Life after Treatment update

[Vic1967]

First of all, thank you so much for all the help, support and encouragement I received from you all during tx. I wanted to let you know how I am doing about 5 weeks later-----GREAT!

Whew!  It is soooo nice to be back!  Now that I am on the other side of tx I can really get some perspective on what a rough ride it was, now that I am feeling pretty normal.
After about a week, I felt like I woke up after wintering in some dark cave.  I emerged blinking....awake!  Everyday mostly seems an improvement. I am working out again and am really amazed at how quickly I am improving.  About 10 days after EOT I went to the gym and it took me 18 minutes to walk/run a mile.  It was still too hard to catch my breath. Now I am down to about 12:30 mostly running.  I am weight training also.
Good thing because I am so hungry!  The nausea, dizzyness, went away pretty quick. My hair still falls a bit but it seems to be growing in and I am  getting some oil on my scalp again,  it gets dirty!  At the first sign and ran and got highlights--woo hoo!
Mostly though I just feel so much better not only physically, but mentally, emotionally.  I feel happy, funny, optimistic and just generally involved with life again instead of sitting in the house alone all day obsessing about HCV and Tx and sx!
I know not everyone bounces back, I am generally feel for those of you who still suffer.  But I wanted to offer some encouragement to those who are still treating.

My hemo was around 10-11 during tx.  Last Friday it was up to  12. I will wait until 6 months to get my PCR.  I asked for an earlier one, but they said it really doesn't make much difference in the end. True, I could have argued and demanded one, but in the end, I am finished with the treatment and I have to be patient and wait. I had more than a 2 log drop at 4 weeks and cleared about 8 weeks. Time will tell. In the meantime I am going to eat right , exercise and get back to less worrying and more living.
Thanks, I am off to try to run...ugh!  But it's better than going back to bed :)
Vicky
ps, My family is happier too! My kids (15,13,8)  keep telling me how happy they are than I am back!

[nygirl7]

Good thing because I am so hungry!  The nausea, dizzyness, went away pretty quick. My hair still falls a bit but it seems to be growing in and I am  getting some oil on my scalp again,  it gets dirty! "

TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And you are right the PCR isn't going to change anything - as long as you are feeling so well and doing so great (and getting hair back :) that is truly what matters the most.  That you can enjoy your family once again and they can enjoy YOU thats the most important thing of all and why we DO treatment to begin with!

One word of warning........I remember the first time I actually tasted something that tasted right (an Oreo I almost cried) after treatment.  I was so skinny by that point i figured what the heck and ate everything I wanted. Well.......it's different after treatment and soon I had gainned back the orignal loss and then was UP ten PLUS pounds!  It's taken me years to get almost all of it off again!  While it's great to be hungry keep an eye on the scale or you can end up like some of us = the fat isn't the same as before either it's mostly "middle" weight and just goes BAM and you look in the mirror and go a 'tire where did that tire come from'?   It's good to be healthy but I don't want you to end up on the other side!

But darn doesn't it feel good to eat who'd have thought what a luxury it really is!

Congrats Vic I'm so glad that you are doing so well......isn't having some red blood cells just an amazing thing!!!!!!!!   :)

BEST OF LUCK will be waiting to get those results in a few months!

[mikesimon]

I am happy that you're finished and are feeling better.
Good luck,
Mike

[annieCinMD]

Wow! It sounds like you are bouncing back quick! Good for you. My hair was still falling out at 15 weeks post tx but I had a lot of it to begin with, so it's all good. Praying that your 6 month PCR will be good news.

[jdwithhcv]

Visky, that is wonderful news.  I hope it keeps just getting better for you.  Your family must be so thrilled.  What a great post.  Thanks for it, you made my day.

That thing where food tastes good again - I remember that too.  Its great, but careful,  It can be a mixed blessing.  The weight can just pile on, and its not like it used to be - this weight has real staying power.  I'm battling that now.

So glad you're on the comeback trail.  I will be on the lookout for your SVR post and then we will dance in the streets!
jd