TOPIC:

I received this message:

Hello James, I have received my medications but why am i afraid to start them?

I'm posting this because it is actually quite common.

I had one patient's family ring me. He was in hospital having had ascites drained. They had the medications to hand but had been delaying giving them. I insisted they go to the hospital and give them. The patient in question, some 2 weeks ago had a MELD score indicating a 20% 3 month mortality. Things have got better and this risk is now reduced to 6%. Still not great but much better.

For this patient the future looked like a game of Russian roulette with 5 bullets and 1 empty chamber. On treatment it looks like 1 bullet and 5 empty chambers.

I know which game I would prefer.

Fear of the unknown is an instinctive response designed to keep us safe. This website exists in part to help reduce that fear that bad things will happen taking generics. We don't censor anything other than spam, so what you're reading is everything everyone is saying.

These medications do have risks with an approximate 1:5000 death rate on treatment, and a 1:100 rate of significant side effects.

The off treatment death rate is 1:10 and the chronic HCV effects are well known and impact > 1:2 - fatigue, brain fog, depression, loss of hope, fear of infecting others....

I know which set of odds I would prefer.

There is a phenomenon called Stockholm Syndrome where hostages start to feel empathy for their captors. Like it or not HCV has become part of your identity and for some people there will curiously be a sense of loss when they get cured.

The treatment experience is usually nothing short of miraculous with 3 days of feeling slightly under the weather (like a hangover or the beginning of influenza) and then within a week feeling better than in 20 years.

These medicines are possibly the best development since penicillin where people who were going to die miraculously got better.

If you have your medications but are afraid to start consider this. Brave you of several weeks ago decided to take a leap of faith. Scared you today is second guessing brave you.

Listen to brave you. He or she knew best.

Get a glass of water, open the bottles, and take the medicine.

The only thing standing between you and a better life is fear.

Don't let it.

As you ramble on through life
Whatever be your goal
Keep your eye upon the donut
And not upon the hole.

I wrote this after a doctor friend, who I used to fly with, died in a hang gliding accident.

The Path We Choose

Do not shed a tear for me
For I would not for you
Instead just drink a beer for me
And know well that I knew

Dreams of flight do not come free
There comes attached a price
And we do not do it blindly
We know we roll the dice

Before you sail into the sky
A sky slow to forgive
Ask am I, afraid to die?
Or just afraid to live?

So if you try, to question why
When fate can seem unjust
We take these risks, not to escape life
But to stop life escaping us

That's beautiful Dr James.
x

That is beautiful Dr James

Ive been on this forum for a month or so and have only just read that poem...WOW

I hesitated at first pill, fear of the unknown. But I wanted so much to be healthy again. I wanted so much less harsh treatment than interferon.
I refused Interferon 5 years ago when there was no alternative. Now I'm glad I did. Who does not risk anything will not win anything!
PS
Very true what you say so beautifully in this poem, Dr. James.

You were right about refusing interferon. If I knew about side effects I would never went on it. Luckily after 12 weeks I was pronounced nonresponder and quit therapy. I've met people that was cured by 48 weeks hell of pegi/riba therapy, and year after tx end still have numerous strange side effects.
I've heard of possibility that things can go wrong with new DAA, but that is a risk I'm willing to take.
My viral count is steadily growing and strange headaches, brain fog, and itching are also emerging, so I'm not preparing to wait of a miracle happening in Serbia, like it happened in Australia with PBS approving cheap therapy.
For me miracle started when I found Greg's blog in May just after stopping interferon/riba tx.

Thanks for this post I am just waiting my treatment to arrive and yes feeling anxious in fact I just wrote a private message about it then found this awesome page (I am a nwebie here and about to get my meds) . I think after relapsing post tx interferon it must be normal to be anxious! This is a great thread, thanks so much loving the affirmation. Happy New year to us all

Hi Ariel, welcome to the forum.

After failing the old drugs I wouldn't blame you at all for being a bit apprehensive! You know its not going to be anything like that

I should finally start tx on Friday,on the Redemption-2 trial...got a few anticipatory butterflies too lol

zhuk wrote:
I should finally start tx on Friday,on the Redemption-2 trial...got a few anticipatory butterflies too lol

About time I wouldn't have had the self control you have once they turned up.

Nothing to worry about you'll be fine mate.

Paul-Jarman-facebook wrote:

zhuk wrote:
I should finally start tx on Friday,on the Redemption-2 trial...got a few anticipatory butterflies too lol

About time I wouldn't have had the self control you have once they turned up.

Nothing to worry about you'll be fine mate.

Ha, thanks Paul!

I'm sure I will, appreciate the vote of confidence

Definitely the month that took several years to pass lol

Hi Ariel and welcome!
Yes, go for your it ! And let us know about your story.
You will see that is an easy treatment and also very powerful.
Happy new year!

zhuk wrote:
I should finally start tx on Friday,on the Redemption-2 trial...got a few anticipatory butterflies too lol

Hi Zhuk,
Happy for you!
The world will not be the same after starting the treatment! It will change in a good way.
Happy new year and happy treatment!

Thanks very much isaing4, fingers crossed