Re: all done. 12 days since last shot. whew...

[Guest guest]

Great news.

Do take it easy...it seems it took me a couple of months to detoxify and get

back into a more normal lifestyle.

Graham <gstreet@...> wrote:

The pegasys chapter of my life is finally over... Well, at least I

am not using the medicines anymore. The last two weeks have shown

me improvement in my mental acuity, motivation, emotional qualities

(empathy, etc)-- things that were simply gone for a while.

this has been one heck of a year. I started out with no sides, all

gung ho. Then I started getting lots of fatigue and general bone

pain. I stopped working at month 3. From then on was up and

down, to some of the lowest lows I have known, to some OK days. My

blood began to get a little haywire then too- White count 1800, ANC

700, H & H 30/11 so I started procrit and neupogen. I had increasing

pain, and ended up on around-the-clock opiods. There was a 2

month phase of regular vomiting, which was definitely the worst

thing about this treatment (because I felt like I was going to

die.) Sweats /hot flashes have been the other big discomfort (began

around the time I went to the pain patch) Then, depression...

crying spells-- days of tears with nothing to be sad about... I was

just a freakin mess. Mouth sores, ear problems, chest pain,

EXTreme Weakness (cant carry luggage, etc)... that about covers the

worst.

the good news? at each interval (3,6,10 month into tx) my PCR was

undetectable, using the most sensitive PCR analisys. My odds of

recovery improved as each of these came back, rising from the

roulette-like 45-50% odds to a strong 70% chance of sustained viral

response (read: cure)

Psychologically, I withdrew. I have two close friends that truly

came through and saved my life. a best friend prior to treatment

became distant, and we unfortuantly are not that close.... its

amazing how when you arent yourself, sometimes people stick with

you, and others want to wait for you to " come back. " I guess we

all deal differently. I was an active participant in the

groups.... Energy became SO sparse. I became paranoid about

things, feeling overwhelmed, just a general basket case. I saw a

psychiatrist through the duration of therapy bi-weekly [GODSEND.]

He was not only a sympathetic ear, but helped me manage my mental

side effects very aggressively and effectively.

My partner is not one to show emotional support very readily (don't

we pick our parents for our mates? Its true.) He's not

emotionally unavailable, but he is not very expressive, and gets

uncomfortable talking about feelings that are uncomfortable, etc.

AT one point I felt so lonely with this.... But, looking back, he

was truly there for me in the most important way. He took complete

care of " our " life.... financially, helping me get my medical needs

met, leaving work when I was having a breakdown, etc. It took

hindsight for me to realize I was completely carried through the

entire 11 months... what a gift- experience like that makes a

relationship something very special. the true meaning of

commitment. I learned to find my warm-fuzzy feeling support from

others (in my AA home group, etc)... Your partner sure cannot be

everything, all the time... if they are, it's not a healthy

relationship.

I am tempted to say I am grateful for the treatment. Things have

fallen into place that otherwise wouldn't have , like at least 2 of

my life-long dreams coming true.

If anyone is looking ahead to starting treatment, please keep an

open mind.... the odds are really not bad. It is not easy, but, you

wont be exempt from the " no-pain, no-gain " saying. And, I don't

just mean physical pain/gain.... I know I am a different person, and

better for it (not to mention my healthy liver.)

I was so happy the week after my shot, I joined the gym, started

running around town, errands, starbucks, etc.... Then I had a

serious crash (energy, sweating, fatigue, pain)... So, I am trying

to take it easy while I get better. I tend to be black-n-white...

Im either Sick or Well... I just had bloodwork yesterday, and my ANC

is 700, which is the lowest in a year. My H & H are still anemic,

32/11- so, I am definitely not physically ready to go nuts with 100%

speed! It was a wake up call. I re-started procrit and neupogen

yesterday... I feel better already.

I am going to have to take it slow, walking a bit each day, etc....

BTW, I went from 203 lbs to 183 lbs on treatment (in the last 6

months.) This is my " ideal " weight, and what I weighed in high

school. so, there is a glimmer of hope for some of you like me

who just hate the " diet and exercise " answer. Now I have to keep

it off.... that will be the acid test.

Love to all, especially those here who walked me through this,

PeachyPam and Suzy to name a couple.

Graham

[Guest guest]

Hey Graham please keep us posted as to how life is for

you post treatment, as far as general health, hepatitis reoccourence,

and lasting side effects, you know all the things that the docs wont

share with us in the pretreatment phase, Id like to compile a listing

of results and put it online for people in the treatment decision

making process so they get a factual overview of it in its entirity,

it will of course include the fact that most people are so varied

that the docs are having trouble getting a handle on it thanks a

lot and a hearty CONGRADULATIONS GRAHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..........Mike -

-- In Hepatitis C , " Graham " <gstreet@k...>

wrote:

> The pegasys chapter of my life is finally over... Well, at least I

> am not using the medicines anymore. The last two weeks have shown

> me improvement in my mental acuity, motivation, emotional qualities

> (empathy, etc)-- things that were simply gone for a while.

