Hello everyone this is my first post here and also my first day of treatment.
I had my Injection at 11:00 am of Pegasys 180µg/1ml along with 400mg of Copegus (twice daily 24 weeks) and so far I'm feeling ok with just a slight headache.

I found out I was infected (3e) on 4/15/02 and immediately stopped using alcohol so in 10 days I will be sober for two years yea!. I have been a beer drinker since the age of 15 and i'm now 47 and probably an alcoholic in most non drinkers eyes. It was easier than I thought it would be to quit and went back to school to help fill those hours I use to spend drinking, taking computer engineering classes and may try for my degree after treatment is complete. So to everyone thats also trying to quit... you can do it !!!

I had my biopsy nine months ago (can you believe it took this long to get my meds!) and my Dr. only said that I have minimal scaring.

My questions are what questions do I need to ask my dr. so I can understand how to communicate my condition on these forums? I see so many confusing acronyms I don't quite understand yet. Anywho I just wanted to say hello and It's a comfort knowing a place like this exists,

Thank you

Why are you treating?

thanbey

Why are you treating?

thanbey

I have been suffering small bouts of fatigue, maybe three to four days a month plus I'm not getting any younger. I really haven't been feeling good in many years due to my 30yrs of alcohol abuse and I want to enjoy the days left. My Dr. says 3e has a good success rate and believe it or not I'm kind of excited about finally getting started on treatment. That said I may not feel the same down the road but getting this beat right now in my life is paramount.

So can anyone give me some tips on what info to get from my doctor that will help me communicate my progress?

Hey RedX

My girlfriend did the old treatment for genotype 3 and has been clear of the virus for 2 years now. Strangely though she was on the treatment for an entire two years. We had lost touch right after she tested positive so I wasn't in contact with her during the treatment phase. I questioned her when she told me that she was on the Interferon for two years and she repeated, YES, TWO YEARS! She told me that her blood levels remained good but that she felt so completely horrible for the two years of treatment that if she were to become detectable again she's not retreating. Another strange thing she said was that her physician wouldn't deal with her side affects, ie give her sleepin aids, anti anxiety cause he didn't want anything interferring with her treatment. That sounded pretty sucky to me, but she's clear now so who am I to say anything? Good luck with your treatment and keep us posted. You have a very good chance of clearing!

Diann

Hi RedX, I do #9 tomorrow. I've been alcohol free since Jul 9th, 2002, when I was diagnosed with hep c. I'm a 2a/2c and I'm on the Peg-Intron and Ribavirin for 24 wks too. So far the good days far out way the bad days and I hope it stays that way. Good luck to you on your journey...

Jeanie

Thanks for the kind welcome Dolly and meanjean also the words of encouragement.
I felt pretty good today and figured I would do some grocery shopping. Halve way
through I started feeling a bit tired so I believe I will move my shopping to a day
further in the week. Hey meanjean your right at halve way and good luck to you also.

I'm feeling a little better already.
Thanks guys
Red

Sorry I've waited so long to respond. I really haven't felt like going on-line. I'm still here and I'm doing ok. I was working 6 days aweek, but now I'm working 5 and maybe this summer I'll drop one more day from from my schedule.
So far I've had one bad reaction from the shot and I do get headaches after the shot, but the symptoms diminish in a couple of days.
Next wed I'll be halfway through with #12. I look forward to having my PCR test done.
Hope you're still hanging in there...

Jeanie