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.

3 more shots....

I have three more shots of interferon left. Then after that, a week of ribavirin. This weekend was not bad. My husband woke up while I was sweating the night I got my shot. I usually sleep through the side effects but woke up when he did. I'm tired today and I think it's because I over did it this weekend.

We will be driving two days to Arkansas starting tomorrow. We'll stop halfway and stay the night somewhere. I haven't been home in a year. I know I'll be tired, but I'm looking forward to a visit with the family.

tired this morning

Whoa. I'm tired this morning. The shot went fine last night, but I feel like I've had about 20 benadryls. Dry, thirsty and sleepy. Oh well. I got to keep trudging on. 4 shots to go.

Giddy Friday

I get giddy on Fridays. Friday is the day I give my shot of Pegasys. This will be #20 tonight. Woo hoo. I don't like the way I feel the next few days. The extremely dry mouth gets old. Oh well. Not too much longer now. But, it's another peg down.

*added later
I want to add that I received my last box of pegasys and ribavirin today from Caremark Pharmacy. (well, that's if I achieve SVR and don't have to ever do this stuff again). Unbelievable. Only 4 more shots after tonight's.

Looking back

I changed my profile picture. It's me standing at the top of a tunnel that was dug out of some rock on the South Island of New Zealand. My husband took it from the bottom of the tunnel. I think the picture is a metaphor of what it's like when one is nearing the end of treatment:

I see light at the end of the tunnel with myself standing at the end. I'm looking back down the path I climbed from, reflecting on the hard times. I'm still standing.

Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's gone by faster than I would have expected. Like life, really.

I was talking with a friend the other day about getting the new puppy about the same time I was diagnosed with Hep C. It's strange, really, how all these stressful things have come about at the same time. But, the upside is that the puppy just turned one and is starting to calm down a bit, and the treatment is almost finished. I will have energy soon and a couple of months of summer to enjoy without taking pills and getting shots. I'm glad I'll be over this stuff soon. I'm determined to start running once I can without getting out of breath or having leg pain. I am going to take my life back and make the most of it. I have learned a huge lesson from going through this and I won't waste it.