Sorry you're having a rough time. We all have the choice of quitting our treatment. However, if you are UND right now, why would you risk throwing all that you have gone through to the wind?

I'm on 34 of 48......I hate it and wish I could have done just 24 like alot of people on here......piece of cake, huh? I've had trials and tribulations through this TX, too and will stay with it no matter how much I hate it. I refuse to throw 8 months of hell down the toilet for a crap shoot. There's no gaurantee our 48 weeks will hold it off either........however.....take the best shot you have. You can do it......we're all there with ya.

Big hug to you. So sorry this has been so rough for you. Def speak to ur doctor about your emotions and the difficult toll this is taking on you. It may be very helpful to see a counselor for a period of time. Def get your genotype so that you know. You have a right to know that and your IL28B that I recently learned about. Gives u more room to negotiate with so to say. We are all with you tomorrow in taking your shot. Think of us behind you so to say. Be strong until you get the info and the support you need in place so that you can make an informed decision. Thanks for the cry out for help. This is so tough for all of us wherever we are. Whether we have had it for a week or 40 years, never been on treatment or just completing our third round and waiting for that great news. Even beyond that for some it's difficult. We are united in combating this and strengthened by our uniquenesses and differences though too as it makes us all stronger to learn from each other and support one another. When things settle down.... You might find that you are lucky soon enough. Get a hold of the info that you need and some additional support. Also, we are here! We are here!!

Pharoah, you can quit anytime, but then you have to know the potential consequences

I did 40 weeks of triple, and am now in the 13th week post TX, and still UNDIE. I hope it stays this way till the 6th month mark, and its looking good

But the one thing I'm confident of is that I took treatment seriously, never missed a dose, never screwed up the timing, never drank or took unapproved drugs.

I wanted to get through therapy and say I did the best I possibly could, and if i didn't become SVR then I couldn't blame myself for dropping the ball.

You may stay undie and SVR even if you quit today, but the odds are much higher if you follow the treatment plan

I'm sure somebody will say that the long treatment plan is all part of a conspiracy between the FDA and the drug companies to elongate therapy and therefore their revenue. I don't think so, but if I am SVR in 13 weeks and Merck got some additional insurance money, I'm still going to thank Merck for creating these drugs

Try to keep SVR forefront in your mind, and I think the ideation issues might stop. You need a positive realistic goal to get you thru this crap, and SVR is that goal

good luck, joe

Just my thoughts here.
I went for the 24 week S.O.C. (peg/rib) awhile back. I was und at week 4 and all the way through. I got to the last week and took the shot, and the pills. I just couldn't see myself taking those damn pills for the entire week after the last shot so mid week I stopped. Boom, just like that, I started to feel better and the riba rash cleared right up. I thought I'd made the right choice. Six weeks later my viral load shot up to the moon and it was back with a vengeance. So who do I blame.?.? There will always be that question and no answer..ever.!!
Now there are trials going on with all these new drugs and all these great stories of SVR. Sad part is that most of those trials for tx naive and I may have ruined my chance to participate in them. Now I am stuck, rowing against the current while I wait, waiting for these trials,and all these gracious people participating in them to result in the new meds to be released to the market.
You have a mind, and a good one I'm sure. You have the freedom of choice and free will. You can always stop tx at any time. But if you stop tx and end up in my boat, well you better be prepared to row real hard. I'm not paddling for both of us.

pharaoh,

Just last week, I didn't want to do my 8th shot. I just flat didn't want to, no way! I came on here to ask for help with it, and I got such great support with it! Several people kicked my butt, and several others invited me to "Camp Shot Day" which is every Friday by the way and you're very welcome to join us! Somehow knowing that there's others taking their shot, and whining horribly not wanting to, but doing it anyway, helped me to suck it up and get'er done. This Friday, I did my shot without any hesitation.

I too am losing hair like crazy. I have long hair and it's so stringy that I am seriously contemplating cutting it all off. But, I have decided to wait until I'm done to make a decision on that one..providng I still have a choice. I've always been somewhat vain.. but ya know if it's hair vs health, there's really no choice there. It's health all the way!

I went to see my PCP doc before I started treatment, and he told my husband and I " Watch out for depression." He said I probably won't notice, but my husband should watch me close for it. He also said that he had a BIG strapping Marine patient one, highly disapplined and trained, that was doing the treatment. He became very depressed, and cried like a baby when he finally came to see him. So the depression doesn't just hit the weak minded, it is tough on everyone, and if you should get depressed at all, get in to see your doc ASAP! He'll definately be able to help you with it.

I don't know why for sure the duration of treatment is what it is. The HCV itself is such an indivdual thing, almost like the color of your eyes. " You have blue eyes, you need 48 weeks, you over there have brown eyes, you only do 24." The last time I went to my Hep doc, I too wanted to stop treatment. I asked him "How about if I am undie at week 12, when the Incevik is done.. how about I quit then?" He looked me in the eye and said " Are you willing to take the chance that every single one of those bastard virus cells are dead? All it take is "ONE." Are ya feeling lucky? Well are ya?"
I got the point

Hang in there pharaoh...we're all in this together and we will hold hands and make it through no matter how long you have to go.

If you need me, just let me know.

