Re: hello, on this Monday!

[Guest guest]

Hi there

this is my first post - i started treatment about 6 weeks ago so im

not that much further ahead on the treatment curve than you - i also

have 1b.

My short expereince to date is that the first few weeks were

seriously bad but after 3 or 4 weeks i noticed an enormouse

reduction in side effects - very much as if my body was beginning to

get used to it.

More importantly the side efects that were really killing me from a

work perspective were an inability to concentrate, lack of focus,

minor mental confusion with the result that every problem became a

huge effort. I recounted this to my specialist who put me on a low

dose of antidepressants - in my ignorance i wasnt keen as i didnt

want anything that would cloud my mind up any further. The results

were dramatic - he told me it would help me concentrate and focus

which it certainly has. I have a managent job so it is fairly

essential to focus - the result is that my work performance is not

materially impacted by the combination therapy - this would be a

different story if i had a manual job as physical effort has to be

rationed - but i can cope with that - my soccer career is on hold.

If i can continue on this trajectory then I will be more than happy.

I know its different for everyone but there is a reasonable chance

your body will start aclimatising - also ive had to reevaluate what

i thought antidepressants are - i thought they were only about dark

moods and despair - they also appear to be about focus and

concentration

all the best

sandy

> I have been chatting to some of you folks on Thursdays

(the " German

> gal " ), but I feel it's time to say hi to the rest of the

community.

>

> I was dignosed several months ago (Stage 2 - 1b), just started TX

2

> weeks ago. First weekend was a complete knock-out for me. Man,

> I've never felt so shitty in my life before. Even with all the

> education and kind words I have received from boards and other

> heppers, I was not prepared. Last weekend was better (only

nausea

> and tired), thought today is really tough on me again. The heat

is

> making me dizzy and I'm having a hard time focusing on work. I

work

> full-time ... and that's what I'm trying to continue.

> I was so happy feeling better this weekend, that it's even harder

> to feel so weak again and I'm worried. Will I have to face every

> time I have the shot the unexpected?

> Can someone share their experience with me?

>

> Thank you all for your support in the last couple of weeks. I

know

> I have a long journey ahead of me ... and I'm glad I found this

> place to talk about it.

> All the best!

> Cordula

[Guest guest]

Sandy, thanks for sharing how you've been adjusting. I'm in a

computer job and same here... having a very difficult time to

staying focused over hours (as I used to). Everything is and

adjustment I guess. I always have been a very active person.

Besides my carreer, my son, redoing my house and garden and

sports... and now I just have to stop or rather try to get

motivated and choose what I can continue and what has to wait until

next year.

This morning is no difference I guess. Have major headaches and my

legs are hurting already. Oh well, we have to get through it.

All the best to you!

Cordula

> > I have been chatting to some of you folks on Thursdays

> (the " German

> > gal " ), but I feel it's time to say hi to the rest of the

> community.

> >

> > I was dignosed several months ago (Stage 2 - 1b), just started

TX

> 2

> > weeks ago. First weekend was a complete knock-out for me.

Man,

> > I've never felt so shitty in my life before. Even with all the

> > education and kind words I have received from boards and other

> > heppers, I was not prepared. Last weekend was better (only

> nausea

> > and tired), thought today is really tough on me again. The heat

> is

> > making me dizzy and I'm having a hard time focusing on work. I

> work

> > full-time ... and that's what I'm trying to continue.

> > I was so happy feeling better this weekend, that it's even

harder

> > to feel so weak again and I'm worried. Will I have to face

every

> > time I have the shot the unexpected?

> > Can someone share their experience with me?

> >

> > Thank you all for your support in the last couple of weeks. I

> know

> > I have a long journey ahead of me ... and I'm glad I found this

> > place to talk about it.

> > All the best!

> > Cordula

[Guest guest]

Cordula

thanks for the reply

like you ive got kids - age 2 and 5 and i have to say i find them

the biggest drain while on this medication and in many respect

working is easier sometimes than being around the kids - work can be

very distracting but the kids have a special way of draining energy.

ive discovered a rather counter intuitive principle - the worse i

feel and the more i dont want to excercise - if i do some light

excercise (riding my bike mostly - im in the netherlands and its

compulsory here !) the better i feel. So no matter how badly i feel

i get the bike out and ride for 20 mins and i feel infinately better.

