In short, yes. I've been involved in support groups since the '80's and
always found that, not just listening but speaking out is very therapeutic.
The sharing of what we are/were went through helps to get one away from that
"I'm the only one that feels nuts" and thus to carry on.

Music was and still is my salvation and carry's me away. I about wore a hole
in my thumb the other night from the banjo, just flat out wailing on that
puppy! I like the clawhammer sound and am going with it instead of the
picks. And as time goes on my fingernails are getting stronger so that makes
it all possible. For months after treatment my fingernails were like paper.

Re: communication issues with BCLD clinic  

Group: alt.support.hepatitis-c Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2005, 10:59am (CST+6)
From: not@joshuatree.nemor (Cactus Jammies)
Gordo, I am dismayed but not really all that 'worred' if you know what I
mean? I just found early in my relationship with that clinic that I was
to have to pay attention to anything to do with treament regiemes, and
on my own in my basement in far away Smallville, to watch for extreme
sides if they begin to manifest themselves. And communicate with those
places that best support the success of your treatment schedule
I would probably not feel nearly this confident and headstrong had I not
received the 2 log drop at week 12, now we're in the home stretch, and
as Juanita says "Giddie up go".
And yes, I have built up quite a little folk tale about me and music and
vibes and all that embroidery, and that quite frankly is what I was
looking forward to doing anyway before the Gastros drafted me. Now,
having myself pinned into this basement doing music stuff, actually
starting my guitar building and supplies deals going on while I am down
here on tx, that is is just too cool. The sound recording aspect and
posting the ash sea stuff on the web, that just popped up spontaneously.
I saw what a threat a certain eminence gris out there found rather too
unmoderated for his peculiar tastes, so I knew the idea
would work for those of us that see support as an emotional care and
self confidence concern as well as a physical care issue. And that this
function seemed to deserve some work and dedication as an organic
community workshop. Organic in this case means growing and changing
Its good to know that there are others that find creativity and creating
modes and themes like art and sonic art, that seems to be farily common.
There sure a lot of it in blogs all over the place.
That description of the art becoming less jagged and frenzied looking, I
am seeing that now in what I have been able to do so far.
Photoshop, eh?   I have been using PaintShopPro for years and I like
it a bunch for all kinds of things. I won't be laying any of my guitars
out in the sun, though. 8-)
Now the question is, all this yacking, is it beneficial to others? Do
many others on Tx also find a creative outlet helpful to focus their
feelings and confidence in seeing things they're building and getting
better with? Sounds as though there is some resonance with the idea and
it seems many of them are audiophiles and have been for a long time. And
after all, musicians are convinced, love is the seventh wave.
/////////
Music became my escape from the unpleasantries of tx also.  I found
myself at home not able to work during the first round of tx.  I was
gonna say that getting my first guitar and trying to play it was the
only thing that kept me from going insane, but tx put me over the edge
anyway (as all of us can attest to).  My insanity manifested itself in a
manic sort of way.  Not only did I need one guitar, ahahahahaha, I owned
6 of em when I did my last shot of interferon a year or so ago.  After
coming to my senses, I've reduced my inventory by upgrading, selling or
giving away some of them.  I'm down to 3 now.  
Nothing soothes the soul any better than music.  It's the perfect
getaway when you don't feel good.  Of course, a big fat doobie AND music
is even better (unless it's Barry Manilow)  :-)
Elmo

