Re: Finally!

October 19, 2007

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

October 20, 2007

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and Cirrhosis.

The Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I was pregnant,

went into labor with my only child, and had an early seperation of the

placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby, plateletts left the blood and

had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day and

a shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told me I

would feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs. I don't

see the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just wondering what

I should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

__________________________________________________

October 20, 2007

Sharon, I am sorry for your diagnosis, and I know you must have a

million questions. I dont have HCV but some on here do and Im sure

they will be more than happy to help you with some of your

questions. Im sorry to hear that you have cirrhosis and I do have

that. Did you already have a needle biopsy. I am praying that you

have a good doctor who explains everything to you. I am assuming

that you will be started on Inferon. You will remain in my prayers

and make sure you keep us informed of your progress. God Bless,

Debra

> >

> > Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see

the

> > gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> > everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

> some

> > rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious

too

> > and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> > episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a

cold

> > for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep

all

> > of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

October 20, 2007

Hi Sharon,

I'm starting treatment in November. The same treatment as you, and for

hepatitis C. One shot of PegIntron a week and two Ribavirin capsules a day, all

for 48 weeks. The treatment is grueling for some and not so bad for others. Some

can still go to work every day and some can't. Everyone's different, so you just

have to wait and see how it makes you feel. I'm a genotype 1b. One's are the

hardest to clear. With treatment, I have a 35 - 40% chance of clearing the

virus.The genotype 2's and 3's have a 70 - 75% chance of clearing, and they only

have to be on the treatment for 24 weeks. You must be a genotype one if the

doctor says you have to be on it for almost a year.

Have you had a liver biopsy yet? Do you know what your viral load is?

Colleen

Sharon McCarty wrote:

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and Cirrhosis. The

Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I was pregnant, went

into labor with my only child, and had an early seperation of the

placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby, plateletts left the blood and

had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day and a

shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told me I would

feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs. I don't see

the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just wondering what I

should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

__________________________________________________

October 20, 2007

I'm so sorry about the diagnosis, Sharon

Re: Re: Finally!

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and Cirrhosis.

The Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I was pregnant,

went into labor with my only child, and had an early seperation of the

placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby, plateletts left the blood and

had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day and

a shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told me I

would feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs. I don't

see the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just wondering what

I should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra <millwrightswife@ yahoo.com> wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

October 21, 2007

Sally,

Thanks for all the info and don't ever feel like it is too much. I have so

many questions and just being on this support group has answered soo many of

them for me. Just to know that are other people that are going through the same

thing or have been through the same thing, and being able to communicate with

them is such a big help. I am going to make a copy of all of those question and

take them with me this week. Thanks!

Keeping all of you in my prayers,

Sharon

SHines wrote:

Hello Sharon,

I've been through the HepC treatment twice. First with 3 shots a week and I

had to import the pills from Mexico as it wasn't available in the US yet

then. It was hard on me and I got very depressed and upset. Then about five

years later I did the one shot a week with American made/distributed

Ribavirin. Again more depression and anger. The first time I cleared the

virus for a while, until I could no longer afford to import the pills. The

second time I never cleared the virus at all. In the coming month I'll be

going to see about some trials that the local medical school is doing,

interferon based, again.

Unless you are already under a psychiatrist's care most doctors will require

a psychiatric evaluation and antidepressants. Interferon, the shot, is a

major depressant. And the Ribavirin, the pills, can cause pretty severe

anger episodes. Many folks don't have much problems with the anger, but most

folks seem to be affected by the depression.

Another concern is a possible eye problem, so most doctors want you to have

a baseline exam prior to treatment, should anything arise. That way the eye

doctor will be able to tell if anything is new.

I take Cymbalta all the time now. It will stand me in good stead with

upcoming trials.

While you are on treatment the first important thing to do and remember is

water. Water, water, and more water. Drink it every time you wake up, before

you sleep, and every time you think of it during waking hours. I got myself

a 64 ounce insulated drink jug and would fill it twice a day with ice and

filtered water.

Keep in touch with your support network, family, friends, online support,

whoever you trust and need. There is a lot of information around about the

medications used in treatment.

I don't really want to overwhelm you. I know the HCV diagnosis is

frightening. Its not anywhere near a death sentence, though. You have

support here, and in lots of other places.

Things to ask your doctor:

What is my genotype?

What is my viral load?

What about depression on treatment?

What about eye complications and exam?

How many patients have you taken through this therapy?

What is the cure rate with my genotype?

What about diet or supplementation with the treatment?

How many of your patients are " cured " ?

What do you recommend to treat the " shot night " flu? Or the day after?

Take care, Sharon

Sally

Re: Re: Finally!

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and

Cirrhosis. The Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I

was pregnant, went into labor with my only child, and had an early

seperation of the placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby,

plateletts left the blood and had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial

hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day

and a shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told

me I would feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs.

I don't see the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just

wondering what I should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you

in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

__________________________________________________

October 21, 2007

You are very welcome. I would like to invite you and other newcomers to

please post a picture or two of yourself to our picture album. I have found it

to be so comforting once I can put a name with a face. I love all my new friends

here dearly, and am glad that I know what they look like, too. One day we will

all meet (I believe) and have a group hug, until then, the pictures and these

posts are what we have. Also yahoo messenger is a great way to have some more

detailed sharing of our experiences with each other, and I'm sure many have

cell phones that support this feature. Sharon and I find ourselves chating with

her chiari friends almost every day in conference chats.

