Wendy, thanks, yes the water to flush, first thing that I drank this morning was a whole bottle of water, hahah, even before my first cup of coffee.

I took a decent walk with my dog too. This is the second day no med's, and prior my legs barely had enough strength to walk across the street, so something is starting to feel better.

I will continue with massive water intake, until the half life of the drug leaves my body, but wondering exactly how long of a half life does Zepatier have before its completely gone out of my system?

LOL,

John

Keep up with the water intake to help flush your system John. Between that and the gym you will be feeling better quickly. 

Thanks to everyone, yes, no blister pack today for me, finished yesterday , took blood today, will see the doctor on the 30th, but I'm cool with it being in God's for the time being. 

Now, Im wondering how long for this drug to leave my system? Anyone know what the half life is with Zepatier?

Can't wait to have my body back again, the edge, the aggression that only gets quieted with a good gym work out...... I am not swallowing the stuff well.... your 60 years of age, you should feel like this....NO, refuse to acknowledge my age, not will I ever. I know, I am what I am. But for 6 months no working out, and I'm dying to start again.

LOL, John

Our twins, Ducky and John - all done, done, done. No more pills, no more virus! Just sweet recovery now. Rest your sore bits (including those overworked thumbs! - you know, RSI, repetitive strain injury?).  

Yours journeys were not easy, you two really did tough it out so well - real warriors you are!

 C.

So. Now we breathe. Big clean fresh breaths. The witch is dead! The bloodworm is bringing your trophy!

I'm so delighted for you, John!  Done. Wow! I'll never forget our twinship. Twins in Arms. Twins in terror, tears and now, triumph! You rock, bro! Because of you and your open heart (and a few other angelic understanders here) I was never alone in the fight. Down but never out. Thanks for sharing your amazing self. Truly goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. 

For life, 

Christine

Glad to hear the blister pack is history John. 

Congratulations, John! I'm thrilled you completed the journey relatively unscathed, but none of us made it without a few bruises and the help of our family here.

I'm confident, the benefit of destroying this unwelcome visitor will spread widely throughout your life. Your health and happiness will prosper, I'm sure of it!

I'll be anxious for the lab results, but I already know what they'll be!! Confidence and joy is the plan for the future....

Good morning. Yes today was the last pill from the blister pack containing Zepatier. Besides still making payments to my lawyer from my bitter divorce a few years back, the Hep-C was the last to go as far as clearing the wreckage of my past. What a relief, although I never felt any effects from carrying the Hep-C for 30 years I knew that the potential threat loomed in my past and could at any time surface and kill me.

I'm grateful that my insurance paid for the medication, grateful that I've met some really loving caring people here, but this is not a good by no means.

Christine, you are now a part of my daily prayers, for your road that you are about to walk on, you are not alone! I love you all my new friends for the strength, hope and sharing with me your experiences on how you entered your journey back to life.

I just have to find a way to give back now, which is the importance of my existence here.

I'm hoping to run off and draw bloodworm tomorrow, so we shall see how that goes......and I will be back shortly to check in.

John  

Hey John,

Tomorrow's the BIG DAY! Time to get your things together, your train is pulling into the Zepatier Station....  WOOHOO!!!

Wishing you and your friend peace today Christine. I am glad you have one another.

Dear Jimmy, John, Wendy, Canuck and Tig,

I'm so grateful for each of you and the wisdom shared. I feel absolutely surrounded by a warm blanket of safety and understanding with you. Only now am I fully grasping what a number this B of a disease and even the treatment for it has done on my head as well as my body! I've been insane before but this was a new species of crazy I really appreciated your thoughts on survivor's guilt. I'm pondering my purpose. Frankly, not being able to work much has forced me to redefine what I have to offer this world. I'm a mom, grandma and friend to many and I hope that becomes enough. Having a rough time with that. 

My rheumatoid symptoms were making me feel sick all over and the pain was driving me mad. I just couldn't escape it. Nights were the worst and sleep deprivation for those twelve weeks just wigged me out. I was disoriented and struggling with the simplest tasks. I thought I was really dying. Actually ditched my life so I wouldn't burden the people I love with my deterioration. Went back into the closet I suppose. It's the only solution I could think of. 

