Grandbabies are the absolute best! I have two and I love them dearly. They can run you to exhaustion, but as you said, they help you forget about some of our everyday worries. It's nice having them to hover over, I like it, a lot  We have much to be thankful for!

Hey Granny,

Congrats to you all! Happy Birthday little one. She's SO sweet. Ah, isn't living life large just grand!

Funny that, how one whiff of newborn babe pheromones, makes Mom forget all the trauma she just went through birthing, and, I see it works well for making Grannies forget all about HCV ordeals too! Handy to know that!  C.

Jaggles wrote:

---

 today I get to be a Nanny....out with the dragon and in comes a baby ....just doesn't get any more dramatic than that xxxx love yoll xxxx

---

 No it doesn't! How about that! With modern medicine, we've come to take both for granite, but that right there is a double miracle in action. Congratulations Jags!!!

There are no coincidences. CONGRATS on a very special day in more ways than one. 

Congratulations on finishing treatment Jags. I am so happy for you.

and OMG what a perfectly delightfully magical babykins.

Enjoy all that new born bliss!

yay

A          

Jaggles wrote:

---

Here she is .....arrived on my EOT day.....what a gift .....today my first day without Epclusa...feels good...EOT draw tomorrow....I'm loved up with baby pheromones 

love to you all xx

---

With out a doubt, Your Angel.

An Angel is a Messenger. Listen to her Jaggs and my heartfelt congrats on EOT.

New Life ahead! Say's The Messenger.

JimmyK

Congratulations Jags!! What a perfect baby she is! You are very blessed and here are two more examples of that. Tomorrow when you have your EOT labs done and back, you'll receive your third, an undetected VL. Then we'll wait for SVR12! Give my best to the new parents and to the rest of the family, Grandma (or is that Grandmum?) 

Happy EOT!!!

Here she is .....arrived on my EOT day.....what a gift .....today my first day without Epclusa...feels good...EOT draw tomorrow....I'm loved up with baby pheromones 

love to you all xx

Talk about timing. My God definitely has a sense of humor. Congrats Jags and here's to a healthy delivery for your daughter. 

Hey thanks Jimmy buddy...and Canuck...they were the nice kind of tears ...I'm ok now...last pill tomorrow Wednesday 28th ......but today is a revelation as daughter in labour as I type...going to hospital in next few hours so today I get to be a Nanny....out with the dragon and in comes a baby ....just doesn't get any more dramatic than that xxxx love yoll xxxx

Greetings,

Prior to treatment, we all share in the feeling that there has to be a catch.

Then we start and we are excited and feeling like things all the sudden have sped up.

Then we get news of the 4 week UND.

From about week 5 to 11 is is pretty smooth sailing. We feel quite safe then.

A few pills left and it is like losing a Teddy Bear, or a Blanket, or some other means of security. There is somewhat of a fear of not taking that daily pill.

Jaggs, trust me. It only gets better from here.

Congrats dear Friend, Congrats.

JimmyK

Listen up everybody I did NOT, I repeat I DID NOT make Jags cry! I will deny this, hotly, she did that!, (I just taunted her). 

As usual Jags, you are right, when the vision clears everything is, well, just so clear. You are the one who is teaching me a lot! I always seem to do my best learning in hindsight (why is it always in hindsight?). 

Man, you've sure been packin a lot of people around including Pete Tong, Thomas Doubting! But they will no longer be allowed along for the ride. Ditched with the HCV. Nice, I am envious, you cured, looking good, and a loving herd of family around you. Hope the chest/thrush thing is resolving now.

Hey - beers!, pina coladas!, hang on a minute there girl! What happened to just some ordinary cake? Orrr, did someone say .... icccccecream?!

BTW - I think the pond is only virtual, the only real thing is the time warp.

Last pill!, (tomorrow?). Down the hatch! Enjoy. It's just like takin' candy from a baby.  C.

