Re: Re: how do spouses/significant othersdeal?

[Guest guest]

Hi I,am 53. Have hep c. Treated 2yrs ago. Failed but did feel better. Started

drinking an smokin weed. Went down hill fast. Quit drinkin an weed 6 month now

and eatin better. Feelin good. I'am a biker. An that is what I live for.

Married, to a good woman. But this stuff will change you. I tell you this cause

" life isn't what you want it to be " . Its what you make it.

A new out look, new friends and a wife that can think outside the box. Could

help.

Good luck

And god bless.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re: how do spouses/significant others deal?

 

Hi, and Welcome!

While I agree with what both Jackie and Deborah posted, I think you need some

information from one who has gone through all that your husband (name, please?)

is not dealing with. I have completed 3 of the 48 week treatments, from the

early '90's to 2005. None of them reached SVR, or zero HCV virus in the blood.

That is because I drank and smoked through all 3 tx's! What an idiot I was! The

treatment will not work if one is still drinking! Absolutely a fact. Nearly 2

years after the 3rd treatment, I was trying to get on the transplant list, but

my MELD score was not high enough. Then, they found a 2.2 cm cancerous tumor on

my liver. I then got on the list, and in 9/08 I received a new liver from

someone most generous. I had stopped drinking and smoking in mid 2006, so

further damage was limited, although the ball had already started moving

downhill. I was jaundiced, week, confused and just " a complete mess " , as Chelsea

Handler would say! I still have a viral load and therefore I still have Hep C.

However, a biopsy last September showed absolutely no scarring or fibrosous of

my new liver. They won't put me back on another treatment until there is

definite liver damage. So, as a 64 year old true former alchoholic and heavy

smoker, who worked at least 65 hours a week, I have finally reached my heaven on

earth. I still have the disease, and will probably die with it, and not because

of it. Because of my behavioral changes, including a better diet and exercise, I

now have my sanity back. I am unbelievably blessed. I also had that exact

feeling your husband had: " What difference does it make? " Well, after the

transplant, the lead surgeon told me that I would have lived only another 2 or 3

months without the operation. So, it may have made no difference for a few weeks

or months, but after that, the disease may progress until it is to late to

treat, necessitating a transplant, if he would be lucky enough to get one on

time. I have seen many with advanced HCV, and these folks, including myself,

were not pleasant to look at. So, before your husband continues until a

premature death, please let him know that by being strong and hopeful, and with

your dedicated support, that he really can kick this Dragon in the ass. Life

ain't half bad without alchohol, though I still avoid my old " drinking buddies " ,

who really didn't give a shit about me after all! I'm looking forward to years

of fun and adventure ahead. Your husband still has that great chance. He can

email me personally at rickkipp@... <mailto:rickkipp%40earthlink.net>

.. I am not alone with this disease. Just read all the posts on this forum, and

you will see many success stories as well as many ongoing battles. Your hubby

needs a great liver Doc or gastro Doc who will hopefully perform a liver biopsy,

as that is the only way to determine what damage has been done. And, has he had

all his liver enzymes checked via blood test? Very necessary. Stay in good

spirits, and take the best care of your son. You husband is a man, and has some

serious decisions to make, if he wants to see his son graduate.

>

> Hi all,

> i had posted a few weeks ago when my husband was diagnosed with Hep C. The

first 2 weeks were rough, trying to deal with the news and getting information,

and letting things sink in...

> Because he did not know all his life that he had this, he was a heavy smoker

and drinker (mostly beer and could easily have a 6-12 pack a day).

>

> News came of the diagnosis and he stopped the beers and cigarettes...this

past weekend, he started drinking again...not sure how much and when i brought

it up, he said, " what difference does it make now " . I come home from work and I

know that he's had a few beers again.

>

> How do you help someone who does not want to help themselves? I am still

dealing with the diagnosis...as he is, but i cannot force him to talk about how

he feels or why he feels that he needs to do more damage to his liver.

>

> I have been hit with serious news the past 2 months...in March, my son was

diagnosed with autism, and now my husband with Hep C...how much more can one

person take and I know that there are people worse off than me and what I have

to deal with, but I am having a very hard time learning how to cope. Please give

me some advice, do I just let him be and watch him kill himself on purpose or am

i just over reacting?

>

> Any suggestions/supporting words/prayers are greatly appreciated...thanks...

>

> Sorry to end the night on such a depressing post but I needed some place to

vent.

>

------------------------------------

It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the

support you need with us.

