Syd,

Finally read this!!! About the nexium!, I thought you had said (originally) it was "antibiotics" they dispensed to you shortly after noting the ulcer, and I was wondering about that ever since ... so, it was ONLY nexium you got to try to heal up the gastric ulcer?? Nothing else?, just nexium, common sense diet, less stress, no riba, and time?? That should do it!

I am glad to hear you sensed an immediate relieving effect with the nexium.

I will have to look that name up.

My partner was given a script for some "super dooper" anti-acid stuff after what they found in his scope, he, like night and day, felt a huge gastric relief. 

So glad you are feeling some better (out loud)!  C.

It's so good to hear from everyone.

i travelled away from the city for a 60th birthday party for the weekend and it is amazingly therapeutic to be away from my own house. The birthday girl was picked up by a vintage car enthusiast friend in a left hand drive 2 door chevvie Belaire (with an e??). I got to cadge a ride and  the 3D aluminium Belaire sign took me straight back to my early childhood as dad had a 4 door one and that soapie suspension and growling V8 was a real trip down memory lane. 

Re the ulcer Canuck, no I didn't know I had it. I had lots of pain in my abdomen during Riba treatment but not before or since. I have felt nauseated and full for at least a year and just attributed it to Hep C. Also crave milk and don't want to eat a range of food, especially spicy stuff but I am very deaf when it comes to listening to my body, so it only makes sense in retrospect. I have been prescribed Nexium - probably a different brand name in other countries - an antacid I think which can cure these things if you're lucky. Need another scope in 3 to 6 months. i feel very lucky as its a comparatively minor ailment and as soon as I started taking the Nexium I felt unbelievably better. 

I feel better now than I felt for ages - there, I've said it - loudly. I fell into a time when miracle drugs became available which have, I hope, saved my life. 

How incredibly lucky is that? 

And I hope this is read by people out there who are frightened of beginning treatment - it is difficult to lead a normal active, positive life with this chronic illness crawling into every microscopic corner of your body. In the end it will probably make you progressively sicker and sicker. if you have the option of beginning treatment, grab your good fortune by both hands and swallow it down. 

Syd

My goodness, I am having a coffee kind of looking at the colour and wondering if I should change my beverage of choice, the colour and descriptions are rather too similar. ;)

That is great news Syd, I hope you get all these issues off the hit list, but since you have already have a hitman, I think you are going to have a steady and wonderful recovery! :D

Well I am glad I finally saw this thread. Honestly I scanned through it reading Syd's post, a few others and knew that once I read my friend Canuck's post I would pretty much know everything prior

That is a compliment by the way because you are very thorough in your summaries and write so well. I am so glad you are finished with all that Syd. You have a wonderful way with words and descriptions as well

Next :) I should read more

Have a great weekend again everyone!

SF

Syd,

Further to my pleasure in hearing how well you are taking care of "things" - items now "struck off" your "to do" list:

Like ... kill virus, remove polyp, get rid of that ivory handbag ...

I forgot to ask ... what's the plan is for the duo ulcer - do nothing and it will heal and disappear?, that might be the first choice. Or, did they wish you to do something, or take something to make it heal? Did you (or do you) 'sense" that you have a gastric ulcer?? Are you having symptoms you can attribute to it? Just wondering if it is something needing attention, or not - perhaps it is (like you said) something to put in the "piece of piss" drawer.

Glad you got rid of that polyp. As well, I wondered if you had been having any symptoms attributable to that. My friend, had been troubled with mild, vague, off and on again, lower GI discomfort symptoms for a couple years, these episodes got more frequent and sometimes she experienced painful bowel motility episodes, so, she finally got set up for a colonoscopy, they found a few extremely minute polyps and they were removed, there was nothing to it, in and out, easy/peasy, she had good experience with the drugs. She was soon right as rain, never bothered again by her GI tract, and (with retrospect) she was absolutely amazed that these REALLY tiny (almost nothing) teensy things had been able to hold such an effect on her as far as creating GI symptoms in her. She was really happy to be rid of these little blips, and all is well.

It's always good to know where things stand, isn't it? Gives one the convenient basis of knowing from which direction they came and where they are going. I am so glad your internal compass has now been set with only N, E, W, S and NO "C". 

Now, with all this housecleaning, emptying that purse, tidying up loose ends, and finishing your "to do" list - .... OK, OK ... you can still dream about getting some bigger tits, a smaller nose, if you insist ... but hey, forget the penis thing, eh ... leave it alone - your on a roll now girl.  C.

