Thanks everyone for the well wishes...very nice to hear from some of my partners in time that were around when I was. Yes Annie I still have the stones I was using to count the days off. I don't think I will ever get rid of thoseThe day you talked abut your marbles in the jar inspired me so much, I had to try it myself! What an excellent idea it was!

As a matter of fact I just finished packing them as we are moving at the end of August. We just bought a house! I'm very excited about this, it will be the first time in my life for me that I will be a home owner. We were talking about doing this while I was on treatment, but there is no way that I would have been able to handle it at the time. I am now packing slowly, cleaning, sorting, and getting rid of things. Talk about jumping through hoops to get a mortgage, must easier to rent! It's all signed and sealed now so it's all good. Big hugs to you Dee, you are always so upbeat, it was very uplifting while on treatment. I haven't heard from Riggs in a very long time, I hope he is hanging in there and doing good. To think it's been over a year already since this journey began, and I thought it would never end.

Peace, love and strength to all!

Hi Xena, (ilovelife) How the heck are you girl? It's been awhile but I didn't think it was 6 months already. But, I see you are doing great! That is wonderful news.  I am so happy for you. Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy!!! You deserve it. I'm still here now and then, I saw your post and just had to reply. I was wondering how you were. I miss our old group and miss hearing from you. Take care of yourself and keep in touch. Hugs Dee

Fantastic news!  I too have been a bit out of the loop, but I wanted to send you the very best wishes your way.  I agree with you, now you can really begin to love life! ty

Conragtulations to you!  I am sure the wait was hard but the results were fab!

Good for you.

Mary

I heartily echo all the wonderful sentiments, enjoy your new life.

Congratulations, well done.  I'm so glad you made it.

Dragonflyxxx

Hi ilovelife,  I'm so happy to hear that you got to the finish line, and that another one of my fellow txers has won the great battle!  It must make the ordeal of tx seem like a distant nightmare. Now you can really get on with living your life to the full. I often think of you and Riggs. Have you still got your bowl of marbles/ river stones, that you counted off the weeks of tx with? I just kept the biggest and brightest of mine as a souvenir.

Wishing you a carefree and exciting future,  Love Annie xxxxx

Hi ilovelife

i missed this post and have been wondering how things went for you..So happy to hear the good news

Yep tx is a tough time and a damn shaky ride full of decisions to make and just pure hell getting to the end..Congrats you did it.!!!!!!!!!!!

all my love to you and your new lovelife.. elizabethxx

Hi Xena,

Many congratulations & well done. I'm so pleased for you.

Enjoy the rest of your life free!!!

Lots of luv & best wishes for the future.

Lesleyxx

Awwww that is just fantastic

congratulations and wish you all the best with your healthy new life

love kaz

xxxxx

Many congrats to you ilovelife, that is such great news!    

It`s always wonderful to read that one of our group has reached the top of the summit, you must be so happy and relieved, and how fantastic that you were able to tell your daughters such good news.  They must be so happy too and proud of you.

Carry on loving life, it is good!

Love and all the best, Jill xxx

Awesome news,

so glad to hear the great news. We are all looking forward to joining you. Thanks for sharing with us.

Ron

That's wonderful to hear! Wishing you all the very best for a healthy and happy future

Love Steff xx

That's fantastic news!!!  Congrats!!  Also very inspiring for others.  

All the best.

Hugs,

Heather xxx

Hi ilovelife that's great news.  You were around here when I was doing my 24 weeks.  Another one bites the dust.  FANTASTIC.

Love Jan x

Great news congratulations.
Cheers,
Greg

Hi Hip Hooray! Congrats & well done  

A big congrats from me Ilovelife, like Becca said, your outcome is very encouraging. I can't wait and hope my outcome turns out as good. I look forward to doing some simple things like running (more than ten strides without feeling short of breath), ride my bike, and climb a tree - and you know, act like a 54 year-old kid. I love life too... and yes, sometimes tx has challenged my thoughts.

You take care and good to hear from you,
Randy

We haven't met, I'm Becca.  I just want to say how happy I am for you and how encouraging this is to me.  I hope I can say the same thing this time next year.

Well it's official, I got my 6 month pcr NEGATIVE test results! Even though I tested negative at 2 weeks before the introduction of  Boceprevir at 4 weeks, every blood test after that and at the 12 week post tx mark...I always had that teeny nagging feeling in the back of my head ...what if..I would try and shoo it away when it popped into my head. Anyway, I made it and am very thankful to my nurse who was my rock throughout the whole treatment. I can't count the number of times I would email her in a panic with my various sx and she was alway patient and helpful, not to mention how grateful I am to find the many people I found on this forum. I was a geno 1a and had signed up on the trial for a full 48 week tx. Roughly around the 8 month mark, I got to stop early as the results coming in from all of the trials were extremely good. Believe me, I bombarded them with questions and doubts when they told me I could stop early. I was bound and determined to go to the bitter end in order to slay the nasty virus. I did stop early, and my doc has told me I am now officially SVR. What a good feeling it is. I feel so free...and my energy did come back fairly soon post tx, I slowly weaned myself off of the anti depressants, and I feel I am back to "normal" - whatever that is lol. I sent a text to my daughter who is now on a vacation/spiritual trip  in Bali, and plans to release some of her Dad's ashes who succumbed to the virus a little less than 2 years ago. Her dad and I haven't been together for approx 20 years, but I am so happy to be able to tell her she won't have to worry about her mom and hepc. What a good feeling! My other daughter unfortunately couldn't make it on this trip with her sister, but she lives in the same city and we are able to celebrate together.

I am reading that Merck is getting approval from the FDA on the Boceprevir, and it should be available in the US soon if not already (?). My nurse says it will take a couple of years to be legal in Canada. I know this drug helped tremendously as I was able to quit short of the 48 weeks, and am so thanful I was able to participate in this trial. Every dizzy spell, all the lack of energy, shortness of breath, depression etc etc was extremely worth it. I can't stress enough to  anyone who feels overwhelmed and feels like quitting their treatment that there truly is an end to all of the crappy feeling the tx brings on. I know I was there not so long ago feeling overwhelmed about it all. It does get better!

Hang in there everyone, and a big hello to everyone who was on this forum at the same time I was.

I do love life! (sometimes I wondered about that while on tx)