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I am clear of the Hep C virus that I likely got from 2 transfusions I had after a motorcycle boo-boo. The medications are powerful and effective and even thought the virus had become undetectable after just 4 weeks, the treatment lasts for 12 weeks.
I lost 15 pounds in the process as these medications curb appetite and cause abdominal discomfort.
Millions of Americans have Hep C and do not know it. I suggest that when next you get a blood screen done you have them do the PRG test for this virus.
I took my final doses a few minutes ago and have something to be thankful for on this, of all days.
What Hep C does is replicate the virus trillions of times, this leads to scaring of the liver. Enough scaring and cirrhosis sets in, at this point liver function is impaired & you are dying. It can take 30 years (or longer) for the virus to manifest. I was not even close to the amount of scaring that impairs liver function. Now my liver will repair itself, it is a mighty stubborn organ and I will likely gain the 15 pounds back. Weight loss being a side effect of the drug combo I was on.
The medication is 1000 a pill for one of them and 700 a pill for the other, daily costs were 5200 dollars. Plus biweekly visits with the medical team and biweekly blood screens.
The United States Vets Admin decided that ALL vets with Hep C shall be treated. The doctor in DC who is in charge of this VA program was told to run it on an "allotment" method, whatever the fuck that means. He told them that he would not allot the drug, that all vets will get it and they relented and so the program proceeds.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Follow Ups:
Sobering news indeed, LWR.
I'm glad it was detected, and you underwent treatment.
I appreciate your "get tested" message too. I just had a physical a few months ago. I'll contact my doctor to see if he screened for it.
Thanks, and glad you took care of it!
"You won't come back from Fletcher-Munson curve"-Jan and Dean
and getting tested means just one extra vial when they take your blood samples. They will tell if you have the virus, what amount of it and which genome. That info will tell them the cure %. It varies, I believe, from 92-97%
The drugs are both very powerful as well as very successful.
I am not sure if doctors routinely screen for Hep C, they are doing a disservice to their patients if they are not. The VA does screen for it which is how I found out I had it. They did not always screen, I think they started 3-5 years ago, but I may be wrong about the time frame.
If a person has a disease that will kill them, should they not be told so that the options are available?
Glad to hear this news and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
for the kind words.
We lost a friend a couple years ago to Hep C complications. I'm very happy to read your post and that you're out of the woods with that disease.
Congrats!
I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I urge all to get tested, you need not die from this virus.
I hope there are no lasting effects.
a longer life is the one lasting effect, which is fine with all concerned! The staff has told me there are no known lasting effects and that the liver is already making repairs to itself.
I believe that any disease in any other body organ does leave lasting damage, even if the cause is halted. The liver is resilient.. As long as you do not overwhelm it....drugs, liquor and other things do damage it. The liver, being resilient, can take a lot of punishment before it gives up the chase. They cannot be sure that my liver would kill me before other natural causes, but that is not what their criteria is. It is about eliminating one thing that does, that will cause death, for sure...eventually.
I have learned much in 12 weeks.
The cat has stopped curling up against my side where my liver is.....she knows I am well.
Bad news that you had it, though!
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
the miracle is that the drugs do not treat the symptoms, they cure the disease. The design of these types of drugs will mean, one hopes, that they will be able to cure other diseases. I do not know of the science of these drugs, I do know that there are 3 or 4 of them now that will do this with Hep C. 3 or 4 years ago there was just one and it was very brutal...
Always nice to hear happy news.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
a terrific day here and I hope where you are as well, enjoy the bounty, be well.
on having what it takes to take the treatment.
Wrapping it up on a day where we have so much to celebrate
is a wonderful, extra bountiful bonus!
Let's hope more are able to afford the treatment down the line
with our Vets at the head of that line.
You and your family enjoy this special day!
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
and I hope you are enjoying this wonderful day as well. Walking down the streets in your neighborhood, such great smells and foods and diversity...
May the holidays be the best for you and the family..
Glad you are on the mend.
IF this was MY nurse at admission, I'd have been out of there in 15 minutes.