Hey Pablito, I did post my ETO +4 week visit, over in "I'm In ...", within that long post of mine about my Jun 3 doc visit, just waiting for that VL now. And it is true I did get abducted by aliens following. I did post the odd thing (mine are always odd), one kinda indirectly directed at you, over in "GT 3's and Sof/Vel trials".  C.

Hey Canuck,

Not to worry, we kept your seat warm on the train while you were absent. Can't promise what we kept it warm with though. Between the colonoscopies, and wet farts, you may want to bring some wet wipes with you and gloves. Jimmy is always hiding the gloves....

Hope you're feeling well and the recovery is coming along asymptomatically.  Lots to be happy about and some new folks as well. It's all good!

Canuck!  I thought you had been abducted by aliens.  Great to hear from you.

When do you go back for your EOT+4 and +12 VLs?

Piece of piss!? Wet farts!? Ruddy bums!? OMG - I AM MISSING E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! 

Perfect storm of everything happening here on my end (no pun intended), in my boring little world, (you know ... life gets in the way!?) and no time to spend time doing the things that I REALLY want to do!! Like spending time with my friends and writing here with yall!  

I keep reading in, when I can, and I have missed out on SO much, will be near impossible for me to catch up. 

Keep on, keep on everyone - everyone seems to be doing wonderfully!! Which will have to satisfy me in my feelings of abstinence!!

I am still enjoying that syd is a big fat ZERO (und), and, now has ZERO polyps, and, AS she and I have a special understanding of mathematics, she and I will concur in the numerical variables for varicies, 1 is great and therefore 1 is FAR GREATER to us, than 4! 

I am glad you finally got those pesky things done and out of the way. Onward!  C.

Pablito wrote:

---

"My ruddy bum" is a phrase I won't be forgetting any time soon.

---

 Sorry Pablo, didn't mean to singe that into to your memory banks ... guess I've overused that phrase a bit today ...

... if it helps any I have a spare tinfoil hat, I made about a dozen of 'em while on the Riba

Dave

"My ruddy bum" is a phrase I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Oh no Jimmy, I knew what I was doing, if ya cant beat em, join em. Meaning my brothers!

Hey Syd,

Did ya tell 'em to kiss your ruddy bum while they were down there ... lol.

Dave

Tig56 wrote:

---

robertsamx wrote:

---

  Don't trust the wet farts!    RC

---

 Tell me about it.... 

---

 Nothing like the voice of experience. 

robertsamx wrote:

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  Don't trust the wet farts!    RC

---

 Tell me about it.... 

Syd,  Ya know after  40  years of the virus attacking your liver to only be a grade 1 sounds like a blessing in disguise. I have had about 3 lower gi"s done, and always felt really good and clean afterwards. lasts about 3 days.  I even talked my  dr into letting me have a extra KIT to do a clean out  should I ever want to .  Haven't used it yet!! I need to have one done by the end of this year, my insurance has been met, so it's basically no cost to me, just the uncomfortable prep work .  They did a upper scope 13mo. Ago and I was ok!! Even with a fibroscan of 36??  Don't trust the wet farts!    RC

Hey Syd,

I'm glad your behind is behind you! Good to hear you got that single polyp removed, that's why we put ourselves through that. We can all develop them at some point. I've got diverticulitis in my family and so far I've avoided that. As far as the varicies, that's the result of the cirrhosis and increased portal vein pressure. By achieving SVR and the potential for fibrosis regression, you shouldn't see any further progression.

PS: Do you know the nickname for that colonoscope is " The Twink"?

wendyo wrote:

---

Glad the procedure is behind you 

---

See we get in trouble for joking around but Wendy will get a pass.

Come on now Sis, tell me no pun intended on the above.

Syd, we love you and I for one am pretty impressed with your current state. Just gets better from here sis.

JimmyK

OMG now Syd wants a twinkie! Glad the procedure is behind you   and I am chanting grade 1. 

Hey come on Wendy! where's your wheels??- there werent any spontaneous gaseous emissions on the way home. Maybe a few after we got here.  And I certainly concur with you regarding the activity the evening before being far worse than the procedure itself. Very unpleasant - if I could have designed my own body I probably wouldn't even have bum cheeks let alone the oriface itself. I'd have bigger tits, a smaller nose - hang it all, I'd give myself a penis! Sorry gone off topic a bit here - blame it on post anaesthesia and forgive me. ....

