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Avatar universal

Hello and well wishes from Jim

It's been awhile, but as I clicked on the site a few minutes ago I still see many familiar faces, and of course a lot of new ones.

Just wanted to stop by and say hello and maybe catch up a little.

Honestly haven't thought much about Hep C since leaving here, but have thought about the many friends I made during what was probably the most difficult period of my life.

So how is everyone? Is GoofyDad still goofy? Is New York Girl still clobbering anyone who takes a nip? Is Rocker still pushing his supplements? Does Willing still think Telaprevir is too new to take seriously -- or maybe he was right cause I really am not up to date?

All the best,

Jim

56 Responses
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179856 tn?1333547362
They probably don't even recommend that anymore. "

LOL no we'd all go insane if they did..........you are the exception to the rule my friend, the wonderful exception to the rule.

You made me smile today, thank you for that.  :D
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Avatar universal
Nice to hear from you too Debby.  Of all the people here I remember "going thru the process" with, you were always my favorite.
I'm glad you are cured and hope everything is going well for you.
FLguy. . . . .yeah, the 12 week stuff. . . . in hindsight it was probably an act of monumental stupidity on my part, but I was lucky and it worked.  They probably don't even recommend that anymore.
DJL
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179856 tn?1333547362
WOW Rifleman what a blast from the past!

So incredibly great to see that you are still SVR and you are healthier than ever. Just great to see your name pop up...it's hard to believe it's been five years but then again I'm SVR almost 4 so it has to be...time sure flies. I remember thinking tx would never end - go figure.

Anyway had to say hello you are remembered fondly and I'm so glad you are doing so great.

debby
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96938 tn?1189799858
Good to see you.  Your treatment success after only 12 weeks is stuff of legend is is repeated here every once in a while.
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Avatar universal
Came for a visit myself, after being gone 5 years.  Good to see some familiar names.  Kind of funny, but one of the reasons I looked up the forum is that I have not had one cold or flu since I did the hep C treatment back in 2005.  My wife has been suffering from a nasty cold for the past 4 days.  I woke up at 1AM last night and could feel the bugger trying to set its hooks into me.  By the time I woke up in the morn, it was gone.  This is what happens to cold viruses when they attack me.  They try, but get beat down within a matter of hours.  Does this happen to anyone else??
Anyway, I digress. . . .
I'm happy to see the old names I remember and hope that you all are doing well.  I'm gonna assume that there have been advances in medicines that worked out for some of you who had tough times with the interferon and pills.  
I recall that you were cured, Jim, a few months after I cleared out.  The 12 week treatment has stood the test of time for me, and I don't even think about hepatitis anymore.  Those of you who are new and starting treatment can keep that in your long-term outlook.  Nice to go about life as usual.
DJL  
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Avatar universal
couldn't make this stuff up if I tried, honest. Apart from the inserted comments in caps it's the text of AASLD'10 abstract 814 verbatim (the news isn't reporting the abstracts yet because of the  embargo but they're available at the AASLD site). I've been meaning to check out who won the phase III race between tela/boce now that numbers are being reported at a conference rather than in marketing blurbs but haven't had time yet.  

I really don't like results like that abstract because they point to an underlying difference between nonresponders and relapsers. Looks like of the 12 that got EVR and UND by 24 all but one relapsed - a  91% relapse rate. So much for riba as insurance against relapse. As best I can tell we know a lot about nonresponse by now (and how to fix it) because it happens while vl is still visible, but zip about relapse, which happens completely in the dark. The working assumption is that relapse is a milder form of NR, and I hope that's true, but am not so sure.

So what are your plans? I'm holding up ok on ntz and SAMe, adding rbv on Oct 18 and 1st ifn on Nov. 3 , so last next Oct.5.  In the best of all possible worlds that would mean adding 1st tela pills on April 20 (way optimistic, I know). Whether to keep going past Oct.5 will depend on what 1st, 2nd phase slopes look like.
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223152 tn?1346978371
You bring out all of us flies on the wall.  Good to see there is life after SVR.  It sounds like you are doing well, indeed.  Check us again in 2011 when those PIs hit the market and you will really see a lot of familiar faces.


