Hi Kathy,

I'm also new here, (never joined a forum before), but this really is a great site & a great bunch of people, with so much info to share, encouragement to give, so welcome from a fellow newbie .

I'm HCV free (since  Feb 2004) contracted it in Feb 1991 from infected gamma globulin, I'm rhesus negative (O neg) & had a m/c. It wasn't discovered until 1995 in London (as Hep non-A, non-B, in those days).  Moved back to Ireland in 1997 & had Pegasys Interferon & Copegaus Ribavirin treatment from Jan 2004- Feb 2005 under Prof. Hegarty at St. Vincent's in Dublin (http://www.stvincents.ie/), PCR / VL was HCV free after 1 month of TX, but did the full year as I was one of the first patients in Europe to try the pegInterferon, protocol now (in Ireland anyway)  is 6 months.  Plus they took a lot of extra blood for research (it's a teaching hospital) & apparently I'm in some European medical journals as I responded so well to the treatment (as 'Patient A').

I was  genotype 2 had several biopsies (pre & post Tx).  Prior to TX, I had no cirrhosis, minimal scarring & in my early 30's when I started treatment,  (I just turned 44 end of November) last PCR /VL check was May 2007 (right before I moved to New England) & it was negative & it'll be 10 years next Feb. However, I'm having some major bone issues that have developed over the years & have now accelerated  quite quickly.  I broke my pelvis on 01 November by just turning....so they're checking bone density and possible auto-immune issues (RA / Lupus etc.) which may or may not be a result from TX even after so long (I've read on other forums people having similar bone issues years after Tx).  But to echo what everyone has said, this is a good, safe, place to vent, ask questions, whatever.  I wish I would've had access to something like this when I was doing Tx in Ireland, but didn't have a PC at home (*very* rural) only at work (I worked in Shannon, co. Clare) & I didn't really have many opportunities there. 

I'm sorry you're having a rough time of it, wishing you wellness & just know that you're not alone.  Jenny

Hi Kathy   

  I am glad you found this place and as I mentioned before you will find some very nice and informative people on this site. We may not all be doing the same treatment but we all have had times when we needed just some one to talk to that understood what it takes to get through these treatments. We are here for you if you need us so keep in tough.    Terry

Hi Kathy, welcome to our forum. I was also on the Vict. for 48 weeks. I was on Neupogen also..1 shot a week. It worked very well for me. I am almost 6 months post now and still recovering. Main trouble is the SOB (shortness of breath) Stairs are awful ..Take good care and keep us posted. ~Bob~

Kathy,

Welcome.  You'll get answers, you'll get questions, support, an ear and most of all, people who know what you are going through.  I've been here just a short while - and feel among friends.

Thanks for enriching this group.

Bill

Hey Kathy 

Nice to see you have posted your first thread. We warmly welcome you and we are more than willing to help you during your journey, just post your concerns and questions.

matt 

kathy,

welcome to this understanding forum. we're all here for the same reason and offer  honest nonjudgemental advice.

i'm 55 as well ,started 6/19/13 and will finish 0n 12/11 w/all pills and darts. i  have suffered from low hemo since 2nd month for i have that mediterranean anemia. the inhaler was one of my lifesavers and excersising to keep blood flowing. depression is quite common  on therapy. i started on meds but after 2nd month chose therapy instead.

you've done such an amazing job thus far. how proud your loved ones must be for your courage & stamina. slow & steady wins the race, even if you have to use a cane to combat the vertigo.

sandy,ucbgal

Hello Kathy and welcome to the best forum available! You've found a wonderful, caring group of friends that are here for you 24/7. Please stay in touch and let us know a little more about your HCV history and test results. It really helps when answering your questions. Many of us post our particulars in the signature section of our profile. That's the text you see at the bottom of our posts. Kind of a mini history/biography.

I'm just finishing a 28 week course of Peg/Riba/Victrelis and I've been taking Neupogen twice a week for a while now and trust me it really helps build up your white count. While your white count is low, be sure to avoid people with colds or the flu. You're succeptible to catching any bug, so keep that in mind. I haven't had any problems in that respect and am glad it was available when needed. Keeping track of all those different medications can be a handful. I left lots of notes and set alarms to remind me on those days I needed help remembering! 

