Howdy folks-
In the double digits, for treatment now, #10, two more for the big twelve week, that’s when most make it or break it, if you are not responding at twelve weeks now, they may shut down your treatment, makes sense to me, why go the full 48 weeks if your chances are nil, huh?

More Aunties around here than at my redneck family reuinions, lol
he he, [put the claws away that was just a joke], -but for anyone trying to tell me that this treatment, is not doing me any good, -Damn I feel good.

Went out this weekend, along the river hills near my place, looking for deer antler sheds, now hills may be a understatement because in some areas you can go downhill for over a mile and still not see the river, in that mile you will go up and down twenty smaller hills, then when you reach the bottom, yikes you have to go back up.

I spent the better part of the morning there, loving every minute, if I got too tired, I sat down and admired nature in all her beauty, after a few minutes I was ready to tackle the next hill.

I carried a excellent large fanny pack, that has shoulder straps, making it comfortable to carry, I carried, all the essentials, A cell phone, of course, several bananas, toilet tissue, and a three quart water bladder bag, that has a hose that runs along the shoulder straps, on the end of the hose is a bite valve, as you get thirsty, you just simply turn your head, bite the valve and drink to your hearts content, I put in one quart sports drink and two quarts pure water.

I put on about twelve kilometers, roughly seven miles, as the bird fly’s, but WHOLLY crap, about twenty k's as the Neil walks, he he
up, down, mud, occasional snow drift chin high, briars and bushes where the rabbits would not go, it was murder,- damn I loved it.

Although when I got home and waited for my butt to catch up, I was fairly tired, but when I thought of it, there are young pups half my age, healthy, would still be at the bottom whining about it, he,
so I felt I did well, amazingly though the next day I was not sore or exhausted, I am not sure how, But I thank Pegasys for that.

That story was to make up for my short list of sides,
I have noticed that every Sat. afternoon [Day 5], for the last three weeks, that I get a sudden attack of the dreaded die-rear, a common side effect of treatment, it lasts until late Sunday.

So have some Pepto-Bismol handy, comes in bottles or chew tabs for when on foot, believe me carry some at all times, [and forget your wallet, but do not forget your toilet tissue and Pepto-Bismol, he he].

Now at week ten they say that I am over the worst and should be settled in, and treatment should be more tolerable [By the way, as we all know, tolerable means it will not just kill us out right, he he].

Which is about right, everything is leveled out, now it seems that my short windedness, from anemia, caused by the Ribavirin, has leveled out and I hardly notice it any more, - has it become tolerable? OR have I become adapted and accustomed to it, and have scheduled my actions to the point where when it is going to bother me, I then take it easy, making it easy for my self.

Last night as I watched CNN's coverage of Iraq, [Fear Factor was a rerun], I injected my Pegasys into my stomach, its such a ritual, I had to check my stomach to make sure I just did not inject my new leather couch, ha ha.

That’s all for this week, my heart and prayers go out to the boys and gals in Iraq, and all their families, I wish them all well, I wish your brave troops success and that all will come home very soon.

Be Positive Be Well+


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--Get Outdoors-Enjoy Life----Neil

Hi Neil,

Read and read your post and happy that you have no more sides where you feel the need to pull your teeth out "he-man style".....Yahooo, I think you're cured!!!

One of the the biggest "selling" features of treatment was the fact that Hubby could stop at 12weeks, if need be...either by him or doctor. Hubby just kept thinking "Hmmmm, if at 12wks no response, I'll just quit--I can do 3 months!"

Wow, sounds like you had yourself quite an adventure. Seems like you're lucky enough to have that type of "backyard" to enjoy. Hell, I have to drive 2 hours to get to that kind of country and still would come across homes and (yikes) people. I'm all concrete, highrises and freeways!!

You made it home (with your ass intact I might add) and it seems you made your spirits sore so it was a good thing. Hope Hubby can still enjoy his sports at 10 weeks like that.

Glad to hear you're doing good and thanks for the post!
DD

Hi Buddy, I really want to thank you and the others (Wes, JJ, DD) that have chosen treatment for all their informative posts. I really can't tell you what a support ya'll have been. Can you imagine having to go through this ordeal alone???!!!! This board allows us to communicate and its that touch (cyber or not) that keeps us going. It doesn't come off as pro-treatment, just pro-support.

I want and need to know every detail as I soon will be going through the same thing. I don't understand why chosing to treat should be an issue. Its such a personal decision and I know none of us have rushed into making that decision. I waited 3 years and did alternative herbs and vitamins for that span.

