4 weeks after TX ended, Still Clear of Virus

[TheSoxRock]

Ok, just got my bloods back, 4 weeks after TX ended, ALT and AST the LOWEST in over 30 years, actually Normal, and still clear of the virus.
I feel a bit guilty posting this, as I have not been a very active user of this forum, my nature, was just to have the treatment quietly, and not really talk about it.
I AM posting this though, thinking if there is ONE person out there  evaluating whether or not to undertake treatment, hopefully I might be able to offer one more grin of sand to allow you to make your decision.

Hep C for 30 years, started with viral load of 12 million. Genotype 3, grade 2/3 scarring of Liver, ZERO energy, exhausted most of the time, quality of life was ****, oh yes also I'm 49 :)

Also 21 years clean from Drugs and Alcohol.

My decision to treat was based on the fact I felt so crappy and it seemed to be getting worse, that I just went for it. I was also lucky enough to live in the NYC area so got on a trial at Weill-Cornell under Jacobson, so had all the treatment on the cuff.

TX was easy the first month, then it got NOT easy. The mental aspects were the most challenging, along with the insomnia,and if I had not developed the tools to deal with mental anguish in getting sober, I would have really been in trouble on how to deal with the mental aspect. There were some pronounced physical aspects also, basically the stuff people talk about here.

I couldn't work for 24 weeks, at many times, I couldn't MOVE. Huff and Puff, and all that. And without the loving support of my Woman, well, I have been very lucky.

Even if I had NOT cleared for me, this was worth it. My Prognosis over the next 10 years was at least total and constant fatigue, with the possibility of further scarring, and NO natural hope of feeling better, so I went for it, consequences be damned.

If anyone is weighing whether or not to treat, I would be happy to share any of my experiences or thoughts, please feel free to write.

oh also, GO SOX!!
:)

[Deb_c430]

Congrats! What awesome news!  They say generally if it is going to come it will in the first eight days or so,  so  fingers crossed! Way to go!

I say go Dodger  Blue!   oNE DAY THEY MAY EVEN WIN A GAME!

oops sorry about caps

Deb

[jools57]

I want to thank you also. I too am a geno 3 treating for 48 weeks. It's always nice and encouraging to hear good news.
Here's to your continued SVR.
All the best!
J

[Forseegood]

thanks so much for the great post, very inspirational, I know what you mean about tools dealing with mental anguish, boy, am I going for those tools lately! Many people who have not gotten many of these tools along the way, meditation, therapy, support groups, whatever your poison...I feel would gain a lot from them...as you know, while you have liver disease, well...many of the old "tools" are not available to us anymore for all the obvious reasons....well, I better go do my relaxation techniques! lol...

Funny you mention this...had the most trying day yesterday, two dogs on the block are dying, and their owners asked me for help in various ways...one lady could not move her dog from the front lawn, he couldn't walk anymore and he's a biggun...I had to help her carry him in her house with a blanket, and it was very sad, plus I almost broke my back!...just various things like that lately....then, I took in an 18 year old girl a few years ago because her parents are null and void and she had no one.....Well, her alcoholic mother called...when she calls, I know not to pick up the phone, because she is VERY ACTIVE...which means, obnoxious drunk time, aggressive, won't let you off the phone with blather....blah blah blah...well, yesterday, I was so wiped out, I accidentally answered when she called...she launched into a soliloquy about all these people she knows who have liver disease and are dying and getting transplants, and how the treatment is so hard, they all got off it early and died....cr^p like that....(because frankly, she's alienated any friends she had a long time ago, so I don't know where she's getting all this info:)

She's a sick woman, so of course she wants to spread the sickness in her head with everyone else, to scare and make people feel bad...

Yikes! but instead of getting mad or upset, I just felt sorry for her...and I used my *tools* (boy am I glad for all those Al-Anon meetings!) and I was able to let it *slide off my backside* as they say...though I'll be sure not to answer when that silly woman calls again! lol....anyway, sorry for the rambling, just wanted to tell you I thought you made a really good post...best of luck to you from here on out!

[TheSoxRock]

OOOPS sorry bout the double post, computer beign cranky, or maybe me with post TX fog
:)