Too much is never enough
My nurse/practitioner , Christina was about as kind and intelligent and thorough as I could have hoped for. Not like Nurse Ratshed in Cuckoo's Nest...
Happy Thanksgiving...
Edits: 11/26/15
Nurse Ratched was named 5th worst movie villian by the AFI.
A reasonable source for such information.
I think of the name as a combination of Wretched and Ratchet. = Ratched.
I was under going a TEST where I had some stuff stuck to my chest. The nurse was taking great glee in RIPPING MY CHEST HAIR OUT BY THE ROOTS. I came that close (finger tips 2mm apart) to belting her and DEMANDED she go get me some F-in SCISSORS. She turned pale and complied.
I cut the sensors off MYSELF.
I Signed On to be a lab-rat, not a torture victim.
Too much is never enough
that You don't need her anymore eh? Lucky you, otherwise she would've fixed you good like she did to Randle McMurphy's wagon.
Hoping for your good health for years to come....
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Woke up this AM thinking about Calgary, it was cold here! Hope you & the Mrs are well and way happy in the new home..
transitioning nicely to our new place. Although, I could use more space for my equipment, but this will have to do for the time being.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
and a great Turkey Day.
the same for you & your loved ones.
$5K a day is no joke!
the medical staff are kind and caring and committed. The admin ....not so much. However every 3 months another 50 vets here in So. Oregon begin this program. There are funds for it.
Only one vet out of the last 200 has relapsed. Through his own actions.
Of the various Hep C genomes, mine has a 97% cure rate.
A test in 3 months to check for relapse and then one in 6 months.
Congrats!
ET
I hope that you can see daylight with your own issues. Hopefully your discomfort and pain are lessened and are not so uncomfortable. You have much to be thankful for as do those whom love you...be well.
Thanks man, those words go far especially now where I had some sort of setback about every day this week.
My PT continues to progress and improve but I,m still in bed about 20 hrs a day getting up twice.
ET
the journey is arduous, but you are already on your way.
----------------------
"E Burres Stigano?"
hope y'all get good and stuffed...
I get the sense that you are one of those guys who doesn't roll over easily. Way to go, and happy T-day. That info was well shared.
One of my aunts was on interferon to slow her pulmonary fibrosis (heavy smoker). The treatment was just a bit better than ful bore suffering. She finally passed on; the disease was slowed, not stopped.
when they told me Interferon caused side effects like anger and murderous thoughts, I said I did not need a drug for those!! A friends wife just went thru it for Hep last year, it was a very hard thing to do for her. Horrific side effects and unintended things happening. It did clear her virus though, and thus, she gained life.
I didn't realize that you were going thru that, Larry. Glad it's over, but you're gladder, no doubt. happy t'giving. what wine? I listened to a good chat on the radio yesterday that the right wine for this event is.... variety. Make sure there's something for everybody because the food is a big variety. Personally, I like pinot with turkey. Anyhow, glad you're feeling better.
I am very happy to be thru this ...ordeal. It will take 10-14 days for the drugs to wash from my system during which time the distress I have should taper off.
We are having smoked pheasant (two, cause they are not very big) and a Malbec from down the road a little ways. There are white wines in the fridge in case anyone wishes them...
Have a great day Stan, I like that hawk pic you put up.
I guess they mean relatively easy.
The drugs are way better than Interferon was. I turned down treatment 3 years ago because of the dire side effects of that drug. These new ones have, they say, 10% of the side effects. Still the pain and stomach ache 24/7 has me worn out. My nurse said that they take you to the edge of bearable at times. I literally napped 2-3 times a day, had no energy, no desire to eat, but hey, death is a tad more undesirable.
I can have wine tonite too!!!
Glad you are recovering. Thank goodness for those $$$ drugs, as the only other alternative is an inevitable liver transplant. Something they do, all the time, at USC.
Have a Great and Grateful Turkey Day!
8^)
A little food, a few jokes, and the warmth of a fire. It is 23 degrees outside hope it is warmer where you are.
There is alot of criticism about the costs of these drugs. I wonder if they have looked into the cost of a liver transplant.... much less the waiting list length....
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