I am jumping http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif for joy at your success on treatment. I will be praying for your undetected status. It doesn't seem that 10 weeks have gone by so soon.

I started my antidepressant (Lexapro) and had to cut it in half (5mg). I felt way too weird and couldn't sleep on full strength but 1/2 doesn't bother me except I yawn a lot.

I am waiting for the UPS man to drop my meds anyday now. I makes my stomach flip flop thinking about it but I am in for the duration.

Thanks again!! Take care,
JeannieRee

Hi Jeannie,

Don't look at it as an "issue"...it's NOT. Honey, you have all the issues you want. It's certainly not a decision to take lightly whether you decide to treat or not. Took Gerry MONTHS to decide on what to do then months to get into the doctor.

Although it is an individual decision, it's still nice to hear all sides of the fence--top, bottom, sides--wished it was cut 'n dried for sides. Just seems the more I read the more I understand that each patients sides are different. Each end results seem different too. Still nice to know others are going through it and reading their "adventures"

I mostly wanted to hear "real" patient stories not the statistics. Neil and others who post about their experiences have made Gerry and I feel more at ease than listening to doctors-mumbo-jumbo. It's like when you go to a male doctor to get a gyno exam and you start giving him information and he says "I understand".........Hell no, YOU DON'T understand, you don't have the right equipment to understand, you've read, you've been educated but you don't TRULY know.

So when the doctor says this or that---has he been through it? NO, he's "reading" about it and giving you information that he's read. I can read for myself and I can cyber all day finding out just as much as he does---he just gets paid for it.

Am I getting you right, you're mailing away for treatment? Is it cheaper or is it the only way for you to get it?

Don't worry too much, we'll be here to hold your hand no matter WHAT you decide!
Susan

Hi Susan, guess the word "issue" came out wrong. I meant it as an "issue" not an "issuuuue". Make sense?

I have an HMO that will give me a 3 month supply of Pegasys and Copegus cheaper if I use RX via the mail. My nurse practioner didn't care for this but I promised her I would come in for my 2 week lab work (H&H) to ensure I'm not becoming anemic. She works with a gastro who studies HCV so I feel really lucky to have found her as its her specialty. She went to a conference this winter and said that the use of Procrit prior to RBC's getting too low is a new protocol so you may want to just keep that info in the back of your mind for your hubby.

I am blessed to have been diagnosed as a 2b. My last viral load was >600,000 <1,000,000 with ALT/AST in the 90's. It took me 3 years to come to this decision. That's why I love reading Neil, Wes's and your post about the day to days. I know everyone is different. Thats a given but there is a bond we share going through this that's hard to understand. Not explanable I guess.

I spent thousands of dollars doing alternative herbs and vitamins which kept me pretty stable but between me and the Man, I(He) decided now was the time. I don't always feel so good but I work in mortgages so I can't tell if its being overworked or the virus. Rates have been low for 2 years, and I've felt rough for 2 years, on and off. So I guess that proves that viral load numbers and alt/ast numbers don't count.

Wish I could come to your house this summer and lay out by the pool. Sounds like a great way to spend the day!!!

Take care,
JeannieRee

hi neil
you sure are an inspiration!i'm happy for you.your quite active and motivated, your spirits are high, and in my oppinion that's a great help.oh ya, toilet paper (lol),would be more sufficient than leaves. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
keep the faith, bless you..........mj

Howdy-
Jeannie -
Pro-support....not Pro-treatment...
A whole page of writing, put into those four words, well said,

when do you start, -start day, What time of day, doses, ?? huh huh tell me everything girl.

Now with out starting another aunty uprising, he he
some will say why did you go on treatment as your condition and readings were not that bad,[as with my case].

What a lot of intelligent people here do not get, is Duh,- treatment is most effective when your condition is low and your strengh and health is high, the statistics for success is very high, its just way too easy to figure out,
The ones that feel good now, and say my readings are good, so I will not treat, then when they get older, their readings go off the wall, -now they think its time to treat,
well their counts are so high, its unreadable, their health is so bad they can not walk around the block, they are older than dirt, then go on treatment, hmmmm
yup boy are we surprised treatment did not work, or they could not handle it.

enough said-
Jeannie I will be here for you for anything I can help with, you are a very strong willed person, you will do just fine, you get a little nervous at first, then it just becomes a daily ritual that you just do automatically, did you get your little pill containor with Mon, Tue, Wed, etc for your pills, I had one from the start, but yesterday, I still forgot to take my vit, and Ribavirin in the morning, I knew I had to, thought I did, but did not, he he,

