You are so right, I am on Zoloft , Xanax, Phengran, Ibuprofen all the time and I tolerate the sides to a point . 10 more shots to go. I have had one Neupogen shot so far , 1,172.00$$$ was charged to the insurance company, for one shot. I could not imagine not doing all the extra meds with TX , I would have gone nuttier than I already am I would assume. Unfortunately I am going to a funeral today for a friend who had Hep C.He went home last Friday and hung himself. He had chosen not to do the extra meds and we will never know the reason for his action, only he knew that but , these meds we take to kill the virus are some really mean drugs to deal with , mentally and physically. Seek guidance from a doctor if the sides start to make you nuts....

Great advice Mac!! Thanks!!

I am so sorry about your friend, poor guy,

As for these combo treatment, I have never been pro-treatment, unless the patient as damage and it is his or her last resort.

So what your saying is that your dear friend, hung himself was he on treatment before that happened?

I see many, many people wanting to do treatment desperately, but in the end, they didn't realise how hard, and expensive it could get.

That's not counting those who gets divorce, or separated, or commit suicide, due to the combo meds.

Treatment is a last resort for those with damage to their liver, and that their liver enzymes are abnormally high all the time.

If I knew then, what I know now, both me and my husband wouldn't have done tx.

Richard was so angry all the time, like crazy angry, and we had to tolerate this for 11 months.
He was to hard headed to take anti's, well who suffered during these 11 long months, well, him of course, but our young daughter at the time, and myself, having to stand his crazy temper.
He was lucky, he came back pretty much his old self, but he still as a temper bad out of hell, and before he was such a darling.

Richard had 0 damage, grade 0 stage 0, he could have lived a long healthy life with the virus, but fortunately he got rid of the virus, and is pretty much back to normal.

Unlike me, I had damage, fibrosis scarring, did the tx, and I too got rid of the virus, but I remain with long lasting side effects, several of them.
So even though I had fibrosis of the liver, if I knew then that the combo treatment would activate the aging process of 10 to 15 years ahead, then I would have thought about it twice, and tried the Alternative medicine.

You know now many doctors can prescribe most of the natural ingredients that are needed to get rid of the virus.

I am not on tx, but find myself with a monthly payment of 600.00$ at the pharmacy.
I have to pay for a private drug insurance.
Before tx, I only took my spray for asthma, with the combo treatment, my asthma turned to Emphysema, and COPD, now they tell me I will die from the COPD.
Unreal.

So before going on treatment make sure you have considered and read everything there is to read on these combo meds.

I still have one box of my treatment, and in the litterature it says that even death can occur from these meds.

I'm sorry for rambling on, but it makes me so mad, and sad to see a young man, or woman die due to hep c and everything related to it, like the cost, insurances, lack of compassion from the government and pharmaceutical.
The P me off big time.
When all the patient wants is to survive in this world of ours.

Again very sorry for your lost, if you need to talk, vent, or just need some support, I am just a message away.

Love & Respect,
Mckenzie
One day at the time.

ps: Thanks Cathie

He was doing TX and had been for quite awhile but , we had lunch last Friday and I saw nothing to be alarmed about, then he went and picked up his paycheck went home and when his wife got home she found him. As you said if I knew what I know now I would not of done the TX just cleaned my lifestyle .

I am new to this board, but not new to Hep C. In 1997 my (x) hubby was dx. At that time there was very little info available.

The "treatment" of choice was Interferon.

He was a non responder. We split up in 1999 (non hep related, had problems before Hep Dx)

I became VERY involved in Hep C (maybe too much).

At any rate he passed away in 2007. In my heart I still feel it was from the "treatment"

I can't/won't/don't dish anyone for doing treatment, its a choice they have to make.

They have many more treatments available now than they did in 1997 and so much more info available.

Please read all you can....learn all you can before you make your decision.

I hope you don't mind my butting into your conversation, but I have been reading these boards since I joined DS and I just couldn't keep my mouth shut when I saw McKenzie's post. (its so me)

~~bear

oh, Dirt,
i am sorry to hear that about your friend. that is just going to be devastating for his family. my prayers go out you and yours.

welcome bear, feel free to jump in on anything that you want. you are very welcome here. make yourself comfortable.
joe

Good advice and much info here to digest. Thank you! I have liver damage, and the Doc said I should do TX, so I did. Months later, I found DS. Even knowing all I know now, I probably would have given it a shot. My anger/emotional quotient was way off the charts. I should have been on meds, but it was never suggested. Now that I know about all the alternative ways, I think younger people should go that route. However, it is a very personal decision. I think as you get older, your immune system naturally looses the fight. I wish they could come up with something easier on the body. I had terrible sides---but I made it thru. Good luck to all, you certainly have to make up your mind to do this.

Thanks Mckenzie for always being a great community leader.