Chuck,

Your recent journey(s) back and forth to the expensive side, sounds ominous! Broken teeth, painful gums and a partner that needed help finding the door handle. All while slip sliding your way through the Big City o’er the hill, yikes! The thought that you had to actually pay $$ for all of that fun could be depressing, if you put any thought into it. So don’t...   (Easier said than done)

5,

Your story is so typical of people trying to just live life! Why do these things come in two’s and three’s? You should put a bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket for those frozen lock days. If you squirt it on your key and insert it in the lock (assuming your car has an actual key) it will melt the ice. It’s worth a try when you’re left standing in the parking lot. It’s also a good idea to throw a few of those disposable pocket/hand warmers in your bag, too. If nothing else works, one of those pocket sized flare guns may be necessary! 

On the other hand, it’s going to be in the mid to upper 80’s here, all next week. Oh, the suffering is real! 

cracked teeth. yea, i have so many crowns due to those old teeth starting to crack and easier to fix before they shred. so sorry to hear you have so much on your plate canuck. it does feel overwhelming at times.

it's like wait! we're cured now, don't we get to have some fun and enjoy our golden years? 

oh, canuck.. this really is too much for one month. 

next year make spring appointements for everything

me and my mr. are having car stuff.

we had both been so out of it in tx and recovery land that  my car went without oil change for almost 2 yrs... so the other nite my heater quit working , turns out i had no antifreeze . he put some in then took it to get new oil...turns out i have an antifreeze leak. so next month the old beast will go to the spa to check it all out and i pray it is fixable. i'm not ready for new car payments. we don't see any leakage on the spot i park, but it sure was empty. and the heater and defroster work again

a cpl days go by and someone pulls out into traffic from street parking and rams in my mr.'s car.. bashed in the front right fender but no one hurt.... now starts the prayers for please let this be fixable.... 

we love our old low mileage cars , low insurance, low registrations.... we don't drive far.

then tonite after work i go out to my beast and all the doors and locks are frozen solid i'll need a hammer and a blow torch to get them lose. i did get out early so i had time to relax when i got home.

so i took a cab home and left it at work.  i'll take a cab saturday with a bag full of 'fix it' tools... a mallet, spray cooking oil, petroleum jelly and wd40.... and paper towels.

he can't drive me there due to his car is out of commission; but if i can't get into it i will call the tow service and bring it home. then at least mr. can drive me to work sunday and i can cab home.

universe might be trying to tell us we need new cars, but i say to universe "drop it off out front my house and it's mine "

so...... of all that goes on i always come back to "im cured" and know that this too will pass and turn out good some how.

i hope you get some rest and get to take some time off from those icy roads....lots of bumper cars around here too this month 

-- Edited by 5-1-18 on Saturday 16th of February 2019 08:22:08 AM

Sheesh, 

When it rains, it pours! (or snows a little bit, as the case may be).

I was telling you (prior) about my recent trek to the next big-little-city 2 hours over, for my long awaited/overdue abd. U/S ... since then, we have had 2 more trips over there for appointments!

My out-of-town periodontal appointment just about drained my wallet, I stayed over due to the slick slimy snow (saw about 4 fender benders that day). I also had to have an alignment and oil change at a dealership - how can something so simple as dental or mechanical hygiene/maintenance be so expensive - I think the dealerships and dentists use the the same quote hardware? 

Then i came home, and just about had to turn right around again to go with my partner for his gastroscopy. I was designated driver home. Funny that ... those drugs they give him ... he always thinks he is just fine, then later, we go over how dumbed down his vocabulary and sequence memory was (he is much better hours later and after 1 1/2 huge naps), but NO WONDER they impress upon people they are forbidden to drive - people likely think they could! 

Only little bits of slippy snow here and there this trip. 

(Warning - whine). I am tired of all these appointments. I had also squeezed in an emerg trip to the local dentist for a broken tooth last week (I thought that was expensive), only to find out from the out of town periodontist, that he is telling me to go back to the local dentist, again, for yet another cracked tooth they found! Brother.  (I appreciate the data we gain from these appointments and for realizing the good outcomes from the appointments, it just the time, effort, logistics and expense that kills ya). I see the homeless and troubled folk in the next big city over and kick myself for all my whimping and whining. 