I even got a little chart that on the cuboard door that I cirle how many pills, morning and night, just so I won't forget,he he well thats only the second time I got doing things and did not take my morning pills, I just miss that dose and take my evening dose, and carry on like I was normal,
yup my mind is as soild as this desk,- KNOCK KNOCK ....Come in,... he he

MJ -

How are things with you, well I hope, whats going on "back east"

DD-
Glad to see you and "lucky" there, doing well also, yup I like it now, that they take you off treatment after tlweve weeks if you are not responding, hell anyone can do tlweve weeks if they prepared and put their mind to it, -easy for me to say, huh, at over ten weeks, he he

You ladies be Positive and always be well, you are always on my mind, pulls me though, thanks-
Neil



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--Get Outdoors-Enjoy Life----Neil

Hey Neil, my start date should be April 11th hoping I get my meds by then. It takes 7 - 10 days for delivery so they should be here any day now.

I got a weekly pill case with am/pm containers for the Copegus. Roche filled a whole bag with these neat little things like a gel mask, water bottle, compact cooler. You know travel stuff. Small compensation but we all like freebies.

I am rushing into treatment (LOL) for exactly the reasons you stated above. I want to do it while I am young (and pretty, and smart), with a low viral load, minimal fibrosis and feeling pretty good. I know I can handle the sides much better. Being a 2b is also another reason as my chances of success are much much better than winning the lottery. But I am planning on 100%. A statement was made in relation to JJ's comment that she treated so she could be at peace knowing she had tried and done something. The commment was "they don't know what the future holds for them" by treating. I'd like to know if anybody knows what the future holds. I want that Crystal Ball so I can know. How does one know what the future holds by not treating? I guess its a "go with your gut" decision for all of us whichever it is. I know JJ's firmly rooted in her faith so she'll be alright.

I really appreciate your support as every day I get a little bit more nervous though I am trying to just deal with it when it gets here. I can't complain six months should be a breeze compared to what you and Wes are doing and I am booking a condo on the beach for my last week of treatment. (still waiting on Susan's invite to the pool!!) Florida is beautiful in September!

TTL
JeannieRee

Hi Jeannie,

WoooooHoooooo, Girlfriend that's the attitude I like to hear.....you'll be there 100%!!!!! I'm beginning to think that positive attitude might be 1/2 the battle. My Mom's doctor said while she was having chemo how important it was to keep her spirits up as

"negative attitude leads to unhappiness and unhappiness leads to stress----Chemo does not respond well under stress."

I'll never forget those words he told me. Jeannie, you stand by your decision to treat---only YOU know what's good for you. Sounds like you've made the big step and girl, it's a big one (but on the sly---I feel it's the right choice).

Good idea on the pill container. I kinda slacked and didn't listen to "Bushman" Neil(don't post and gloat big guy)...next thing you know, between hubby and I, we weren't sure if he took his PM pills--had to count the entire bottle, uggghh! Next day I went out and bought a Sun-Sat container.

Heeeeey, I want one of those masky thingys---anything free is a good thing....teeeheee!

You're 100% correct, wished I could predict the future. I'm healthy (knock on wood) but could take a turn for the worse in the future, who knows. This is why hubby and I have life insurance. We don't even know if this will work but the odds are in our favor and we decided we'd be stupid not to at least TRY it. If you get the 411 on where to buy those crystal balls, let me know, I'll take two!!!!!!

Hey Jeannie, pool party anytime. In the summer the kids would like to be in it 24/7 but I tell them "who will do the laundry, shopping, vacuuming, etc.," so we have 'pool days'....it's great though---Don't know if you have kids but I tell you the pool wears them out, I love it!!! Let me know when you're coming I'll set out the usual pool feast my kids like----crackers & cheese, fruit tray, popsicles and juices--so easy....teeehee!

Anytime you need anything you just give a holler! Don't feel alone....I'm a stay-at-home (whose never home) so I'm usually on here 5-6 times per day checking in on everyone.
Susan

Howdy-

AHHHH- you ladies bring sunshine to my life. Thank you.

SuZZy -bush monkeys can swim tooo
he he

Jeannie-
do not be nervous girl, with your positivity, its going to be a tip toe through the tulips for ya, will be here, will check in more often to see if you need some egging on, he he
OHH and ahhh,, bush monkeys like condos and beaches too, yup

Be positive, Be well+


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--Get Outdoors-Enjoy Life----Neil

[This message has been edited by LOST1 (edited 04-04-2003).]