The good news just this week is that I have been able to sleep! It requires 200-300 mg of neurontin, 30 mg of restoril and one Vicodin but it's working. I'm getting 6-7 hours a night since finishing the Zepatier! A testament to the potential side effects of that monster killer beautiful drug. 

My final labs were good liver-wise. AST and ALT remained nearly the same as my 4 week values. I'm hoping to get repeat rheumatoid and cryoglobulin labs in September with my next rheumatology visit and am hoping for improvement. My hepatologist would like me to me go to a tertiary clinic like Mayo or U of M. My joint pain is steadily worsening. My hip is starting to feel like my knee and I'm fearful about further limiting of mobility. It's such an invisible disease (like Hep) that it's hard to explain that I'm not slacking, I'm just slacked! My Ortho doctor gave me a handicap parking tag. This is a good thing since it allows me to make short trips out and have enough energy to slog into appointments or meet friends. Tomorrow I'm going to go sit with my girlfriend Anne at the hospital while she gets her first radiation treatment for breast cancer. It will be a big venture. Hey! There's some purpose! If I was working full time I wouldn't be available for her. 

I'm convinced by my prior experiences in life that a higher power has everything under control and his (or her) timing is perfect. My only job is acceptance and trust. I'd like this job to come easier for me. When I quit fighting, which is my fall back MO, I find some peace. I have so much to be grateful for. 

Right now I'm grateful for each of you. Praying you each some peace by name. 

Christine

Jimmy, I asked God that same question as well with tears in my eyes. Why me, why did you choose me? I got it, I finally got it. He choose me so I can be there for others to give hope, to share my experiences and to be there as so many have been there for me during my times of struggle. I really do know what my prime purpose is today, and I keep it moving daily in that direction. To help others see and feel the hope!

All my friends died from the virus, HIV, and the others are in prison and will never come home. That one made me ask, why did they all get the virus and I didn't? Why did they catch a life bid and I didn't?   My life was not glamorous at all but my life was sparred for reason, and I remain grateful everyday.

Looking back on my journey, sometimes I wonder, was that really me? I'm not religious , but I know there is a God, and thank God, I know its not me!

Christine, find your truth why you are still here and through it you will find the purpose.

Grateful in 6 days now I will go and run my blood work, that will be the end of the beginning for me.  

hey girl so happy to hear the news and just downright thrilled to see you back here. We were worried! I am sorry about your friend and hope that things work out for her. 

For whatever reason we get to be the chosen ones. Its a God thing. And while it is sad that others do not get it, I have learned after many years to accept that. 

But lets celebrate you today!

wendy

MyMallards wrote:

---

 I wonder if Im experiencing survivors guilt. 

 

Christine 

 

---

Hello Christine it is good to hear from you.

The one quote above is all this response will focus on. You may well be experiencing just that, and let me tell you from experience it is real.

I have left brothers dead on the road from my years of riding. Why them? Why not me?

I have left acquaintances dead of an overdose. Why them? Why not me?

I have had to unplug my brother in law from life support. Why him? Why not me?

Better people than me die daily. Why them? Why not me?

Children are born to suffer. Why them? Why not me?

It is all pretty overwhelming sometimes.

I have come to understand and believe that there is One who makes those decisions and that in those decisions there is a purpose. Once that purpose if found, it all becomes clear. Guilt goes away and is replaced with that purpose and accomplishing it.

There is a reason you are blessed. You are special. Never let go of that.

Welcome Home.

JimmyK

Glad yer back girl.

Congrats on your EOT und!  You've zapped it!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXpghsEL7w8

How do all your other labs look? How's the knee? What did you mean exactly, that you got really sick?

Sorry to hear about your friend.

That sounded like a good idea, the retreat.  C.

Welcome home, Christine! We missed that bright smile and of course, your witty humor! I totally understand the need for the occasional respite. How nice that you have a secluded get away to accomplish that. I'm sorry your friend had such unwelcome news, but she has your strong shoulder to lean on. Prayers of healing are sent...