As ever....thankful for you wise words of support and encouragement. I knew from every word you wrote that you understood me...how irrational it can suddenly become. I was aware of the high I was on for the first 6 weeks but in hind sight can now see how this low ebb has crept up on me as we get closer to EOT. i have been a bit low this past week...in fact since I got the damn chest infection so guess it did set me back a little but today I feel better equipped again...able to see it as you both describe .....you know the journey well.  Funny how two complete strangers other side of the pond ...have become  such a strong source of support and resilience ....I cannot thank you enough. Today I have been listening to my rational logic and positive brain talking to me rather than the doubting Thomas on my shoulder...i have 2 pills left and on Thursday will get EOT draw...ive given up expecting those closest to me to truly understand what I'm going through as they are human, love me unconditionally and I'm very lucky to have them all....I have been guilty of charging through this with a mask on everyday...not ever showing anything other than cure and health because I look so much better...my old self back...they had no reason to think otherwise ...I'm the strong one who supports everybody else emotionally ....

Tig your reassurance and faith is well written ....the description ...the picture you painted is bang on !! 

Canuck...your words connected with me and as you were first response it made me cry....you are so kind. You both made me feel a lot better emotionally and I needed a good cry I think....

anyway...

in a couple of weeks I plan to have a pina colada to celebrate the birth of my grandchild...who is STILL NOT here yet....little monkey keeping us all waiting.

i go forth much stronger thanks to you....onwards and upwards....truly up yours dragon 

hugs (((((( <3  ))))))

Jayne xx

Hey Jags,

I missed your post and am sorry about that. You are experiencing what we all do (did) at the end of treatment. Believe that! There are so many stages of treatment. The realization that you need to do something, then doing it, all the highs and lows of obtaining treatment, then the news of approval and the associated excitement. The tests start, as does the worry of "what did I do and what is this thing doing to me". All the second guessing, beating yourself up about it, mentally and physically, this takes a toll. Treatment itself is a combination of things too. We were all grateful to get the opportunity and swore to do everything right. When you do start, there is initial excitement about slaying a Dragon and some days you feel like the Dragon might be slaying you! But the first tests come along and POW, you see exactly how bad ass these drugs are! (emphasis added). All of a sudden you realize successful Tx is at hand and you've gained the upperhand. That's almost scary exciting sometimes. So by now most people are feeling fairly good and are at one of their highest moments of treatment satisfaction, to date anyway. When you get near the end, when the last few pills are rattling around the jar, you get nervous. What happens when there are no more pills? YIKES!! Jags, that's totally normal and we do understand the anxiety of finishing. You hope til your "HOPER" is hoped out! That anxiety leads to doubt and doubt leads to headaches, stomach upset, increased insomnia and a generalized crappy feeling. It will stop in a matter of days and weeks. Once you realize what you're going through is completely normal and predictable (and it is), you'll recognize it for what it is, fear of failing something you want so badly it makes you sick. If I can offer anything, please know the confidence I have that you're going to be fine. It happened to me, I've seen the same doubt and fears in just about everyone here. We made it and you will too...

I can't resolve the things happening around you and I don't like you having to deal with the other problems that take you away from the task at hand. You're important too, never forget that. This treatment is for everyone, but it's yours FIRST. This is all about getting you well and once you do that, you can better handle the things around you. Once you're done, you'll recover in time and you'll start feeling better than you have in years. Give yourself a break, don't let the doubt get you down. Sweep that creep off your shoulder and quit listening to the negative thoughts going through your mind. They're nothing but a nuisance and serve no purpose.

We're always here for you and unlike many people we meet each day, WE understand how difficult some days can be. You can do this!  

Hi Jags,

I replied earlier to a post you made, but over in Epcluser's corner, there you HAD mentioned "wobbling", and we know you are approaching EOT, but I am glad you have expounded on wobbling here, as I wasn't too sure how wobbly or quite in what way. I figured the chest thing, and thrush thing (just thrown in for good cruel measure), were not helpful events.