Its great to talk to someone in the same position as myself, this is

the first exchange ive had with anyone esle who is being treated for

HCV-

i hope your headaches clear up

take care

sandy

> > > I have been chatting to some of you folks on Thursdays

> > (the " German

> > > gal " ), but I feel it's time to say hi to the rest of the

> > community.

> > >

> > > I was dignosed several months ago (Stage 2 - 1b), just

started

> TX

> > 2

> > > weeks ago. First weekend was a complete knock-out for me.

> Man,

> > > I've never felt so shitty in my life before. Even with all

the

> > > education and kind words I have received from boards and other

> > > heppers, I was not prepared. Last weekend was better (only

> > nausea

> > > and tired), thought today is really tough on me again. The

heat

> > is

> > > making me dizzy and I'm having a hard time focusing on work.

I

> > work

> > > full-time ... and that's what I'm trying to continue.

> > > I was so happy feeling better this weekend, that it's even

> harder

> > > to feel so weak again and I'm worried. Will I have to face

> every

> > > time I have the shot the unexpected?

> > > Can someone share their experience with me?

> > >

> > > Thank you all for your support in the last couple of weeks. I

> > know

> > > I have a long journey ahead of me ... and I'm glad I found

this

> > > place to talk about it.

> > > All the best!

> > > Cordula

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I'm originally from Germany... so I know about the Dutch

and their addiction to bikeride. ;-)

And yes, the kids can be more draining then everything else we have

to deal with. My son will be turning 10 in Nov., and even though

he's fairly understanding of the situation, it's not always that I

can count on him. He has to deal with his own issues too (diagnosed

with ADHD) and not everyday is easy for him either.

I'm glad you joined the group.

Headaches are little better, but very tired and it's hot here in

Boston today.

All the best.

Cordula

> > > > I have been chatting to some of you folks on Thursdays

> > > (the " German

> > > > gal " ), but I feel it's time to say hi to the rest of the

> > > community.

> > > >

> > > > I was dignosed several months ago (Stage 2 - 1b), just

> started

> > TX

> > > 2

> > > > weeks ago. First weekend was a complete knock-out for me.

> > Man,

> > > > I've never felt so shitty in my life before. Even with all

> the

> > > > education and kind words I have received from boards and

other

> > > > heppers, I was not prepared. Last weekend was better (only

> > > nausea

> > > > and tired), thought today is really tough on me again. The

> heat

> > > is

> > > > making me dizzy and I'm having a hard time focusing on

work.

> I

> > > work

> > > > full-time ... and that's what I'm trying to continue.

> > > > I was so happy feeling better this weekend, that it's even

> > harder

> > > > to feel so weak again and I'm worried. Will I have to face

> > every

> > > > time I have the shot the unexpected?

> > > > Can someone share their experience with me?

> > > >

> > > > Thank you all for your support in the last couple of weeks.

I

> > > know

> > > > I have a long journey ahead of me ... and I'm glad I found

> this

> > > > place to talk about it.

> > > > All the best!

> > > > Cordula

[Guest guest]

I'm glad that it is going well for you, some have a very

hard time of it, as Bobby Zimmerman said " keep on keepin on " all the

best to you...........Mike

> > I have been chatting to some of you folks on Thursdays

> (the " German

> > gal " ), but I feel it's time to say hi to the rest of the

> community.

> >

> > I was dignosed several months ago (Stage 2 - 1b), just started

TX

> 2

> > weeks ago. First weekend was a complete knock-out for me. Man,

> > I've never felt so shitty in my life before. Even with all the

> > education and kind words I have received from boards and other

> > heppers, I was not prepared. Last weekend was better (only

> nausea

> > and tired), thought today is really tough on me again. The heat

> is

> > making me dizzy and I'm having a hard time focusing on work. I

> work

> > full-time ... and that's what I'm trying to continue.

> > I was so happy feeling better this weekend, that it's even

harder

> > to feel so weak again and I'm worried. Will I have to face every

> > time I have the shot the unexpected?

> > Can someone share their experience with me?

> >

> > Thank you all for your support in the last couple of weeks. I

> know

> > I have a long journey ahead of me ... and I'm glad I found this

> > place to talk about it.

> > All the best!

> > Cordula