Hi Coral,

Well I finally managed to put some information on my profile, thanks for your understanding and encouragement. I’m so glad to hear that you feel so much better and the focus on your health is really paying off. I know where you’re coming from regarding the cost of the virus to so many aspects of your life and yes it doesn’t bear dwelling on. I have no idea when I actually contracted hep c but I’m certain it was decades ago, since I was diagnosed about 10 years ago it explained a lot about how I’ve reacted to things all my life.

Anyway it’s onwards and upwards now. I had my 8 week test at 9 weeks and I’m waiting for the results. I was still detectable at 4 week so I’m keeping everything crossed that I’ll be clear this time round.

Thanks again for your lovely mails, they mean a lot.

Hello Dr. J,

I took the 60mg dose just once as I kept waking up every few minutes, I was shattered the next day and felt sickly.I’m back on 45mg and it seems to be suiting me much better. I’ve less than 3 weeks until I’ve completed my treatment and am starting to feel much stronger and happier. Many thanks again.

Hi again Gaj,

I’ve just had a go and got as far as giving my password on my profile but it just kept refreshing the same page and asking me for my password again. I did this 3 times and got no further. I don’t seem to have much luck with this site and it’s causing me stress. As much as I want to give feedback as I’m so grateful to be on this trial, I dread having to fill in any information as I always end up feeling really pissed off and defeatist, which isn’t like me at all. Sorry to moan, I don’t mean to sound so negative, but I don’t understand how other people manage to do all these things when I find it all so hard, even when I follow the instructions. It must be because I’m so very very tired, even though I’ve reduced my dose I haven’t had a full night’s sleep for the past 9 weeks. Thanks for trying to help me but right now I’m fit for nothing and I hope you understand.

Hi Coral,

I’ve just tried to fill the information in my profile. I clicked on profile but couldn’t find profile information, so tried to type anyway but it wouldn’t let me.

I must admit I find this site very difficult to navigate and am not having much luck with it. What doesn’t help is that I don’t have time to log on until late at night, but even when I do try during the day I find it frustrating, in fact it does my head in!

For example I’ve just realised that you suggested I do this and not Dr. Freeman. Also I don’t always get notifications in my inbox that I have a reply, so now I remember to log in each day. But every time I try to upload information it seems to be beyond me.

I’ll contact admin to find out how to do this when I get chance. As much as I really want to help and provide as much feedback as possible I’m really struggling at the moment, not feeling well again and lots of stressful things going on in my life, so please understand if I’m slow in responding.

Thanks again for all your support,

Carol

Sure thing, I wondered how you do that. I’ll come back to it tomorrow as I’m on my way to bed now.

Hi Coral,

As you can see from my message to Dr. Freeman the reduced dose seems to working better for me. I’m sure the tummy upsets will stop once I stop taking the meds. I’m keeping everything crossed that I’ll be UND at my 8 week blood test which I’m having in a couple of days.

How are you? Have you finished your last lot of medication yet?

Hi Coral,

Strange that I didn’t get a notification in my inbox that you had written to me, I only came across your message by chance, and then it isn’t visible when I use my ipad – only my computer???

Anyway, it sounds as if you have really been through it! I can only imagine how you felt when you relapsed, but you sound optimistic about the outcome of your current treatment, and I’ll keep everything crossed for you that you manage to remain clear in future, and after everything you have done I’m sure that you will beat this disease.

Yes, I did manage to find a pill cutter and it was funny trying to cut it without this gadget. I reduced my dose last night and although I’ve felt slightly sickly all day my mood has much improved, which is great.

The only fly in the ointment is that an attic ceiling is threatening to fall down in my 250 year old rented house. It’s the old lath and plaster, so when the landlord sends someone to pull it down and replace it the mess will be unbelievable, no matter how many dust sheets I put down. It’s the sort of soot that permeates everything and continues to settle for weeks after the job is completed. I’ve had the ceiling propped up temporarily, but next week I have to arrange for the work to be done before it comes down of it’s own accord. No biggie in the usual scheme of things, but in the here and now I could so do without it. Thank goodness I’m blessed with lovely friends who have offered to help me clean up the mess, as although I’m feeling slightly better my energy levels are very low.

I hope you’re ok and the ribavarin isn’t taking it out of you too much, I’ve read that it’s a tough one to deal with sometimes. Thanks so much for your mails, it makes such a difference to hear from nice people who are going through similar times. Sending love to you x

ps have just realised why I’m getting confused on this site – I clicked the thank you before I replied to your last mail, and when I do that it takes me to a different thread and I couldn’t understand why. Now I can see that you hit the reply button to stay on the thread, so I don’t know if you’ve read this already but I copied and pasted it in case you haven’t. Hope this makes sense and that you are having a good day xxx