Hi all,
Recently I passed the 2/3 mark in my way to the end of tx at September
03/05. I never did achieve an SVR, but I did have at week 12, a 2.5 log
drop on my Viral Loading (VL) No rebound, no intermediate PCR at week 24.
So since then (four months or more) I have been working on the faith in the
monthly blood tests monitoring all that stuff, just not the HepC VL assay
that we all want to urge to -000.000 ASAP.
Before I share these data out, I would like to say once again that for most
of us that are on our first (and hopefully successful) tx regime, management
of side effects and maintaining a low-tension environment in your home is
key to handling the long hard ride after week 12 towards more than an even
chance you will beat the beast.
I don't use any other compounds than Mary Jane for side effects or better
put, stimulation of dopamine secretion to reduce anxiety or rage days. To
set my day up, in the morning to quell my stomach I usually take 3 tokes,
then a cup of coffee after the morning BM, It takes patience getting out
of bed because it seems it will take all day, but it never does. So my
point is, in this world of minor indulgences, I choose MJ and environmental
controls to lead me to success.
Why should I pay yet another pharmaceutical corporation to get me dependent
on some potion or another that will effect my body for weeks after I stop
taking it, when I can have a few breaths in the morning and judge my
attitude for the day (surely to be more positive and hungry by this point)
which leads me out of depressive spirals. But I am not afraid to cry either
or sob or moan about my major limb joints aching, like the worst hangover
etc etc. And as a hypnotic pre-sleep or middle of the night boost into dozy
land, why not another couple of puffs? Nothing wrong with a little hypnotic
effect at 3 am when you think you should be sleeping.
Why take more pills? Unless my tx sides are hugely different from many
others, I would think that tx it is just a matter waiting out the train
ride. It is a pain, it is not a very bright experience, but one day at a
time will get you to the end. And yes there are people who need added
pharmaceuticals support, but maybe not all of us do.
Numbers taken after week 32: HCV A1B Genotype, first contact 1974, liver
biopsy was stage 3 level 3 30 months ago. 1.8 Million VL pre-tx. 3,000 VL
at week 12.
Sodium 139 OK
Potassium 3.6 OK (and yes I have no bananas)
Creatine 80 OK
GFR Est. 93 OK
AST 39 OK yah man dat da kine numbah you gotta have
ALT 37 OK
Blood
WBC 2.90 Low
RBC 3.18 Low
Hgb 99 Low (ahem*) bfd (drop from 103 last month)
HCT 0.305 Low
comments anyone?
Cactus Jammies
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
be positive even if it hurts hug someone accept snuggles, offer snuggles
around the world
I can still type and I can find the pipe so here I am the pyjama man fit as
a fiddle and stoned as a toad! toot toot toot
greyhackles - 30 May 2005 03:03 GMT
>Hi all,
> Recently I passed the 2/3 mark in my way to the end of tx at September
[quoted text clipped - 53 lines]
>comments anyone?
>Cactus Jammies
Well, now.
Some of us are fortunate that we *feel* we don't need ADs - yet. You gotta
believe that's just plain luck, though. Folks who end up on ADs are not
intrinsically weak, just unlucky. Genetics, chemistry, socioeconomic
situation, extend of organic damage from hcv, pre-tx mental health....there
are a lot of factors at play, perhaps most of them not under our control.
Otherwise I could have written the rest. The medicinal herbage is a morning
ritual - and afternoon, evening, bedtime - yeah, basically, whenever I feel
like crap. It either works or I've convinced myself it works.
As for your blood counts, things could be worse ;-)
Here are mine, all factors adjusted to standards...
WBC 2.90 2.7 k/mm3 and falling slowly (ANC is 1.5K/mm3)
RBC 3.18 2.88 M/mm3 stuck around 3 +/- .2 *with* EPO
HGB 9.9 9.6 g/dl dropped .7 g/dl this week
HCT 30.5 29.2 % dropped 2 % this week
AST 39 28 84 @ tx start
ALT 37 28 166 @ tx start
I need a nice upward bounce in HGB this week...
Cheers
/greyhackles
Cactus Jammies - 30 May 2005 04:14 GMT
Me too.
Oh, and I tried to frame my opinions and experience as just that.
I really couldn't say if intensity of side effects usually is more extreme
than in my case.
Yes, I tried to be alert to that before I posted. But I am on TX chems so I
am out of kilter.
Hope nobody feels offended by my cavalier sounding pronouncements.
cactus jammies
/rip van winkle of the monashees/
"greyhackles" <greyhackles@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote > As for your blood
counts, things could be worse ;-)
> Here are mine, all factors adjusted to standards...
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> /greyhackles
Gordo Mondragon - 31 May 2005 23:21 GMT
[...]
> Some of us are fortunate that we *feel* we don't need ADs - yet. You gotta
> believe that's just plain luck, though. Folks who end up on ADs are not
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> ritual - and afternoon, evening, bedtime - yeah, basically, whenever I feel
> like crap. It either works or I've convinced myself it works.
