Very encouraging results Judy, yippee. My hands are soo dry they look as though they belong to my Mum, Really dry in my ear, I think I've created a scab, ewww. lol tis life atm.
Ps: Hello, this photo is me, today, at work. Finally got up the nerve to reveal:)
mavenchick said
Apr 13, 2012
Yaaaaay Judy!
Good news on the bloods chick we started tx the same week... It's awesome to get positive feedback from results!!! Makes you feel like all the pill schedules and sx are worth it...
Can't wait to see ya at the finish line lol
Hugs
K
chatterbox said
Apr 13, 2012
Glad to read all your posts. Starting treatment Monday. Soooo glad you all are here. You all seem so strong. Hope I will be too.
Shep said
Apr 13, 2012
Yes my thyroid is completely wacked--it went sky high and started coming back down but I am thinking it is still not under control. Starting the symptoms from a couple of weeks ago. Increased brain fog--the pea soup kind of fog, cold--shivering, whinning kind, raspy voice--not the sexy kind and so, so tired. I have trouble just picking my feet up to walk from the chair to the couch. Going for labs tomorrow-GI on Monday and the endocrinologist on Wednesday. They will probably just shake their heads and change my meds again
I am still doing the Procrit--which I am tolerating better--but I still hate it. It keeps me awake but exhausted--the day after is my zombie day. I feel like the walking dead--but I don't embibe in any human flesh --usually just tear into a nice leafy salad
Judy S said
Apr 13, 2012
Thanks, Shep. I do use body lotion after every shower and on my hands after each handwashing, but now need to use it even more. Really feeling "dry" for sure! Eyeballs, nails, skin, throat, nasal passages. Hoping not to look 80 by the time I complete TX.
These SX are weird for sure. 3 weeks after starting TX, I started to hear my heartbeat in my left ear daily, on and off. It's a whooshing sound and in sync with my pulse. So annoying. I've researched and found that it's Pulsatile Tinnitis. Don't know if it's a SX of TX or not. I noticed that my TSH level has been increasing; hope it's not a thyroid issue. So much weird stuff and I'm only 6 weeks in, sheesh, lol.
Shep said
Apr 13, 2012
Oooh Judy--during my first couple of months my poor little fingers were so dry and thin the skin would split. It hurt so much-- I thought part of it was because it was cold weather and heating and of course the wonderful sx of drying us out like old shoes. Any way... that has improved vastly for me--the fingers are back in working order--I can cut lemons without spasming into tears. Of course now I don't have the energy to cut anything. But hang in there--it will get better. I did also use Burt's Bee Almondmilk hand creme--smells wonderful & feels so good
That nasty Vic taste--ick--it gets better too! Not the taste--the tolerance.
krowdog said
Apr 11, 2012
Wow Judy, looks like you got this!
Remember your earlier post ?:
"My Dr called me today and said I may not be able to continue tx.....said I may have to wait 5 years until the newer tx is avail. Gosh, I hope not! She said she didn't like the hospital report of 103* fever, super low b/p, and uncontrollable shaking for over 4 hours. I do NOT want to stop..."
Well, you DIDN'T stop. You're one tough girl, and I hope you get what you deserve...UNDETECTABLE!!!
Brad
(Geno 1a, Invivek triple TX, Und since week 4, finished 4/3/12)
Scout said
Apr 11, 2012
jrc said
Apr 11, 2012
nice work , your response shows tx is working . The big test is on week 8. Please make sure you take pills on time and dont miss a dose. Wishing you the best.
news said
Apr 11, 2012
Nice work, Judy. You scared me at first, but it looks like you got it going on now. Keep it up. That taste in your mouth won't seem so nasty when the next VL comes back UND.
Alan
Shep said
Apr 11, 2012
Looking good Judy! I know the Vic is nasty tasting--it really does get better. Not sure if you get used to it or it fades. Every now and then it gets me but not all the time like it did in the beginning. So hang in there. And keep up the good work!
JIme said
Apr 11, 2012
Great news Judy! After a rough start you hung in there. Congrats!
Judy S said
Apr 11, 2012
Thank you guys, so much. It really does help to make this TX more bearable....keeps me going. And this Victrelis is SO disgustingly nasty with this 24/7 yucky taste, but now I feel even more motivated to continue.
Big hugs to all of you......let's keep fighting this fight.
kmiller said
Apr 11, 2012
Congrats keep up the hard work.
pamigo said
Apr 11, 2012
What a start. Right on target... Even better.
Go get em GF
Very, Very Happy for you.
Really helps make the treatment bearable.
Take the victories when they comre.
Wow, what a feeling.
Pamigo
alohaKim said
Apr 11, 2012
Wow! Fabulous news! Hugs to you!!!
Judy S said
Apr 11, 2012
Well, I got my 4-week labs back. I did the labs at day 26 (not 28), on April 4. I didn't start Victrelis until 2 days later, on April 6. These results are from 26 days on PegIntron and Ribavirin:
Viral Load - 371. (Was 4,698,302 before TX.) That's more than 2-Log drop.
AST - 36
ALT - 44
WBC - 2.1 (range 4 - 11)
Neutrophil %- 29.6 (42 - 75) They don't show actual Neutrophil number.
Hematocrit - 30.8 (37 - 47)
Hemoglobin - 10.4 (12 - 16)
Platelets - 141 (130 - 400)
Oh, and last week, my DR lowered my Riba dose from 6 pills daily, to 4.
Hugs,
Judy :)
Judy S said
Apr 10, 2012
Thank you, Brad. I'm SO happy for you that you finished TX the day before my labs. And I have a new DR, now! He seems to have more solutions for SX.
You guys are all so awesome and supportive; I pray the end result for us all is SVR forever.
Haha...Alan, you're right about the Vic taste and UND!!