Let us know how you're doing, what you found out after your EOT tests and any new news from your world. We've got some catching up to do when you're ready! I'm glad you're back 

Christine, yehhhhh, welcome back to life! Yes, I missed you as well as the other friends we have acquired on our journey here in Zep land.

I will wrote more too, just real busy right now.

John

Oh, my dear ones. I'm all sniffly that you were remembering me here. I've had a series of unfortunate events and blessings that prevented me from posting. To summarize, I got pretty sick, had a close friend get a bad diagnosis, felt more than overwhelmed and retreated to my beloved wilderness lake cabin to recuperate. I should have posted something before but, well, I didn't. It felt like I was having an emergency but, well, I wasn't. My phone service was sketchy at best out there. I simply rested - while drinking, of course. 

All wiggly (slowly) with delight to read that my beloved twin John (((hug))) is in the final few days of Zepatier treatment! Hooray! I'm soooo happy for you.  But it's weird, huh? Sometimes I look at my liver through my skin, poke it and want to talk to it. Ask it questions. Give it some credit. Granted, this might be a symptom of cabin fever, but my relationship with my body has changed forever. 

My sabbatical had to end because my 12 week labs were due and my Zep was gone.  (I miss those horse pills for some reason.)  Got my undetected results yesterday. Still trying to digest it. I guess I'm free. My Hep C NP was firm about my required "every six months forever" liver ultrasounds due to my F3 status. That's okay. Everything is just okay. Mostly what I feel is gratitude that was able to get treatment and sorrow that it is out of reach for so many people. I wonder if Im experiencing survivors guilt. 

I'm happy to be back amongst friends. Will spend some time catching up on all the activity here. This too is a retreat.

Christine 

JohnAnton1 wrote:

---

Thank you, my dynamic Trio here, for your strength, hope and certainly your experience. I draw my bloodworm on the 11th of Aug. and read the results on the 16th, of course I will be fine, he didn't carry me this far to be dropped on my head.

Yes, I will continue to give back, after all maybe that is my only purpose here in life is to give back!

John 

---

 "Bloodworm"? All this time I've been chasing a Dragon around!  

Let us know when you get your results my friend. I know you're ready to do the happy dance and I'm polishing my shoes for the occasion!!

Thank you, my dynamic Trio here, for your strength, hope and certainly your experience. I draw my bloodworm on the 11th of Aug. and read the results on the 16th, of course I will be fine, he didn't carry me this far to be dropped on my head.

Yes, I will continue to give back, after all maybe that is my only purpose here in life is to give back!

John 

Hey John,

Coming round that last corner now! So close, you can almost taste it eh. Funny isn't it, the time feels SO long, and yet parts are short, in weird ways! Time warp. But, you were so right, about taking care of business, a while back you were speaking about turning pages and wiping this virus out, finally. Out of your body and life for good, the erasure so long in the coming. PRIOR WAS a LONG time, so, how can this 12 weeks possibly seem so long - there IS something very weird with this time warp thing we all seem to have! Must be the drugs! A difficult trip, so to speak.

You have already won - you may have felt beat up along the way, but believe me, you have won! So good you had such thorough early training for this event. On the mat and up again. Just a couple more reps.

I am so glad the way things worked out for you, life circumstances that brought you to this day and age of these drugs which could cure you, and the events and circumstances which allowed your insurance to finally get you approved for treatment. Fortuitous.

Dragged through the rosebushes backward, but cured. Lucky you are. 

I think that's an excellent idea, asking for the full monty of bloods, for everything, it will help make you feel more assurred about everything. Times like these can unnerve one. 

When you finsh, then you can begin to recover from everything you have gone through. Work away at regaining your strength, stamina. It will all come, I know it will, as you have let us see glimpses of your determination and dedicated steadfastness. 

More than a few of us have felt depleted near the finish line - you will recover quick!  C.

Too cool, 10 left! What a blessing. And I know you will come back to keep giving it away

Sometimes quickly....sometimes slowly.

HUGZ

Good morning, John! It's always good to hear from you. Hard to believe you only have 10 pills left. Wow, how cool is that? I'm happy for you Brother, you've really done well throughout this entire process.