>

> this has been one heck of a year. I started out with no sides,

all

> gung ho. Then I started getting lots of fatigue and general bone

> pain. I stopped working at month 3. From then on was up and

> down, to some of the lowest lows I have known, to some OK days.

My

> blood began to get a little haywire then too- White count 1800, ANC

> 700, H & H 30/11 so I started procrit and neupogen. I had

increasing

> pain, and ended up on around-the-clock opiods. There was a 2

> month phase of regular vomiting, which was definitely the worst

> thing about this treatment (because I felt like I was going to

> die.) Sweats /hot flashes have been the other big discomfort

(began

> around the time I went to the pain patch) Then, depression...

> crying spells-- days of tears with nothing to be sad about... I was

> just a freakin mess. Mouth sores, ear problems, chest pain,

> EXTreme Weakness (cant carry luggage, etc)... that about covers the

> worst.

>

> the good news? at each interval (3,6,10 month into tx) my PCR was

> undetectable, using the most sensitive PCR analisys. My odds of

> recovery improved as each of these came back, rising from the

> roulette-like 45-50% odds to a strong 70% chance of sustained viral

> response (read: cure)

>

> Psychologically, I withdrew. I have two close friends that truly

> came through and saved my life. a best friend prior to treatment

> became distant, and we unfortuantly are not that close.... its

> amazing how when you arent yourself, sometimes people stick with

> you, and others want to wait for you to " come back. " I guess we

> all deal differently. I was an active participant in the

> groups.... Energy became SO sparse. I became paranoid about

> things, feeling overwhelmed, just a general basket case. I saw a

> psychiatrist through the duration of therapy bi-weekly [GODSEND.]

> He was not only a sympathetic ear, but helped me manage my mental

> side effects very aggressively and effectively.

>

> My partner is not one to show emotional support very readily (don't

> we pick our parents for our mates? Its true.) He's not

> emotionally unavailable, but he is not very expressive, and gets

> uncomfortable talking about feelings that are uncomfortable, etc.

> AT one point I felt so lonely with this.... But, looking back, he

> was truly there for me in the most important way. He took

complete

> care of " our " life.... financially, helping me get my medical needs

> met, leaving work when I was having a breakdown, etc. It took

> hindsight for me to realize I was completely carried through the

> entire 11 months... what a gift- experience like that makes a

> relationship something very special. the true meaning of

> commitment. I learned to find my warm-fuzzy feeling support from

> others (in my AA home group, etc)... Your partner sure cannot be

> everything, all the time... if they are, it's not a healthy

> relationship.

>

> I am tempted to say I am grateful for the treatment. Things have

> fallen into place that otherwise wouldn't have , like at least 2 of

> my life-long dreams coming true.

>

> If anyone is looking ahead to starting treatment, please keep an

> open mind.... the odds are really not bad. It is not easy, but,

you

> wont be exempt from the " no-pain, no-gain " saying. And, I don't

> just mean physical pain/gain.... I know I am a different person,

and

> better for it (not to mention my healthy liver.)

>

> I was so happy the week after my shot, I joined the gym, started

> running around town, errands, starbucks, etc.... Then I had a

> serious crash (energy, sweating, fatigue, pain)... So, I am trying

> to take it easy while I get better. I tend to be black-n-white...

> Im either Sick or Well... I just had bloodwork yesterday, and my

ANC

> is 700, which is the lowest in a year. My H & H are still anemic,

> 32/11- so, I am definitely not physically ready to go nuts with

100%

> speed! It was a wake up call. I re-started procrit and neupogen

> yesterday... I feel better already.

>

> I am going to have to take it slow, walking a bit each day, etc....

>

> BTW, I went from 203 lbs to 183 lbs on treatment (in the last 6

> months.) This is my " ideal " weight, and what I weighed in high

> school. so, there is a glimmer of hope for some of you like me

> who just hate the " diet and exercise " answer. Now I have to keep

> it off.... that will be the acid test.

>

> Love to all, especially those here who walked me through this,

> PeachyPam and Suzy to name a couple.

>

> Graham

[Guest guest]

Graham, this is such wonderful news! Take it easy, though, you're not ready to

run any marathons yet! This has been such a hard year for you, and I feel

honored that you shared all you went through with this. You shared what you

were feeling at your lowest and most vulnerable, and that takes guts in my book.

It's a testament to your strength and to the people around you that you made it

through hell and back.

One of the things that makes me the happiest (besides your good health!) is that

you realize your partner was truly there for you. I remember telling you at one

point, that he might not be there the way you needed him to be, but he was there

in the only way he was able to be. He sustained you and supported you when it

would have been so easy for him to walk away, because he loves you. I am

thrilled that you understand it now that the craziness is over.

You are a blessing, thanks for letting us walk with you through this.