I only started on ADs during treatment when I started crying, a lot. I
didn't feel depressed, I just couldn't stop crying. Weird, but then
most of it was weird.
The kind herb saved my life. I couldn't have done it without it.
G
burningdaylight - 30 May 2005 03:44 GMT
Men make pills.
God made MJ!
It's been 20 LONG years since my last hit on a joint. I miss the stuff
from time to time. They say that it is non-addicting, well I was.
Stopped cold when I got my first anxiety attack while ripped two week
after my mother past away.
But I still believe that it is holy and should be revered.
Enjoy your blessed puff.
Sue
elmoemerson@webtv.net - 30 May 2005 14:15 GMT
Aw, c'mon CJ. Let me send you a handful of AD's and a couple of
bananas. ahahahahahahaha Your labs look pretty darn good considering
you're 2/3's the way thru tx.
Elmo
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum
pajaritaflora - 30 May 2005 15:56 GMT
> Aw, c'mon CJ. Let me send you a handful of AD's and a couple of
> bananas. ahahahahahahaha Your labs look pretty darn good considering
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum
Bannanas? I don't get the reference, when I first found this group you
all were having a bizzarre banana conversation. I thought it meant that
bannanas were bad for you.lol
elmoemerson@webtv.net - 30 May 2005 16:39 GMT
Re: 2/3 of 48 wk tx routine assays and blood work
Group: alt.support.hepatitis-c Date: Mon, May 30, 2005, 7:56am (CDT-2)
From: birdspeak@gmail.com (pajaritaflora)
elmoemerson@webtv.net wrote:
Aw, c'mon CJ. Let me send you a handful of AD's and a couple of bananas.
ahahahahahahaha Your labs look pretty darn good considering you're 2/3's
the way thru tx.
Elmo
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum
Bannanas? I don't get the reference, when I first found this group you
all were having a bizzarre banana conversation. I thought it meant that
bannanas were bad for you.lol
//////////
CJ and I have been bantering back and forth about bananas in a good
natured sort of way for quite awhile now. I like the things because
they taste good and are a great source of potassium. Full of carbs tho,
a bit fattening. If you're losing weight, that isn't such a bad thing.
You need lots of protein when you're on tx (not bananas). Meat and
bananas with ice cream and cereal, I say! :-)
Elmo
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile
http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum
pajaritaflora - 30 May 2005 16:11 GMT
> Hi all,
> Recently I passed the 2/3 mark in my way to the end of tx at September
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> key to handling the long hard ride after week 12 towards more than an even
> chance you will beat the beast.
Low tension Definately key. If I do have a visitor I really only want
one, that just lets me be chillin, and knows how to get around my
kitchen. My manic friend needs to get better before coming over again.
Internet friends are perfect!
> I don't use any other compounds than Mary Jane for side effects or better
> put, stimulation of dopamine secretion to reduce anxiety or rage days. To
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> point is, in this world of minor indulgences, I choose MJ and environmental
> controls to lead me to success.
Living alone definately helps with environmental controls. What I do
matters to noone else.
> Why should I pay yet another pharmaceutical corporation to get me dependent
> on some potion or another that will effect my body for weeks after I stop
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> land, why not another couple of puffs? Nothing wrong with a little hypnotic
> effect at 3 am when you think you should be sleeping.
I think it is great if you can get by without supporting the
pharmaceutical companies. I wish I could but it's making life easier to
know that I can take drugs to sleep. However, I am paranoid that the
ambien messes with my head. I,m trying to wean my self down so that I
don't need it every night. I made it through one night with no ambien
this week. I'm concerned it will be hard to sleep when I am off tx and
want to stop sleep meds.
> Why take more pills? Unless my tx sides are hugely different from many
> others, I would think that tx it is just a matter waiting out the train
> ride. It is a pain, it is not a very bright experience, but one day at a
> time will get you to the end. And yes there are people who need added
> pharmaceuticals support, but maybe not all of us do.
> Numbers taken after week 32: HCV A1B Genotype, first contact 1974, liver
> biopsy was stage 3 level 3 30 months ago. 1.8 Million VL pre-tx. 3,000 VL
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> be positive even if it hurts hug someone accept snuggles, offer snuggles
> around the world
> I can still type and I can find the pipe so here I am the pyjama man fit as
> a fiddle and stoned as a toad! toot toot toot
LOL! :) that sounds like a chorus for an ash-c song!
Peace,
MaryAnn
Gordo Mondragon - 31 May 2005 23:19 GMT
> I think it is great if you can get by without supporting the
> pharmaceutical companies. I wish I could but it's making life easier to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> this week. I'm concerned it will be hard to sleep when I am off tx and
> want to stop sleep meds.
I didn't like taking ambien every night so I switched around between
different things and when I wasn't working assumed that my sleep
patterns were going to be all screwed up.
As far as what will happen when you're done with tx, I'd worry about
that when the time comes :)
G