I'm glad you accepted my hounding recommendations on water intake. I can't encourage people enough when it comes to proper hydration. It's vital to a smoother treatment experience. You're not through yet, so keep drinking that water!!! Those aches and pains will start to let up shortly, but it's important to keep movin' and groovin' til the end of treatment. 

I just sent Christine another message in hope we'll hear back. She finished last week, so I hope she checks in sometime. We need to do some celebrating with all of our Zeppers!

Let us know when you have some results on your next labs. I believe the party is just getting started!! 

PS: DRINK!

Good morning my Warriors, today I looked at my untaken medication and realized that this has almost come to pass, only 10 more pills left to take. I also realized for the first time since I started taking the medication, I didn't wake up at all to relieve myself. Miracle in itself.

Today, I have to call the Doctor so he can oder the right Blood work to run for me at the complication of my treatment with Zepatier, and I'd like him to run the full monty as far as everything else is concerned.

I have felt tired, mildly, legs fatigued as if I never walked, at times felt very light headed and thought that I would pass out occasionally, and  the headaches went away or lessened through out the process. TIG, I guess it was my water intake that helped with that one!

I've missed my original crew ( Christine ) who held me with my thoughts and my concerns. I know people move on, experienced that one all my life. Just wanted to say though that everyone who has crossed my path are and have been in my prayers. Wendy, TIG, Jimmy, my Canuck, love the Canadians.   

I will be back, to give hope and to let you know the end of my journey with Zepatier.

Enjoy your day!

John 

TIG, Thanks for your words of encouragement and the best directions you ever gave, water my friend. Yeh, I know, hope Christine has crossed over to the new Hep- free side as well.

Yep, I miss that Sunshine humor she generated.

Yes, I am running the last mile here, and so grateful.

Hope all is well with you my friends.

John 

Hey John,

From my figuring, today is Christine's end of treatment. I also wonder where our friend with the big smile and good humor went to. She just kinda vanished! I hope all is well. I'm sure she has vanquished her Dragon, but it would be nice to dance on it's carcass together!

Regarding your comment on feeling 60 years old, I can only add that I started treatment when I was 56, ended it a 57 year old puddle of goo. I am celebrating (I think) my 61st next week, and while I feel far better than I did 4 years ago, the mirror hasn't been as kind as I would like it to be! I wish my looks regenerated as fast as a healthy liver... 

You're down to the wire! WOOT!! Keep hydrating my friend, you got this in the bag!

Jimmy, the best to you my friend. It's people like you that gave me the hope to do this treatment, and my belief in God that it would work.

In 3 days, I have one more blister pak left to take, I can wait to get back to feeling normal, whatever normal is and get back to working out in a gym. I'm 60 now, and never felt my age, looked my age, until I started treatment.... hope the energy comes back. I've been told it will.

I wonder where everyone else went on this thread. I hope and pray all is well with every one.

John

OMG this is exciting! Watching folks doing a battle I actually enjoyed fighting. Not to be mistaken with the thought of glad to have ever met The Dragon. No, not at all.

But having made the close acquaintance with the scaled reptile, I did thoroughly enjoy the battle. It really wasn't even a fair fight.

Y'all carry on. Stay consistent and hydrated. Remember to look for reasons to laugh and by all means do so. Y'all got this.

JimmyK 

Hey ducky,

Where are you? 

Only 3 more sleeps? EOT on July 24?

Are you excited, exhausted, feeling good or better?

Hope you check in pretty soon, we're missing you 'round here.

BTW - had a relative who was an Olympian class swimmer, even as an oldie now, she is VERY active, competitive, still winning "ancient-class" competitions. She developed a Baker's cyst, it was very bad and completely disrupted life as she knew it (it took some time, not only to get it properly diagnosed, but for it to resolve), eventually it resolved with little intervention. Good news is, she is back to swimming and cycling and hiking like her old self. Just like us HCV cured folk, getting back to our new normals!

Home-made chocolate malts!!!! mmm, sounds like just the thing to top off a nice EOT bbq celebration.  C.