I will get around to it (one day/some day) to posting my U/S results and my last couple liver check-ups on my thread - mmmm, maybe after tax time is over? More whining and sighing noises.  : |  C.

Well, I certainly appreciate all the advise...I didnt realize they could do it without contrast dye,Ive had at least 7 ctscans and 2 mris and never thought there was any choice...thought using the dye was routine. 

However, I am happier having an ultrasound and AFP (as well as all the standard blood tests) at this time.  I felt crappy when I had the tumour and I dont anymore so I really dont think its coming back. One of the blessing of having been so ill for so long is I am verrrrrrrry sensitive and I listen to myself. 

I grew up having it shoved down my throat that Drs are Gods that knew everything and starting in my 20s I had some pretty shocking lessons in just how much they are not.  Im pretty lucky their negligence didnt kill me.

So now I have a family Dr that I respect and that orders whatever tests I want and a retired Dr turned integrative/alternative consultant (that has kept me alive through thick and thicker.) The liver specialist was fine when I needed him but I dont anymore. All the immune specialists have been a waste of my time and energy. 

Iris, dont fret...it wasnt until the last one that I reacted. Good luck with your test sorry to freak you out.

OB's,

In my book, the dye is a pretty valuable tool, it can help to paint the best pictures, but i can understand you not wishing to get the dye this time around, given your reaction to it the last time you had it, so, I would still say, (as long as you decide not to do the dye) then still have a dyeless CAT or MRI (whichever the hep doc or GP thinks would provide the best imaging you can get without using dye) being that you do not wish to have dye, but then, as well, have everything else possible done (what you listed) ... in addition to the dyeless MRI or CAT, HAVE an Abd U/S as well, and have a fibroscan, and have ALL LFT's, many routine bloods, and of course the AFP. "The works" (a deluxe) basically, just hold the dye! 

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's got the strongest dye of all?! I think it's a PET scan - my partner had one of those and they warned him about going to airports and borders, that they might detect his radioactivity!

5, 

I forget what you have told me before - for you and your hub, both being at F3's, were those Fscores determined via bloods or via fibroscans? And will your Fscores also be reassessed every 6 months by fibroscan or bloods then (in addition to having any routine informational U/S's done)?

Ched,

Yes, my frequent U/S's (and labs) ARE mostly due to the on-going follow-up study i am in for (maybe) another couple years, for cirrhotics or "previously" cirrhotic patients who took part in the vosevi trials. I was "technically" cirrhotic, F3 and then F4 just prior to treatment. Post-treatment I made a drastically quick and astounding rebounding descent into a "normal" liver function and Fscores. I am a success story. Can you see my teeth? That's me grinnin'.   : =)

PS - I really need to update my bio and thread with my last few follow-up reports! One of these days.

They don’t use a dye for many MRI’s. They use it if they’re searching for a mass or a vascularized tumor, for example. They can use it to highlight an organ, too. I’ve had several MRI’s and never was injected with a dye or contrasting agent. They can tell you ahead of time, just give them a call. 

that is much better news that no dye is necessary with mri and cat scans now

My MRI did not have dye. 

WHAT????? there is dye in an MRI? they didn't tell me that when I made the appt. I gotta go tomorrow.

I've have CAt scans with and without contrast, I have enough freaking radiation in me, don't want no more.

obs, mri's scare me due to the dye.

yes, regular ultra sounds and afp  are a great way to go

I had mri and/or ctscans every 3 months for the first year then every 6 months for the second year after I had that wee dragon egg ablated so I was kinda expecting the specialist to book one in October but they didnt. I had toxic reaction to the dye they use so I really dont mind not having them. The scar from the tumour has constantly shrinked and the cirrhosis has not noticeably changed much so I think Im going to get my family doc to just order me an ultrasound and an AFP test instead of fussing about with liver doc(who is in the city which  I avoid driving to if I can)

Im pretty sure the protocol for cirrhosis is regular scans but ...... ultrasound sound be fine I think.

cheddy, ,hubs and i have to get them every 6 months also...it could be related to what the level of fibrosis someone has. I have f3 , he is still f3 but further into it. 

they are checking for tumors and  weird things 

Huh?  What are these specialists looking for, and what are the U/S for?  You mean ultra sound, right?  