I don't know why we do this, it does seem to happen to quite a few of us, with some regularity, as we are nearing end of treatment, extentuating circumstances do contribute, but for some unkind reason the doubts creep in, I do think it has a lot to do with losing our "big strong buddy in a bottle", the pills have been our saviour for quite some time, representing how protected and stronger we can feel with this big bro at our back, at EOT we think about how we are on our own now. We had put all our faith in the pills, the hope and work of taking them helped keep us on track, busy and productive to the goal, once at the precipice of EOT, things somehow revert to some of those same fear feelings we may have had prior to obtaining them, when we used to listen and pay attention to the negative little devil the virus used to perch on our shoulder.

Wish I had a few bucks for everytime I have read almost the same words you spoke tonight, that some of the others have too ... "afraid it will come back or already has" ... this can only be battled by you listing the obvious objective logic, (listen to your analytical left mind, it's talking to you) you ARE already cured and were, long ago, early with your stupendously "crashed" VL and ALT/AST - that is irrefutable evidence! So, you can't go there, as it is too late, SVR is a mere technicality now. But I do understand how everything else is contributing to weaken and unnerve you, and feeling these things are allowed! (Damned right emotional brain overiding analytical left hemisphere, why can't they just get along, instead of us getting batted and battered back and forth between them, in these brain volleys!)

You have been exceptionally strong and brave throughout, it was quite a feat how well you forced yourself to get through all this, it has been a long haul, and feelings like these you express are perfectly normal (in my book of how to get yourself through an ordeal!) and justifiable - except for that bit about being afraid you are not cured though - that's already a given, but the recent illness(s), many demanding events all throughout your treatment time, and working, I am not surprized you speak of fatigue, migraine, and are feeling mixed and low again. Just remind yourself of how many infections, conditions/maladies, drugs and events you have been forced to go through this last while - feeling not 100% yet? - I am not suprized!

The family dynamics are a part of this too, some people are good at unconditional support and have an innate talent for it, others not so much, and they can actually add to the burden sometimes, as we are all merely human beings. As a species, I often wonder, just how is it, we survive life (at least in my family that has been some kind of miracle)! You are well within your rights to be feeling sorry for yourself right now, and from time to time, it's allowed, and that will not last, it is what we go through and go past, sometimes repeatedly. Feeling alone ... you have a good head on your shoulders, count on that (number one), and you got your doc, and you have us ... the family, well ... utilize what they do shine at, and can offer, even when it is and feels inadequate for your needs. They too have to know how to pull themselves up from their bootstraps time and time again, and we all do it in our own sometimes difficult and inept ways. We can't demand perfection out of them, but more importantly we cannot demand it of oursleves - trying too hard can set us up for being disappointed. You will get through this, just like you have been doing (so well)! I, for one, am very proud of your efforts, and I think, like me, you will, in the next coming weeks and months, start realizing the rewards of getting yourself cured. That will trump all. I think you have been and are doing just a marvelous job! C.

Today I'm feeling really wobbly....I only have 3 days to go but I'm falling to pieces .i feel alone and afraid that it will come back or already has....tired and fatigue , had migraine all day yesterday ...I feel alone because all my closest people act like everything is fine and I can't talk to them incase they tell me yet again...not to worry it's all ok and I'm overthinking it...its like they can't talk about it so we have the elephant in the room. The baby is late and all coversation with my daughter must be about that ....I am suddenly very low and alone and afraid again ....is that normal? My partner has started smoking again and even worse sneaks off so we don't have to talk about that as well...I'm feeling sorry for myself I know but not being able to talk about it is really impacting on me. I'm so tired ....the rational me is hoping that it is because ive been on Epclusa so long they are now harming me and not the Hep c...,the alternative thought is its comeing back....Jaggles not so positive today...apologies  xx

This is so cool.

There she is! I missed the up yours dragon, and feel better just seeing that in print again. So glad to hear the positivity in your tone about the future.

You have a way with words dear - fettle, doddle, peeing in "pans", grandogs, up yours and yippee in the same sentence, are they all Jaggleisms? hee hee C.

Thanks guys....you have been brilliant source of support....time has flown...not sure on alt and ast but will post eot draw when I get them. 