If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click

the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/

Happy Posting

[Guest guest]

Good advice, thanks for sharing! Sheena

Hi I,am 53. Have hep c. Treated 2yrs ago. Failed but did feel better. Started drinking an smokin weed. Went down hill fast. Quit drinkin an weed 6 month now and eatin better. Feelin good. I'am a biker. An that is what I live for. Married, to a good woman. But this stuff will change you. I tell you this cause "life isn't what you want it to be". Its what you make it. A new out look, new friends and a wife that can think outside the box. Could help. Good luck And god bless. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Re: how do spouses/significant others deal?

Hi, and Welcome!While I agree with what both Jackie and Deborah posted, I think you need some information from one who has gone through all that your husband (name, please?) is not dealing with. I have completed 3 of the 48 week treatments, from the early '90's to 2005. None of them reached SVR, or zero HCV virus in the blood. That is because I drank and smoked through all 3 tx's! What an idiot I was! The treatment will not work if one is still drinking! Absolutely a fact. Nearly 2 years after the 3rd treatment, I was trying to get on the transplant list, but my MELD score was not high enough. Then, they found a 2.2 cm cancerous tumor on my liver. I then got on the list, and in 9/08 I received a new liver from someone most generous. I had stopped drinking and smoking in mid 2006, so further damage was limited, although the ball had already started moving downhill. I was jaundiced, week, confused and just "a complete

mess", as Chelsea Handler would say! I still have a viral load and therefore I still have Hep C. However, a biopsy last September showed absolutely no scarring or fibrosous of my new liver. They won't put me back on another treatment until there is definite liver damage. So, as a 64 year old true former alchoholic and heavy smoker, who worked at least 65 hours a week, I have finally reached my heaven on earth. I still have the disease, and will probably die with it, and not because of it. Because of my behavioral changes, including a better diet and exercise, I now have my sanity back. I am unbelievably blessed. I also had that exact feeling your husband had: "What difference does it make?" Well, after the transplant, the lead surgeon told me that I would have lived only another 2 or 3 months without the operation. So, it may have made no difference for a few weeks or months, but after that, the disease may progress until it is to late to treat,

necessitating a transplant, if he would be lucky enough to get one on time. I have seen many with advanced HCV, and these folks, including myself, were not pleasant to look at. So, before your husband continues until a premature death, please let him know that by being strong and hopeful, and with your dedicated support, that he really can kick this Dragon in the ass. Life ain't half bad without alchohol, though I still avoid my old "drinking buddies", who really didn't give a shit about me after all! I'm looking forward to years of fun and adventure ahead. Your husband still has that great chance. He can email me personally at rickkipp@... <mailto:rickkipp%40earthlink.net> . I am not alone with this disease. Just read all the posts on this forum, and you will see many success stories as well as many ongoing battles.

Your hubby needs a great liver Doc or gastro Doc who will hopefully perform a liver biopsy, as that is the only way to determine what damage has been done. And, has he had all his liver enzymes checked via blood test? Very necessary. Stay in good spirits, and take the best care of your son. You husband is a man, and has some serious decisions to make, if he wants to see his son graduate. >> Hi all,> i had posted a few weeks ago when my husband was diagnosed with Hep C. The first 2 weeks were rough, trying to deal with the news and getting information, and letting things sink in...> Because he did not know all his life that he had

this, he was a heavy smoker and drinker (mostly beer and could easily have a 6-12 pack a day).> > News came of the diagnosis and he stopped the beers and cigarettes...this past weekend, he started drinking again...not sure how much and when i brought it up, he said, "what difference does it make now". I come home from work and I know that he's had a few beers again. > > How do you help someone who does not want to help themselves? I am still dealing with the diagnosis...as he is, but i cannot force him to talk about how he feels or why he feels that he needs to do more damage to his liver. > > I have been hit with serious news the past 2 months...in March, my son was diagnosed with autism, and now my husband with Hep C...how much more can one person take and I know that there are people worse off than me and what I have to deal with, but I am having a very hard time learning how to cope. Please give me some

advice, do I just let him be and watch him kill himself on purpose or am i just over reacting?> > Any suggestions/supporting words/prayers are greatly appreciated...thanks...> > Sorry to end the night on such a depressing post but I needed some place to vent.>------------------------------------It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the support you need with us. If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/ Happy Posting

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the advice...the last 2 days have been good days....it's like I said, we take this thing day by day...

It's what we can do for right now..but thank you all for the inspiring stories and the drive to want to fight!

To: Hepatitis_C_Central From: mom4possums2002@...Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 18:14:11 -0700Subject: Re: Re: how do spouses/significant othersdeal?

