Hep C Discussion Forum

Wendyo

Good you are looking after yourself and all things. We ARE our own best friends, aren't we?!, and unfortunately sometimes (speaking for myself) our own worst enemy it seems. You are doing such a good job in your health, AND, big bonus, you have and keep your head on so straight. Worth trying the antihypertensive meds if your doc thinks so - beta blockers or diuretics or what?? Always a good idea to follow thyroid function and lipid levels. Have you had any past indications of "things"? How have your past chols been? All that dedication to movement and knowing what is and is not good for you, you are getting it down to an art. Good example for all. Hope you like your GP well, she sounds like she looks at you thoroughly.

Sometimes ... just reading, and re-reading all my friends advice and habits rubs off and takes good effect on me - I DO listen (sometimes) - I had slacked off some in water drinking post-treatment, so I am making a bit more of a concerted effort to remain better hydrated (flushed) - does not come natural to me tho, was NEVER a big water drinker, all my life!!, so water drinking has to be very conscious act on my part (I SHOULD have always known better) but it was only the last decade that I was horrified to realize how hard it must have been on an old body to be so chronically dehydrated most of my life! And, I did listen to you and syd (and to the stiff old limp wimpy weak creaking bod of mine) and I am dragging my ass to the yoga class (only an hour a week, so not nearly enough, but it's a start), I am keeping up my walking tho, and will add on as I get stronger.

I'd better get looking better and all spiffed up for that formal party at Jimmies place! hee hee wheee  C.

Linuxter wrote:

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Hey Canuck,

Hopefully the nausea has subsided. At the local grocery store they give you a free item for every $50 ya spend ... a couple of weeks ago we were there and the free item was animal crackers. Well I hadn't had an animal cracker since I was knee high to a wall socket so I had to try them, couldn't put them down and ate most of the bag ... and then I proceeded to turn a green and REALLY felt yucky ... in fact, just thinking about it makes me nauseous now ... you'd think we'd learn but NOooooo.

Back is doing well, Thank You. I took it easy today too even though it feels much better.

I've got another deck to seal tomorrow but will make sure to limber up a bit first and not make any sudden twisting movements. It's really not difficult to do but somehow I managed to use a muscle that hadn't been used for umpteen years and it decided to fight back and jabbed me (the little ***turd).

Ah the old board game ... one of our friends had that and I always ended up sliding down to the snakes tail and never hitting a ladder, I think the game was rigged ... truly I do. Are you the Question Master?

Yes, the elusive ol' RNA, VL test ... I do hope I get to take that one of these days, 5 months in limbo is pure torture. I think it's a conspiracy and the doctors get some sick joy out of making me wait ... only 4 more weeks and they have to let me take it.

Begging didn't work, already tried that ... I even whined a little and the doc just dug in her heals ... (no comment)!

Blood letting to get rid of the Riba vapors ... good idea! I do still have moments (thank goodness they're getting shorter) where the Riba just takes over and runs my life like Jekyll and Hyde I tell ya! I have to remember, DRINK MORE WATER!!!

 

Dave

-- Edited by Linuxter on Saturday 11th of June 2016 06:42:33 PM

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 Hee hee Linux,

That's too precious - you OD'ing on animal crackers. Just couldn't resist them eh? Did you look just like Jimmies twinkie guy while eating your free loot? I did a pretty close impression to the twinkie guy while at DQ!  Well, live and learn I guess. Here I was thinking you were my perfect model to aspire to in every way, until the crackers, or ... well maybe not including that pizza binge thing you got yourself into a while back .... did you ever go back and do anymore "Hyde's" on the store clerk who dared to ask you if wanted a bag, and then had the audacity to ask you if wanted a receipt too? Maybe you should have "Hyded" that lady doc (with her great big spikey high heels) when you were in the thick of the riba days, considering she still made you cruelly wait so long!

Glad the back thing is resolving tho.

You are always so amenable, always agreeing with me - oh ya (like you, with your lowered hgb), would wish for more bloodletting to rid yourself of the vestiges of riba Hyde! Real good idea - NOT! 

Don't get ya about the snakes and ladders game - what do you mean - "am I the ques. master"? Huh?

Syd, we do need a party, so's we can all get eyeball to eyeball, Jimmy said he was gonna organize one for us over at his place didn't he? hee hee  C.

Loopy Lisa wrote:

All this talk of sweet things are making me crave chocolate, I don't have any though....darn!

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 Hop on the train to Brussels and buy yourself some of those Pierre Marcolini chocolates.  Yum yum.

Great news SF!

I have to write about the sweet tooth.  Unfortunately, I don't get sick with sweets, but crave them when I never used to.  Hoping once I stop Harvoni the search for double scoop waffle cones will abate.

