my psychology teacher said there have been studies done to see if a positive outlook helps cancer patients on chemo. the patients were asked to draw or paint a picture of what they thought about their medication. some people had awful feelings about chemo and painted it like black tar going into their body. some people painted pictures of the chemo being bright rays of sunshine that was a beautfiul thing for them. according to the study, the people who had a positive outlook on their treatment did better.

I have a spiritual component to my tx, my life in general. I think every person approaches it differently. For me a life complete with meditation, good fellowship with others, being of service to others even in my darkest time on treatment has been a good way to survive. Getting out of the "me first" attitude has helped a lot.

I like your topic for discussion, I wonder how treatment would go if you approached it from a spiritual side. B-dog, you don't like meds, but how about if you empowered them (the meds) and asked the entity that is bigger than ourselves to charge up these meds, and make them energized with spiritual healing as well as imagining they are the little pac-men running around in your blood, munching down the bad C-bugs, swallowing them down and taking them away from your body.

There was a girl on here who used to approach it in such a way. She would draw a bath, light the candle, put on soft music, maybe have some tea, and she woud have her meds set up so the when she got out of the bath, she was well relaxed and in a mind frame for the meds to do their work.

With the added benifit of a mind-body connection, the Slay could take to a whole other level.

Blessings, Iris

Thanks Brad and Phil, I guess I am just going crazy since I don't like to take any medications.

Hi again B-dog.

You know, I wondered how people got throught Tx also, but that was before I started.  I was worried, and wanted to know everything. 

But once you start, the worry goes away. You find out that you "just do it."  You take a peg shot, and do whatever you do. You take a pill, then watch tv, or go to bed, or read.  You wake up, and do what you need to.  Just a step at a time. You just find a way. 

If  you're like me, your start of tx will be filled with apprehension, yet at the same time, great excitement.  It's like a marathon run.  You're not sure how you'll do, and you know you'll feel beat up during and shortly after you finish.  But in this case, there's a huge prize waiting for you if you succeed.

If everything looks good to you and to your doc, and you think you're ready, just jump in!

Brad

I did 28 weeks. The duration varies depending on a number of factors including which meds, first time tx or prior relapse, cirrhosis, tx response, etc. Go to the Incivek and Victrelis web sites for the details on triple tx.

wilsondog:

I guess you are lucky, I have to get my biopsy soon. So, i know how my liver is doing? what was your geon type? 

Phil:

Thanks for the advise, so if your virus is undectable you only do 24 weeks.

my mantra through the really hard parts has been "just keep going." i'm not done yet but fortunately over the last eight weeks I've been steadily improving. insivek kicked my ass. 

peg/riba in my experience has been extremely manageable.  i also came in with very little damage to my liver and will finish in 4 weeks as i am so lucky to only have to do 24 weeks total.  don't get me wrong, there have been some extreme lows, but like phil i have a spiritual program i practice and this forum has carried me--literally, one day at a time. so far i've not gotten more than i could handle- even when i've felt i couldn't in the thick of it, because it all changes so quickly. so just keep going...

I came into this deal with an established 'one day at a time ' program, which I don't necessarily practice very well, but good enough most of the time. I have had to rely on it more and more during tx. Whatever works for you, keep doin it, and probably more of it. That said, fellowship is a big part of it. I don't do well bottling up my problems, and just about explode when there's some joy or pertinent experience and no place to go with it. TX certainly provides those opportunities. I refer to this forum as my third family. Without it, not sure how well I would have managed, probably not very. The drawback to that and tx in general is the obsession. Won't admit here how often I check in daily or how anal I get over the schedule. Today was my first day free of snacks, meds, and reminder alarms. There was a weird feeling of lack of purpose last night when I wasn't preparing for today and when I woke up a few hours later than 'normal' w/o an alarm or need to eat right away. Think I can get used to it, but still checking in with my family.

How do you get through your treatment? Day by day? 

52baddog wrote:

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... so if your virus is undectable you only do 24 weeks.

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 Yes, if you are not cirrhotic, or not a previous non-responder.

-- Edited by krowdog on Sunday 17th of June 2012 04:53:38 AM