bottles). The put me on 1200 Riba a day and 150 weekly dose of Pegasys a week . I am serious and determined to lick this thing and have done a LOT of research about it . If this regimen doesn't cure it then i know of two trials now in process that likely will (R7128 is one) . I AM the Virus Shiva - destroyer of HCV.
I was a little hinkey about giving myself my first shot because I have a stupid phobia about needles ("What ? In my belly?? ! Oh just great... why don't I just jab this thing into my eye and be done with it? " ) but I got over it because I'd rather be alive and healthy then have a stupid phobia.
So this has been pretty long and I should stop now. I'll write more later and actively participate. I'm also going to write a journal about how I feel as I go along because I think that would be theraputic for me as well as possibly helping someone else. Talk later...
A.
Very,very tired :( - stayed off work for three days and considering today as well. Bummed. Don't like being incapacitated. Not much help from my doctors but I may push the issue today.
Feeling bummed.
Feeling bummed.
Hi There, Just wondering how you are doing? My hubby started two weeks ago. How are you feeling? G
Thanks for the info... Wow, you really kick butt big time.... I'm impressed how you were able to do it in 90 days. Also thumbs up on the changes you made in your habits, not everybody can do it in such a short time.
All the best with tx and keep us updated on how you are doing. I am also opting for Pegasys.
All the best,
Marcia
All the best with tx and keep us updated on how you are doing. I am also opting for Pegasys.
All the best,
Marcia
Nice to meetcha.
I'm a big advocate of journaling - especially during TX...
I think that Medhelp offers a great option for journaling - but I also LOVE Blogspot.
Wordpress isn't too bad either.
Much luck to you on this journey - it seems you're very well prepared.
Hugs,
Meki
I'm a big advocate of journaling - especially during TX...
I think that Medhelp offers a great option for journaling - but I also LOVE Blogspot.
Wordpress isn't too bad either.
Much luck to you on this journey - it seems you're very well prepared.
Hugs,
Meki
Thank you all for your kind words. I find that having this is something that is difficult to share with most anyone else and frankly my support system could be better but I have what I have.
fretboard : it's a good thing that you asked because when I looked at my prescription again it seems that I am on a 180 ug weekly dose, not 150 one like I wrote. I've only given one shot so far and I was so preoccupied with getting over my fear of the needle that the dosage didn't impress itself on me (though I would have double checked next week when i took the shot again).
medicmommy: I was a medic in the military and have given a great many injections as well , and like you I'm a the world's biggest big wuss when it comes to getting one myself Now I get to give one to myself once a week. The Universe's little joke. Thank you for your supportive words.
Marcia: Yes I guess 2 months after diagnosis (well almost 3 really) is kind of quick from what i am seeing on the boards. When I found out I had this think I focused on planning to get rid of it once I found out that was possible. Much of finding that out came from the messages on the two HepC forums here. I read everything - literally everything on both boards - it took me days.
Frankly, I gamed the VA system (once I began to understand it) by making multiple appointments with different doctors and taking the ones that came up first. I worked two doctors at once until one finally approved treatment. I also came in armed with Medline abstracts on my laptop which indicated why early treatment had the best success. I also pleaded a little bit I called the office secretaries regularly and made nicey-nice and was able to get appointments that other people had canceled. That's how I was able to schedule an ultrasound, an MRI and start of treatment within 90 days. I was also a little bit lucky as well. If i did game the system somewhat I don't feel bad about it because it's my life and the quality of it that is at stake here so I do feel justified in aggressively pursuing a positive outcome to that.
Marica: I'm on Pegasys - the 150 was a mistake. It looks like I am on a 180 dosage.
fretboard : it's a good thing that you asked because when I looked at my prescription again it seems that I am on a 180 ug weekly dose, not 150 one like I wrote. I've only given one shot so far and I was so preoccupied with getting over my fear of the needle that the dosage didn't impress itself on me (though I would have double checked next week when i took the shot again).
medicmommy: I was a medic in the military and have given a great many injections as well , and like you I'm a the world's biggest big wuss when it comes to getting one myself Now I get to give one to myself once a week. The Universe's little joke. Thank you for your supportive words.
Marcia: Yes I guess 2 months after diagnosis (well almost 3 really) is kind of quick from what i am seeing on the boards. When I found out I had this think I focused on planning to get rid of it once I found out that was possible. Much of finding that out came from the messages on the two HepC forums here. I read everything - literally everything on both boards - it took me days.
Frankly, I gamed the VA system (once I began to understand it) by making multiple appointments with different doctors and taking the ones that came up first. I worked two doctors at once until one finally approved treatment. I also came in armed with Medline abstracts on my laptop which indicated why early treatment had the best success. I also pleaded a little bit I called the office secretaries regularly and made nicey-nice and was able to get appointments that other people had canceled. That's how I was able to schedule an ultrasound, an MRI and start of treatment within 90 days. I was also a little bit lucky as well. If i did game the system somewhat I don't feel bad about it because it's my life and the quality of it that is at stake here so I do feel justified in aggressively pursuing a positive outcome to that.
Marica: I'm on Pegasys - the 150 was a mistake. It looks like I am on a 180 dosage.
Welcome to the forum. I am happy to hear that you were able to start treatment so early. Only two months after diagnosis, that must be a record!!!
I was diagnosed in March... but don't think I will be able to start treating before August. Though I would want to start yesterday!
I wish you all the best with treatment and like Melinda, I hope you will fly through it.
I'm curious like fretboard, are you on Pegasys or Pegintron? Just wondering, as I have not heard of 150mcg Pegasys.
Good luck, Marcia
I was diagnosed in March... but don't think I will be able to start treating before August. Though I would want to start yesterday!
I wish you all the best with treatment and like Melinda, I hope you will fly through it.
I'm curious like fretboard, are you on Pegasys or Pegintron? Just wondering, as I have not heard of 150mcg Pegasys.
Good luck, Marcia
LOL...I love your spunk! I poke people all the time as part of my job, but when it came to poking myself, I had to back up against a wall the first few times so I wouldn't move...:) (I have a VERY well developed sense of self-preservation!LOL) May you be one of the ones who have few sides, and breeze through this with a SVR at the end! May the dragon slaying commence! I wave my sword in your honor! -and give your dragon a swift kick for good measure! (I'd utter a scream, but it comes out girly and Howard Dean-like!) (That is one of our politicians who embarrassed himself in a really bad way...LOL) ~Melinda
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