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.

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:

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!

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

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.