Hi Oz
Luv the screen name. My husband loves Ozzy and I come from a family with 13 kids. I have 11 brothers and 1 sister. Oh well, enough about me. To answer your question, I have type 1A and I heard it is the hardest to beat too. It took me 11 yrs to make my decision to go on these harsh meds, but when I met a woman who was in end stage liver failure who asked me why I wasn't trying to save my life, is when I made the decision. It has been a rough ride but I try to stay positive and know I am doing something for my liver and to live a long healthy happy life. Good luck on your journey:)

Hi and Welcome to Daily Strenght.

Both my hubby and I were type 1a, we both did the 48 weeks journey, and we have both cleared the virus, and that was years ago, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As for your family, I will bump a letter that you must print and give to your family members and boss, friends, ect... very informative and accurate, they will understand you better.

Good luck to you
Mckenzie
one day at the time

The letter's titled:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Hi Oz, Im also a type 1a and we are the hardest to cure but not impossible. There are many people I know that are cleared from the virus. Ive had HEPC for 31yr. it was time to go on TX as well. I feel its worth it. I dont tell many people I have it most dont understand and others judge. Were all here for you. Keep in touch

Hi!

You've come to the right place. We're having a hep C telechat tonight, and you're invited to come in, talk, listen, share and receive.

Click on the post titled: Hep C telechat..the info will be there!

Hi Oz, please don't be ashamed. I don't mean to offend you or anyone, but to me that means that not only are you judging yourself, but you are judging all of us. Those that judge, do not love. Regardless of whatever you think you did to get this disease, you certainly DID NOT deserve it, as none of us do. The tx is rough, but it can work and has worked for many people. I wish you all the best of everything, in tx and in life.

Hi, Oz13. You must be a strong-minded person to have come ten whole months w/out disclosing. Now you're on tx and no one notices a difference in you? May Good God Bless you in your efforts, child, but why do you need to go this alone, if you don't mind me asking? If you must, well then you must, but please keep coming back to this site. People here will help you along, you'll see. It works for me. We don't have a lot of close family any more, we're older, and we live close to our friends but we don't see each other often any more for various reasons. It makes things much worse for me to be isolated. Congratulations on starting treatment! My husband's on his third round, started two days ago. There's a good change you'll be cured--my husband's type 1A too but don't let that discourage you. He doesn't let it. Everybody's different. Best wishes to you, and keep in touch here, ok?

Hey Oz,
Welcome. I have to say that I have pretty much "gone it alone" from the get go. I only recently told my daughter, and only after doing tx and relapsing.
Some may think it's good or bad to go it alone, but speaking as one who did, I am glad. It helps that I live alone, so I had nobody around that needed explanations, etc. I did LOVE having the peace and quiet for downtime when I felt like a huge pile of crap.
Anyways moving on.
From the sounds of your sides so far, normal. They are all manageable, honest.
The itch - get some benadryl and do some serious tub soaking. There are lots of lotions that can ease the itch as well.
The nausea - I lucked out there so I don't have much to say, but tons of others will have some awesome suggestions for you. I went with cold food and drinks, mostly smoothies. I also nibbled all the time instead of meals just so I had something in the belly. Maybe that's why I had no issues.
The appetite - yeah, all food, ALL food lost taste. So often I thought I was trying to eat my shoes. Then everything tasted like pepper for a few weeks. That's when I switched to cold stuff. It went down OK, felt good. I also started taking a proper multivitamin and some supplements because I knew I was not eating like I should. Believe me, you need to get your nutrients to keep healthy because tx sure does a number at trying to tearing you down.
Fatigue - yeah, this is one side that nobody avoids. Tx smashes away at your red and white cells, and before you know it, you feel like you are walking around with your knuckles dragging on the ground. Breathing feels like you have 10 of those heavy vests on, the kind they put on you when you go for Xrays. There were days when I wondered if crutches under my armpits would be helpful to get me walking. So yeah, resting whenever you can is perfect.
My red and white counts never went low enough to require any of the rescue drugs, but I did get an rx from my dr to take 5mg of folic acid each day and it really helped me with a bit more energy. To this day, I still take the folic acid and a good B complex because I am convinced it helps me.