I just clicked on your name to see your history.  Are the ongoing tests part of the study you were in?  Are the high F scores why you are having so many followups? Wow, your fibroscores have taken a brilliant dive.  That a very good show of how the liver heals

I can't wait to hear the new reports.

Change is in the wind.  You may even needs some wings 

Give me the gist of what this is all about.

Thanks

Cheddo

Drove over to the next little big city (2 hours away) to FINALLY get my 6 month abd. ultrasound done. Frustrating how I just can't seem to get either side (my specialists people) and/or the U/S people to requisition/provide me the U/S's on time! The U/S's are supposed to be routinely repeated every 6 months, but the U/S appointments and images just keep getting further and further behind.

Oh well, it's a good thing we all already know my guts are perfectly fine, so in the end it does not really matter - but still if they are supposed to be every 6 months, then they should be done every 6 months no? Maybe the noise I made this time will rub off on the timing for the next one, we'll see.

I saw the specialist way back at the end of the first week of Nov. and it took until Feb 1st to get my U/S done! Brother.

Like I say, it matters not to my health, as all is well, but I like to look at the imaging (on time)! I'll let ya know what i see when the CD and radiologists report finally comes by snail mail.  : ) C.

PS - Hey Tanner and lammasu,

Speaking of being inconvenienced (to say the least) or (rather) of convenience, I am glad to hear lamassu that your doc now has his own fibroscan machine - that's very nice and convenient, and it certainly will save you a big trip to go and get one done! Bonus. My closest U/S is 2 hours away, the fibroscan is 4+ hours away as it lives with my specialist too!

Tanner, I so feel for you and this frustrating wait you are going through, and all the bad communications you are getting instead of only the correct ones we want to hear - it is very concerning to hear about your seizure activity (2 during this stressful waiting period?) - what do you usually take to not have seizure activity increase?? and/or, what did you have to do for these two episodes? 

Touching what STL's little grandson goes through with his seizures. Do you have to have a sleep too? Or, how do yours go for you. I hope you do not get them often.

Later, C.

Hey RC.  THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL UPDATE!!!!!

I decided to reply on this thread as the topic has become unclear in Vosevi land.  

That was so weird that you got a false positive after all of this time and such a series of trials.  I think we may have panicked more than you did with that bogus test. You took it with such grace and patience.  It's ironic that being ill leads to the great strength of being a survivor.  You've certainly earned your stripes.

Enjoy yourself.  Love life.  Life on.

Cheddy

Excellent news 5.  May 2019 incline this thread from Health Updates to Health Upgrades. 

Still love your attitude!

canuck, normal ppl couldn't imagine what it's like to work in a casino

one more day of holiday hell raisers then back to normal ppl and schedules. yay and my new days off that will put me with a gentler work crew..yay

good luck to all as we move from 2018's blessings and roller coasters to a more fun and easier 2019

Oh my, when we have to protect ourselves from mountains and miles of drama, it's one thing when it is "family" erupting and meandering around spreading bad behaviors and reactions, but another when you get earthquakes at work! What kind of ruckus can the humans at work do 5?

Maybe Harry, (under the circumstances) it was a good thing your visitors cancelled, plenty of time for another visit another day, and it possibly being a better time for it!

Hope the driving is not too intense iris. C.

good luck on your drive iris

my drama is at work and it is like a earthquake right now.... earth quake hit and we are all trying to manage our emotions as we continue to work. 

i work tonite and tomorrow then have 3 days to chill... i might go get my 6month labs or wait another week till i unwind from the work drama.