Re: Re: Finally!

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and Cirrhosis. The

Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I was pregnant, went

into labor with my only child, and had an early seperation of the

placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby, plateletts left the blood and

had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day and a

shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told me I would

feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs. I don't see

the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just wondering what I

should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra <millwrightswife@ yahoo.com> wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

October 21, 2007

Well, you have a lot better chance of clearing the virus with treatment than I

do. Genotype 2's generally do pretty well with the treatment.

Colleen

Sharon McCarty wrote:

Colleen,

The gastro doc told me that my HCV was type 2, and I'm not sure what my viral

load is. Should I ask him? I have not had a biopsy yet. He wanted to go ahead

and get me started on treatment, I have a huge hernia in my abdomen on the left

side that has my small intestine pulled into it with several loops that almost

have me to the point of bowel obstruction, and it is pressing on a nerve in my

left leg causing my left leg to swell and hurt quiet a lot. I feel that I have a

good gastro doc, I'm praying that I do.

Thanks for the info

Sharon

MsTigerHawk wrote:

Hi Sharon,

I'm starting treatment in November. The same treatment as you, and for hepatitis

C. One shot of PegIntron a week and two Ribavirin capsules a day, all for 48

weeks. The treatment is grueling for some and not so bad for others. Some can

still go to work every day and some can't. Everyone's different, so you just

have to wait and see how it makes you feel. I'm a genotype 1b. One's are the

hardest to clear. With treatment, I have a 35 - 40% chance of clearing the

virus.The genotype 2's and 3's have a 70 - 75% chance of clearing, and they only

have to be on the treatment for 24 weeks. You must be a genotype one if the

doctor says you have to be on it for almost a year.

Have you had a liver biopsy yet? Do you know what your viral load is?

Colleen

Sharon McCarty wrote:

Debra,

Thanks for your prayers. I found out today that I have Hep C and Cirrhosis. The

Hep C is from a blood tranfusion that I had 23 years ago. I was pregnant, went

into labor with my only child, and had an early seperation of the

placenta,starting hemorraging and lost the baby, plateletts left the blood and

had to have 29 units of blood, and a partial hysterectomy.

The gastro doc is starting me on a year long treatment, with 2 pills a day and a

shot a week. Have you or has anyone had treatment for Hep C? He told me I would

feel like I had the flu, and have a really bad case of the blahs. I don't see

the nurse to start the treatment until this week, so I'm just wondering what I

should expect.

Praying for all

Sharon

Debra wrote:

Sharon, How did it go for you today with the gastro. Keeping you in my

prayers, Debra

>

> Finally, the 19th of October has arrived and I finally get to see the

> gastro doc. Sorry I have been posting, but I have been reading

> everyday all of the posts and you guys really help get me through

some

> rough times. I am really nervous about today, but I am anxious too

> and want to get things moving. I have been having quiet a few

> episodes over the last couple of weeks, and have been battling a cold

> for about a month. So just say a prayer for me today, as I keep all

> of you in my prayers. Talk to you all later.

>

__________________________________________________

October 21, 2007

Good point Bob,

And an excellent reason why everyone here needs to be up to speed on

this disease and in control of their or their loved ones health care.

There use to be a time when you went to the doctor and they sat down

and talked with you, explained everything, even called.

Now it's in and out. " Next! "

Even thought doctors for the most part care a lot about patients they

just don't have the time they once had to give exceptional care.

Many of us (us population) would nod their head at the doctor and take

his word and either live or die.

Others are proactive, and make the doctor face their decisions and

explain them. Making them do this is a positive thing. One, it let's

them interact with you and two creates a bond between the patient and

doctor. I find that when a bond develops, doctors tend to go out of

their way in terms of care.

MaC

Thoughts? I probably could have put it, " Doctors are too busy unless

they know you. "

>

> I got cut off. I dont know if that first part is going to post or

not. What i was saying is that when I went to the ER in Feb, there was

a radiology report that said I might have fibrosis in my lungs. So I

pursued further investigation through the COPD /pulmonology clinic,

and they discovered hps at a gradient of 15 to 20%. it was because I

didnt just sit on that radiololgy report, I made phone calls, and got

an appt for a pulmonary function test and shunt study. the whole

process took 6 months, but it never would have happened if I hadnt

pushed my way forward.

>

October 21, 2007

Colleen,

My husband said it was 24 weeks; I guess I got confused. Thanks for the info

Sharon

MsTigerHawk wrote:

Yup, genotype 2's and 3's is 24 weeks; genotype 1 is 48 weeks.

Colleen

wrote:

How does your Dr. know that you have cirrhosis if he hasn't ordered a biopsy?

I was under the impression that Genotype 2s usually only take about 24 weeks of

Peg Intron treatment.

Or at least that is what my husband gastro suggested to him. I had 18 months of

treatment back when there was only the monotherapy...no Riba.

>I'm not sure what my viral load is. Should I ask him?

You need to know if your treatment is lowering your viral load. My experience

has been that you have to be proactive with your medical issues and not just

assume the doctor knows best. Sometimes they don't, or sometimes may simply

overlook something. Ask for a hard copy of every lab report you have done, be it

blood work, scans, etc

And seeing a psychiatrist to evaluate you for depression is

important....interferon can really do a number on your emotions.

There is a good mailing list for Hep C at HEPV-L@...

Good luck!