Good advice, thanks for sharing! Sheena

Hi I,am 53. Have hep c. Treated 2yrs ago. Failed but did feel better. Started drinking an smokin weed. Went down hill fast. Quit drinkin an weed 6 month now and eatin better. Feelin good. I'am a biker. An that is what I live for. Married, to a good woman. But this stuff will change you. I tell you this cause "life isn't what you want it to be". Its what you make it. A new out look, new friends and a wife that can think outside the box. Could help. Good luck And god bless. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Re: how do spouses/significant others deal? Hi, and Welcome!While I agree with what both Jackie and Deborah posted, I think you need some information from one who has gone through all that your husband (name, please?) is not dealing with. I have completed 3 of the 48 week treatments, from the early '90's to 2005. None of them reached SVR, or zero HCV virus in the blood. That is because I drank and smoked through all 3 tx's! What an idiot I was! The treatment will not work if one is still drinking! Absolutely a fact. Nearly 2 years after the 3rd treatment, I was trying to get on the transplant list, but my MELD score was not high enough. Then, they found a 2.2 cm cancerous tumor on my liver. I then got on the list, and in 9/08 I received a new liver from someone most generous. I had stopped drinking and smoking in mid 2006, so further damage was limited, although the ball had already started moving downhill. I was jaundiced, week, confused and just "a complete mess", as Chelsea Handler would say! I still have a viral load and therefore I still have Hep C. However, a biopsy last September showed absolutely no scarring or fibrosous of my new liver. They won't put me back on another treatment until there is definite liver damage. So, as a 64 year old true former alchoholic and heavy smoker, who worked at least 65 hours a week, I have finally reached my heaven on earth. I still have the disease, and will probably die with it, and not because of it. Because of my behavioral changes, including a better diet and exercise, I now have my sanity back. I am unbelievably blessed. I also had that exact feeling your husband had: "What difference does it make?" Well, after the transplant, the lead surgeon told me that I would have lived only another 2 or 3 months without the operation. So, it may have made no difference for a few weeks or months, but after that, the disease may progress until it is to late to treat, necessitating a transplant, if he would be lucky enough to get one on time. I have seen many with advanced HCV, and these folks, including myself, were not pleasant to look at. So, before your husband continues until a premature death, please let him know that by being strong and hopeful, and with your dedicated support, that he really can kick this Dragon in the ass. Life ain't half bad without alchohol, though I still avoid my old "drinking buddies", who really didn't give a shit about me after all! I'm looking forward to years of fun and adventure ahead. Your husband still has that great chance. He can email me personally at rickkippearthlink (DOT) net <mailto:rickkipp%40earthlink.net> . I am not alone with this disease. Just read all the posts on this forum, and you will see many success stories as well as many ongoing battles. Your hubby needs a great liver Doc or gastro Doc who will hopefully perform a liver biopsy, as that is the only way to determine what damage has been done. And, has he had all his liver enzymes checked via blood test? Very necessary. Stay in good spirits, and take the best care of your son. You husband is a man, and has some serious decisions to make, if he wants to see his son graduate. >> Hi all,> i had posted a few weeks ago when my husband was diagnosed with Hep C. The first 2 weeks were rough, trying to deal with the news and getting information, and letting things sink in...> Because he did not know all his life that he had this, he was a heavy smoker and drinker (mostly beer and could easily have a 6-12 pack a day).> > News came of the diagnosis and he stopped the beers and cigarettes...this past weekend, he started drinking again...not sure how much and when i brought it up, he said, "what difference does it make now". I come home from work and I know that he's had a few beers again. > > How do you help someone who does not want to help themselves? I am still dealing with the diagnosis...as he is, but i cannot force him to talk about how he feels or why he feels that he needs to do more damage to his liver. > > I have been hit with serious news the past 2 months...in March, my son was diagnosed with autism, and now my husband with Hep C...how much more can one person take and I know that there are people worse off than me and what I have to deal with, but I am having a very hard time learning how to cope. Please give me some advice, do I just let him be and watch him kill himself on purpose or am i just over reacting?> > Any suggestions/supporting words/prayers are greatly appreciated...thanks...> > Sorry to end the night on such a depressing post but I needed some place to vent.>------------------------------------It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the support you need with us. If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/ Happy Posting

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for sharing your story.I just want you to know that you are an

unbelievably strong person! And altho there may be days when you don't feel so

strong, just always remember...you were able to fight the 2 hardest

addictions..and that my friend makes you a true fighter.

Good luck and you are in my prayers.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re: how do spouses/significant others deal?

