Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Every year a lot of new folks show up on DS and others have the great blessing of reaching SVR. SVR doesn't mean you'll live for ever and it doesn't mean you'll never get sick again... it just means that you're extremely fortunate and you shouldn't forget your friends.
Anyway, it would be interesting to hear a quick update from those who killed their dragon and are now just on the board encouraging others. Do you still have sides? Has your life changed? What's your best piece of advice for the current warriors?
(Also: Anybody heard from Russoul lately???)
Anyway, it would be interesting to hear a quick update from those who killed their dragon and are now just on the board encouraging others. Do you still have sides? Has your life changed? What's your best piece of advice for the current warriors?
(Also: Anybody heard from Russoul lately???)
haven't heard from roussoul in a little while? hope he'll come on and say howdy one day soon cause i always love to read his posts.
first off, i like to say i've tamed the dragon and i'm riding it around the universe! it's under my control now! i never could visualize killing it but then i don't kill spiders either. yeeeeeeeeee hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
i'm genotype 1A and have been SVR since june of 2009. my next blood test is coming up in june of 2011.
my energy is coming back and so is my mind. slowly. even my hair grew back! lol
advice to people in treatment: drink 100 ounces of water every 24 hrs; always take your pills with food and hunker down for the ride...
d
So much more motivated these days - recovery is slow... a few lingering minor sides like dry skin...now have straighter thicker hair albeit a little greyer... weaned off all anti-depressants and other helpful side meds since Nov 10....life is damn ggod in my little part of the world. I'm off to Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey at the end of this month. I've never been to Egypt before and it has been 30 something years since I have bee to Lebanon and Turkey...no doubt big changes..needless to say my perspective has also changed since then
Tx activated rheumatoid arthritis in me. It is very severe. I have litttle in the choice of meds as I want to look out for my liver. Chronic Pain is my new mane. But, so far, I am still UND and can't be happier about it.
All the people just starting tx need to remember not to give up, drink your water and support is here for you!
I have now been cleared a little over a year (tested back in december still clear). I had genotype 1A. I was in college full-time and I worked part-time (it can be done). I finished treatment in november 09 and graduated in december 09. I am now a middle school teacher working full-time, busy but happy. I am back to myself and I hope to be clear for the rest of my life.
Good luck to everyone on treatment! It sucks, I know, but it is sooo worth it. Trust me! :)
Best advice is an old saying... "When you're going through hell... keep going!" Never give up.
Right out of tx, I was feeling great! I had a new love for life. The only complaints I have, that I think are tx induced are body aches, vision problems, some dental problems and I don't enjoy my H2O, anymore! :(
Yes, my life is changing. My advice is to keep as positive as you can be on tx, and when it gets tough, let your friends and family keep you pleasantly distracted from your discomfort.
My update: Started tx Sept 08 and finished Aug 09. 6 month SVR was Feb 10 and still undetectable Feb 11. I feel great. I have some issues that popped up after tx (and probably from tx) but they are just an annoyance and nothing major (hypothyroidism, osteopenia and now pre-diabetes).
To answer "notdancing": Yes, I is/was a geno 1b and was successful with treatment. Moineau is/was also a geno 1b. Another member here "jkbearhug" is/was a geno 1b and she was also successful with treatment.