There is no need to feel ashamed but I have to say that the public has been convinced that Hep C comes from transmission by bad habits. Sadly there are even drs who think this way. Oh you must have done drugs or have tattoos or partake in harsh, multiple sexual acts with tons of partners. Sad but true, so it's the misconceptions of others that have gotten to you. You are proof, so maybe as you continue with tx, you may think of a way to explain your fatigue. You can consider telling your family that you are being treated by a dr and the meds are a form of chemo which is curing you but causing your fatigue because it attacks both good cells and bad cells.
I know, it's wordy and maybe not fitting for your situation, but there are ways around coming out with your condition before you are ready.

For sure do NOT think that tx is for nothing. Even though I relapsed after my year of tx, I know that I gave my liver some relief and also some time to heal a bit. Keep staying positive because what's to say that you won't be part of the 50% that DO clear the virus? Attitude is so very important.

To know the road ahead, ask the man coming back.

I would say that you need to keep drinking water as it lessens so many of the sides, rest whenever you feel a need, but make every effort to stay physically active - if you do too much sitting around, you will find that you feel worse and worse. Whether you believe it or not, there are some people who remain very active, as in gym workouts, throughout their tx. Walks around the block are good enough if that is all you can manage.
One other thing you can consider - when you have any difficulties getting a decent sleep, I got a rx for a mild anti D that relaxed me enough to get a few hours sleep each nite.

Keep asking any questions you may have; many people here will have some suggestions that will help you on your road to your Hep C free future.

Thanks everyone - it really does make me feel better to know others have been thru this!!
Perhaps 'ashamed' is the wrong word... very sorry if that did offend ppl. I suppose it's just something u never expect to happen to you, and when it does it's hard to make sense of why!!
But things happen in life & we have to deal with it as it comes!
Ppl have commented that i've been tired, but I just put it down to work stress.
Thanx for the advice.
There's obviously a lot of strong and knowledgable ppl here - best wishes to you all =)

You bet your ass Im Type 1-A And Im here to support you all the way my friend!!!! Everyone here is so helpfull!!!!!!! Take advantage to our Post and Care for each other here!!!

I'm type 1A as well, baby girl. I'm in 14th week of TX, and my VL has gone from 8 million to 325,000, altho I had a test last week and I'm hoping it's undetectable now. It's hard to tell ppl, cuz some do get that "look", but you know what, f'em, they don't know, they have no right to judge, and it just doesn't flippin' matter. My opinion is, they could very well have this and just don't know it. If you need to sleep, do it. McKensie put a letter on here somewhere that helps explain this disease to ppl, take a look, it is very moving.

hi oz. i'm type 1a too. 50% glass full is how i have to see it. this site is absolutely a lifesaver, but in my real person world i've selected the few choice people to share this experience with cause i know i'll need someone to lean on at times - only 1 is a blood family mbr (except for kids). i know you can find your support family too, here on DS and at home. carol j

Hi. I had to laugh....cause I related so much to your situation. My family also thought I am just being lazy, even thou I still work up to 10 hours a day. But when I get home I just want to sleep, I can't help it. They just do not understand the symptoms of our illness. Maybe you can get them some information to educated them.
Also for the itchy skin, my doc give me triamcinolone acetonide cream and it work very well.
Don't worry the time will go by fast...just don't do time and enjoy life.

Hi Oz,
I was depressed on my 1st round of treatment but it was the stongest interferon, not pegasus which i had the 2nd time. Anyway 1st time is the worst & hopefully it will be your only time. I dealt with anger at myself & lack of knowledge back in 1976. Those times that you kick your own butt. :-)I sure lost weight- going in & out. No appetite.
Eat what you want when you can.
Use baby oil, alomond oil, lubriderm-spend
the extra $ on yourself.
Sleep, rest be lazy -no guilt your body is fighting a hard battle.

Get a script from the Dr. for depression. It's natural with this disease. I've been on Lexapro since 2000 from 1st tratment. This doesn't go away easy no harm in prevention..

I'm 2a & they say it's easy to cure but 2 men I work with who are 1a have been cured after only one round. There is HOPE.

Think my deal is that it's been doing evil since 1976 & diagonosed in 1992, then finally got treatment in 2000 & 2002. That's a lotta years.

Stick with it - Once again what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger
peace out bellavida

Yeah the tx is a bitch at times, but if it clears the virus it is well worth it. I am having the same sides as you are.I am genotype 1a, wich is a stubborn bug.I am kind of the oposite in that I told everyone I have it, I don't know why I am just open like that, if they don't like it that's there own business. Cause people were asking me why I was so tired all the time so I finally told them, I feel alot better for it. All I do right now is work and when I come home it's total rest and sleep.You have to concerve your energy as much as possible.Take care and welcome to ds.

Here for ya always friend...Pam