So they did remove a polyp for biopsy but I think that's pretty common and I'm not worrying about Jack the Dancer until they actually tell me I've got it. I do have grade 1 varices which I was a bit disappointed about but hey they weren't grade 4 and maybe they won't get any bigger. Just I thought you got them when the blood flow from the liver stopped flowing the right way and the build up of pressure as the blood returns to the heart is what causes them. I thought they had told me after an ultra sound that the blood was flowing the right way. Oh well..... Just hoping there's no little mutated viruses sneaking around inside me as don't like my chances of waiting for another round of new drugs to treat them. Oops - trying to stay positive here. Grade 1, grade 1 - repeat after me - only grade 1.

Oh and a duodenal ulcer just to add to the mix. That'll be a piece of piss compared to hep c. 

:eye popping:

Syd

SYD, I had upper and lower done at the same time also, I asked and was reasured that they would be using two different scopes.LOL.  Syd your #"s look great! Hope both scopes show good outcomes.  

Jimmy K--  I tried reading it backwards- now my head hurts. So I stood on my head and tried reading it, and now my head really hurts. Stop torturing us. RC

Good luck Syd! Check in when you wake up   At least that damned prep is over, you can be thankful for that. You know there's a big fart in your future, right?  Okay, no more jokes....

All the best!

Syd,

Good luck with your colonoscopy and endoscpopy. The prep is worse than the actual procedure. I had them done all in one shot too in 2010. Need the colon done again now due to family history, just waiting to get a ride lined up since you cannot drive yourself. Oh come on, let me drive after waking from under anesthesia, NOT. 

Well when you consider the logic and proportion..

I think she knows......   

No I followed Alice.

Jimmy, 

Brother, you put your glasses on backwards again this morning.... 

Sydhanrahan wrote:

---

Okay, I know I know, I began this post on a high note and quickly turned it around. 

Syd

---

Not to worry Syd, you know Brother Jimmy can fix just about anything. If you are concerned with your post quickly turning around, allow me.

dyS

 .dnuora ti denrut ylkciuq dna eton hgih a no tsop siht nageb I ,wonk I wonk I ,yakO

( eyelive .aremac rehto eht ees lliw yeht ebyam) rehtie secirav laegahposeo evah tnod i taht dna eborp lana eht retfa thgis ni pylop a t'nsi eht taht em llet lliw yeht taht gnipoh ma I yawynA

on .luftser tub gnihtyna si ereht ni gnineppah neeb s'tahw sa esarhp taht denioc kaerts citsacras ytsan a htiw ydobemoS ."moor tser" eht ot snur etarepsed lareves yb detautcnup neeb sah ti dnatsrednu tsum uoy tub ecnetnes tuo dekcaw ytterp eno s'taht woW .worromot - niarb ainomma ym no gnittegrof gnimalb m'I - erudecorp eht rof eltit tcerroc eht em dlot evah uoy - ypocsotaorht /ypocsonoloc ym evah I sa ,won THGIR ton ebyam lleW)

.won ma I erehw ot lla uoy yb dediug neeb evah ot flesym ykcul ylbidercni os leef tsuj dna detrats sah ehs epoh od I .elpoep elbakramer ytterp era ,puorg evitcetorp ,laiceps a ni reh dnuora gnidnats si ohw enoyreve dna ,uoY  .inovraH yb denethgirf rebmem wen eht - lwothgiN ot sesnopser ruoy gnidaer tsuj saw i

,ymmiJ iH

Oh and no worries about finding a polyp while exploring caves. They simply remove them. ;)

Your Brother.

Hi Jimmy,

i was just reading your responses to Nightowl - the new member frightened by Harvoni.  You, and everyone who is standing around her in a special, protective group, are pretty remarkable people. I do hope she has started and just feel so incredibly lucky myself to have been guided by you all to where I am now.

(Well maybe not RIGHT now, as I have my colonoscopy/ throatoscopy - you have told me the correct title for the procedure - I'm blaming forgetting on my ammonia brain - tomorrow. Wow that's one pretty wacked out sentence but you must understand it has been punctuated by several desperate runs to the "rest room". Somebody with a nasty sarcastic streak coined that phrase as what's been happening in there is anything but restful. 

Anyway I am hoping that they will tell me that the isn't a polyp in sight after the anal probe and that i dont have oesophageal varices either (maybe they will see the other camera.  )

Okay, I know I know, I began this post on a high note and quickly turned it around. 