Hi Everyone,

i really enjoyed reading this thread. I am so pleased for you SF. I know you have had some down days during this last six months, but hey, how worth it has it been to get a set of bloods like that! And strange to see those iron levels simply draining down with seemingly, no logical explantation. I am so happy for you. Now all we need are this post 12 weeks results.

good to see how active you are becoming Dave. You might have pulled one muscle but there's a heap of others which would have  really responded to the work out. One of the medicos was saying to me that muscle mass has a huge impact on post hep c recovery. Only four more weeks of waiting for the all important finale and you just stick to those early EOT days when you were sure you had it in the bag. I agree with you about the occasional RIBA melt down. Honestly I wasn't prone to those pre treatment! Sometimes I think my depression is lifting but not going to test it out by going giving up my little helpers. Particularly before 12 weeks EOT results are in. 

Glad too, Canuck that those iron loads are going down for you too. I hope you are not over stretching  yourself looking after others. BTW - saw my very first Twinkie in real life the other day at a Candy shop with an international section - was tempted but I think it was Jimmy's clip which put me off. 

take care my bunch of friends. I do wish it were possible to actually have a get  together with you all after all this has finished.

love to you all.

Syd

Linux, 

You don't have to say it .... I told myself!

OD'ing on DQ is like that game I remember from when I was a kid ... "snakes and ladders" ... you know the one I mean?

I feel so old sometimes when youngens have NO idea what I'm talking about when I quote from old characters, movies, games, nursery rhymes , fables, fairy tales!!

ummmm, now that we are on the subject of NOT overdoing things .... how's that sore back of yours?? (Sorry, couldn't resist) - I really do hope you are mending it, quickly, and that it was just a short transient thing - let us know, eh??

I can't wait much longer for your VL!!! I hope when you finally get that VL drawn, as a bonus, they will also draw out the last few molecules of that damned riba from your blloodstream! 

Can't you just say to them .... I have things to do, places to go, people to see and won't be around ..... therefore , (please) could i (please) have my VL drawn right now, (please)??? Just a desperate thought.

SF,

While we were comparing our good ferritin notes .... your ferritin was as follows ....  It's 76 today, range being 25 - 200. I noticed my lab uses a ref. range of 15 to 300. I like my labs ref. range better, as it makes my 191 look smaller!!

If I had more time I would be researching mitochondria stuff with you. We have probably done the same reading on iron stores, I agree with you about the curiosity, just where did the iron go??!! Oh well, as long as it goes! We prolly would have made "ideal" candidates for interferon/riba given our pre-trial bloodwork -- haha - NOT! Maybe it's just all the blood tests they have drawn from me on trial (2 tablespoons worth at a time) that brought my ferritin down!! Small blessings then!

 C.

Hi Canuck,

Yes I am pretty pleased with the numbers to say the least 5 weeks post treatment. The Iron is a surprise since I was told it could never leave your system on it's own. Clearly something is happening and it was in fact due to my liver. It still does not explain why but hey, I can deal with that

DQ .. umm.. Yeah, I got another coupon as well a few weeks ago and two more Banana Splits was the name of that one. They don't make me sick that goodness because I live for my sweet tooth.. TEETH :)

I won't tell Dave either. I really really hope you are feeling better.

Have a great weekend. I want to visit our West coast, I have never been out there. I have been east but not west.

SF

K8 wrote:

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wonderful report, thank you for sharing... I am so glad to hear the good news. Did you have any side effects with the Harvoni?

Celebrating with you

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 Thank you all for your positive feedback. I am really glad to hear you are doing well Dave. I am looking forward to your final results and if you recall, I am 20 days behind you so the end of July will be mine.

K8 - Really any side effects I had were minimal and well tolerated. A bit of a light headache in the morning that dissipated after I hydrated and ate something, some days that I was tired however there were so many of those before treatment as well. Towards the end of treatment I found myself to be a little apathetic and would read here daily but just not want to post and talk. It was the last two weeks but again, that was nothing. I did not take as much as 1 aspirin or Tylenol for my headaches, I did not need them. I took nothing at all for symptoms except water. I drank approx 2.5 liters a day and it seemed to be good for me. I did watch as mentioned here urine color so I knew if I had too much. 

It was so well tolerated and more than I would ever have expected because I was ready for the worst ... It never happened. Thank you for asking.

SF

I'm doing very well, Thanks SF, just waiting to take my final RNA test mid July. Occasional Riba rage but by now it's pretty easy to get past and that is not happening often at all. Been getting outside a lot, went canoing yesterday and it was very peaceful and quiet. I must have pulled a muscle though, my lower back L/S has me pretty much immobilized right now. Using hot/ cold pacs and taking Ibuprofin, it'll get better quick if I just take it easy for a day or two.

In general doing great though, get moments of depression here and there but it's my serotonin level, I can usually correct it via eating the right foods. It it gets too bad there's always Zoloft (although I'd rather control it without, if possible).

Dave

Hi SF-- those lft's look really good. Looks like you go this one in the bag!! No worries now. RC

Hi SF,

I'm VERY Happy to hear this!

