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Thanks RoH, Meg, Sven.

Edit: I had actually written something else here, but it was really just repeating information that had already been posted, and plowing ground that had already plowed.

Over dinner the totality of what this disease has done to my life hit me like a ton of bricks. Posting the photos and looking at them in context put it all in perspective. This is a brutal disease.

Yes it is. It is not until we get "the cure" that we realize how brutal it is. I had no idea that I was brain fogged, drawn down, no mental capacity to speak of....until I started this medicine. Yes my life now Is so much clearer and I can now see again where I was just planning my death. Leaving all my worldly goods to those I love. But no more, I can now see what my life can be. Even though everyone is home I must travel forward.
Yes Fitz, this is a brutal disease but we now have a choice until told otherwise by the GI which I don't anticipate.
In good health my friend

Hey fitz! First of all way to go on the "good report" I'm really jazzed for you ... tx is working so far. Next thanks for the photos... I think Truly, you've experienced some of the worst of what this disease is capable of producing.
However, I see the fight in you ... what you and others have faced, what it's taken and what you've wrenched back out of its clutches ... makes me feel at once humble and at the same time proud to be a part of the "human equation" in this battle we wage against the inhumanity and insensitivity of the greed machine that is Big Pharma. In that sense, I do indeed thank you for the posts showing us the wounds you and others have, and may still suffer before this war ends. Keep on till victory is achieved my brother

Matt

Hey Fitz how's is going? I know you are still feeling excellent minus the nose issue,but that s most likely healing very well as the surgeon did an incredible job closing it with tight stitching. How are other issues coming along ? My other issues seem to be righting themselves and I took my 14 day bloods yesterday, I have a good feeling they could be good as most of my symptoms previously have gone...just like you said!
I really appreciate your encouragement to me and all who ask of it, thank you my brother.
In good health to you.

Hey Sven! Its going really well in fact. Energy is great, and side effects are less and less. I've been easing back into a more regular work schedule, and for the first time in recent memory find that I actually have the energy to stay with it as long as I want to. Just a few weeks ago, my time was split between short periods of productive time, with long spells of rest (reclining actually) to gather enough energy to get through the day.

Glad to hear you are feeling so well. It gets even better, brother

Matt - thank you too for your well wishes. You are an awesome guy, and so positive. I appreciate you, as I know all of our fellow travelers here do. I never cease to be amazed by the strength and depth of my friends here. This is such a unique place, with such incredible people. We're all so blessed.

8 week labs coming up in less than a week now. Will have 8 week Viral Load checked as well.

6 week results posted below:

Hey Fitz - just checking in, how's it going? Are you still feeling good? I hope so and I hope the nose is doing well, the Doctor did a fantastic job of stitching it up. Anyway keep in touch brother.
Talk soon.

Hi Sven! Thank you for checking up on me.

So here's the update. Nose is doing fine. Doc says they got all the BCC with the surgery, and scar tissue has replaced the sort of scary looking incisions. It is actually looking like my own nose again, with a couple of minor 'battle' scars from the Mohs surgery. The scarring improves and blends in with time.

Just started my last bottle (28 tabs) of medication, which means I have finished 8 weeks of treatment, and now have just 4 weeks to go. Will go in for labs (bloods) tomorrow morning, which means I will have results on most of the tests by the next day (Thursday), and will receive 8 week Viral Load results early next week. Will post the viral load results when they become available.

Brain fog is completely gone at this point, and the best way I can describe what I am experiencing in terms of mental acuity would be a comparison to someone who's vision had gradually worsened considerably over time, and suddenly has a brand new pair of glasses, with 20/20 (and sometimes even 20/15) vision. The initial side effects seem to be gone, aside from retaining fluid, which is a minor thing.

So that's it, Sven. The progress you are making is amazing. I'm very excited about your progress and look forward to seeing your 4 week results when they become available!

That's extremely good to see, Fitz.
Those DAAs are doing their job.

That's awesome brother.. As I read your vision example I can hear the clear mind set in your written post!
(I then used that to check my brain fog.I will say that it is at 80-85% gone with a bitstill remaining but nothing can take away from the success this far, incredible).
I get motivated by your posts I'm not alone! Keep them coming..
In good health my friend.


Note: I have a small side effect, my stomach seems to want my Gaviscon (over the counter stomach acid reducer) but I will not take it. It usually subsides when I drink my water and Gatorade, if I slack on the fluids it comes back, it is a nuisance pain. I'll write gp2u to give them that info. Other that that it is going very good I couldn't be happier.

Hello Sven,

Ledipasvir absorption is helped by acid but with Gaviscon it would be ok to have it 4 hours after taking medication (medication will all be in by then) and before bed (Gaviscon will be gone by morning dose).

Unlike proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers, Gaviscon comes on fast and wears off fast.

You should get a test for Helicobacter pylori which may be the cause and can easily be treated.

Fitz I wish you the very best outcome from that last bottle you're hopping into. Looking forward to your blood results and gosh I hope that the unquantifiable comes back UND. What with a surgery in the middle of it all, you have done a great job. Hopefully you will be able to finish this course and that's that..
All the best for your forthcoming results, A

Great to hear that things are going so well Fitz. The nose is healing, fog is lifting and the meds are hard at work in the background. Good luck with those next blood results.

Wanted to say thank you to Beaches, Sven, Dr James, Ariel, and Coral for the tremendous support and well wishes. Without FixHepC and my friends here this would be a very different and much more difficult journey.

The impact of real peer support can't be quantified in terms of of dollars and cents, but every one of us knows its true and irreplaceable value.

Haven't been around much the past few days. The thousand things I have wanted and needed to do, but that I had previously put off because I 'just wasn't feeling it', are now receiving more of my attention.

Even when I'm not posting, I am looking in on my friends and reading posts. Love you all

Fitz

That's very true. It's the friendliness and good vibes that keep me here

Just got a call with the 8 week viral load results (blood drawn 5 days ago). UNDETECTED!

YESSSS!!!

Will post lab results when I get the hard copy.