Week # 6

 6 down, 42 to go ! It doesn't hurt at all anymore. About a  1/2 hour after the shot, I felt 'brain fog'.  Took my meds to help sleep and off to bed.  I woke up at 4:00 a.m. I  had a peaceful night, other than  a little coughing. Today, I am tired. That's 'normal' these days. Itchy eyes, tender  throat, nasal congestion. No worse then any other shot. I felt  weakness / pain in my legs, easing up now. Of course, I am sitting on my bottom, relaxing  :-) Otherwise, the side effects (sx) haven't  gotten any worse. I do understand that at any time this may change. I will keep my positive attitude that it may NOT. My gums still hurt. I think I have gingivitis. It was probably there, and the meds have excelled the process. Dental problems are NOT mentioned in the sx. I did however learn from others, this is 'common' with these meds. The doctors are oblivious ! Or at least they pretend to be. I do know that I am at risk for infection with this going on. . My understanding is that infection could lead to taking a break from the meds. For me, this could jeopardize Tx completely. Because this is a clinical study, once you stop, I believe your OUT ! I called MCPN's dental clinic last Friday and again on Wednesday, left messages and no call back yet ! If I have to wait much longer, Wayne says he will take me to a dentist and pay the cost to make sure I get care. I carry this mental burden, that this poor man is going broke caring for me ! I know he loves me, but, he didn't say for better or for worse. And he is getting the worse !

     I was talking with a good friend (Penny) yesterday for hours, lol ! She pointed out to me that I have not posted enough here about the HCV and how it's effecting me. I agree, and it's nice to know that people ARE interested. We came to the conclusion I had been posting like it was Facebook. Only 420 characters allowed ! So I have been working on the blog today. Moving things around, creating separate pages, etc. I certainly appreciate any input you may have. Constructive criticism.. accepted gracefully, changes..considered.  I am still new to this.

    I would like to mention now, about support. My family & friends have ALWAYS been supportive. Through this, even more so. But, it is very hard for anyone to fully understand one's physical, emotional & mental state unless you have experienced it first hand. Whatever the illness.  So, right about the time I started this blog & treatment(Tx), I joined 2  support groups online. HCV Support and HepC Nomads. I can never  fully express my gratitude to these people. They are like family. Many have had this for 20+ years, treated successfully, are going through it or about to, are waiting for new treatments and non responders. All give great first hand experience and advice. I have learned much more from these wonderful people than all the doctors put together ! I'm not sure I could get through 48 weeks of  Tx with out all the beautiful people in my life. Thank you ALL & May God Bless you !

 

More posts to come

Labs are back !

 I got my labs back on Monday. The virus is undetectable !  I realize I still have a long way to go, but the VL being UND at 4 weeks means I am a rapid responder(RVR). This increases my odds for destroying this virus. I am so happy. Now the sides are more tolerable :) Meds every twelve hours, shot on time, drinking the water & eating right. My mental state is more intact then ever…scary, but nice.

        I'm early this week & late with those results, sorry. I do shot #6 tomorrow. 42 to go !  I really do feel pretty good. Sleeping every night, another odd occurrence for me. Tired throughout the day. Cough has eased up & the other sides too. I'm feeling quite blessed these days. For now, it's late. Need to rest. God Bless.

WEEK # 5

Well, Wednesday I went for my blood draw. I have been drinking the minimum 1 gallon of water per day. It paid off BIG time ! My vein popped right up & flowed freely. This was an important draw for they not only check WBC, RBC, AST, ALT, etc. They also checked the VL.   5 weeks ago the VL was 1,800,000. I am praying for a lower #. That means the meds are killing the virus ! I'll know the results next week. My next visit will be the 2nd 12 hour stay, in  4-6 weeks.

So ,I gave myself Shot 5 that night.Giving the shot to myself is getting easier. Sides didn't bother me as much. I slept 6 hours. Thursday a.m. wasn't bad, just tired. Buy later that day I began feeling very drained. Took a nap at dinner time, then by the time Wayne got home at midnight, I had an awful headache. Woke up Friday morning, head pounding, nausea. Just crawled back in bed !

