I agree. But sometimes life throws those annoying curveballs at us, and we have to try to maintain a posative attitude & carry on.
When I was on treatment I used to say 'this too shall pass' when I was having a particularly bad day.

When are you starting treatment Clay? or have you started?

I haven't started yet. Right now I guess you would say that I am in the phase of just getting my head wrapped around the thought that I actually have the virus.....it is still all so surreal.
I have had by VL and an ultrasound. Not sure if I will get a biopsy. I go back to the doctor on April 2 to get the VL results.
I am also contemplating a second opinion. The liver specialist that treated Steve Jobs is in Memphis and I am not that far from there. So I have a call into my GP to see if he can get me into there. Being that HepC is the most traumatic illness of my life, I want a second opinion and I think a liver specialist is the route to go, especially if I consider holding off on newer meds.

As I recall, you've only had it a few years, so you may be able to wait for tx if your liver is ok. Alot of us had hep c for over 30 yrs & are just getting treatment. My liver is damaged but functioning.

Right now I don't believe I am in a place to make a decision having just learned this about myself. It is all so new and I am trying to educate myself. Believe me when I say I am absorbing every word all of you say.
To Tx or not to Tx. I have mixed emotions. on one hand I want to wait, if possible, for newer drugs that are more effective with less side effects.
On the other hand I want to buck up and get it over with and behind me.
Thus the reason I want to meet with my doctor and then seek a second opinion.

You're very smart.

btw; what is that in your avie?

LOL nevermind. I just checked it out on your profile. Wish I had light up glasses.

Second opinions are a good idea, especially for something like HCV which has the potential to be a life changing event.

But it also presents the patient with a dilemma if the two doctors do not agree. Do you then go with a third opinion? Or do you pick the doctor that goes along with your gut? What if one doctor has treated 10X the patients of the other? Or perhaps one doctor is up on the latest research, the other is too busy treating patients. How do you know?

Self education is one of the best things you can do. My doctor made a mistake that could have caused my treatment to fail. It was through this site, and all of the information and links passed on that I was able to say to him with certainty that he had misinterpreted the data.

Yes, if I am not satisfied after a second opinion, I might just get a third. But I also have two MD's in my family that I can go to for advice if needed to help me interpret. But as I said before, I am absorbing everything I see and I am taking notes. I will not be going into a doctors office empty handed.

Peacefulsoul, you about made me piss my pants laughing....thanks, always need to laugh. Actually, they are not light up glasses. That is my Boston Terrier named SuKey. Her eyes lit up that way from the flash on my iphone. LOL She is my alien dog.

It has also been said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

My inspirational thought for you today Clay is 'Good things come to those who Wait." :-)~

I only read the OT ...

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

We are the Culture of Fools!!! Wish I would of waited!!! But I rolled
the dice!! Hopefully it doesn't come up SNAKE EYES!!!

oh, sorry ecc...didn't mean to steal your thunder. Great minds and all that :-)