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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 4 months ago #28299

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Hi G, you're doing a great job, you're facing an array of issues but you're not giving up, that's commendable. Sorry to hear about the depression and cognitive changes, but I like your determination and that despite all, you can clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I also think that if you can somehow tolerate staying on the job over the next 2 months, it would be much better than not having much to do and being alone, that's not the best recipe for fighting depression.

Hang in there, you're giving yourself the very best chance of getting rid of this terrible virus, and fighters usually end up winning the battle. Please keep us updated.
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 4 months ago #28302

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Hi Gordon,

Sorry to hear you're doing it so tough. On the bright side you're over the hump with the finish line in view.

Everything should settle down within a few days of finishing the medication as it washes out of your body really quickly.

I think you've got my private email so please feel free to drop me a line and we can catch up for a video chat - it won't fix anything but maybe help with passing the time.
YMMV
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 4 months ago #28305

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Thanks for your support DR James but im not sure my computer can do that. I do have a question for you which I will email rather than put it on here.

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 4 months ago #28341

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Here are my latest blood test results Dr James.

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 4 months ago #28342

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Hi G,

Well that looks like it's all on track. Nice to see the liver enzymes are all normal and bilirubin is also in the normal range (just!).

How are you travelling side effect wise? Have things started to settle a bit?
YMMV
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 3 months ago #28366

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Hi Dr James. Sorry about the late reply.
The nausea is getting easier to handle and the headaches usually occur at the end of the day so early to bed is a goods way to deal with them.
I'm still getting some horrendous lows, so I can't wait til the treatment is over.
I have just over 5 weeks left so I'm gritting my teeth and persevering with the treatment until the end.
Thanks for the interpretation of my results too Dr James. The specialist nurse told me that my platelets are not really in the ball park though. Not sure what that really means but hopefully its nothing too dire.
Are there any results on my bloods that are abnormal in some way that I should be worried about? I feel that there may be scores that are glossed over in my appointments and that the nurse seems overly positive and may not be giving me the whole story.
As I have no people supporting me through this treatment I find it crucial that the specialists and doctors tell me the truth even if its something I don't want to hear.

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 3 months ago #28367

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Hi G,

Other than your slightly low platelets all your other results are normal. You can't get better than normal, so there's really nothing to gloss over as it all looks good.

You have 66 platelets and we like there to be more than 50 so you're fine on this front too.

I have a patient who started with 13 platelets and now has 26 and is back on the road driving his truck.

It's as good as we could possibly hope for at this moment in time.
YMMV
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 3 months ago #28393

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Thanks Dr James. I guess I am a hard-arsed pessimist really and always have been (we prefer to call ourselves realists lol), but I have no reason to not believe what you have told me and that's great news to hear. Month 4 starts Weds 11th Dec. Thanks everyone for their support and advice and positive words.
Looking forward to my thoughts, head and moods lifting. I have a specialists appointment before Xmas so Ill post the results up again for your info.
Hope everyone is enjoying their lead up to Xmas.
Take care all
g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 3 months ago #28422

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Hi all!

An update from me and where Im at with the treatment so far. On the 18th of Dec I will have 3 weeks left to go of the 16 weeks taking Maviret and Sofosbuvir. Things are still a bit rocky mentally and the headaches still occur, but Im almost there. I've lost a lot of weight (close to 10kgs) which is connected, I believe, to the depression and its associated disinterest to food, insomnia etc.
I have another general meeting with my specialist next week but I havent had a blood test for this one.

I know I have to wait 3 months after the last dose to get a verdict, but should I have a test done at the end of the treatment i.e day after finishing or thereabouts (for a general overview of functions etc) or just finish it and then do the 3 month purgatory ending bloods?

I usually have to remind them of things so should I be asking for an ultrasound sometime between now and the final blood test and if so, when would you recommend is an appropriate slot along the time frame between now and mid April?

The 3 month wait feels like its gonna be intense, so does anyone have any suggestions or tactics to get through it or is it basically strap yourself in and count off the days?