I trust you are both fine and in usual good fettle 

J xxx

Well, there you are! I was getting to think you had forgotten your online Family here! Great to hear from you and will count down these remaining 17 days with you. That went fast once you got onboard the Train, WOO WOO!!!! (Insert train whistle here)

You're a testament to success!

Hey, Nice you geared down to yell hiya as you speed on!! Give er girl! Peddle to the metal. Und 2 through 8 weeks/Alt 21?! .... poof (magic)! Sounds good! Yay epclusa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.  C. 

Well wadya know....I'm back just passing by to say hi Hep family..... Can you believe I only  got 17 days left of my 12 weeks course.

feeling great and recently joined the gym for a little light work out now and then, mostly treadmill. Never could have done that before lol.....the water still flows and I'm just a busy bee....granddaughter due any day  I'm so excited. I remember crying 9 months ago cause I thought I would be too ill to enjoy the birth or be able to enjoy my other daughter's wedding....it's been just the best year and it keeps on getting better. 

lovely to see so many people getting these drugs now and finding themselves again.

love to you all...and UP YOURS DRAGON YIPPEEEE

Day 42!!!!!!!! Halfway through packing all that water around??!! Yay!  C.

Thank you all so much from the heart!!!!! I don't know how I would have got to be so positive or even progressed through this journey without your consistent support 24 /7 anytime....Jimmy thank you for reminding me of that journey...I just read back and taking big sigh of relief, also disbelief...what I've been through since diagnosis .I intend to pay back and raise funds for this forum!!! Much needed support and advice I would not have known about other wise....I know I'm not out the other side just yet but I'm winning the race so far....and I seriously believe you all played , continue to play a part in that. 

Big love at you all xxxx

J

Greetings.

For the new folks reading this that have recently been diagnosed. For the people who have NOT become members here but are passing through reading here and there, trying to get as much information as you can.

Knowing having been there that, .. the start of all this is stressful and there are many many doubts and concerns running through your head.

I would like you to read Jaggs post of earlier today, and then if you would, please take the time to go back, a mere six months ago when she first got here. 

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t62853688/coming-to-terms-with-my-recent-diagnosis/

That was six months ago.

Kind of reminds me of just slightly more than a year ago. Feb 22, 2016 to be exact. That very helpful Northern Sister of mine, who has been outstanding in supporting folks with detailed reports that are significant and relate to concerns new folks have. We have all seen how helpful she has been.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t61707886/waiting-waiting-waiting/

LOL, "...Oh this stupid dance..." was just a year past and now see where she is.

New people I am saying this so that you can understand, for the most part, the active board here IS NEW PEOPLE myself included. The cure you seek is upon us and before you know it you will be joining our ranks and please remember, WE JUST GOT HERE!

The cares you may have are welcome here and we will help you through them and in the grand scheme of things i can only say, don't blink, or you will miss the whole thing.

JimmyK

Hey Jags,

Sounds like success already! You're a perfect example of why we do this and why we go through the journey together. Your words are encouraging for all that read them! 

You go Girl!

Love how you sound Jaggles! Ladies and gentleman we have our very own.....

Oh my, (warning to all!) - Jags is firing on ALL cylinders - watch out world! Man, I wish I felt THAT good - things are de-fin-ite-ly looking up! We're talkin some good drugs here - I never knew epclusa could produce so much of this kind of high! Whoever said - "just say no" to drugs! Well, they certainly did not mean epclusa I guess.

I can't help teasin ya Jags - I am so dang happy for you - it's all going tickety-boo! - you are rebounding SO fast! Dealing with so much in your life, all at once - sheesh, I am impressed. Could I come over and borrow a cup of clarity please? 

OK, I have a theory, "rebounding" may be having an effect on the degree of discomfort you are still having in your joints - all this "in leaps and bounds" activity, table top dancing, mutli-tasking, work/weddings/birthing babes and pups - all at the same time in a single bound??!!, not to mention doing camel impressions (packing all that extra heavy water around for weeks on end)!, might still be hard on the ankle joints.

You are doing SO good. Seize the day! and all your days my dear. C. 

