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.
Last year I posted the thread entitled Im Officially Done. My attempt was to not only chronicle my experiences during treatment, but hopefully also to encourage others to wait for the newer drugs, which mercifully came out early this year.
The good news is that at my last test 5 months ago, I was SVR, and my doctor pronounced me cured.
Recovery has been a slow journey, but I am so much better than I was a year ago. At the end of treatment, I was not only severely anemic, I was also extremely overweight, at somewhere north of 300 lbs. Hence my avatar of a big fat bear, LOL.
The first thing I did was to buy a mountain bike and start riding. I could not make it more than a few blocks at first, but things began to improve rapidly. By Christmas I was down almost 40 lbs. I decided to take a bit of a break at Christmas, but before you know it I found that two months later, I had gained over 10 lbs. back, and wasnt making any progress.
A friend at work was on a medically supervised diet and has lost over 100 lbs. I decided to give it a try 3.5 months ago. I now weigh 225, with maybe 15 more to go. I lift weights, jog, or bike every day. I feel SO much better, even though Im still on a caloric deficient diet.
I feel better mentally as well, I can focus better at work. I no longer feel depressed at all, which is a great benefit of exercise. My blood pressure was 102 over 60, with a resting pulse of 58 when I had it checked last week. Not bad for a guy who will be 60 in a few weeks.
Bivalve suggested in another post that we might want to get our T levels checked, so I have an appointment next week. Apparently low T is a side effect of Interferon, and may explain my muscle fatigue and libido issues. Well see.
I am so grateful to be SVR, and grateful for the support I found on this board. I dont come around every day, but I still check in from time to time.
Good luck to all of you who are still fighting this damn virus, I hope you too can clear it and find ways to make your life better.
Bob
The good news is that at my last test 5 months ago, I was SVR, and my doctor pronounced me cured.
Recovery has been a slow journey, but I am so much better than I was a year ago. At the end of treatment, I was not only severely anemic, I was also extremely overweight, at somewhere north of 300 lbs. Hence my avatar of a big fat bear, LOL.
The first thing I did was to buy a mountain bike and start riding. I could not make it more than a few blocks at first, but things began to improve rapidly. By Christmas I was down almost 40 lbs. I decided to take a bit of a break at Christmas, but before you know it I found that two months later, I had gained over 10 lbs. back, and wasnt making any progress.
A friend at work was on a medically supervised diet and has lost over 100 lbs. I decided to give it a try 3.5 months ago. I now weigh 225, with maybe 15 more to go. I lift weights, jog, or bike every day. I feel SO much better, even though Im still on a caloric deficient diet.
I feel better mentally as well, I can focus better at work. I no longer feel depressed at all, which is a great benefit of exercise. My blood pressure was 102 over 60, with a resting pulse of 58 when I had it checked last week. Not bad for a guy who will be 60 in a few weeks.
Bivalve suggested in another post that we might want to get our T levels checked, so I have an appointment next week. Apparently low T is a side effect of Interferon, and may explain my muscle fatigue and libido issues. Well see.
I am so grateful to be SVR, and grateful for the support I found on this board. I dont come around every day, but I still check in from time to time.
Good luck to all of you who are still fighting this damn virus, I hope you too can clear it and find ways to make your life better.
Bob
I love ya, Bob. You're one of the bestest.
anymore. But like you I check in now and then. Keep it up!!
Your friend,
Oz
Neither my gastroenterology or internal medicine docs ever thought to check testosterone levels, even though I was unknowingly listing a textbook case of it to them for the past two years.
Glad to hear that you're on the mend after a hellish treatment. I'm on shot #3 of depo-testosterone, and I think I'm starting to feel better. Doc wants to check T levels again in two weeks.
I've posted that before. You are awesome dude but now I sound like Ozzie.
Well get as skinny as you want but when i make it to Austin, we are porking out on BBQ. I want deep fried ribs!
I miss a lot of the members that used to be here lots or even ones that are here but don't post too much. Hated treating but liked a lot that were treating when I was. There were several of us and we def bonded in hell as had been said. Missing a lot but has Marina or Maya been by in months? I'm guessing Maya has adopted some babies as 4 kids weren't enough. She's like the Angelina J of Hepperville. Or has the name changed?