Take care,
Kelly

Thats about the time it started getting hard for me. around week 18. I tried to grind treatment out without an anti D. Just like you I dreaded taking the shot. I came to a point either stop or go on an anti D. It seems to be working. I know how you feel. Talk to your doctor. Don't give up.

Hey Pharoah...I started week 19 on Friday and feel exactly the way you do. I can't see myself doing this another 7 months. I am just taking it day by day. My doc had mentioned that maybe 9 monts of tx instead of 12 might be doable. She is waiting for my research to come in before we make that decision, but for the time being I am on the 48 week plan. Hoping for the best for you during these challenging times.

Every time that I wanted to give up I would have an "okay" day. Hat kept me going. But I was only on treatment for 16 weeks so I have not walked in your shoes. Do tell your doctor what is going on and see if they can offer you any relief.

Take care, Nancy

Quitting is not an option, and unless it is a medical emergency; treatment should never be stopped.

If you are or if you are not on anti depressants, Please Run To Your Dr ASAP..... and discuss this wirh him or her....

The ego is a biotch.
I too, am completely frustrated with the changes in me from head to toe, mind and body.
However, We ARE on chemotherapy and it's never a walk in the park, for anyone.
Acceptance of the changes, or acceptance of this crap will be over soon, as difficult as the changes are ....is a great aid in tolerating this.

I dislike not being as rapid fire or lucid or physically active( actually I am pretty dormant now) as I was 2 years ago or even 9 months ago.... Pre tx.

At Week 4, I was crushed that I was detectable and missed it by 36 points at the maximum. What a spirit crusher.
I was angry Being a slow responder, and not a 24 weeker.
. My IL28b is CC and is the best chance of eSVR.
I got over the ego and anger quick and knew I'd be undie. At weeks 8& 12, undie.
I never thought I'd see the Incivek end..... And then.....
Omg, I have to do this sheet for another 36 weeks? Hell noooooooo.

Our friends here at DS helped me hold on and kicked me in my ass.
They held me up and gave it to me straight.

Now after shot 36, and let me say it's no party....
There's only 12 shots left... When I look back at the past 9 months, they've been long and arduous, and I am amazed at the courage of us all.
Taking a chance on On ourselves.
Not everyone has the guts to even consider getting real and consider treatment!! Very few! Look around right here on DS!

You are amazing Pharaoh and are feeling like you should. It is normal for being on tx. We can attest to this.
Your courage and bravery is outstanding.
The prize is at the finish line.
I BELIEVE you CAN do it!!
From the bottom of my heart, please hold on...
Quitting just isn't an option for us.....
Love and respect, janet jibs

PS lost most of my hair, its grey and I look like sheeeet, the good news is WE look freakin fabulous beautiful and georgeous cause
We are doing it.... And Undie helps!!!!

The hair will grow back, I promise.

It does seem strange that they didn't do the HCv genotype, maybe it has been done but not communicated to you, sometimes I find doctors have wanted me to just do what they say and not question anything but I am the kind of person who needs to know the why's .

I think the doctor should explain why he's chosen that length of time and agree if you are not already on the anti - D's maybe nows the time at least to see if it makes a difference.

I am having the other concern, they've shorted my time even though not undie at 4, but was at 12, it might not be long enough,.

Hair is falling out like crazy, sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment

2x TX
week 16

Just balls it out and get some antidepressents, some times we have to be cruel to be kind.

I'm hoping you don't give up Pharoah. I quit soc tx 2 yrs ago after 6 mos because of depression & being scared about my horrible blood counts, not having enough information, support group, not trusting Dr's knowlege....... was undie but it came back a month or so after I quit.

My dr had originally told me 24 wks, but changed it to 48 wks recently after realizing that I have evolving stage 3-4 cirrosis. That's what made the difference for me.

I didn't take an AD last time but should have. I'm not on one now, and for whatever reason (I give God & my prayer group the credit) my sx aren't so bad as of about 2 wks ago, and not half as bad as the first time. I just started wk 19. I've been losing more hair recently, and the brain fog is still with me, but overall things have gotten better. I've got 29 wks left to go.

Remember when you're feeling really sad & depressed that it's the meds making everything 10 X as bad. It won't stay that way. If you're on an anti things won't seem as dire. I believe it takes a couple wks to kick in. I'm not posative of the time. Others on here can tell you.

Try to hold on. Your doc should have your geno type. I was clueless the first time around, which made everything scarier.

I hope you can hang in there. Definately talk to your doc right away about any depression or anxiety you are having. I am 4 months post tx and still feel very fatigued much of the time, but I AM getting better and was still undie a month ago. My long, pretty hair started to fall out until it was long stringy hair. I thought I would try shorter and shorter styles during tx. The fact is that I felt so sick so much of the time that I finally shaved my head. I have gone through the totally bald Buddahist nun phase, the OMG I'm growing a mohawk phase, the hey, it's kinda cute this short phase and just today, someone told me I look like David Bowie. I think I look like a hedgehog. My point is, I finished tx and am now laughing at my goofy hair. I hope hope hope for you that your side effects become more managable and that you can get to SVR and laugh at something like your hair. Love, Nancy

Aw nancy that was a sweet post!
You are beautiful just the way you are..... Hair can grow back.
I can't even describe what my hair looks like. I pull an Edward Scissorhands every two weeks and its pretty funky punky right bout now.

You can't possibly look like Sonic the hedgehog....