Hello to everyone ,

                            I have to say sorry but I have been laying low the past 2 weeks really felt bad . But the good news is I have been sleeping great since I started taking the Zepatier pills !!! I am almost afraid to say I am feeling much better I have just been taking my med's at the same time and sleeping at the same time so far so good ! I am on day 14 really not sure if I could be feeling so good this early ? But hell I will take it for now . I hope everyone is doing well Just keep pushin !!!

                                                                                                                                                                   Take care , RICK S.

Good morning. It must really suck not being able to sleep. I have had no problem in that department of treatment with Zepatier, none, zero. I have set sort of a regimented pattern to get a good nights sleep. I go to bed the same time, most of the time every night and awake the same time everyday , wether I am working or not.... I sleep 8 hours a day, and this works for me. I also, shut off my mind when i hit the pillow, just blank, after all I lay down to sleep, not think...

Where or where is Christine been? Hope everybody is well and getting better.

John

It does work 99% of the time. The bottle says to take 2 but since I am small I only take 1 and like I said 9 out of 10 tens it does the trick. I have a handful of times gotten up and taken another pill. And even at those times, I do not feel out of it the next day. 

Interesting sleep aid Wendy. Good to know about. It has the melatonin I am familiar with, and HTP-5, which is another component I have seen (I've seen those two particular ingredients coming together, marketed in one formula, before - but hadn't seen this particular combination of ingredients in yours). No magnesium in yours. Does is work most of the time for you? How much do you take, and can you, or does it ever help to increase it when particularly sleepless?  C.

My insomnia has been horrid the last 2 nights and I'm off treatment so I do empathize. I take Sleep1 put out by Nutrition 53  https://www.nutrition53.com/collections/shop-sleep1

When I was on TX I took the bottle to my doc and he said I could take it. I am not saying any of you can take it as I was on a different TX than you all. Just letting you know of something that may help and does not leave you feeling poorly the next day. 

Oh, that IS quite a picture Obs (of you not sleeping)! Me too, discovered manesium, but for my facial tics mostly (talk about looking funny!)

That's right, insomnia is not fun.

I am experimenting (on my partner) with 10 mg of melatonin every night, for months now, and we will continue it, as after a couple weeks of it, we found it WAS helping, a little.

We are going to have to dream up a good cure for Jmiff's sleeplessness in zepland.

Man, look at that gigantic crash in your ALT/AST's! Nice.  C.

Jmiff79

Magnesium is supposed to help with sleep issues.

it helps the nervous system.

I take it to stop horrific leg cramps that woke me and plagued me for years. they were so bad that, before I discovered magnesium, I sometimes had to try to sleep..or at least rest standing up but lying my upper half of my body on the bed.  Luckily we have a high bed, but I think back and realize I must have looked ridiculous and I really didn't sleep. But desperate times call for desperate solutions ... 

My Drs said I could take it while on treatment...(different tx) perhaps you could check with your Drs and try it. 

Insomnia is not fun. 

A

Hey Josh,

Can you call your doctor for something to help you sleep? It's important to get your rest while on treatment. If you're already a sufferer, then something like Benadryl may not help and I'm sure you would've explored that by now. BUT, you need to get some rest! Whatever you try, other than nutrition based ideas, check with the doc first. Some medications don't mix with the treatment drugs. It's easy to determine, if you need some direction, let us know. 

Okay Chuck,

Fess up! Are you keeping a flow sheet or what? How do you do it? Share your secret power...   We stand in awe! 

Hi again Jmiff79,

Further to my post to you (below), I DID note another Zepper to keep all you other zeppers company, I overlooked one name, to add to my prior list of zeppers - "Angelbaby", I forgot - she actually posted right here on this thread recently. John and I had both been referring to her, as we haven't heard back from her for a bit now. So, grand total head count of zeppers? ... 7? to maybe 9? 

I note we fondly refer to ourselves by our drugs or drug states, some say they are "harvonians", others ... I'm an "epclusian", we speak of epclusers getting "velparized", or, those who have visited riba-land being riba-raged, we have nearly forgotten daclacronians!, a gang of elitist epclusers languishing around in "Club Zero", I wondered ... just like we have a pride of lions, a parliament of owls, a murder of crows, a gaggle of geese, etc., ... if you have a small group pf zeppers all together in one place - is that a "zoo of zeppers"? hee hee wheeeeeeeee C.