Marilyn

[Guest guest]

Dear Graham,

You have done well. I won't repeat my advice about taking that

exercise slowly, LOL, since it is too late. We're so alike--all or

nothing! You will get better slowly. It's been 3 months for me now,

and tx is beginning to fade from memory...to the point where, yes, I

would do it again. The benefits for you and me outweigh the

suffering we went through. I am sooo glad you've successfully

completed the treatment. And I wouldn't be who I am today, if we

hadn't met and communicated for the past year or more! Thanks for

being my friend, and Godspeed for your recovery.

Hugs and prayers,

Suzy

> The pegasys chapter of my life is finally over... Well, at least I

> am not using the medicines anymore. The last two weeks have shown

> me improvement in my mental acuity, motivation, emotional qualities

> (empathy, etc)-- things that were simply gone for a while.

>

> this has been one heck of a year. I started out with no sides,

all

> gung ho. Then I started getting lots of fatigue and general bone

> pain. I stopped working at month 3. From then on was up and

> down, to some of the lowest lows I have known, to some OK days.

My

> blood began to get a little haywire then too- White count 1800, ANC

> 700, H & H 30/11 so I started procrit and neupogen. I had

increasing

> pain, and ended up on around-the-clock opiods. There was a 2

> month phase of regular vomiting, which was definitely the worst

> thing about this treatment (because I felt like I was going to

> die.) Sweats /hot flashes have been the other big discomfort

(began

> around the time I went to the pain patch) Then, depression...

> crying spells-- days of tears with nothing to be sad about... I was

> just a freakin mess. Mouth sores, ear problems, chest pain,

> EXTreme Weakness (cant carry luggage, etc)... that about covers the

> worst.

>

> the good news? at each interval (3,6,10 month into tx) my PCR was

> undetectable, using the most sensitive PCR analisys. My odds of

> recovery improved as each of these came back, rising from the

> roulette-like 45-50% odds to a strong 70% chance of sustained viral

> response (read: cure)

>

> Psychologically, I withdrew. I have two close friends that truly

> came through and saved my life. a best friend prior to treatment

> became distant, and we unfortuantly are not that close.... its

> amazing how when you arent yourself, sometimes people stick with

> you, and others want to wait for you to " come back. " I guess we

> all deal differently. I was an active participant in the

> groups.... Energy became SO sparse. I became paranoid about

> things, feeling overwhelmed, just a general basket case. I saw a

> psychiatrist through the duration of therapy bi-weekly [GODSEND.]

> He was not only a sympathetic ear, but helped me manage my mental

> side effects very aggressively and effectively.

>

> My partner is not one to show emotional support very readily (don't

> we pick our parents for our mates? Its true.) He's not

> emotionally unavailable, but he is not very expressive, and gets

> uncomfortable talking about feelings that are uncomfortable, etc.

> AT one point I felt so lonely with this.... But, looking back, he

> was truly there for me in the most important way. He took

complete

> care of " our " life.... financially, helping me get my medical needs

> met, leaving work when I was having a breakdown, etc. It took

> hindsight for me to realize I was completely carried through the

> entire 11 months... what a gift- experience like that makes a

> relationship something very special. the true meaning of

> commitment. I learned to find my warm-fuzzy feeling support from

> others (in my AA home group, etc)... Your partner sure cannot be

> everything, all the time... if they are, it's not a healthy

> relationship.

>

> I am tempted to say I am grateful for the treatment. Things have

> fallen into place that otherwise wouldn't have , like at least 2 of

> my life-long dreams coming true.

>

> If anyone is looking ahead to starting treatment, please keep an

> open mind.... the odds are really not bad. It is not easy, but,

you

> wont be exempt from the " no-pain, no-gain " saying. And, I don't

> just mean physical pain/gain.... I know I am a different person,

and

> better for it (not to mention my healthy liver.)

>

> I was so happy the week after my shot, I joined the gym, started

> running around town, errands, starbucks, etc.... Then I had a

> serious crash (energy, sweating, fatigue, pain)... So, I am trying

> to take it easy while I get better. I tend to be black-n-white...

> Im either Sick or Well... I just had bloodwork yesterday, and my

ANC

> is 700, which is the lowest in a year. My H & H are still anemic,

> 32/11- so, I am definitely not physically ready to go nuts with

100%

> speed! It was a wake up call. I re-started procrit and neupogen

> yesterday... I feel better already.

>

> I am going to have to take it slow, walking a bit each day, etc....

>

> BTW, I went from 203 lbs to 183 lbs on treatment (in the last 6

> months.) This is my " ideal " weight, and what I weighed in high

> school. so, there is a glimmer of hope for some of you like me

> who just hate the " diet and exercise " answer. Now I have to keep

> it off.... that will be the acid test.

>

> Love to all, especially those here who walked me through this,

> PeachyPam and Suzy to name a couple.

>

> Graham