Of course the result could go either way come mid April 2020, so Im wondering whether there is an existing thread, website, book or other resource available that would be informative and helpful in guiding someone through the stages, steps or realities of being left with Hep C and Cirrhosis? Something that addresses the changes in health that will occur and useful strategies to cope with the progression of the illness? Would it also be useful to yourselves and general research to create a diary of thoughts, observations and test results should that be the outcome? Remember I am a pessimist and have to prepare for any outcome as a rule of thumb, but you generously opened the door for me to try once more and have supported me through this and I would like to give back some of that energy if I can. :)

Anyway, I hope you all have an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas if I don't get the chance to post again before then. Have fun with your loved ones and don't take things too seriously!

Respect to you all

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28473

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Hi all.

Tomorrow is the last day of the anti viral meds you so kindly gifted to me.

Please excuse my previous post as it now (reading it back to myself) seems like a frustrated and negative rant and I don't blame the lack of reply! :)

Wish me luck as I enter the three month wait. I will let you all know the result when it comes so that you know where we got with the treatment.

Looking forward to regaining my sanity soon cos its been a trip down many paths!

Hope your New Year is going well so far.

Again, thank you all for being there for me, especially Dr James! You have the patience of a saint to have been able to deal with me even on a good day.

Respect

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28474

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Hi G, I'm glad the hard part is finally over, you did great, that must have been very difficult. But you gave yourself a real chance of getting rid of this nasty virus, so no matter the outcome, you can feel very good about yourself. I hope that the result in 3 months will show that you no longer have Hepatitis C, all the best.
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28475

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Hi G,

I do know from personal experience how hard it is to wait for results but today you are taking the last of your medication - so congratulations on this milestone. I used to view the waiting for results as part of the whole treatment regime. It didn't mean that I wasn't impatient and a bit anxious but I tried to put it into the bigger picture of the cure.

Hep C messes with our mental and emotional selves as much as our physical health. No need to apologise on its' behalf! It's a rollercoaster G but I hope this next bit is a smoother ride for you.

Coral #flower
G1a probably early 1980's, Biopsy F1(2010), F2-F3(2015). VL 5+mill; 2+mill (2014) Tx naive. Accessed Sof/Led through Dr Freeman at GP2U and Buyers Club (lifesavers!!!)
Commenced tx 12/11/15. 9 wk: VL <15 Detected but LFT = Normal 12 week results: UND (Yay!) Due to slow response commenced Sof/Dac 4 Feb for 12 weeks. EOT @ 24 weeks 27 April 2016. (With thanks to Dr Freeman et al). SVR11 result: VL 1,950,000. It's back!
New tx 030916 (Viekira Pak, Solvadi, Ribavirin UND @ 111116. EOT 170217.
SVR12 and SVR 24
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28476

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Hi G,

Fingers crossed but we've certainly thrown the kitchen sink at you with the best NS3/4A, best NS5A and best NS5B drugs that exist.

You got what I'd have given me if I'd had the need so with any luck...
YMMV
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28477

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Hi there.

Can anyone tell me (from my blood test scan in a previous post) what particular item refers to my viral load (?) and how to read the result/score/figures and what they indicate compared to the desired number indicating someone is clear from the virus please? I just want to compare the first blood test I had years ago to the test I did about a month ago. Its all hieroglyphics to me! :)

Also, over the last couple of months, the joints of my fingers have started to become increasingly painful to the point that attempting to make a tight fist is almost impossible. A couple of my fingers (the two next to my thumb) sometimes "lock" when I'm holding/squeezing things. Any relation to Hep C or Cirrhosis or am I just getting old? I only ask as its been a reasonably quick process rather than over a long space of time.

Hope you are all well and happy. Im rostered off for three days and being a gardender (30 year green fingered obession), Ill be propagating dozens of ferns and ornamentals for the Taranaki Retreat landscape I manage and The Te Henui cemetery where I volunteer by growing specimens for them. The amazing volunteers (my mentors unofficially) have transformed the cemetery to the point that it is now a major attraction in our garden festival. Check out the news article below!

www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/...ecame-a-tourist-draw

Inspirational

g
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Cirrhosis and Resistant Hep C - New Symptoms are they serious? 4 years 2 months ago #28478

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Hi G,

Can you post your pre and post results here?

J
YMMV
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