Congrats to both John and Josh. Been praying that twin girlie is doing ok and just resting and taking care of herself. 

John, 

Hey ya, what did you do with your twin! MIA Tig thinks. Well, we'll all just wait up, right here, past dark until the cows drag her home again.

Hate it when it goes all quiet 'round here, how's a person sposed to know when sumpins up! 

I had a perfectly acceptable excuse for a rare episode of not being my normal verbose self, my internet was broken for about week!! I was in serious withdrawl - no communicado (forest fires up here). So relieved to be able to post and read on-line again! Unlike you "elitist" zeppers who have your nice cushy club over here, I rove around, I've been blabbing all over the site, if you notice I do not restrict myself to one zone, you should get out more John!!! hee hee Who said you could only post here! We like to hear you talk, anywhere, anytime. I enjoy your thinking and writing styles.  

Now, being that you and ducky are gittin soooo close to the EOT now, I am pretty sure (if for no other reason) you may be gettin all tuckered out, sore thumbs and all from punching droves of them dang pills out of those blister paks, I was trying to order you guys one of those blister pill-pack opening machines, just so as to make things a wee bit easier for you (us epclusers, do not have to contend with these fatiguing "manual" trifles as we tend to be given our drugs in nice big-girl bottles, I guess we can be trusted to count to one and not have to be pavlovianly reminded that we are staying on track by the plastic pushing popping noise?), in a perfect world you blister-pack folk should be freed from this work and have standard issue machines like these at home? hee hee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eol1L4LTEME 

Yer on the home stretch now John.  C. 

PS - just cause I'm an ornery/contrary shat-disturbin gamblin kinda gal, I will say - I think you are wrong - how much you wanna bet (that aside from your EOT VL) he is going to ask you to have an EOT+12 week VL and then an EOT+24weeks VL done? $5.00?

Hey Jmiff79,

Big congrats on your first UND!! 4 weeks into your Zep and it has sure worked for you! Great your VL has crashed, and that your ALT/AST are within normal limits - what were your ALT/AST numbers pre-treatment? Let us know how you have been feeling on ZEP - that feedback is always good.

As Tig mentioned we have not had a "TON" of zeppers here, but some. A couple zeppers first appeared (briefly, quite a while ago) I can't find their handles right now for some reason, (maybe they were in trials?) they posted for a bit and have since moved on, I expect all went well.

Currently, aside from MyMallards, and JohnAnton1 here, we also have Rick (also hailing from Chicago), and Meow76, all currently on ZEP. A couple others (earlier) that we have not heard back from for a while - Silverecho (Canada, I believe), and mr tambourine man (UK). There were a couple others as well (I believe), further back? - but their names are not coming to mind if so.   

Thank you so much for letting us know about your good news thus far, please do tell us more.  C. 

Thanks TIG for checking back in with us, yes I hope Christine is okay, after all she's family now. 

Well with Zepatier being about 1/2 the cost of Harvoni, can't see it not rising to the top shortly Working fine by me.

John

We're around John, and me, well, I'm always around, lol! I've sent a message or two to Christine and she's MIA. I don't know what's happened there, but I hope she's doing well and checks in soon. Her EOT is coming up soon! Come On Duck, inquiring minds need to know...

Down to your last pack huh? Wow, that went pretty fast from my vantage point! I like your doctor's positive attitude, it's a completely accurate assessment of your future. These are uberly effective treatments and your lab results are proof of that. Optimism is the right train of thought!

Josh, welcome to the forum. The reason we don't have a lot of Zepatier conversation is because there haven't been many Zeppers yet. We are now starting to see increased use of it. I think the only reason it hasn't been as popular as it should be, is because Harvoni and now Epclusa from Gilead have had market share. The first one to cross the finish line, in this case, Gilead and their successful DAA roll out, got the most attention and initially, the lions share of prescriptions. That's changing, and we're seeing wider use of equally effective and often less expensive drugs. These drug manufacturers know exactly what they're doing...