Syd

Sydhanrahan wrote:

---

Thank you everyone! 

Now, I'm not sure I'm really ready to admit this, but - mumbles very quickly - I think I might be feeling heaps better than I did for ages before treatment. 

Syd

 

xxxxx

---

Remind us again the purpose of everything you have gone through to whip this Dragon again.

Kind of cool when it actually happens eh?

HEAPS?? That's a wonderful thing, Syd! The improvements are the best, first defeating the virus and then actually realizing you FEEL better! Excellent days ahead for you. I'm sure of it!

Psst, pssst, hey syd ... over here!! Don't let anybody see us talking here, keep your voice down, OK? I'll hold up my handbag in front of our faces so's no one can read our lips like. If anybody overhears us, just pretend like nothing's happening!  Now, ... just between me and you - DON'T SAY IT TOO LOUD, or, try not to say it out loud AT ALL if you can .... but, maybe you could just let me know (whisper it maybe) how much is a heap?

hee hee wheeee!  C.

Fantastic, Syd!  You had such a rough time on tx and it`s wonderful that you`re already feeling so much better!  (Even if you don`t quite believe it yet!).

I remember when I first started to feel more energy creeping in a few weeks post tx, I hardly dared think it at first but then as time went on it became more and more of a reality, and I`m sure you`ll feel the same. 

And this is just the beginning... you`ll be noticing a lot more improvement over the weeks and months to follow! 

Imagine that... funny how we become accustom to feeling like crap since Hep C is a slow progressing illness, and we start to realize how bad we felt when we recover, but recovery isn't instant either so you can look forward to feeling even better in the days and years to come. Ain't life great!!!

Thank you everyone! 

Now, I'm not sure I'm really ready to admit this, but - mumbles very quickly - I think I might be feeling heaps better than I did for ages before treatment. 

Syd

xxxxx

Hiya Syd,

So happy for ya, what wonderful news! It's been a long road and I must say you took it all in stride and how sweet it is that you arrived UND at the station. Yay!!!!!!!!!

Good on ya girl!    <---- That's you in the middle there Syd ... and we're all surrounding ya, sharing in the joy.

Yes, I too found Miss Sherroo's posts to be very troubling, it's too bad she couldn't put all of that self professed wisdom to actually healing herself. Instead, she put all of her efforts into deriding the very drugs that have helped so many here rid themselves of HCV and worked to destroy the hopes of those about to take them. I saw not one positive word, greeting, show of care, compassion, understanding, nada, zilch ... she had an agenda and it was to destroy not heal. I can't imagine having to live within that negative vortex, I hope she wakes up one day with a new view.

To end on a positive note, we do have lots of warm and wonderful new members lately, it's nice to see and beyond enough to cancel out one little ol' "negative vortex" ...

Dave

Syd. Those numbers look great ...congrats.   Mine actually went up a little after end of treatment and then back down ... With no explanation.  Maybe body just adjustiing.  After 1 year back to normal range.   Best Wishes during this special time .   Chris 

Congrats Syd. You must be delighted, especially so as it was in the nick of time.  

The MMR vaccine and autism is an apt analogy.  It's another example of bad science.  But when study after study shows similar findings across the board for the new DAAs then you just know the science is good. 

I must profess to feeling a bit bad for the lady in question as she seemed to take issue with my comments and Jimmy's in particular, but this forum has been a God-send for people like me who went through interferon/ribavirin and who couldn't dis-associate HCV treatment from side effects...reading people's experiences with DAAs was very reassuring.  But the reality is I have nothing to feel bad about. 

Pablo 

YAY Syd so happy to hear this long awaited breaking news

As far as folks muddying the waters, there will always be those that spread the disease and I mean that with their words and negativity. All we can do it try to educate others and pray for them. 

Ah my dearest syd,

With your EOT VL confirmed today - UND!! - now, THAT's the CHERRY on top!!

So delish, those UND cherries. Best dessert in the world (all those lovely labs)!!!, delectable toppings sprinkled about mounds of smooth-oh-so-satisfying sweet creamy swirls, and now, your UND cherry placed on top, just so! Enjoy that, but I would also stick a wee candle in the top, right beside the cherry, and take a picture of it (just for the memories) as this is the beginning of many sweet birthdays for you. 

But you knew, deep down, all along, didn't you, that you WERE going to CONTINUE to remain a beautiful UND, because ... it WAS your time - it just HAD to be - because YOU made it happen! My most heartfelt congratulations on your hard won success. I am in admiration of you my dear. 