To: Hepatitis_C_Central

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 7:35 AM

 

Hi ,

I've followed you since you first came on the forum. I would like to suggest

that you look at Dr Berkson and his protocol. It is alternative supplements. He

is not a kook. He has helped many. I will post a link to his recent videos--can'

t get there from here. He mostly gets people who have already tried treatment or

failed treatment and most have good success with his treatment. It DOES NOT cure

Hep C--it mitigates it's effect or the symtoms and helps heal the liver.

I was very very sorry when you posted the Hep C returned. If you are interested

in more info, please contact me direct and I will send you more articles.

SuziQ

& gt; & gt; Rick I

will read and re-read this e-mail. & nbsp; Some days I still feel sorry for

myself. & nbsp; I was clean and sober for 25 years. & nbsp; I had no signs of the

disease. & nbsp; About 5 years ago now I started to drink and then 2 years ago

out of the blue bam I was where I am today. & nbsp; I have been clean and sober

the last 2 1/2 years. & nbsp; It was easy on treatment (even know treatment

didn't work for me 1-a)Â & nbsp; now I am full blow with cirrhosis and just

waiting for my numbers to get high enough to get a liver. & nbsp; They tell me I

have no other choice. & nbsp; That I will know when the meds stop working and I

stay sick with fog and swelling. & nbsp; Right now I am on water pills, toxic

pills and lactose to keep my body running. & nbsp; For some reason my blood work

took a dive this week and I had to have procrit for the first time in 4

months. & nbsp; I also have to go in for a ferritan drop as it is at a 6 and my

platelets are 40..........

...so I got scared this week that it is starting. & nbsp; I work every & gt; day

to keep up a good attitude. & nbsp; I own a company and have 2 kids. & nbsp; I am

53 years old and & nbsp; normally the energy of a 18 year old but this past week

I am tired like I was on treatment. & nbsp; I need to focus on the ball. & nbsp;

Be grateful for every day. & nbsp; Be grateful I am sober (I do miss it) and

rejoice that I have a place to come and talk. & nbsp; I know my fiance gets sick

of the whole thing. & nbsp; & gt; Everyone that can have a good day today. & gt;

from CA & gt; & gt; & gt; & gt;

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you - We are all strong. Just to get through treatment you have to be strong. I have picked being a doner my charity of choice. I want the world to know how important it is to share if they can. Hang in there . Subject: Re: how do spouses/significant others deal?To: Hepatitis_C_Central Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 7:35 AM Hi ,I've followed you since you first came on the forum. I would like to suggest that you look at Dr Berkson and his protocol. It is alternative supplements. He is not a kook. He has helped many. I will post a link to

his recent videos--can' t get there from here. He mostly gets people who have already tried treatment or failed treatment and most have good success with his treatment. It DOES NOT cure Hep C--it mitigates it's effect or the symtoms and helps heal the liver.I was very very sorry when you posted the Hep C returned. If you are interested in more info, please contact me direct and I will send you more articles.SuziQ & gt; & gt; Rick Iwill read and re-read this e-mail. & nbsp; Some days I still feel sorry for myself. & nbsp; I was clean and sober for 25 years. & nbsp; I had no signs of the disease. & nbsp; About 5 years ago now I started to drink and then 2 years ago out of the blue bam I was where I am today. & nbsp; I have been clean and sober the last 2 1/2 years. & nbsp; It was easy on treatment (even know

treatment didn't work for me 1-a) & nbsp; now I am full blow with cirrhosis and just waiting for my numbers to get high enough to get a liver. & nbsp; They tell me I have no other choice. & nbsp; That I will know when the meds stop working and I stay sick with fog and swelling. & nbsp; Right now I am on water pills, toxic pills and lactose to keep my body running. & nbsp; For some reason my blood work took a dive this week and I had to have procrit for the first time in 4 months. & nbsp; I also have to go in for a ferritan drop as it is at a 6 and my platelets are 40.............so I got scared this week that it is starting. & nbsp; I work every & gt; day to keep up a good attitude. & nbsp; I own a company and have 2 kids. & nbsp; I am 53 years old and & nbsp; normally the energy of a 18 year old but this past week I am tired like I was on treatment. & nbsp; I need to focus on the ball. & nbsp; Be

grateful for every day. & nbsp; Be grateful I am sober (I do miss it) and rejoice that I have a place to come and talk. & nbsp; I know my fiance gets sick of the whole thing. & nbsp; & gt; Everyone that can have a good day today. & gt; from CA & gt; & gt; & gt; & gt; ------------------------------------It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the support you need with us. If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/Happy Posting