Hi all....just popping by to let you know I'm 5 days away from being half through 12 week Epclusa ....still undetected  I'm feeling soooo much better. Still have some joint pain, mostly in hands and ankles but not sure if it's old age lol....im drinking water well and carry supplies everywhere I go. I have clear head and so sharp I'm starting to multi task again, something I havnt been able to cope with for a long time. I am not angry all the time and to be honest...couldnot give a **** about much...just living my life and greatful to be doing so. Work is going well and I am managing long days. I sleep from about 9pm until 6am so that's brilliant . Still no sides...,just get mild headache as a reminder to sip more water but if it persists I take paracetamol and it goes. Off the morphine now.....so that's good all round. . Grandchild nearly here ...5 weeks..eeeek....and we have a new pup in the family....I have a grandog....

Wishing you all a lovely day today....

UP YOURS DRAGON!!

That's what it's all about, Jags! Dance like nobody's watching and enjoy every second. Big ol WOOT on that!!

Canuck wrote:

---

 

Now, tell me, have you ever exhibited any of these behaviours before .... dancing tabletop and such? Did anyone notice?  Hope you danced like you meant it. Were you delicously tanned for the evening? What flavour was the cake? Details, details!

Oh we can't wait for your Thurs news eh? It ALL gonna be good, from now on.  C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxSWE4uCJg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9-HGHT1Pk

 

---

 Hahaaa YEP ....have done many many years ago Canuck...but Saturday was like I was dancing to make up for the misery I have been these past two or so years when I was obviously becoming chronic ....and yeasssss....my damn brother videod it all so of course, it has been shared and everyone saw it lol....but I don't give a hoot  .....fake tan and all a glow I knocked em dead with my uptown funk routine lol ....hahaaa ..hugs and a whole lotta Rosie to you all xxxxxx

<~~~~~~ Speechless but Smiling Really BIG!

Wow, Jags! The way you're sounding makes me wonder if I should try treatment again, lol! Just reading your activity and cognition improvements, is a sure sign of good things happening. Too bad you can't bottle some of that energy and sell it. I wonder if FedEx would overnight it to me? You're really doing well and I'm thrilled to read the joy in your posts! Keep it going Sister! 

Jaggles,

hee hee wheeeeeee! Man. I could never have hoped for a better ride for you my dear. Lovely, just lovely. I AM jealous!! I have forewarned a few here before, about the really important side effects of Epclusa, that one should always keep a very wary eye out for, that of hope, promise, wellness and the all-in euphoria of empowerment it can evoke on the unsuspecting. hee hee

Now, tell me, have you ever exhibited any of these behaviours before .... dancing tabletop and such? Did anyone notice?  Hope you danced like you meant it. Were you delicously tanned for the evening? What flavour was the cake? Details, details!

Oh we can't wait for your Thurs news eh? It ALL gonna be good, from now on.  C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxSWE4uCJg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9-HGHT1Pk

Helloooo.....ok....im exactly one month into my 12 weeks Epclusa. I feel so damn good. I went to my daughter's wedding party Saturday night and I was dancing on the tables...lol...WITH my bottle of water... but I had a great time. 

Energy levels really increased along with my brain capacity ....sharper vision and cognitive processes are much easier. Still cannot believe how much of this had been normalised by a string of mis diagnosis ....I have a few aches and pains but they are getting slowly better...my manic anger and frustration has gone...another thing put down to Menopause ...I have no side effects...just keep guzzeling water and I feel fine.

i had another draw today so will see how things look when Hep nurse calls me Thursday but now she doesn't want to see me again for a month...

i have booked a holiday in Corfu in September so all in all I'm tickety boo UP YOURS DRAGON !!

wendyo wrote:

---

The best part of this thread is when Jaggles says "up yours dragon". LOVE IT! 

So happy for you

---

 Thank you so much ....I'm still laughing out loud too...xxx

The best part of this thread is when Jaggles says "up yours dragon". LOVE IT! 

