Dec support group meeting...

I had my support group meeting last night. It's just still 3 of us, but we all feel we still need it. S seems to be doing well. I don't know how she does it--working full time and watching her grandson on Tuesday evenings. R is having a lot of pain with his hip. Poor guy. He feels like the treatment was rough but it's nothing compared to his painful hip. I'm still doing OK. My hair is getting thicker.

Thankful...

Last year at this time, I was a mess. I had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, genotype 3a. My viral load was low at 10000. I was gearing up for treatment to start in January 2009. My anxiety was awful. There were so many unknowns.

Fast forward to now. I've completed treatment and feel better than I have in years. I thought I was just tired from having young children. While they don't know for sure when I got it, the doctor thinks it was within the last 3 years. As of October, I'm still undetectable.

I'm so thankful for getting through treatment and, thus far, having good results. The treatment was no piece of cake with the depression being the worst. The fatigue was a close second. I have a totally different outlook on life now. I guess it could be "don't sweat the small stuff" outlook. I'm still on antidepressants and that might help with the outlook. I don't know nor do I care. What I do know is that I'm feeling great, I love my family and I feel good with where I am in life.

Hepatitis C opened up a whole other group to me. I met the Hep C nomads out of the UK. I have two friends locally with whom I meet once a month for support. I know that life is not to be taken for granted. I understand that bad things can happen for no reason and people are not to be judged for what ailment they might be dealing with. There's no room for bitterness. As the saying goes, "We all have our cross to bear."

So with that said, I want to say Happy Thanksgiving. May you find something in your life for which you can be grateful.

No news, good news.

There's not a lot of news with me right now. I'm still feeling energetic. I'm going to start volunteering 4 hours a week at the Centre Volunteers in Medicine clinic in town. They need a phlebotomist and since finding veins is one of the things I have to do in Nuclear Medicine, I can fit that need. My husband is not too thrilled with me because I will be drawing blood. I haven't been working hardly at all at the hospital and he's happy with that, too.

I got the H1N1 vaccine a couple of days ago. One child got vaccinated--now I need to get the other one vaccinated.

My hair is growing back in and getting its normal texture back. All other symptoms have gone away. Yay!

3 month PCR

I had my viral load drawn this week and it came back negative! So, in January I will have my 6 month PCR drawn, if that comes back negative, then I am cured! I'm very relieved right now!

My mom is in town for a few days. It was this time last year when I told her about the Hepatitis C. Wow. A year ago. I remember I had so much anxiety then. I wasn't on the Paxil and I was a wreck. I've since gone through 6 months of interferon and ribavirin and was a rapid responder.

I was supposed to get my blood drawn last week but the kids were sick and the weather turned yucky toward the end of the week so I will do it tomorrow. It's not the official one (that will be in another 3 months).

My spirit is still good and I feel great. I am coming down with a little cold right now, but otherwise, feeling great. I can't say I'm missing the ribavirin (no colds last spring!)!

it's been a while, huh?

Gosh, it's been a while since I've posted. Life is busy and I'm feeling great. I will get my 3 month PCR test this week. The doctor ordered it since all the Nomads get theirs drawn at 3 months post treatment.

My hair is getting a little thicker. My eyelashes don't look so weird anymore (no llama lashes) and my fingernails are back to their brittle selves. I didn't realize my nails were so paper-thin before. But, my skin feels great--no more dry skin. I really hope and pray the virus doesn't come back.

But, the best thing about all of this is my new attitude. OK, maybe the antidepressants help with it, but I do find the good in everyday now.

switched antidepressants

Most people lose weight while on treatment. I didn't. I gained weight and I think it was due to the antidepressants. For whatever reason, my G I doctor only prescribes Paxil or Zoloft to his patients. When I failed on the 10 mg dose of Paxil during treatment he referred me to a psychiatrist. My dose was bumped up to 20 mg. I have to say I felt really great on Paxil but the weight gain bothered me. I don't weigh a lot and most people think I look great. But, my clothes are a little tighter and my waist a little thicker. Yes, I'm vain but I'm also pratical. I don't want to buy new clothes. Besides, I like my old clothes.

So, I contacted my family practice doctor and he switched me to Celexa. I think the generic is citalopram. Anyway, I'm just a week into it and I hope to lose a couple of pounds one of these days. It does help that I feel like exercising and have the energy, to boot!

I still feel like it's a blessing that I went on the anti depressants in the first place. I'm much more "settled" in my soul. I'm a much better parent to my children. I don't get as irritated with my husband! I say to anyone contemplating treatment and you have a history of depression or it runs in your family, go on them. You can always come off the antidepressants when it's all over.