I used to spend my life living in the past and worrying about the future. Not anymore. The best thing about this treatment was being able to stay at home and face myself. I learned to forgive and love myself while the world revolved around me. I am at peace with myself and cannot waste my energy on what-ifs.
I live each day to the fullest, no expectations, no fears!
Thank you for sharing.
Tig said
Dec 6, 2013
Welcome to the forum Alisa! I'm glad you found us, everyone is so helpful and it really seems a lot like family most times. I'm sorry to hear about the ongoing INT issues you're having. Many of us that have gone through treatment a time or two (or three) understand the constant nagging problems from it. But your attitude is a good one and is important as you know. There will be good days and some not so good days, but we accomplished something to be proud of. I have just finished triple therapy and am hoping for the same SVR news you've enjoyed. Life is good and will get better, that I'm sure of!!
alisaf said
Dec 6, 2013
Hi Johaneh, I like your attitude. I hope I can learn from it. I to have given up wanting the docs to understand that hepc and the rx for it has caused many pxs for me . I've been free of HCV since 2009. But seem to have many connective tissue type pxs that even started before I was diagnosed and then got worse with rx. I think the medical world just isn't ready for the influx of us who now are effected long term. But it's still really cool to be alive.
JoAnneh said
Dec 4, 2013
Thanks Andi for sharing!
I was on interferon and RIBA
2001 for 9 months.
I never cleared the virus.
I was at stsge 1-2.
Thankful there was a new tx
On the market as it had been 10
Long years with no new alternates!
I had gall bladder operation in 2011.
The surgeon took a liver biospy and
Told me my liver was damaged.
I had 'mild' chirrosis.
I started triple therapy for 48 weeks.
The 1st tx I felt great 6 months post treatment.
Lived active lifestyle running a company
And busy with family. I worked out, swim,
Bike etc....
Thankfully this last treatment WORKED:)
I am 7 months post and all aches and joint
Pains have significantly increased.
I am glad you join the forum and like your attitude.
I am thrilled to beat Hep C if I haven't I would
Be looking at a transplant!
I can't be 30 again but I still am able to
Do ALOT! Love my life and getting to meet
My 2nd grandchild in the Spring.
Keep staying positive:)
2willy said
Dec 4, 2013
nice to see that a positive attitude is the key to post treatment, way to go and good luck
bill emma and raven
Tig said
Nov 26, 2013
Hi Andi and welcome! It's nice to hear your positive comment and know that while you've experienced some negative after effects from therapy, you're thankful to be around to share your story. I went through mono therapy in 96 for 12 weeks and have always noticed some changes following that treatment. It's a risk we all assumed when starting this treatment and thankfully for most, those long term side effects go away. For those that retain some of those issues, it's a trade off we're willing to accept for a healthier liver and life.
I hope life continues to treat you well and hope you stay and share your helpful story with others. We have new and old members alike that read these pages looking for positive messages like yours. Thanks again for telling us part of your history and hopes for the future!
Biggyb said
Nov 25, 2013
Good for you Andi, it's nice to hear a positive person rather than all the moans and groans. Treatment is hell, we know it.
Thanks ~Bob
MandeAndi said
Nov 25, 2013
Hi everyone,
Andi here, SVR ten years following 48 weeks of interferon/ribavarin for 1A. First of all, while tx was Hell, I would definitely do it again. And yes, while I do have significant post-tx issues, I live a good life. It's not the life I thought I would be living but I am useful.
My dr has downplayed the notion that tx has caused my problems and, honestly, I don't care anymore. I deal with each day as it comes and do what I can. The bottom line is that HCV is not killing me anymore.
Any patient on chemotherapy is going to experience long term side effects to some degree. I had a disease that would kill me. Now I have "issues." I take weekly gamma globulin infusions after being dx with hypogammaglobulinemia. I get back injections and go to weekly PT. But these are not going to kill me.
For a few years, I wanted to blame tx and being ill-informed about long term effects. To what end? Anger, frustration and "why me?" don't change anything. My life is what it is. I'm just grateful that it IS.
Thanks to you all for sharing your experience, strength and hope.
Andi
Cinnamon Girl said
Nov 25, 2013
Hi Andi, welcome back, and congrats on your 10 years SVR! Thanks for sharing your updated post treatment experiences, it`s good to hear you have managed to keep such a positive attitude despite your ongoing difficulties. It`s always hard to say exactly whether individual problems have been directly caused by interferon based treatment, especially when it`s been such a long time since you did it, although it`s certainly true that some people do develop post treatment health issues. As you so rightly say, there are always risks associated with going through treatment with such heavy duty drugs, but for most of us it`s a risk we think is well worth taking.