Those numbers are EXTREMELY good.

How wonderful, VERY Happy for ya!!

Looks like Everything is just as it should be

Dave

we all need to be mindful of the mosquito's this year!

Thanks Gracie - it helps knowing others have been there done that and I will get thru it

Hi K8,

Welcome to the forum, sounds like you've been busy reading ... We're glad you're here.

I just got done with Sof/ Riba Tx early April and am glad to hear that you are drinking LOTS of Water and the Green Smoothies, both helped me a lot. This forum was/ is a real blessing, helps to be able to talk about how Tx is going and be able to vent when necessary.

That's what we're here for and will be here every step of the way with you.

When you get time, if you feel like it, perhaps you could start a thread in "On Treatment" and tell us more about your diagnosis and treatment. If you'd like to add some information to your signature in the future, just ask and we can help if you need it.

Welcome,

Dave

I really get a lot from reading everyone's post.    your honesty and care helps.   I wanted to share an update on my progress during treatment :

You are right on about more water. I was drinking 64 oz until I read your posts.  I am now between 80 & 96 oz. (approx 3 liters)  Making a difference especially if I drink 32 or more when I take the morning meds.   

 I started to feel so much better shortly after the Int/Rib treatment in 2007.  I remember hiking 4 miles a week later - I stopped to thank every boulder and rock in the state park.  The downside is I started to take a sleeping pill during treatment and an anti depressant (which was highly recommended but I waited until I was by the side of the road crying hysterically before I would try the antidepressant ).

No problem tapering off anti depressant when treatment was over but taking something to sleep is ongoing. I am 1/2 way into treatment of Sofosbuvir & Riba.  Discussed with my ND, she advised when treatment is over, we can work on getting things back to normal especially sleep.

Just had blood work done on Tues and trying not to think about the results every hour.  Next doc appt is 6/16.  I am also trying not to tell my close friends every single detail of my treatment (yawn) and ailments.   so that is where this forum really helps.  

Tired but this is making me pace myself (what a concept), meditation and drinking more green shakes (thanks for the recipes), accepting that I have a bit of foggy brain for now.   I had high energy the first week and then started to sit down a lot and I have to stop 2x just going upstairs.  The aches and restlessness at night are doable, I find that I have to get up and just walk around a bit.  

Grateful to be alive

K8

Shadowfax wrote:

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Jumping in here! My BP that was quite high towards the end of treatment seems to have stabilized to normal again. 

I will keep watching it.

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 Excellent!!! One good report after another. You, my friend, are on a roll!!!

Thanks guys and gals. 

Just keep doing what I do to stay healthy and keep up with you all on here! My new second or third family (that I adore)

Hi SF,

Glad to hear the BP has stabilized ... good job, wishing you the best.

Dave

Great news Wendy,

That is really good to hear!

Hi Wendy,

Wow, what uplifting news ... nice to know that your gastroenterologist was so determined to see you through till you are cured.

And Cured you are ...

With that all behind ya and your current lifestyle ... you are livin' healthy ... NICE!

You deserve it!

Dave

Tig56 wrote:

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Toward the end of treatment, I had a lot of new energy, almost like I had found some inner speed reserve.

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I can relate to that Tig.  I've got 4 days worth of treatment and I feel loads more energy.  I do hope it continues.

Sorry to hear about your lack of energy Wendy.   Energy is such a complicated thing with, as you'll know, so many different things that can affect it.  I suffer recurrent depression and my sleep goes during a bout and I'm exhausted all the time (I'm not suggesting depression here by the way - I'm talking about me).  I fought it long and hard but I finally accepted my doctor's advice and now I take mirtzapine all the time and sleep like a log.

As an F1 (i.e. without too much damage) perhaps the contrast is less noticeable after SVR.  I'm F3 and I had got to the stage where medications were lasting much longer in my system than they should have; so for me - and it's early days - the difference is very noticeable. 

But you're a sensible woman so I'm sure you're doing all the regular, boring suggestions like eating well, sleep hygiene, exercise and rest when needed, as well as ruling out other medical causes.

I'm sure you'll get better over time.

Pablo

Hey Wendy,

That had to have been music to your ears! Good for you and good for him too! He made a promise and came through, that kind of success is good for both of you. It's nice to know there are still caring and dedicated physicians out there that really connect with their patients.

Aside from the colonoscopy, oh joy, it sounds like you got a clean bill of liver health. Allow me to say  - WOOT -  Aww, that isn't big enough!

There, that's better

Wow Wendy that is great news! I am so happy for you!

JimmyK

So good to hear how much better you feel already, Manny, and it`s only been 5 weeks since EOT!!

I`m very pleased for you, and thanks so much for sharing such positive and encouraging news.

Do keep in touch and keep us updated on your post tx progress! 

Excellent Manny! Thanks for the update!

JimmyK