UGH, family drama no fun, plenty here to go around as well .please get that edema checked Harry.  Yep the year is about pau...at freaking last, hope next year will be full of SVR's for everyone!!

Been at moms, but have to leave the Cental Coast early :( got a call from spouse who said dr. Called and I apparently have an appt. on monday. I was so out of it I guess I forgot to mark my follow up for the back pain, which I am glad to report is much better, the excruciating pain has mellowed to a dull ache and the brace helps alot. ....Not really looking forward to driving south on a Sunday before New years, all those crazy people trying to get to the Rose parade! Not to mention Washington Huskies are in the Rose bowl, already saw bunches of Wa plates going south.

HAPPY 2019 EVERYONE !!!

Blessing for health , Iris

Harry,  You've given yourself some good advice.  Take care of yourself and your own well being first.  And, for sure, have a Happy 2019!

Really.

Yes, Harry, keep sleuthing.  

After the ordeal of HCV, it is easy to think that all maladies are due to the treatment.  There has been so much focus on the DAAs and the virus, that it seems like everything is related.  Maybe or maybe not.  

It's scary to think we are permanently harmed.  I felt like that in my mood alone. But, wow, did I get cured.  I got better and better and happier, too.

So, I think what we have to do is keep getting specific medical advice, each issue at a time.

Of course there are many good remedies too, but its' good to know what you're dealing with.

Please let us know what you find out.  It's all good information.

Happy New Yea

Harry,

I agree with Tig about doctoring up with the right doctors. But right now and in the interim, do keep getting tested and followed regarding your edema no matter which doc you end up using. 

It was only at your HCV end of treatment, that you said the doc did your kidney function labs, and that was when you were put on that 20 mg diuretic. You and your labs need to continue to be followed, to fully assess your response to the diuretic and how you and your waterworks are doing, you could be correct that the doc might want to increase your water pill dose, but this could not be determined unless you see him, and, it would be a very good idea (IMHO) to keep an eye on your kidney function labs/electrolyte labs (and other things a doc may see fit to test) being that you are having such troubles with edema, on top of that lung infection you had, and on top of the COPD you already battle.

I do wish you could find a doc who was more holistically attentive to you, but, keep going to whomever you can get for the moment, just to make sure you get some proper and ongoing following of you, of your edema, your diuretic use, and some water-work labs.

If your edema is not improving or is worsening since being on the diuretic, you need to be seen for assessment about this - so go to whomever you can for the moment.

How did the holidays go with your visitors, was your house too full and busy, did you feel well enough for all that visiting? C.

yea, i'm not normal... i look around and maybe i don't want to be normal

sure, it comes with these odd physical things... but i think living with that and being cured from C gives us a good perspective on a lot of things

Tig,normal is soooo overrated.

Harry,

I‘m sorry you’re having so much edema. I haven‘t heard of anyone else experiencing such issues as a side effect of treatment. Furosemide (Lasix) is a common drug prescribed for edema secondary to excess fluid build up. Are you peeing a lot? My father has congestive heart failure and is frequently experiencing issues with edema. They are giving him Lasix 20mg orally and have been giving it to him via his IV. He’s currently in the hospital as a result of the problems the fluid buildup has caused his breathing. 

Feeling like a guinea pig isn’t much to look forward to. Is there a possibility you can get into another doctor that will help answer your questions? I would approach an Internal Medicine specialist and try to get to the bottom of this. It will take a little sleuthing, but I’m sure there’s an answer for this. Especially since it just happened. 

Helloooo 5,

It’s hard to believe that 2018 is about over. I like the idea of throwing out the old and welcoming in the new, updated and healthier, “Us”! I’m not sure I’ll ever be normal though. I’m reminded fairly often that I’m not normal, lol! Do ya think they’re trying to tell me something? 

HAPPY NEW YEARS WEEKEND friends. heeeeeeeere we go into 2019 , cured and on the cure

i only have 4 days of work and then it's back to normal

i'm ready to fly thru it in a chill manner

so glad you are doing better with the cold C. yea, my sinus just don't like nature or smoke filled rooms.. oh well, i'm doing well with the antihistamine.

