Thank-you so much Magpie – ‘The Way’ is quite the best film I have seen in ages.

It does start sadly & is very sad in parts, but the parts that brought a tear to my eye were the uplifting scenes about non-judgement and friendship between people who would not usually meet and the film leaves a very positive feeling.

I recognised some of the route from the books, really enjoyed this and it certainly relates to our journey.
Perfect for Sunday viewing. I highly recommend it.

I guess they go quiet because they don’t have a clue. Hep C sufferers haven’t been listened to, and their experiences are not officially recorded or validated

FFox, In a word ‘Yep’ – It’s discrimination, the way I see it.

If you get an opportunity watch a movie called The Way. Its about the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Getting this lined up to watch now Magpie

It was reminiscent of the movie, ‘Eat, Pray, Love,’ taking a physical journey in order to make a spiritual one.

There’s another one for my list, thanks Chejai. I am such a fussy movie fan, preferring Independent, but you do get the occasional good ‘blockbuster’.

Thanks for your good wishes re bloods too. My instincts are, the med blew away the majority of ‘easy’ ones and now they’re fighting the stubborn ones and I a suffering sx more as a consequence. Also meds building up tiny me. Have woken up sneezing, but not a cold, heavy eyes. sinus’ head feels ‘ full of gunk’ this morning. Going for a brisk, breezy walk after watching this film. (I also hate wind!)

Alternating diarrhoea, constipation and pale ‘floating’ stools hmy:

Than-you for that Chejai, it’s good to know I’m not alone, have never really suffered from bowel probs, but thinking maybe I have without knowing, a build up inside the bowel ….Either way, I don’t like it much!

As you say, travelling about and eating out can mess you up, so try and take probiotics with you

I know a medical herbalist with scientific degrees etc etc They say you shouldn’t take Probiotics ‘willy nilly’ and you have to get the right ones, balance them correctly and for you as an individual and add with other things. They also do the poop test and send it to Germany for a thorough diagnostic. Think I’m going to go for this EOT. The Germans are so up on bowel and digestive function, apparently some even having ‘see trough loos’ so you can keep a eye on your poop!

I had a massive meltdown yesterday and was stressed out and crying

Thank-you again, it seems a few of us, particularly the women (or maybe we discuss it more?) are going through this mid tx.

I read a very interesting article today, saying depression can be brought about by an inflammation & inbalance in gut flora :

“Chronic inflammation appears to be a significant underlying factor causing symptoms of depression” : http://ow.ly/XVwuF

As I’ve said before I couldn’t do this without the support and opportunity to vent anything and everything here and not ‘feel’ judged.
Thank you all and I feel so much better knowing others are feeling the same

I think we need to create a whole poop thread somewhere because I’m very interested to know if people found their digestive issues resolving after treatment.

Great idea FF, we could call it ‘The Poop Scoop ‘
but seriously, you read so much conflicting advise re these issues, it may well be helpful and good ‘fodder’ (sorry!) for research. We don’t seem to get much help from Drs re this, they all see to go extremely quiet on this subject for some reason. I would also like to know if these issues improve after treatment, I sincerely hope that is the case.

hey Magpie –

I find walking is the best thing for back pain and sadness.

You are most very likely right, except it’s dark, cold and extremely windy here – I need to walk, hopefully tomorrow

If you get an opportunity watch a movie called The Way. Its about the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Ooh, going to look that up now, many thanks. I have read quite a few books on El camino. It’s one tough ‘walk’ ! Good for your daughter, I have always wanted to do this and some friends of mine are doing it. I have to say though, there’s no way I could manage that right now. That’s one helluva trip in more was than leg ache It would be amazing to feel up to that – Here’s to it heh I’ll be more like a stroll around a city park ha ha . Swimming is good, must try harder

Thanks for all your responses ladies, they are much appreciated and aso, I love hearing from you all

Thank-you Flying Fox
Just looking up Pysyllium capsules
Ingredients : Psyllium Husks, Capsule Shell (Gelatine), Anti-Caking Agents (Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide).
Interesting . Will read more

Edit :
Pysllium : http://www.healthline.com/health/psyllium-health-benefits#1

Sounding interesting, but not sure re the dietry benefits, having just got some weight on
Also, there’s a comment below which says:

“Do not take it with any supplements or any medication because they will also be trapped and eliminated by the psyllium fiber”

So I’m not really sure about that one while on tx. Thank-you for the info though, interesting

Dear lovely FixHepC friends, Just a (not so) little update.
Had bloods taken at new hospital (3 weeks into tx) am waiting for full results, but consultant emailed me with the short version :

VL 515
Alt 22
Ast 24
BILIRUBIN 7
ALB 41
Vit D normal
Thyroid normal
Kidney normal
Platelets 144

I have read with interest others are noticing sensitivity re sad things and I can report am the same !
I am easily moved to tears, wish to avoid the news, can’t stand shouting, stress etc…but the worst thing is if I experience any sadness it lingers and deeply and can send me into some sort of a depressive state. I have started asking myself hard questions about some naïve choices I made in the past re my choice of partners, there is some self-blame and if I am brutally honest, I need to try and find forgiveness in my heart towards some others. Hard. I am also extremely aware of the time I have spend barely ‘living’ since diagnosis and how my career and personal relationships / friendships have suffered and resentment to the total lack of support this condition offers, physically or emotionally.

I heard some music recently that has affected me so deeply, the song wont leave my head, I wake up and there it is still going round and round – It is a beautiful, intense, sad song and just the kind of song I like, (also performed by a previous hepper and written by someone who had recently suffered a personal tragedy… I feel I need to retreat somewhat at this stage of tx and my instincts are that this is caused by a physical thing, possibly the meds themselves as well as the thoughts and hopes we go through after waiting so long for treatment and the healing process . We will also need to be cautious at EOT I feel.

Apart from that, I am pleased the VL is heading in the right direction, although now I wish I understood the ‘log’ thing (if anyone should care to explain in short, easy speak ?) I sort of get it, but then with VL 1157 down to 515 with in a week, is this a 1 log or a 2 log?

The other sx I feel I should rather reluctantly mention, is bowel movements and constipation, strange stools etc – Not my favourite thing to publically discuss (!) but after all, we help each other by mentioning no? I have read that taking a Magnesium tab can help – This is also interesting, as I stopped the magnesium during tx as wasn’t too sure if it was an actual ok ? –
I took a magnesium last night and it helped this morning (sorry if too much information! – I really do hate sharing this kind of thing)..

Also interestingly, my lower back pain has returned quite badly – Is it all connected? I always suspected my lower back pain was digestive system, rather than skeletal / muscular – When I mention this pain (throbbing worse at night) I am met with blank stares from Drs – (Why?) This pain was what got me diagnosed in the first place, it was so bad, I couldn’t walk and has been going on for nearly 2 years, although I believe helped to the point of disappearing by previously taking magnesium and havin Epsom salt baths.

I am generally feeling loads better all this moaning aside and waiting for consultants letter with full blood results and advise on when to take next VL test – as I am now past the 4 week mark and into bottle 2, but am thinking not to rush it, my consultant does tests in 3s, not 2s and 4s, can’t help thinking this is the sensible option after reading more and more about Vl testing from you lovely lot on this forum.

Hoping this long rambling post is making sense illy:' /> BIG to all