Sounds good, bella. Not sure if HCV causes anxiety and/or depression. I can say I've had both since my early 20's when I most likely contracted HCV, but who knows? I take a small amt. of Citalopram for depression and will most likely always need it - Xanax as needed for anxiety, but I take very little of that. Benzoes are just so hard on the liver.

I have had a lot less fatigue since I started S&O, but as you know, I have a pretty wicked headache - it's gotten to where nausea from the headache is happening too. I have to force myself to eat. Always been a very (too) thin person, so I can't afford to lose a pound.

Don't worry - it's working - side effects are no gauge of that. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Wow Arabella, that's fantastic!! Boy I wish I could've waited for this tx.

All you have to do is ask when you get your BW done. I always get copies of all my reports.

LOL mixed valium with your meds! Glad its going well. Hope you get copies of your labs.
Here in my state, the dr has to give an order / prescription for you t get your labs, the laboratory can not share them with the patient.
Would your dr's office mail you a copy?

That's encouraging news Arabella. I don't know if the tx meds I did affected my personality or if it's the virus but people who knew me pre-tx tell me I am more anxious & irritable over stuff I would have overlooked before. I quit taking anxiety meds & all the other stuff when I was taken off my last tx. My doc did switch me from Xanax to Ativan at one point telling me it was less harsh on my liver. My boyfriend is suggesting I see doc for a new scrip of Ativan until I can get retreatment. lol

havhope - Ativan is easier on the liver than the other benzos, or at least that's what I've read and aal mentioned that her doc. said the same thing. When I learned about this, maybe 18 months or so ago, I asked my psych. to switch me to it, which she was happy to do. I tried to get off that and all benzos several months ago - ha, no way. Except for the 20 some years I was a heavy drinker, I've needed a benzo in order to function. My problem was, like a true addict, I abused Xanax. Long story I won't go into. I am about to go back on Ativan, see the psych. next week. In the meantime, again like any true addict, I have some little bitty .25 Xanax that I take ONE a day of - and also feel I have to have it around in case of a panic attack. You've probably had those, and they are SCARY. Xanax is the only thing that will take me down from panic attack.

I asked one of my HCV nurses about which benzo was the best one for my liver. She said, "No benzos are good." Well, okay, then the headaches started. I asked another one, and she said, "Take the Xanax if it helps you. Just take as little as possible."

So I think you have nothing to be concerned about esp. with Ativan - my little statement was too general, so sorry about that. Oh yes, for some of us, a benzo is necessary. Docs may not get it, but we do. I sure do.

Ibuprofen and my awesome eye pillow are controlling the headaches pretty much - they are bearable now - not fun by any means, but I'm okay. Just got my six week labs - everything continues to improve. Platelets at 200 and that is HUGE. When you see labs like I've been seeing, whining about a headache seems --- like whining. lol. So I need to stop doing that.

bella - I'm realizing you are probably taking Valium? I certainly am no expert in this stuff so I do suggest that you chat with your doctor or nurse about it. HOWEVER, I know as well as you do that we (you and I) cannot function without "something" in the way of benzos. The best suggestion is take whatever you have and that has worked for you for a long time as directed. I would never be able to drive or leave my house without a bit o' benzo on board. I've just learned not to be abusive with them, which I'm sure you are not.

It's getting late, sorry, bella, you didn't even ASK about benzos. My bad.

Havhope: Good article: http://academiclifeinem.com/all-benzodiazepines-are-metabolized-by-the-liver/

I used to think lorazepam was metabolized in the kidneys - not so! However, it is metabolized by the liver differently than say, Valium (diazepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam), and in a good way for those of us with liver impairment.