Ah work:

well, we have the passive/aggressive types, the negative complainers or gossip starters and of course the know it alls.. it's all there, a mine field.

tonite i had fun just repeating "what do you mean" a few times till they got frustrated and said they wanted another answer, i just said "why, are you interrogating me?" hahahaha they gave up. this person was just needling me and looking for me to defend or explain myself and i wasn't taking the bait.... they didn't want a real conversation at all.

some ppl just don't realize how annoying they are bocos they aren't really noticing the other person, they just want something to do and who ever is close is the entertainment center. hahaha

but i'm trying to have fun with it now that i'm cured ., being cured sue does help everything.

then of course the grumpy drinkers bring their own charm..... it usually gets better when christmas is over. One more day for me then 3 days off to enjoy christmas

this business just attracts a lot of unhappy ppl who are out of touch with their whole selves. many of us are in touch with our selves so we have a good support group to get thru it.

have a wonderful day celebrating rebirth, life and chirstmas

5,

Dang it all to your sinuses! They may be "close" to your ears, but they are certainly are NOT listening to us telling them to BE-HAVE!

Uncooperative they are!

Well, as long as we can keep them quiet(er) and for us to be able to keep the rest of our bodies operating well in all other ways, then that will be the best we can do.

I hope your breathing (nasal-wise) is not too bothered at night for sleeping?

I too have just come through a cold-like thing last week, (a VERY tiny cold) and I was very thankful it was extremely mild and not too bothersome. Post-nasal drip has been a newish issue for me to discover since this summer/fall - didn't ever know I had been dabbling in that (post-nasal drip) until i quit smokin, who knew! So, I do think the ongoing post-nasal drip thingy may have made the cold a little bit more uncomfortable. My cold I think is now mostly gone (I hope), I am blaming my cold firmly on sick people who were coughing their guts out while in shopping malls with me! I sure did a LOT of hot water saline gargles when I first got my cold and all along, I really do think that helped greatly to minimize everything.

Count our lucky stars, at least we don't have what poor Tig got! (Sorry for the comparison bro Tig).  C.

PS - your work conditions sound at least "interesting" if not too much, what with the Payton Place "work drama" traumas? Like .... what?, pray-tell, if I may pry? Your nosey pal ...

hi all, i'm back on the claritin and ibupro., the sinus were starting to cry so i gave them what they wanted

other than that i'm just working and resting... lots of work drama this time of year so listening to lots of soothing youtube videos

everyone one take care

Hope your xmas visiting goes well Harry. Are they there yet? Are you still feeling some better than you were (chest-wise)? Hope so. Good idea keep trying the prune juice, and that psyllium stuff should help too, if you have not tried psyllium before, it is well worth adding it to your regime. I am predicting lots of other things should now start improving for you in 2019, now that we have lost that complicating, health-robbing HCV! Be patient, I am sure you are going to start feeling better and better with your recovery into 2019!  C.

yay for turning the corner tig! don't let the young un's wear you out.

hope you get moving harry

happy christmas weekend friends, and happy solstice too

Harry, 

psyllium husks in a glass of orange juice (or prune juice I suppose)

I strongly believe is food as medicine for many functions, and psyllium husks work for either type of pooping problem. 

Its a bit thicky to drink, have to stir and gulp then maybe add a bit more juice to stir the last bit in...but its amazing for bowel health.

Its pretty cheap too.

Hooray for you, Tig.  Turn, turn, turn, that corner...but don't you dare go chasing the little ones so soon.  Their batteries don't run down.  They need you well, too. 

Cheers to all of the gang here.   Winter solstice is upon us!!!!!!!!!

Hey Gang,

I hope I’m turning a corner, of sorts. I have noticed some easier breathing and fewer coughing fits this evening. I’ll take any improvement! The AB’s are now going through me like a river, if you know what I mean. As long as it works, I’ll take it.

