Re: New List Member.

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THAT WAS AWESOME Tubs!!! Im keepin this one for posting frequently,, Tubs46@... wrote: welcome to this great group of people. I'm not even going to begin to take credit for this list of things to do,, and I hope the person that sent this out the other day dosen't mind. But as I read it I thought that most everything you needed to do is pretty much included. Read this and good luck. 1. STAY HYDRATED - I know all of the literature says this but this is a big mistake I made last time. Read the side effect of dehydration some time and you will have an epiphany that many of your negative symptoms are caused by that and

not the meds:> My choice is Pedialyte, I know it sounds silly, its primarily for babies, but all the other electrolite replacers, ie Gatoraid, frankly made me sick, could not stand the smell or taste. I buy pedialyte, the non flavored and add a bit to everything I drink, even water, drink early and often, because often you will not even recognize you are thirsty, trust me you are, the ribovirin will suck the life out of you. > > 2. EAT - I know this sound fundamental, its not. Whether you are experiencing real gastro issue or like me, you appetite just goes away, eating needs to become something you work at every day. I dropped 30 lbs in 7 weeks last time before I figured out I had a problem and frankly I was too sick to notice. The docs finally sent me off to the nutritionist:> Set an alarm if possible, a real sound that goes off, it will help to retrain the brain that

regardless of illness or lack of appetite you must eat several times a day. Preferably every 2-3 hrs. Have handy food, things you don't have to cook or prepare. Buy prepackaged fruits, vegetables already cut up, cup a soups, microwave foods, even junk food, calories are not your concern here, trust me after several months of treatment you will need all the calories you can get. When the alarm goes off, open mouth, put something in it, choke it down if you have to, it will get easier. > > 3. KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE - This is a tricky one I know, the brain fog comes on fast and furious. It is essential though that other than the obvious expenditure of brain cells on work, traffic, kids and significant others, you do something everyday that strains the muscle even a little and distracts you even for a moment from the situation. > Something a simple as a crossword puzzle, or reading, tv does

not count. Use the internet, find something your interested in and spend a few moments each night learning more about it. > > 4. EXCERCISE- I cannot stress this one enough either, whether you ever did before, do it now. I not talking joining a gym but some moderate body movement everyday. Both of the drugs specifically cause the joints to swell and deoxyginate the muscles causing the body aches. > I walk, some days good long walks, some days apartment laps are all I can muster the engergy for, but I do it no matter what, when I don't the body aches increase considerably. > > 5. GET SELFISH - Easier said than done I am well aware. I have seen and experienced loss of significant others, friends and jobs due to the disease and treatment. At the end of the day though if they are not strong enough to stick around and be a positive source

of reinforcement you are better off to cut your losses. You cannot save yourself and them too. Set your boundries, make it clear you will give as much as you can and nothing more and you will determine what is "as much". I cannot tell you how many tragic stories I have encountered where someone went all the way through treatment, all the while in a contentious or unsupportive relationship just to have the "other" bail when it was all done with. Mark my words you would have been much better off getting rid of them right off the bat and having all that extra energy to devote to yourself. > > 6. LAUGH - AT YOURSELF MOST OF ALL - My first injection was Monday night, several hours later when the body aches and shivers set in my daughter came home to find me upstairs under 6 blankets chatterting my teeth so hard I was in fear of cracking one, laughing my ass off. The sheer look of horror

on her face made every moment worth it. With a very trepid "mom, do you need me to call someone" I laughed even harder. Ok, heres the gig, laugh or cry, its entirely up to you, but laughing, among other things is clinically proven to increase seritonin and bump up your white blood cells. If you just stop and think about it for a moment this is all fairly absurd and you can either wallow in it or see it for what it is, a miracle moment to embrace humility, really, I know you think I'm nuts, thats been established, but try it next time, next time you feel like crying, burst out laughing, force if you have to it won't take long for it to become natural, and I swear the look on others peoples> faces will add to the hilarity. "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and

well-preserved body...but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, WOW! What a ride!"... Eddie HinmanJackie