24 vs. 48 weeks controversy

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr. Misra,

Thanks for your response. I like your recommendation about not waiting 6

months after ending treatment for getting any bloodwork done. My ALT (now 11)

and AST (now 17) levels are fantastic, but I'm also a bit concerned that some

of my other results (taken 10 days after ending treatment), ie, RBC (3.3),

hemoglobin (10.9), MCHC (31.2), Absolute Monocytes (182) and Abs. Eosinophils

(19) are still a little low, and my MCV (106.2) & MCH (33.1) are a little

high. Except for the RBC and hemoglobin, I don't know what the other things

mean or what they do for me, but it would be nice to know if my blood has

returned to pretty much " back-to-normal " levels sooner than 6 months from

now. The viral load test will be the big one in 6 months. I won't have to

talk my doc into it because he had written a standing monthly lab order

(viral load not included) for me when I started treatment last fall that was

good for one year. So, I could continue monthly lab work if I wanted (even

though he said I don't need to), but I'll probably wait until the end of June

which would be the midpoint. I'm glad that you came up with the same idea

that I had and supporting it.

Regards,

Sara

(this is in response to) :

> Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 10:03:36 +0530

> From: " Doc " <gidoc@...>

> Subject: Re: 24 vs. 48 weeks controversy

>

> Hi Sara,

> I would agree with his plan but keep a 3 monthly watch on ALT/AST.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie, I apologize for not getting your story completely right in my last

email. I haven't been reading all the emails from everyone in chronological

order and didn't see your note re-explaining your story until after I had

responded. I really do wish you the best in figuring out a way to get what

you need in Georgia. Hang in there!

Also, Hi , I too have had my emotional ups and then downs since ending

treatment....partly due to the lingering side effects (which you know can

include depression), but also due to the big change from being on treatment

to being off treatment. What we are all going through with this disease,

whether on or off treatment, are major events and issues in our lives, and

big changes, whether good or bad, positive or negative, impact us emotionally

as well as physically. I've heard that some of the side effects that someone

has while on treatment can continue (and hopefully get better with time) for

anywhere between a few days to several months....some, though much more

rarely, can even become " permanent " (ie, possibly thyroid or vision

problems). According to my doctor, the average is about 4-6 weeks before

feeling pretty much " back-to-normal " . If your " downs " are causing a problem

with your ability to function (relationships, working, eating, sleeping,

etc.) in any significant way in your life, then you should see about getting

on an anti-depressant until your through this period. I'm not a

psychologist or anything, just someone who has been through a lot in my life,

and a helluva lot recently, and have done a lot of learning about how to

identify and work with grief and change in one's life. I'm no expert, but I

hope I have been of some help.

Take care everyone,

Sara

(this was in response to) :

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 17:17:19 -0700 (PDT)

From: Constance Dickson <constance_clearwater_florida@...>

Subject: Re: Re: 24 vs. 48 weeks controversy

Hi Sara,

I was pulled because of termination of employment which meant termination of

insurance. Could have got Cobra for $285 a month. But, when you have no

money

not much you can do..........Smile, Connie

--- srw1954@... wrote:

> Hi Connie,

> Thanks so much for your reply. I'm feeling pretty hopeful about staying

> non-detectable for a long, long time...6 months from now and beyond...but I

> still have a little fear deep down because so much is riding on that next

> viral load test in 6 months. Maybe when I feel " normal " again I'll be able

> to keep that fear on the very back-burner and out of my mind until at least

I

> get closer to the test date.

> Please forgive me, Connie, if I've got this wrong (brain fog?), but weren't

> you on combo for 5 months and had bad sides so you were pulled off

treatment?

> Your story sounds rough. I had some rocky sides, but only had a

reduction

> of my Ribaviran from 1200 a day to 1000 a day for the last 4 weeks because

my

> hemoglobin was so low. Connie, you probably had the 3 months of recovery

> back-to-normal time because the treatment kicked your butt while on it, and

> your body had a lot of adjustment to do to get it out of your system. I

> hoping for about half that time, if I continue to feel better at the pace

> it's going now for me.

> So take care of yourself Connie...my thoughts and best wishes are with you.

> ...........Sara

>

> Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 20:53:15 -0700 (PDT)

> From: Constance Dickson

> <constance_clearwater_florida@...>

> Subject: Re: 24 vs. 48 weeks controversy

>

> Congratulations Sara I am very happy for you I hope everything stays

> good for you. It took about 3 months when I was pulled off meds to

> feel normal or kind of normal again so hopefully yours will come quicker

> and stay that way.......Connie

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison and welcome! Well.. it may take more than 6 months to feel

" normal " - emotionally, physically etc. They say it takes quite a while to

get the stuff out of your system. Some have complained they felt worse even

a year after treatment, even in remission and some say they feel great. Good

luck.

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison and welcome! Well.. it may take more than 6 months to feel

" normal " - emotionally, physically etc. They say it takes quite a while to

get the stuff out of your system. Some have complained they felt worse even

a year after treatment, even in remission and some say they feel great. Good

luck.

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison and welcome! Well.. it may take more than 6 months to feel

" normal " - emotionally, physically etc. They say it takes quite a while to

get the stuff out of your system. Some have complained they felt worse even

a year after treatment, even in remission and some say they feel great. Good

luck.

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison and welcome! Well.. it may take more than 6 months to feel

" normal " - emotionally, physically etc. They say it takes quite a while to

get the stuff out of your system. Some have complained they felt worse even

a year after treatment, even in remission and some say they feel great. Good

luck.

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the input Sara... that is how I learn... good luck!

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the input Sara... that is how I learn... good luck!

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat