sorry I have gone through 2 rds of tx and nothing, hoping to find something new to take, go back to the dr in may. I feel great right now since I am not on tx. Tx is hell but I will do what ever it takes to get over this if possible and I hope u will do the same. I have a positive attitude now but when I first found out I was scared and very upset now I take each day as it comes and look on the bright side and I bring God into my life and hope that will help

Hello Sparkie,
Sorry to hear you already did two rounds of treatment and still be possitive.
I was type 1a, and did the pegetron / ribavirin 1200mgs a day, almost killed me but persevered till the end of my 48 weeks journey and I am cleared of the virus.
My Combo was from Schering.co.
Maybe discuss this combo with your GI in May.
The best of luck to you in your next treatment and keep in touch.
Mckenzie

Hi, yes I went through 8 months of Rebetron (Interferon 3 times a week and Ribavirin pills daily) It was a rough go. The TX affected my breathing so I had to stop treatment a month and half early, BUT, I have cleared the virus and will be 5 years CURED this summer.
I feel fine now. My hair is still a bit thin, but in general I am now fine. For quite a while afterward I still had the body aches and weakness, but that eventually went away.
Yes, there can be life after TX and Hep C. There were times I thought not, but now that I am on the other side of it, I'm glad I went through TX and am free of this dragon. Hang in there and keep in touch, please.

Heya Katmqck, thanks for sharing your story.
5 YEARS post treatment and still cleared, you really killed that dragon, you dragonslayer you.
Thanks for the encouragement, I am over 2 years post treatment, and I am still stuck with long term side effects, your story really gives me hope that one day I will be free of this hard time in my life.
Thanks again sweetie,
Mckenzie One day at the time

I was diagnoised 15 years ago and started interferon a and it worked for 5 years, and when I got rechecked 5 years later there it was again. This time i tried Interferon B and it worked until this year. Now Im on Pegasuses shots weekly and revirvirin 6 a day. Its making my mental stat enuts but if it will make me live it 's worth it. I'm also a friend of Bill W.'s and it helps.
Love all Sevrve All

Thanks for sharing your journeys with us.
You truly are a Warrior, taking one treatment after another, how do you do it?
I did the 48 weeks of pegetron/1200mgs of ribavirin and it nearly killed me, but stuck to it till the end.
I am now cleared since week 12 of starting treatment, and I am now over 2 years post treatment.
I sure hope this time around will work for you.
Take good care and remember One day at the time.
Mckenzie
ps: drink lots, & lots of water, but I'm sure you already know this, lol.
Take care buddy

Since my hubby doesn't use the computer, at all, I decided to post his story for you guys, since it's a good story and we do need to hear SUCCESS STORIES.
In 2000, my hubby was feeling so tired all the time, he could sleep all the time, would just sit in the living room and bang he was out, light a light.
So we decided it was time for him to get a check up.
It had been years he had not seak a doctor, so here goes....
The doctor took all kinds of bloodwork and then we got the call to come in BOTH OF US TOGETHER, for the results.
OMG what's wrong with him!
Once in the doctor's office, the doctor told us he had hep c.
At that time not knowing much about the disease, I was upset and mad at him, not sure why but I was...
So having a young daughter the doctor wanted to get her tested and myself.
Knowing that I had never done IV drugs I was sure we didn't have it....
Thank G-d our daughter was negative and to my surprise I was infected.
So since Richard had used during his salad days, we thought his liver would have more damage if any then I since I thought it was recent.
Richard had his biopsy, no damage at all since he never was a drinker, and his viral load was 1 million.
Back then the combo medications were not in our pharmacie here in Ontario, Canada so Richard was put on a list of 50 patients for a trial treatment.
In 2001 to 2002 he did the 48 weeks required for genotype 1a, of interferon/ribavirin 800mgs/day, and was cleared at week 12, so he finish his treatment and to this day have cleared the virus.
As for myself, in 2003 I wanted the biopsy done, and the results were not as I expected but wanted so much to be Cured like my hubby.
It took Richard a good year before he was back to his normal self.
My viral load was low enough, 665,000, genotype 1a, stage 1 grade 1 fibrosis, see I rather take a drink than drugs so this is probably the reason I had damage.
Started treatment, was very, very sick the whole time, but managed to finish it and have been cleared for over 2 years now, well almost 3 if your counting being cleared at week 12 of my treatment.
By the time I was put on treatment the combo drugs were on the market in Ontario, I applied for long term insurance and paid a deductable and they paid the balance, which was 24,000.00$
My combo was pegetron/ribavirin 1200mgs a day, it almost killed me but in the end I won the war against Hep c.
So this is our SUCCESS STORY, I encourage members here, to post there stories, cause we need to know that there is hope out there, with new meds coming out all the time.
By the way my meds were from Schering.co.
Mckenzie & Richard
One day at the time

I finished my treatment in Feb. 2005. It took quite a while after finishing treatment for me to feel "normal" again but I believe there are some sides that still remain and will remain for a while if not the rest of my life. I believe that these drugs exacerbated my clinical depression and has effected my joints and muscles.

Thanks for sharing your story with us.
I know about the long lasting sides, I to have had to deal with them, still am after over 2 years post tx.
Thanks again, Mckenzie
One day at the time

5 year remission

Mckenzie,
Hello my friend,
I just wanted to say hello. I am sorry I do not have much to add to your post exept I hope you find out the information that you want to know. I just joined Daily Strength because the man that I love with all of my heart just told me he has Hep. C and I want to be there for him and find out all I can to be able to help him as much as I can. I hope you are having at least an ok day.
Hugs,
Sam

HiMckenzie,
I want to thank you for being such an upfront person. I am on TX now 8 1/2 mos.I am having crazy sides from TX.I am determined to do the best I can and get through the 48 weeks. I am clear since week 12 and all tests are 100% great. I had to stop working and people around me can't relate to my misery. I am so thankful it is working, just need encouragement along the way.Love from a fellow fighter.

Hi Lilymae,
They don't call us Warriors for nothing.
Treatment was the worst thing I ever had to go thru in my life.
Wow 8.5 months, it's all going to be over very soon my dear, I tip my hat to you for going all thru it.
It is a very hard journey, but if your determine to kill the beast you can do it, especially when you are a respondent like you are, undie at week 12, that's great.
Both My hubby and I were type 1a, and were both undie at week 12, so another 36 weeks and we were considered cleared of the dragon.
It's been almost 5 years for my hubby and almost 3 for myself soon.
Hopefully you won't have any long term side effects, and that the meds get out of your system quickly.
Keep it up girlfriend, I am here for you.
Mckenzie One day at the time

5 years, wow that's great grayeyes4you, I'm proud and happy for you.
Hey Sam, I'm glad to hear that your helping your hubby cope with this horrible disease, you are a good person.
Good luck to you both
Mckenzie One day at the time