None of us can seem to have decide what to wear to these celebrations, but there seems to be no shortage of ideas of what we might like to eat - why is that?

I didn't like your idea of ironing out some of the wrinkles of your birthday suit, nor loopylisa being your dresser, as she had you packing that dam purse again - doesn't she know we have long forbidden you to arrive anywhere around here packing purses with secret compartments!! If you insist on dragging that ivory bag around, keep the photo of your dessert tucked in the side compartment, a reminder, that you are always party-ready!

We are going to have to work on the dress code, but otherwise, I am already really enjoying the party. I couldn't be more happy! 

Wonderful news girl.  C.

Hey... big congratulations to you, Syd!!!  Brilliant news, as expected of course!!  And as our American friends say... woot!!  

No problem about having a rant, you`re free to air your opinions here.  We always try to be inclusive and welcoming to anyone and everyone who needs us, but occasionally someone arrives here with very fixed opinions and no amount of reasoning will make any impact.  It`s unfortunate for all our lovely well-meaning and caring forum members who took the time and effort to post replies to the person in question, but all we can do in the end is wish her well, and hope she doesn`t cause harm to others she meets along her journey.

Anyway, back to the important bit... I`m very happy for you with this UND result, Syd, and my goodness you`ve earned it! 

Good luck with your MRI, and onwards to SVR!! 

Thanks everyone - and I got my no virus detected news today too... 

I still have to have an MRi as the head of my pancreas looks dodgy but it looked dodgy two years ago so hoping nothing sinister there. My liver was literally caught in the nick of time and without this six months of treatment the specialist said I would now be knocking on deaths door.

it made me very mad to see that foolish Sheree posting here again. I hope she doesn't lose her opportunity to rid herself of the virus while she plays with her herbs. And I especially hope she doesn't get to muddy the waters for others even more. 

Coming on to this forum where so many people are understandably frightened witless by the situation they find themselves in, with doubts which are not backed up by research, and which may prevent others from undergoing the miracle that I have personally experienced, is inexcusable. Jimmy, you know I'm not a Christian, but when you say"God bless you" to me and others, I know you are sincere and as far away from condescension as it is possible to be.  

Imagine someone going to a meeting of young mothers who had all just had their babies inoculated and telling them they would now be responsible for their childs potential autism. Not only doing that, but expecting the parents to be happy to hear that information. That's the best analogy I can think of for her.

just delete this post if it's turned into a rant.

Syd

Great looking numbers Syd!

I'd be VERY happy with those HUGE improvements!!

I'll be seein' ya in SVRville ...

Happy for ya.

Dave

certainly moving in the right direction lady!

Gosh, Syd.  These look swell and they are still improving.  So this is your second round of treatment and it sure looks like you're going to win this one.

Thanks for your many contributions to this much needed forum.

I second big praise to Tig.  What a champ.

Sydhanrahan wrote:

---

I know they're not as pretty as some people's but considering where I started from, there's a big improvement?? 

Syd

---

 The word "pretty" doesn't do those improvements justice. I was thinking more like "Beautiful" or "Awesome"!!! Way to go Syd. You are well on your way to that "Gorgeous" SVR  report 12 weeks from now. Very exciting!!!

WOW!

Those numbers are screaming SUCCESS!

I am so happy for you Syd! This is really good news!

ALT and AST look like freaking DIVE BOMBERS!

Way to go!

JimmyK  :)

Hi Syd, very nice looking results, nothing to worry about there, you`re well on track for SVR!! 

Take care of yourself while you`re recovering, you must be starting to feel better already with tx behind you!! 

And ditto what you said about our Tig, he`s the best friend anyone could have!! 

Thank you Tig.

(I just saw Tig was online and privately messaged him to ask if he would look at my results. It's 7am in Florida and Tig was getting ready for a medical appointment of his own, but he still made time for me - the way he does for all of us.)

You are amazing in your commitment to this forum Tig and we are all blessed that you are here.

Thank you,

Syd

Hi Syd,

Those are coming along swimmingly! The T-billi elevation happens in many on treatment with these new drugs, not to worry. It drops after EOT. The ALP and GGT are great indicators of improvement, as long as they're going down it's a good sign of progress. The ALT/AST are also much improved, especially your ALT. That's an inflammatory process indicator and is well in normal limits! I'd say you've got some results to be pleased with, good job!