Then Wayne says lets take a ride, where would you like to go ? Estes Park, I said.  Here in Colorado, when your going up over 7,000 feet. You always take warm clothes. We pack for over night . Wayne chose  The Evergreens on Fawn Valley River. The hot tub sits next to the river. The cabin had a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, Beautiful living room with a gas fireplace, a balcony looking over the river and a SWEET spa in the master :) What a wonderful time we had !

   Saturday morning we drove over Trail Ridge road which runs through Rocky Mountain National Park. Ate lunch in  Grand Lake, as we meandered home. We took an unfamiliar pass called Jones Pass. A road that ends at the top of a a mountain with a  beautiful view of the snow covered peaks as far as your eyes can see . It was so breathe taking !

 Today is football for Wayne, so he's going to a friends to hang out. I will enjoy my memories of our trip. For now…God Bless !

4 days after # 4

7:39 PM

       Not sure if I mentioned this here yet, my gums hurt ! I found out this is a common side effect…OUCH ! I did get a lot of great advice from my friends at HCV Support & Nomads. In this I've learned, spicy food is no longer my friend. Nor hard or acidic things:( I must brush more often & easier).  I was told to try a rinse of equal parts peroxide & kaopectate. Sounds strange, but I understand it works. Another choice would be to pay $150 for a pint of Rx…NOT ! It's not as bad as it was a few days ago. Jalapenos set it off :(  

       This weekend has been pretty good. We did not go up into the Mountains. I wanted Wayne to have some much needed rest. Working his fingers to the bone for me. I love him:) So, we've just chilled. I have been spending numerous hours on the computer;  research , answering emails &  chatting. I have been on a roller coaster ride with the emotions. Nothing to worry about my friends & family. It's just the meds ! I keep telling myself that ! And it's true. It's not like I'm sad or depressed. I could just cry if I look at a picture or think a thought. UP down, UP down. It's actually kind of funny. So, I just  focus on something else in the apartment until it goes away.  I got this….so far!

 The last week or so I have had a craving for sweets. I used to love chocolate! Then, a few years ago, I totally lost my desire. Strange I thought. Well, to have the desire return so rapidly was stranger! I was reading a forum on nutrition when a light flickered. As it turns out, this virus feeds off sugars too ! So my thought is…the meds are working. The virus is losing, therefore, it's trying to convince me to feed it ! HMMM…. BAD VIRUS ! YOU LOSE ! I will now cut back on the sugar I do use, like in coffee. I'm going to kick this thing, I promise :D

Good Night, & God Bless !

Week # 4

      I changed my injection date again. I thought with Wayne working 4-10's , we could enjoy 3 day weekends. So, last night I injected myself for the first time. I DID IT ! I DID IT ! Now I know why Dora the Explorer gets so excited ! It  was really easy. Wayne never gets to do it again, sorry Babe:(
     I cleaned house yesterday. It was hard ! What should take an hour, took me 7 ! Shortness of breath, another side effect. Energy gets spent quickly. I have to learn to pace myself. I'm not the energizer bunny I once was. I did sleep well and side effects from the shot were not as bad this week. My cough is getting worse. I found today that I could cry at the drop of a hat. Not sad cry though. Cries of joy, happy thoughts and peace. The emotions are definitely starting to change. Still I am very happy. I laugh many times a day. Great man, great family & even friends keep me going. Those who know me , know I love to laugh. It's contagious & we feed off each other. I can't imagine going through this alone.
    As for appetite, it's fading fast (side effect).I am finding I have to force myself to eat. I have lost 10 lbs. since Sept. 1st. Great huh? I like,digging in the closet for my skinny clothes BUT, not eating right will aid the meds in lowering my immune system...not good. I'm finding 'wetter' foods to be easier to swallow. Yogurt, soup, creamy things.
   No hair loss recognized...yet! My face is looking thinner. Still smiling. I hate to close here on this note, but I'm getting so sleepy I can't see the keyboard ! LOL Night my friends > I'll return soon. May God Bless you all with peace, love & happiness

    
   

It's only Tuesday ???

