Alan,

I am just now reading this compelling, detailed reflection of what one might expect to go through during the triple treatment. After reading many of the post on this forum that focus on all of the negative side effects, it comforting to read a step by step subjective account of what we might expect to experience, and how to cope with it. Knowing what could be sheads the light on this otherwise deem, fearful and, uncertain venture.

Thanks for making it plain.

I'm feeling like I can do this.

Keep putting it off!

Very good reading Alan, insightful and inspirational. Anyone who reads your post will be inspired to carry on through the rough sx. I for one have had my own but like you, get those good news points every 4 weeks so it makes it all worth it. I just had my 12 week labs pulled last week, all liver functions are back in normal range, still waiting for my vl to come back. Have good faith that i'll still be und at 12, like i was at 8 and 4. Thanks for posting man. You sharing like that will make it easy for the next soldier to begin their fight!

Derrick

Hey Alan! Nice post. Thanks for the encouragement. I begin the journey on Jan. 31 (4 days from now).
Continued success to you. Be well. 

So thankful for this site, Learned a few good tricks. Found out today i will do Peg and co Peg for a total of a year. due to my nonresponder of five years total treatment in the past. Undectactable !! sence week 4 and still holding, blood looks good. it will be a long 9 months at our house. I made it, my skin is better but not like it was before and I am itchy. my bumm is way better (thank God) stay strong stay sharp

Back in November, 2011 I reported for my liver biopsy, waited in the recovery area for two hours afterward, and then met with my NP and doctor who advised me I should begin treatment as soon as I wanted to. I had received my meds and had been briefed by the rep from Genetec/Roche, and had good notes on what to do. So, on Sunday, Nov. 20 I woke up at 5:30, made myself a bagel, cream cheese and a glass of milk, and took two Incivek and a ribavirin and went back to bed. As the king of Rohan said in Lord of the Rings, "And so it begins". I had no idea.

By the end of the first day I already had a roaring case of "backside discomfort" which would become a constant companion. The first injection, done at 6PM that day, was scary but very successful. I used a chubby abdomen site. By the end of the third day I was overcome by flu-like symptoms and the itchy skin had begun. I have been taking various medicines all my life and have never had side effects. But this was a whole new animal. The days seemed to drag by as I concentrated on the dosing schedule. All those 8-hour intervals seemed to take an eternity. But eventually the first week was over. On Saturday night I filled out my little log book, listed my side effects, and checked the box for "OK Week".

Finally the 4th week ended, and on the following Monday I went for my labs. Then a week later I went to the NP for a reading. MY VL was alreeady down from 5.8M to <23, and the liver enzymes were over half-way back to normal. I could tell it was working. Suddenly the discomfort of all those side effects was not so important. My second 4-week box of meds had arrived from the specialty pharmacy, so I puffed up my chest and began that second block of time. Time passed much more quickly and before I knew it I was at the lab again for the 8-week tests. Then the next Monday another reading with the NP. This time VL was UND, red cells still just barely above critical, hematocrit 30.4, white cells down but not dangerous. She said "Your labs are great!" and sent me away to begin the third and final four weeks of triple therapy.

Now I am nearly at the end of ten weeks. Still itching, still sitting down carefully, losing a little hair, tired and out of breath a lot, some flu-like symptoms and also a pretty bad cold. But you know what? This stuff is working. I have said it before. Incivek is a powerful ally, but a very obnoxious one. But I cannot overlook how effective the three meds have been together. And I have made it to the ski slopes twice during all of this for a little snowboarding, even though I could only go a couple of hours each time. Just got so tired so fast, but boy was it fun.

So, in closing, for anyone who reads this and has just about had enough of the side effects in this treatment series, please hang in there. Explore with various techniques to ease the impact, make subtle changes in eating, bathing and toilet habits, and drink lots and lots of water at all times no matter what. And read these posts for all sorts of handy tips and tricks based on actual experience. It won't be long before you will be looking at scaling down to two drugs for a while, then "graduation". Hopefully your new lifestyle and health consciousness will persist after treatment and you will remain healthy.

For my part, this treatment is the first in a two-part war. Next comes protecting and trying to heal what little liver function I have left. That will be a life-long battle, and one I look forward to.

My best to all of you, and thanks for assembling to share the ups and downs of this process. It is nice not to be alone.

Alan