There is hope

It's been over ten days since finishing treatment. I am starting to feel so much better. I'm still on antidepressants but my mood has improved so much. I'm interested in doing stuff around the house. There is hope. Hang in there if you are on treatment. You will feel better after you are done taking the medicines.

I'm sleeping so much better.
I have more energy.

Hooray!

hair thinning

Well, 4 days into post treatment and I'm sleeping better. I will meet with the doctor in late August to discuss weaning from the Paxil. I did notice this morning my hair was coming out as I put some stuff in it after my shower. I never had my hair come out during treatment.

I'm still breathless with stairs or if I'm walking too fast. I must start exercising at some point but right now, the thought makes me tired!

The riba rash is still there but I don't itch anymore.

That's all the update for now.

End of treatment

I got the results of my viral load for the end of treatment: still undetectable! However, my liver enzymes are still elevated and the doctor is puzzled by that. He will check that again in 4 weeks. I am sleeping better now that I'm not taking the ribavirin! Oh, I'm looking forward to feeling good again! Now, just hoping that I achieve the sustained viral response in 6 months...

Just four more...

Ribavirin pills to take and I will be finished with the 24 week treatment for Hepatitis C (genotype 3a). Unbelievable. I had my blood draw yesterday to check the viral load. I hope I'm still undetectable and that will mean in 6 months we'll check the viral load again. If the viral load is still undetectable, then I'm finished with this chapter in my life. I'll still try to keep the local support group going and still post on the Nomads site, but I will be able to resume normal activities again. I really, really, really want to start running again and I can't wait to enjoy a nice glass of wine with my meals again.

Some good that has come out of this as far as my diet goes: I managed to cut down on my caffeine intake. I know that has to be good for me. And like I've mentioned before the fact that I felt so much better on Paxil means that I probably need it.

I probably won't get to post for a couple of days. I'm taking my kids to upstate NY where my husband has been working this week. Dreading the drive because I'm tired. I'll make it, though.

It hurt, but it was the last one....

I had to work today at the hospital. It was a good day--not too busy that one never sits down, but busy enough that the day flew by. Just right.

And tonight---brace yourself--- was my last shot. And it hurt! My technique was awful. For the most part, the other 23 shots were a breeze, but tonight it bled and was painful. Let's just hope it's the last one I ever have to take.

Well, I'm tired. Better head to bed because the weekend is coming up and I need my energy!

I met with the local support group this evening. There are still only three of us. Tonight, Ron brought his wife. Ron and I have one shot left. He is genotype 1, so he is coming up on a year. The other lady has 6 more months.

We were talking about how we can't wait to have energy again. I had heard that as soon as two weeks after stopping the medicine, the energy levels return. The brain fog, too, is getting old. I search for words and sometimes lose train of thought. I feel really slow at times. It's been humbling, to say the least, to deal with an illness that affects one's physical and mental states.

I was sent this joke via email from a friend:

Two 90-year-old women, Rose and Barb, had been friends all of their lives.

When it was clear that Rose was dying, Barb visited her every day.
One day Barb said, 'Rose, we both loved playing women's softball all our lives, and we played all through high school.

Please do me one favor: when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's women's softball there.'

Rose looked up at Barb from her death bed and said, 'Barb, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you..'

Shortly after that, Rose passed on.

At midnight the following Friday, Barb was awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to her, 'Barb, Barb.'

'Who is it?' asked Barb, sitting up suddenly. 'Who is it?'

'Barb -- it's me, Rose..'

'You're not Rose. Rose just died.'
'I'm telling you, it's me, Rose,' insisted the voice.

'Rose! Where are you?'

'In Heaven,' replied Rose. 'I have some really good news and a little bad news.'

'Tell me the good news first,' said Barb.

The good news,' Rose said, 'is that there's Softball in Heaven!!

Better yet, all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too.

Better than that, we're all young again.

Better still, it's always springtime, and it never rains or snows. And best of all,

we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired.'

'That's fantastic,' said Barb. 'It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?'

'You're pitching Tuesday!!'

Life is short...
So, Remember to Live Well & Laugh Often!

BTW, I have a softball game tomorrow night. Yes, it's important to live life and make the most of it. You never know what lies around the corner.

I'm counting down. Yeehaw!

Well, I have one more shot to go. It will be this Friday and then a week of Ribavirin after that. I can't believe it's almost over. At least, I'm hoping this will be the only time I have to do this treatment.

I've learned a lot about myself through this. First, I've learned to slow down and listen to my body. I've also learned that I really needed some anti depressants before all of this. Yep, I am much more enjoyable to be around now than before treatment! And, I promise to not take this life for granted ever again. Life is precious and everyday matters. Good health is the most important thing and everyone should have the right to it. I don't know what I would have done if I was one of the many uninsured in this country. It's a shame that there are people without proper coverage here.

OK, I should listen to my body now and hit the hay. Oh, and I'm meeting my support group on Wednesday. It's been a while since all three of us have been together.