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum

Ok.  I think I've got it now.  :-)  I'm still baffled as to why your doc
won't do a 24 week PCR, other than to save the health care system a few
bucks.  Personally, if I wasn't clear of virus at 24 weeks, I'd stop.
That's why I'd insist on a pcr at that point.  Rest easy tho, because if
you got your 2.5 log drop at 12 weeks, you have probably cleared.  But
you won't know unless you get the damn test.  
Elmo
//////  
Elmo
No I am not undetectable, I got a 2 1/2 log drop at week 12 (new years)
on my big pre start (October) pcr test. She now says that is good enough
for the pharmacare folks who cover most of the cost of the Schering
stuff. The difficulty arose at that particular time when all this
misplaced or not evaluated information suddenly hit them two months
after I talked with her on the phone about my successful 2 log drop in
January. So apparently the schedule is standard across the board like
this everywhere with this stuff so I don't know, but I understand also
that the 24 week PCR is a bit of a throwback because it doesn't seem as
though it was required, that statistics showed from data collected over
recent years that this test was no longer "standard" maybe I am wrong.
(?) She also told me the case size their clinic the number of patients
in my home town (there is another clinic down the road the other way out
of the valley) and the success rates. She is used to working with
genotype 2 and 3 and then admitted she was more familiar in a practical
sense with those patients and the 24 week tx. Can this help you connect
the dots, or am I raving nuts?
Cactus Jammies
///////////////////////////////
<elmoemerson@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10282-4238319D-526@storefull-3252.bay.webtv.net... Sounds like
Canadian health care sucks, to me. Are you telling me they have never
taken a pcr to confirm your 'undetectable' status? Are they going to
draw blood to monitor your overall health each month. Sorry, friend, I
have a difficult time decyphering your posts sometimes. :-) Elmo
////////
Elmo,
Well it appears that I cannot find ways of expressing my dismay that yet
again, no matter how well prepared and 'supported' you are, the lowest
common denominator in effective treatment is having your physician
knowing the details of your individual case. This is a rural urban
situation we're in here. There are no HCV support mechanisms in our home
town, just the Shering pamphlets. My Clinical nurse should know that I
cannot drop in and chat at a live sistuation, she warned me away from
"you guys" when I mentioned I was an Internet fiend, and now she says
she thinks that is just great. So did I teach her that because of the
continuous litany of mistakes? Do I think she even pays enough attention
from day to day to any of her files to learn a lesson? The record in my
case is a solid not applicable. And furthermore you don't wait until the
patient gets to your office and then fumble the only calculation the
patient depends upon because nothing is ever written down on that file
folder. That the vet has more information on our cats in a file than the
damn district BCLD treatment centre seems to have on this very important
treatment, which is essentially just an endurance fiasco requiring lots
of understanding, and lots and lots of drinking water. and she really
have a nice haircut and she is really pretty which still distracts me.
8-) She's been working on that look since I was first referred to their
clinic, and it finally looks as though "the look" is looking good and
together.
I am not getting any more pcr vl tests between week 12 results until
week
48. I guess the good guys have the liver baddies on the run suitably
enough and having my monthly as required blood samples of enzymes and
and monitoring for any radical changes in my thyroid functions. I have
lost 20 pounds since tx, 10 since holidays) so I am no longer in the
medically obese catagory (20% over bmi and weight charts) and that is
looking good and on schedule too, because at least for me I feel I am
contributing to my own care by trying to jam myself into the weight
chart that the pegetron seems to be most effective at. So that is a
minor victory for me, or I am counting coup on it anyway. (Yes, Chemo
Sabbe I am in war party mode)
So there, I am not too agitated, but lots of stuff happening in my life
that deserves a little respect. Lots of things going on right now I have
always wanted to be part of, so I have to effectively manage the tensors
day to day and keep my head above water. So count on it, I will rock
with you.
cactus jammies
/////////////////////////////////////
<elmoemerson@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:24265-4236EB5A-364@storefull-3256.bay.webtv.net... communication
issues with BCLD clinic
Group: alt.support.hepatitis-c Date: Tue, Mar 15, 2005, 4:16am (CST+6)
From: not@joshuatree.nemor (Cactus Jammies)
I spent most of the day driving to an appointment with my handler so
that she could be sure my 24 week VL was done at their collection centre
properly. I get there and after considerable other mistakes like
overlooking my moderate steatosis and my weight concerns and
effectiveness, etc. she says : "oh, I didn't realize it before, you got
more than a 2 log drop at week 12 and your other chemistry seems normal
for what your're doing, so you don't have to be here." Oh. I knew I got
the big drop at new years so I thought she had some other concerns, she
was trying to work out what kind of a 2 log drop I would get on the 12
week numbers not the first VL. She said my load is so small (after 12
weeks I hope so) that I would have to clear in order to make the 2 log
drop. guuuuug!
She asks me about stress. I say, gee you got a new haircut. G'be see you
in september just endore continuing my tx rx thanks. I am allowed to
talk to guys. figure that out?
cactus jammies
no expectations
////////////
What a ya mean you have 'no exectations'? You'd better get some, pal. I
mean it! :-) Folk who have a positive attitude fare better than those
who don't. I have no doubt your 24 week test will come back
'undetectable', as you should. Count your blessings you've made it half
way thru without any major setbacks or events that would make you have
to stop tx. You're on the right tracks.......full speed ahead! Elmo
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum

I don't know.  It seems to me the 24 week test can spare somebody from
doing another 24 weeks of tx when it isn't going to do any good.  But
I guess if people do not relapse after 12 weeks but before 48 then it
wouldn't matter.  Wonder what the stats are on that.