Congratulations on your first undetected viral load, it will stay that way. Your enzymes are the first to drop from the sky, as you have witnessed. They will also stay that way. These new treatments are incredibly rapid acting in nature. They disrupt the virus ability to replicate and allow things to start the healing process. Your AST and ALT results are proof of that. It's nice to know that you're well on your way to a healthier future with a happier liver!

Welcome, as they say, you're in the right place! Congrats on your 30 day achievement. Funny how the mind works, your statement, about hoping that the numbers remain non- detectable and within normal range! Not sure why but this is the first time that my mind didn't go that way, I must be getting better.

My 30 day marker, and being well over 5mil, and having AST-33 and ALT - 55, which is above normal, all went well, the viral load, non-detectable and the AST- and ALT both normal.

In fact my Doctor sort of spoked me when he said congrats to me after I had my blood work come back after the 30 day review, he even told me, no need to draw blood at the 60 day marker, just come back after you've finished your 90 day cycle, then we will revisit this in a year. Funny call me optimistic or deeply involved in denial, but I felt a relief taken off my shoulders. At least that part of the chapter has already been finished.

So, I am now on my count down, today I opened my last packet of Zepatier and still remain hopeful this is it, yet another turn of the page of my life, cleaning the wreckage of my past. I've carried this virus I believe since the early 80's.

With minimal side effects from taking this medication, and following these wonderful peoples directions on drink water, drink water, about a gallon a day and then mixing in some Sunshine and Gatorade getting plenty of rest, I don't feel as run down as I first felt in the beginning of this treatment. I'm not a 100% yet, but I can see through to the other side. All will be well!

Yes, where are my peeps, have not seen anyone post here in awhile, Christine, my Twin, hope you're doing well and Tig, and my Canadian friend Canuck, and Wendy, I miss you guys.....where is Angel and how is the foot healing......

My advice is just keep believing, dreams really do come true!

John 

Christine, hope all is well with you and my other friends here on this site. I have not heard any updates, but I was raised no news is good news. All is well with me on my end of life.

Getting ready to start to my last month of Zepatier, woo hoo, I'm ready to get on with my life.

I feel better, adding the sun and the gatorade. Got to go, wishing everyone good vibes

John

Christine, cookies....ah I can't wait to gain my full energy level back so I can hit the gym again. Started practicing Judo as a young child, around the age of 8, fought until I was 18, got off the mat for 4 years from a severe beating from a 6'5" 250lbs German man, he beat me so bad it was time to rest a little, that man remains in my heart today with love. Gerhart Jude! At 22 back on the mat again for 2 more years to begin a sabbatical that took me off the mat until the age of 30, back on the mat until I was 36, another sabbatical leave of absence.... for year or so, never returned( but the way of life remains in my heart forever),wish I could fight again, but the days of glory have been replaced by becoming somewhat of a gym rat, lifting.... stopped in December, and can't wait to get rid of this belly.... haha,  no cookies for me.

Yes, halfway mark, seems like forever, seems like just yesterday. 

Not sure if I should share my personal contact information here, of private message, yes I'd love to associate the name with the faces as well. I live right next to NYC, on Boulevard East, I can throw a stone and hit the city if I was a ball player, real close. Someday, I hope our paths do cross, but one thing for sure is, I will remember my crew for a long time to come, and the help and comfort that was extended to me.

John

Hi Christine, 

It sounds like you had quite the day with all the grandkids! Giving them all baths before pickup? You really went all out after an obvious full day. No wonder you're exhausted! I hope you find time to rest and unwind today. It's important, especially now. Don't forget you're in the midst of a battle that demands you take care of you, too! 

It would be an enjoyable day if we could all get together. Two years ago a few members did meet for a brief visit that turned out to be quite enjoyable. Unfortunately I wasn't able to join them.  I'm very hands on, too. There's nothing quite like physical interaction with people you connect with. We would need a big venue to hold this group. Especially if we go back to the beginning! It might require catering if we wanted to feed everyone, lol! Jimmy will have to get a bigger grill...