Hi Serb

I too felt anxious when I first started treatment but for different reasons. I was concerned I had purchased sugar pills or worse POISON !! (I can confirm – I’m still kicking plus at the 4 week point I was undetected , just my imagination working over time my desire to rid myself of HCV is very high so I can’t Say I can relate to you with this. However, I do recall an interesting bit of info Dr Freeman posted on this subject. I just tried to source it for you, but couldn’t find it. For memory it was in response to a similar post to you that Arial put up (sorry Arial if I’m mixed up and it wasn’t you)

Dr Freeman touched on Stockholm Syndrome . To give some insight into why you are feeling like you r , Basically it is a syndrome by which the captive person or victim comes to sympathise & at times fall in love with the captor (in this case HCV)…sounds odd, I know, but it’s a recognised syndrome.

Try googling or looking back through to find Dr Freemans post..I’m sure both will explain a lot more eloquently.

Wishing you all the best

Ps sorry I spelt Ariel wrong

Hi Serb, I think that this time round and after Tx you may find the courage to live life with some positivity. I say this even though I didn’t treat previously and haven’t had your experience. Progressing through the Tx process with these DAA’s may be different for you. Also recognising and knowing we are supporting you here is incredibly significant .

I think there are at least two threads about this. I’ll have to keep looking for the other one. But here is one.

FWIW, experiencing a speedy feeling on the meds is a quite common (positive) side effect. I had it. Don’t get too excited. It probably won’t last.

I didn’t have any hesitation with taking the drugs either. But I’ve been a little let down by the level of improvement once the drugs were well and truly out of my system. But after tests for other causes by the doc which were all ok, and given I’d had the virus for close to 30 years, it seems it’s most likely just me getting old. Which is a bit of a bummer.

Anyway, I think you have to look at this by saying to yourself that you know you have to get well – and it’s clear from your post that, rationally, you do know that’s what you have to do. So you’ve got to get on with it and seek out the support as your anxieties arise along the way. As you’ve found this place, you no longer need be worried about being alone and isolated when and if that situation arises.

Knowing that I have HCV for such a long time acted as a control mechanism on me: do not drink (once in a while a small beer), eat healthy, do exercise, get rest, etc….
I am aware I need to get rid of HCV and I am sure I will, however I find strange to have such feelings fear and sadness thinking on no longer having the HCV.
Does this sound familiar to other people too?

Hi Serb,

while having the virus and knowing it would stay that way, I knew my place in the world, and what the future probably held.

Finding out I had a HCC in 2012 did not particularly phase me as much as I imagined news like this without Hep C would. Not saying I shrugged he whole thing off, but my reaction was somewhat stoic if I could say that.

Now the possibility / probability of being Hep C free!

A sense of bargaining with the cancer now: “look, I have refrained from knocking myself around for a decade or two, and recently popped some pills to make the Hep virus piss off; can you consider giving me a break now too?”

Feelings in the future for me will vary wildly, I expect. Hope you find your cure both for the virus, and for any messing around with your feelings that occurs on the way through.

A specialist told me years ago that the virus would probably die with me; that is I would die from something else. The narcissist in me thinks it great that my dark passenger (thanks to Dexter series for that) will now cark it before me. Good f’ing riddance and I will chance the future.

Yours

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

With your history of HCC you have a 1:3 chance of seeing it back, on average within 3.5 months so make sure you have an AFP every month for the next 6 months and an ultrasound, triple phase CT, or MRI if the is any substantial increase.

Don’t skip this!

Hi Serb

Really interesting points you’ve raise. Given me food for thought.

I can’t quite recall where or what I’ve previously read but I have come across Viktor Frankl somewhere before…thanks for reminding me of him..now I’m on a hunt to source