Aside to Willing -- did you make that study up?????  Just what we need are studies to prove we will not die from overdosing on riba!

Be well jim

frijole
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751342 tn?1534360021
Good to see you 'pop on' here. I just did the same and saw your post. I'm no longer very active on the site either, but I do think about everyone and try to check in once in awhile. Sometimes I just lurk but usually find something worth commenting on. Glad you haven't been around because you are doing well!
@IMstacie  Love the new moniker! How appropriate!
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691935 tn?1421027090
ditto for me as well Jim, (AKA YuK) changed my moniker to IMstacie after I cleared.  Many thanks for your support in the past.
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163305 tn?1333668571
Add my voice to the rest who are glad to hear you're around and doing well.
Stay healthy and content.
OH
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Avatar universal
Wow, I just wanted to thank you also, your help was invaluable in my run up to tx as well as during tx. again, thanks  jerry
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315996 tn?1429054229
well, I'm still here, but not posting much, just waiting for 3rd ingredient. . . .sooner the better . . . .dating life *****
Your fan
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Avatar universal
no doubt in honor of Jim's return, one of his heroes, K. Lindahl, the Iron Lady of Extreme Ribavirin, is presenting new results at the upcoming AASLD. Abstract 814 (with a few editorial comments in CAPS):
---

BACKGROUND:Gt 1 infected patients, previous non-responders (NR)to treatment with pegylated interferon (peg-INF) and ribavirin (RBV) are a difficult-to-treat population. We have previously shown that high doses of RBV (2550 mg/d) offered high treament response (SVR) in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis C genotype 1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of individualized concentration monitored high doses of RBV in combination with standard dosed peg-INF in previous NR. METHODS:This prospective, open label, singel-centre, pilot study investigates efficacy, safety and tolerance of RBV concentrations of more than 15 mmol/L in combination with standard dosed PEG-IFN in patients who previously failed treatment with PEG-IFN and RBV. 20 patients with HCV gt 1 were treated with individualized high dose of RBV in combination with peg-INF a-2a 180mg/week for 48 weeks. NR were defined as not achieving HCV-RNA <50 IU/mL at any time during previous treatment. The initial RBV dose was individualized and calculated from a pharmacokinetic formula based mainly on renal function aiming at a high steady state concentration of RBV of 16 mmol/L. Plasma RBV concentrations were measured by HPLC and the RBV dose was adjusted to reach target concentration. All patients received erythropoietin (epo) at doses 10,000-60,000 IU/week, from 2 weeks prior to initiation of antiviral treatment. RESULTS:We enrolled 20 patients, mean age 52 yr and 12 patients with fibrosis F3,F4. The mean initial RBV dose was 2130 mg/d (range 1600-3000) [THAT WAS JUST THE START !?! ] The mean baseline HB level was 16.3 g/dL, at treatment week 12 mean HB level was 11.0 g/dL. Two patients required blood transfusions. [SEE EGGS, OMELETTES, ETC.] Mean baseline viral load was 6.6 x 106 IU/mL, at treatment week 12 the mean viral drop was 3.1 log, vs previously standard treatment 2.0 log (p<0.001). [HOW'S THAT FOR RESPONSE!]  Sixteen patients reached an EVR. Three patients stopped treatment at w15-17 due to lack of viral response (n=2) and side effects (n=1). Twelve patients were neg in HCV-RNA (<15 IU/mL,COBAS TaqMan) at w24 and 1 patient reached SVR. [A MINOR PROBLEM, BUT ALL ARE STILL ALIVE, WE THINK] CONCLUSION:Individualized high-dosed RBV in combination with peg-INF alfa-2a resulted in a mean 3.1 log HCV-RNA decline within 12 weeks in previous non-responders to standard-dosed combination therapy. High-dosed RBV treatment is feasible and seems to be safe[ WHAT EXACTLY DOES "SEEMS" MEAN ?] but requires attention regarding anemia. Erythropoietin probably contributes to tolerability[ MAYBE ASK THE PATIENTS?]  In previous NR this treatment model did not significantly improve treatment outcome in SVR but the viral on-treatment response is significantly increased (p<0.001) supporting that the antiviral effect of RBV is related to plasma concentrations.