Yeah, Shep, I also wonder if the Vic taste fades or do we just get used to it? Well, I realize that I can no longer drink Diet Soda or eat anything remotely spicy. It makes that nasty Vic taste 10x worse and burns. Had to switch from Listerine to Scope mouthwash....much less intense. Even chewing minty gum seems to increase that Vic taste after 2 mins. I feel like a whimp, LOL.
Jrc, you're so right about taking pills on time, always. I believe that may make or break success. I've got 5 alarms set on my phone....they control my life, now.
Jim, how are you doing with the new TX? I'm very curious about that.
I was wondering if any of you are experiencing thinning skin? My fingertips in particular are so sensitive, now. I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago; I use Apricot Scrub daily on my face in the shower and my face feels OK but it feels like my fingertips will sand right off, lol! Actually, the entire inside of my hands. Just another of the many, weird SX!
Sending hugs to all of you very strong people. : )
-- Edited by Judy S on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 04:07:11 AM
Very encouraging results Judy, yippee. My hands are soo dry they look as though they belong to my Mum, Really dry in my ear, I think I've created a scab, ewww. lol tis life atm.
Ps: Hello, this photo is me, today, at work. Finally got up the nerve to reveal:)
Yaaaaay Judy!
we started tx the same week... It's awesome to get positive feedback from results!!! Makes you feel like all the pill schedules and sx are worth it...
Good news on the bloods chick
Can't wait to see ya at the finish line lol
Hugs
K
Glad to read all your posts. Starting treatment Monday. Soooo glad you all are here. You all seem so strong. Hope I will be too.
I am still doing the Procrit--which I am tolerating better--but I still hate it. It keeps me awake but exhausted--the day after is my zombie day. I feel like the walking dead--but I don't embibe in any human flesh --usually just tear into a nice leafy salad
Thanks, Shep. I do use body lotion after every shower and on my hands after each handwashing, but now need to use it even more. Really feeling "dry" for sure! Eyeballs, nails, skin, throat, nasal passages. Hoping not to look 80 by the time I complete TX.
These SX are weird for sure. 3 weeks after starting TX, I started to hear my heartbeat in my left ear daily, on and off. It's a whooshing sound and in sync with my pulse. So annoying. I've researched and found that it's Pulsatile Tinnitis. Don't know if it's a SX of TX or not. I noticed that my TSH level has been increasing; hope it's not a thyroid issue. So much weird stuff and I'm only 6 weeks in, sheesh, lol.
That nasty Vic taste--ick--it gets better too! Not the taste--the tolerance.
Wow Judy, looks like you got this!
Remember your earlier post ?:
"My Dr called me today and said I may not be able to continue tx.....said I may have to wait 5 years until the newer tx is avail. Gosh, I hope not! She said she didn't like the hospital report of 103* fever, super low b/p, and uncontrollable shaking for over 4 hours. I do NOT want to stop..."
Well, you DIDN'T stop. You're one tough girl, and I hope you get what you deserve...UNDETECTABLE!!!
Brad
(Geno 1a, Invivek triple TX, Und since week 4, finished 4/3/12)
nice work , your response shows tx is working . The big test is on week 8. Please make sure you take pills on time and dont miss a dose. Wishing you the best.
Nice work, Judy. You scared me at first, but it looks like you got it going on now. Keep it up. That taste in your mouth won't seem so nasty when the next VL comes back UND.
Alan
Thank you guys, so much. It really does help to make this TX more bearable....keeps me going. And this Victrelis is SO disgustingly nasty with this 24/7 yucky taste, but now I feel even more motivated to continue.
Big hugs to all of you......let's keep fighting this fight.
Right on target...
Even better.
Go get em GF
Very, Very Happy for you.
Really helps make the treatment bearable.
Take the victories when they comre.
Wow, what a feeling.
Pamigo
Well, I got my 4-week labs back. I did the labs at day 26 (not 28), on April 4. I didn't start Victrelis until 2 days later, on April 6. These results are from 26 days on PegIntron and Ribavirin:
Viral Load - 371. (Was 4,698,302 before TX.) That's more than 2-Log drop.
AST - 36
ALT - 44
WBC - 2.1 (range 4 - 11)
Neutrophil %- 29.6 (42 - 75) They don't show actual Neutrophil number.
Hematocrit - 30.8 (37 - 47)
Hemoglobin - 10.4 (12 - 16)
Platelets - 141 (130 - 400)
Oh, and last week, my DR lowered my Riba dose from 6 pills daily, to 4.
Hugs,
Judy :)
Thank you, Brad. I'm SO happy for you that you finished TX the day before my labs. And I have a new DR, now! He seems to have more solutions for SX.
You guys are all so awesome and supportive; I pray the end result for us all is SVR forever.
Haha...Alan, you're right about the Vic taste and UND!!
Yeah, Shep, I also wonder if the Vic taste fades or do we just get used to it? Well, I realize that I can no longer drink Diet Soda or eat anything remotely spicy. It makes that nasty Vic taste 10x worse and burns. Had to switch from Listerine to Scope mouthwash....much less intense. Even chewing minty gum seems to increase that Vic taste after 2 mins. I feel like a whimp, LOL.
Jrc, you're so right about taking pills on time, always. I believe that may make or break success. I've got 5 alarms set on my phone....they control my life, now.
Jim, how are you doing with the new TX? I'm very curious about that.
I was wondering if any of you are experiencing thinning skin? My fingertips in particular are so sensitive, now. I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago; I use Apricot Scrub daily on my face in the shower and my face feels OK but it feels like my fingertips will sand right off, lol! Actually, the entire inside of my hands. Just another of the many, weird SX!
Sending hugs to all of you very strong people. : )
-- Edited by Judy S on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 04:07:11 AM