I hope you stay in touch here and wish you the absolute best moving forward!!

Hey Kathy, welcome to the greatest asset for helping us to get through tx in the world!

This is a wonderful place and you will meet many people who have been through what you are going through now. These people on this forum really care about each other and you will feel it too.

It's not easy sometimes but it  is doable if you just put one foot in front of the other. We are a tough lot and you are one of us now.

Keep moving forward and ask tons of questions. Hope you have a good day today.

Hi Kathy, I`m glad you took your sister`s advice and joined this forum!  

You`ll find all the support you need here and have lots of other people to chat with who understand exactly what it`s like to be struggling through a long stretch of Hep C treatment.  Many us here, myself included, had never joined a forum like this before, but if you stay around you`ll realise what a great community we have here.

I only did 24 weeks of Peg/Riba (for genotype 3) but also was in quite bad health to begin with, and the tiredness, weakness and depression hit me hard.  These are all common side effects, unfortunately, plus you also have the Neupogen shots to cope with, so it`s understandable that you`re finding it hard going.  I agree with Malcolm that it would be a good idea to discuss taking antidepressants for a while, many people find they make quite a difference. 

Your breathing difficulties are almost certainly related to being anemic but getting an inhaler could well make things a bit easier. 

Looking forward to hearing from you again, keep in touch, and best of luck! 

PS - I noticed you`d started 2 separate threads so I`ve joined them together so that all the replies are in the same place.  ~ Jill

Hi Kathy, glad you decided to drop in and hope you hang your hat for a while. There are getting to be more and more of us 48 week triple treats and we totally know and understand what your going through. Some of us do better than others but I think it's got to do a lot with attitude an the inner strength to hang in and hope we have happier days ahead. We will be here to help as we can and don't be afraid or inhibited to ask any question or cry with us if you need to. We all have been there at some time during the treatment(s). Cheers.

Hi Kathy,

Welcome to the Forum. Like you, I had never done  'a Forum thing' before, but this Forum helped me get through my 48 weeks of the Victrelis triple, and I went on to SVR.

I'm sorry you're having problems with your WCC.  Many Members have used Neupogen and that's just an added pain to what is a very demanding treatment. You're probably anaemic as well, which would account for the breathlessness. Depression is common with such a demanding Rx and maybe you should discuss this with your doctor, as antidepressants may help. You must be at treatment week 24 or thereabouts, so can you let us know your Viral Load results, and why you're doing 48 weeks?  Several Members have done the Victrelis triple, so please ask if your have any specific questions. It's not easy, but the results are worth it . Best of luck. Cheers.

Hello Kathy and welcome!!!!  Your sister has given you great advice.  These sites are amazing in that you get so much information and encouragement.  I have learned so many things here that the doctor didn't tell me.  And when you get down and depressed you can vent to people that understand and have been there.  I am 54 and started treatment in september (Inter/Rib).  Geno 3a.  I feel for all you "triple therapies" out there.  Don't know how you do it. Double therapy is bad enough.  Hang in there, you will get through all this and we will all help you.

My name is Kathy.  I am 55 years old and have genotype1.  It is difficult to understand, I just do what they tell me to.  I started triple therapy (Ribovarin, Victrellis, and the Pegasus shots).  My health hasn't been so good to begin with.  my white blood count went down to .300. So now I also have to take Neupogen shots (1 ml) twice a week. It is making me so sick.  Haven't been able to keep any food down now, and breathing is so difficult that I have to sleep sitting up in a chair.  I do blood work every week.  I am on the 48 week program.  I think they are going to prescribe an inhaler on Monday.  My hair is falling out.  I have been just sick, weak, and tired.  I started this treatment in the later part of June this year.  It's the Neupogen I think that I have such a problem with.  The highest my white blood cells was 1800.  but it is difficult to stabilize.  

I never did a forum thing before.  My sister recommended that I do this Because I am getting depressed.