I hope you’re all doing well and getting ready for Christmas. Our grandchildren arrive this weekend. I’ve got to be able to keep up with a 2 and 4 year old. Wish me luck, lol! Watch for a signal flare, I might need your help.

oh iris, you are def going thru the fires... keep up the good work of getting thru it

i'm so glad we could all pitch in to aid ziggy a bit. her gofund me page says she's working and is living with someone with her mom

she's got a long way to go but also moving forward , i will try to add more next week when i shave down the rest of the dental bill.

tig, i hope your new meds are making a dent in the pneumonia

be well friends..i'm working too hard so resting more; can't wait to get back to the regular work schedule after the 1st.

5

Cheddy wrote:

---

 

I'm lacking enthusiasm. Christmas was a lot more fun the first 50 times.  I'm up for the cheer, just not the stress or the dark of winter.

 

---

 I hear ya Cheddy. Sometimes the holidays are very melancholy for me, you know, folks that have left the planet, miss them so much at this time. I hope the light shines for you this holiday and may cheer be yours!. Glad to hear everyone is feeing better! And Tig...dang dude, be careful! We aint no spring chickens no more, Sadly. Even though the spirit says differently

I made a post in my back pain thread, ...getting there!, just seems the road is throwing in some hairpinners. 

Bb, Iris

Rest up Tiggerino! Youre gonna have a cabal of former-hep-c-having-message-board-posting-number-1-Tig-fans show up on your doorstep to do a happy dance with you when youre all better hopefully soon! Take your vitamin C and thanks for the update.

yea, we like mild ,comfortable weather !!!

get lots of rest tig

Y’all are welcome here in Southwest Florida, anytime! It has finally cooled down a bit, 70 degrees today and tolerable humidity. I’m ready for some cooler days. It’s hard to remember when it hasn’t been in the 80-90’s. Trust me, it gets tiring too. I will say to you, having grown up in Spokane, WA, I know snow and sub zero temps. I don’t miss anything but the snow skiing!

My update. Acute bronchitis, with bilateral basilar pneumonia. I feel like that poo emoji. Lots of antibiotics, steroids and an inhaler. The previous course of AB’s wasn’t enough and has made things harder to treat. That’s the double edged sword with antibiotics. When they work, great, when they don’t, things blossom into resistance. That’s why I try to fight most things myself and this time it was to my peril. Oh well, I hope things are covered adequately this time around and I get some relief. 

Thanks for all the get well wishes! They are a bright spot everyday 

ah, I forgot where you lived Ched (had to look it up) eww, the Pac Northwest - say no more - dark cool damp rainy grey days of Winter, if Tig was not so damned infectious I'd say we should all head South down to his place to lounge around on his sunny sandy shores for some xmas warmth! Wasn't that him who was promising to take us all on a cruise? NO pressure Santa, but, when you surface we might have a query or two? Heehee - I like that one Ched "the first 50 years"! About as cheery as telling someone not to worry about their bad kids, that things usually get worked out by the time these kids hit their 50's. 

Thought I heard about a tornado for heavens sake in Wash today! What the heck? Somewhere near Seattle? Yup, you might definitely have to seek some warmer, safer clime for a wee bit of xmas R&R.

I say we should get 5 to split the cards, do some shuffling and we will share the outcome weather - got to get it jussssssst right (the not-too-hot, not-too-cold, goldilocks thing) too hot for Harry down under, too wet and cool in Ched's yard, too dark and cold for me around here, we'll mix the pot and meet up in some ideal in-between spot. 

Before Tig gets back, i suggest we take a vote, his house or the cruise he will arrange?  C.

I hear Tig is slaying HackMan these days.  He's got some additional meds and is getting 'er done.  Right, Tig?

Iris, what's up with your symptoms.  Is it shingles?  Any improvements? 

Ziggy has reached 2/3 of her GoFundMe goals, but donations are slowing down.

I'm lacking enthusiasm. Christmas was a lot more fun the first 50 times.  I'm up for the cheer, just not the stress or the dark of winter.

Harry is better.  

Shemp is better.

5 is better.

Canuck? 

It's been a tough winter for many of us so far.  But we can beat anything.  We know that now.

Sweet dreams, all.