I had my blood drawn yesterday. My liver enzymes are looking better. Last night my husband helped me with the shot. I had him pinch the back up my upper arm and I gave myself the shot there. It didn't hurt and I like that spot for the shot. I see the doc on Monday and will find out my 4 week viral load. This is a big one. Fingers crossed!

I still feel great. No major side effects. My skin is dry and so is my scalp. My mood is stable thanks to Paxil.

Blood drawn tomorrow.

I'm getting my viral load checked tomorrow. I think the doc will check for some other levels, too. I hope the virus is responding to the interferon and anti-viral meds. Fingers crossed.

My scalp and skin is starting to get dry and itchy. I've had this before--about 4 years ago. My right side has been hurting a little. Not really hurting, but a strange feeling. My next appointment with the gastro doctor is March 2. Just 5 more months to go of treatment!

4th shot!

Last night, I gave myself the 4th shot of Pegasys. Only 20 to go. I feel fine this morning--a little tired. I'm still dealing with the sinus infection that really knocked me out this week. I think if I didn't have that, I would feel really great this morning.

Next Friday is my birthday. I'll be 41. I think I get my blood drawn that day to check the viral load. I'm wishing for an undetectable birthday gift....

Grumpy

Today I was so grumpy. I am still fighting this cold and wouldn't you know it, I have lost my voice. It is so frustrating. Colds are bad enough when that's all you're fighting, but to have it on top of the interferon, just plain sucks. At one point today I was thinking "I am sick and tired of having a 4 year old boss me around and too sick and tired to do anything about it."

I emailed my doctor regarding setting up a support group for the patients who are going through this. He hasn't gotten back to me and it's bugging me. That was one of the reasons that we started together so that the patients wouldn't be doing this all alone. We'll see.

I am tired of feeling like crap.

Blood test result from Friday.

I had my blood drawn on Friday. My WBCs and platelets are low. I think this is from the interferon. And I've come down with a cold, so it's not good that my white blood cells are low! I need them to be fighting off this cold. My liver function tests are stable right now--still elevated, but not going higher.

How to give yourself a shot of Pegasys

Tonight, I thought I would show you how to give yourself a shot. It's really easy and something anyone can do. Always wash your hands first.

Pictured here are the syringe, the needle, and alcohol pad.











I am holding the needle in my left and the syringe in my right.












I am putting the needle onto the syringe. Just give it a twist and push down a bit.













Next, open the alcohol pad and wipe a little area on your skin. The best places are the "love handles" around your waist, the thighs, and the back of the arms in the triceps area (this location requires a second person).





Then, you need to pinch some skin together (Pinch an inch) and just put the needle in deliberately. Almost give it a stab, if you will.



Then slowly, but steadily, push the dose in. Don't bolus it, but don't linger either. Make sure you continue to pinch your skin together. Then pull the syringe straight out.











This is a safety syringe so you don't need to recap. Just put the syringe down and the cap pops over the needle.











Dispose of the syringe and needle into the sharps container. You're done.

3rd shot coming up today...

Well, here we are again back to the day for the shot. I had a good week-all in all. I have been a little more tired than usual. I'm not sure why. I think the meds can cause anemia. The doctor's office called yesterday and I had to go in today for blood work. They were checking my CBC and Liver enzymes. I will get the results on Monday. I will post later on how to give a shot (If I remember!).

Sunday

Today, I slept in a bit and we skipped church. I had friends over last night for dinner and was tired this morning. I've noticed that if I over do it on one day, I'm really tired the next morning. I think that's the worst part with the fatigue. I just can't get out of bed when I need to. I stay an extra hour sometimes! I just can't make myself go to bed at 9 pm!

I've noticed I have a lot of energy on Saturday after my shot on Friday night. Is that normal? I'm one of the lucky ones and I'm not sick at all! It is so great. I've had so much anxiety about all of this. For a while, it was almost paralyzing. I couldn't focus on anything else. I thought I was going to be puking and in the bathroom all the time. And I really worried about my husband and if he was going to be able to handle taking care of me and the kids. Anxiety is an awful feeling. I've never felt it until all this hepatitis c stuff came up. Oh sure, I was uptight, but not anxious. I wonder if I'll stay on the Paxil after I'm off the interferon. It wouldn't bother me to stay on it because, frankly, I haven't felt this good in a long time.

I do have some good news. I'm going to Paris in September. My sister and her husband are going for 10 days and I get to go for about 5 to 6 days of it. They rented an apartment near Notre Dame that has 1 bedroom and a sleeper sofa. I get to go without kids and husband! Pete's family have been to Paris so many times that they're not like regular tourists. I'm looking forward to being a tourist. Look out Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, and all the wonderful museums! Gosh, I may just have to wear my white tennis shoes to celebrate! Ha ha. My sister will be the loud talker! Which brings me to a time when I visited her when she was living in Northern Italy. I rode a passenger train to Venice with her. It was my first time on a train. Anyway, all the Italians were dressed so beautifully (men and women alike), and my sister and I had on our identical bright red Woolrich coats that our mom had bought for us at Sam's. Yeah, we stuck out like sore thumbs (or Americans).

I'm so blessed to have a sister like her.

2nd Shot

Last night, we went out to dinner. I had to drive the baby sitter home so just before I took her home, I gave myself the 2nd shot. I did a better job this time than last week. It didn't hurt! It was around 9 pm. After I got back, I took two Tylenol and went to bed around 11pm. I slept through the night! If I got the chills like last week, I slept right through them!!! Yay!

About the shot last week. I had lost my touch on giving shots! I had to take insulin with my 2nd pregnancy and they didn't hurt. I also had to take heparin shots post partum with both pregnancies. But, last week I stuck that needle into my spare tire around my waist (arrgggh) and "Ouch!" I remember thinking "Dang, that hurt!" So last night I was quicker on the entry and had a steady hand while pushing in the dose. Much better.

So, that's the update. I was looking forward to the shot to see what it would do. It was uneventful.

Looking forward to this Friday!

It's Friday and that means I get a shot today. Actually, I'm going to do the shot tonight before bed so if there are side effects, I hopefully will sleep through them. I've been looking forward to this day. I want to see if I will be as "lucky" this week as last week. I can't believe how good my body feels. I am tired, but it's not holding me back much. I definitely can't stay up past 10 pm! Ha!

So, bring it on Interferon! I'm ready and waiting!!!

Feeling lucky

OK. I'm knocking on wood right now. Or waiting for the other shoe to drop. Or...think of a saying that describes someone holding their breath because they feel good and think "Oh no this is too good to be true." I thought I was going to be puking and really sick at this point. So far, just the chills 6 hrs to the minute after the shot. I don't know what to think except all those prayers are working. I probably have at least 50 people praying for me and, by golly, I think it's working.

Oh sure, I'm otherwise healthy and that probably does have something to do with it, but I'm not sure. And I'm just taking one day at a time and thanking God everyday I wake up and feel fine. Woo hoo! Hallelujah! Yippy!