 I feel like I'm getting a lot done and yet there is still so much to do ! Slept again, YEEHAA ! Made Wayne breakfast , thermos of coffee, and lunch for this evening.  Ran errands and shopped. Carried up two loads of groceries(3 flights…ugh )! I forced myself to eat soup & peanut butter sandwich ..:P.  Between the meds, lack of $$$ and Wayne working nights, I'm not eating as well as I should…BAD GIRL !

    I did buy vitamin B complex. I look forward to that helping, as so many have told me it will. I have always been a healthy eater. I do not eat red meat. Love every veggie God made. I don't fry.  I like super foods like  Quinoa & Wheat Germ. I HATE milk :P so I take a multi vitamin & a Calcium + D supplement. I do not drink soft drinks but on rare occasion. I love my water.  Drinking a gallon a day WAS no problem for me, Now I'm drinking MORE.

  I am trying to quit smoking…okay, I'm not ! After 30 yrs, a pack a day, I  have been down to 3 a day for months now. I know I am just using these as a crutch & I need to let it go. BAD GIRL again ! Pumpkin seeds are always around. That is what I found to replace the smoking AND they have lots of protein that I'm not getting from that red meat :).

     Just talked with my sweetheart. Told him my nights are long without him:(  Skyped with 3 of the grand kids & my daughter today.  Daughter turning 33 tomorrow, 3 kids, divorcing & will remarry Scott, great guy Just, he's OLD like me! luv u Scott:). Michael will be 29. Rich 27 .Both need to get married & give me little minnie me's lol ! Edward, 25, married to Lonna 24. They have 2 boys. A minnie Lonna & a minnie Eddie. I miss the family. 2,000 miles is a long way. And yet my wonderful man has made sure that I get to fly there or kids fly here so I don't get down. I have been blessed with such a caring man. We're not married

And yet I couldn't ask for more love & support than I get from him. Not to mention…he SPOILS me rotten !

   Oh, one more thing. Important…While at the Walmart, I'm in line behind 2 customers with WIC(it's gonna be awhile) I look over at the other lines. I see an older woman in the handicapped cart. She is struggling to put her groceries up. Others next to & behind her just watching. God told me" Go help her Crystal". So I did. She almost cried as she kept thanking me. Look, I'm not bragging on myself here. I'm making a point. God tells us things like this ALL the time. It's just a matter of do we or don't we ? Saying, 'oh someone else will' or 'I'm just too busy'. SHOUT OUT TO THE LORD here !! Thank you God for blessing me with that good deed !  Please do a kindness for others & be blessed. Okay, enough for  tonight. God Bless you all. Peace.

Ok, it's Monday :)

Wayne injected me Thursday. Not real bad. 4-5 hours after, I experienced that seasonal allergy feeling. Cough gets bad for 10-12 hours. Still I can't complain. Was very tired the next day. Starting to sleep better…nice. Wayne took me up to the mountains Saturday. We left at like 4:30-5a.m.First thing we did was stop on the Crystal River( :-D) and sit in a hot mineral spring. It's so cool, the spring comes out right next to the river. People move rocks around to build these little pools on the edge of the cold water. So the spring at like 123 degrees mixes with the cold river and creates an awesome place to relax. No charge, not commercialized, it rocks ! He took a pass in the mountains he hadn't been up before. It was AWESOME ! It was so rocky. Everything in the truck was bouncing around. Mostly me. Lol. We spent the night in Carbondale. So spoiled am I. Hot tub, pool, sauna! So relaxing ! Drove through Aspen, Marble, Breckenridge and many others towns. Had such a wonderful time, Wayne is working 4-10 hour nights, taking off Monday & we're going down to Telluride…WOOHOO !!! I love him so much!!!! How can I become depressed with a man like this…he won't allow it. Thank you God!

45 weeks to go :) or less if this Pegasys kicks viral load !