jokes aside, the unsettling aspect of this seems to be that, by extreme dosing,  you can squeeze response out of a non-responder and still get  nowhere. Unfortunate they don't give EOT/relapse rates but presumably relapse was high.
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Avatar universal
Ha!  Good to see that you are still kicking Jim.  I surmised that while rebooting your computer you had watched the end of "Good Will Hunting" and decided that you too could take a road trip.  I pictured a nicer car than Will had, but anyway, a happy ending, a sabbatical, a leave of absence; a vacation  

Anyways..... I figured that you got swept up in life and I hoped that it was a good thing.  

I'm glad to know that you are still on the planet and that your disappearance was not mattress related, although I suppose that could also be a good thing.  : )

Take care amigo,

Willy
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412873 tn?1329174455
So it's true....there's a jmjm post!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and letting us know how you've been.  Glad to hear HCV's on your back burner.  I can totally relate, especially with the part about all the friends we've made here during some pretty difficult times.

Sorry to break the news, but some of us have offered out your inflatable lady over on the Social side.  All for a good cause, tho.

Take care and continue to enjoy!!!

Isobella
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Avatar universal
yeah,  wonder what 4C's up to. If she qualifies as tx naive notwithstanding that short stretch there's  a number of non-ifn trials she'd be eligible for at this point.
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Avatar universal
Had to check the date twice when I saw your name there!  Great you popped in,

all the best,
dointime

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Avatar universal
Hiya Jim.  Have thought about you often and missed you lots.  Don't take this wrong but not sure I'm glad to see you back here. :)  I kinda liked the idea that you were out there flying free and it was alot of fun to be thinking what kind of adventures you might be up to and to be thinking you were out there getting your life back and I hope that's been the case.  You've certainly been missed by many around here.  Your evenhandedness and innate concern for everyone has been missed, not to mention your depth and knowledge in many a discussion.  Myself....I'm happy to see your name up there and I hope life has been treating you very well.  You surely deserve it.  Very good to see your name there, Jim.

Trish
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92903 tn?1309904711
It would be nice to see forseegood come out of the woodwork too.....for ol' times sake.
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338734 tn?1377160168
Hey! It is great to see your name and hear from you again. You have been missed for sure. It is great to hear you are doing well. Thanks for all the great comments and posts in the past.

Goffy may not have seen the 'gina posts, but he certainly was in fine form on the a*al fingering post (since deleted, I see).

Along with Mike, Deb and some others, you were one of the first and best responders when I first looked into this site. Thanks and best of luck to you!

Brent
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Avatar universal
Wow!  It’s really good to see so many familiar faces.  Brings back so many bittersweet memories. HCV can be such a journey.  And thanks for all the nice words, you guys are great.  There’s a lot more I’d like to say – for example what’s going on with Jenna these days – but for another time. I’d also love to hear more about what everyone is doing, so I plan on sending out a lot of PM's in the near future.

All the best,

Jim
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Avatar universal
Hi, Jim.  I don't come on here that often anymore myself.  It's not because I've cleared the virus or anything like that.  I've just gotten weary of Hep C being my chief focus, after so many years of trying to fight it.  I hope to one day retreat with Boceprevir, but don't know when or if, it will be approved or when, or if, I will be able to afford it.  And no, I am still not Insulin Resistant.    I'm glad you stopped by here to let us know that you are still doing well.  Susan400
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388154 tn?1306361691
We have had a lot of Ladys on here at forum, ladybug ladywhy and so forth
wouldn`t ladyinflatable bee a good screen name, just a tip ladys!!

I guess the virus dont live in air though, maybee  in a occult form.
We could always ask doubledose he might know.

No offens DD I like and miss you too, write in and say hello if you see this!!

ca
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476246 tn?1418870914
See Jim, how you got everyone out playing! This is great!!!

Good to see all of you guys!
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