Wishing you all the best for your future health and hope things improve for you.
Hi Andi,
It's so nice to hear you are 10 yrs SVR!
I used to spend my life living in the past and worrying about the future. Not anymore. The best thing about this treatment was being able to stay at home and face myself. I learned to forgive and love myself while the world revolved around me. I am at peace with myself and cannot waste my energy on what-ifs.
I live each day to the fullest, no expectations, no fears!
Thank you for sharing.
Welcome to the forum Alisa! I'm glad you found us, everyone is so helpful and it really seems a lot like family most times. I'm sorry to hear about the ongoing INT issues you're having. Many of us that have gone through treatment a time or two (or three) understand the constant nagging problems from it. But your attitude is a good one and is important as you know. There will be good days and some not so good days, but we accomplished something to be proud of. I have just finished triple therapy and am hoping for the same SVR news you've enjoyed. Life is good and will get better, that I'm sure of!!
Hi Johaneh, I like your attitude. I hope I can learn from it. I to have given up wanting the docs to understand that hepc and the rx for it has caused many pxs for me . I've been free of HCV since 2009. But seem to have many connective tissue type pxs that even started before I was diagnosed and then got worse with rx. I think the medical world just isn't ready for the influx of us who now are effected long term. But it's still really cool to be alive.
I was on interferon and RIBA
2001 for 9 months.
I never cleared the virus.
I was at stsge 1-2.
Thankful there was a new tx
On the market as it had been 10
Long years with no new alternates!
I had gall bladder operation in 2011.
The surgeon took a liver biospy and
Told me my liver was damaged.
I had 'mild' chirrosis.
I started triple therapy for 48 weeks.
The 1st tx I felt great 6 months post treatment.
Lived active lifestyle running a company
And busy with family. I worked out, swim,
Bike etc....
Thankfully this last treatment WORKED:)
I am 7 months post and all aches and joint
Pains have significantly increased.
I am glad you join the forum and like your attitude.
I am thrilled to beat Hep C if I haven't I would
Be looking at a transplant!
I can't be 30 again but I still am able to
Do ALOT! Love my life and getting to meet
My 2nd grandchild in the Spring.
Keep staying positive:)
nice to see that a positive attitude is the key to post treatment, way to go and good luck
bill emma and raven
Hi Andi and welcome! It's nice to hear your positive comment and know that while you've experienced some negative after effects from therapy, you're thankful to be around to share your story. I went through mono therapy in 96 for 12 weeks and have always noticed some changes following that treatment. It's a risk we all assumed when starting this treatment and thankfully for most, those long term side effects go away. For those that retain some of those issues, it's a trade off we're willing to accept for a healthier liver and life.
I hope life continues to treat you well and hope you stay and share your helpful story with others. We have new and old members alike that read these pages looking for positive messages like yours. Thanks again for telling us part of your history and hopes for the future!
Good for you Andi, it's nice to hear a positive person rather than all the moans and groans. Treatment is hell, we know it.
Thanks ~Bob
Hi everyone,
Andi here, SVR ten years following 48 weeks of interferon/ribavarin for 1A. First of all, while tx was Hell, I would definitely do it again. And yes, while I do have significant post-tx issues, I live a good life. It's not the life I thought I would be living but I am useful.
My dr has downplayed the notion that tx has caused my problems and, honestly, I don't care anymore. I deal with each day as it comes and do what I can. The bottom line is that HCV is not killing me anymore.
Any patient on chemotherapy is going to experience long term side effects to some degree. I had a disease that would kill me. Now I have "issues." I take weekly gamma globulin infusions after being dx with hypogammaglobulinemia. I get back injections and go to weekly PT. But these are not going to kill me.
For a few years, I wanted to blame tx and being ill-informed about long term effects. To what end? Anger, frustration and "why me?" don't change anything. My life is what it is. I'm just grateful that it IS.
Thanks to you all for sharing your experience, strength and hope.
Andi
Hi Andi, welcome back, and congrats on your 10 years SVR! Thanks for sharing your updated post treatment experiences, it`s good to hear you have managed to keep such a positive attitude despite your ongoing difficulties. It`s always hard to say exactly whether individual problems have been directly caused by interferon based treatment, especially when it`s been such a long time since you did it, although it`s certainly true that some people do develop post treatment health issues. As you so rightly say, there are always risks associated with going through treatment with such heavy duty drugs, but for most of us it`s a risk we think is well worth taking.
Wishing you all the best for your future health and hope things improve for you.