So happy for you

Thank you xx

GREAT news Jaggles

Grand child coming in 8 weeks....wedding party of other daughter next week and I am sooooooo looking forward to celebrating....no alcoholl required as I'm drunk on relief and getting my life back .....xxx

Hey, I been lookin for a good cook. Ya think slices of that cake might fit in an envelope? 

Oh, you are going to have such a good (better) celebration for you, your daughter and the whole family! You get to start early!  C.

Omg I'm actually REALLY LAUGHING OUT LOUDits such a wonderful feeling.....love your posts guys ....thanks for sharing the love ....and the new analogy too ....thanks for being here and thanks for being you. If you lived nearby I would cook you a feast fit for a king today! really can't thank you enough.. xxxxxxxx

Hey Jags,

That's outstanding! The big ol ZERO! Incredible stuff these new drugs. I love hearing the positive tone in your conversation. You keep it up, this is going to work and the results don't lie!

Congratulations!

Love, love, love your yippee dance moves Jag!

And THAT's just-the-way-we-do-it!

STU-pendous!!! Lovely little bit of ALT news too, to top it all off  (just when you thought you couldn't possibly stand anymore excitement).

It does feel astounding, doesn't it!

Man, I could NOT be happier for you. Ya done good girl, in all ways!

Welcome to Club Zero. C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dMGc9AwyvI

Very good news and also as expected! This is good stuff.

I have had to re-think my analogy as far as "Mass Murder" goes.

It's the Contract sort of attention to detail that bothers me here.

The DAA's don't actually "kill" the Virus (Dragon). The way they work is they block the ability to replicate and therefore we need a new analogy that is more accurate.

Hmmmmm? Oh I know! The DAA's, in your case Epclusa, went in and confronted the Dragon and immediately cut his nuts off.

YOU CAN'T SAY THAT!

just dropping in to say hi....and.....virus undetected at week 2 

https://goo.gl/images/0du5E2

im so happy I cried....as JimmyK said....the mass murder has happened and the shoot to kill is happening now...( by the way Jim , the Hep nurse loved your analogy)

viral load October 2016 3 million and had dropped to 352000 pre treatment so it had already dropped. My Alt has gone from 91 to 22. She is going to send full reports to my GP and I will get her to print them. Can't believe I have had this for 35 years approx and it's taken 2 weeks to massacre with Epclusa. 

Still no sides as i guzzle  5 litres water a day.

happy days  

Up YOURS DRAGON!!!!!

Day 7 ...first week done ....I feel so much better already ...unbeliveable ...I'm easily drinking 4 to 5 litres over a 24 hour period so only had a couple of dizzy spells and a few slight headaches. my vasculitis hand looks a little better too so hoping it will clear up ...such early days but really positive so far. As for joint and muscle pain, they seem a little better so I've continued reducing morphine from my pain management.

got notice I may get made redundant today but sod it....I don't actually care....I'm so relieved with how treatment is going.

love you all Hep c family 

Jaggles ((((hugs))))

Good one Tig. heeheehaahha. 

You too Jaggles, you twisted sister.

OMG,  just realized something, this twisted humour thing ... it's happening to ALMOST all of us after DAA's! C.

Ahhh Canuck you do make me chuckle....I am forever saying things wrong way round lol...my partner laughs and calls them Jaggleisms.... I am kind of teased as typical blonde although that is a stereotype of dumbness ...and that, I am not lol but can laugh at myself too....which is a good thing really .....

you say the nicest things ...thank you ...yes I'm listening to body and rest up accordingly. Today is day 5 and I can't believe how clear my head is becoming ...I can only say it feels like I've taken a helmet off...an invisible helmet which gave me blurred vision, affected my balance and concentration, joints and made me heavy and emotional. I keep havinhg flashbacks, clear as day light...so many things in the past 35 years make sense. I am starting to wonder how the hell I never figured it out before and feel excited at the prospect of feeling the best I have felt for possibly 35 years....at 53.... 

this drug is amazing and it fascinates me how one pill can release such a wrath of execution on the virus....the rate things have progressed with my condition over the past 8 months and now...day 5 .....no sides....incredible. I'm drinking my own body weight in water and my skin looks great, my pee is so clear you can't see it in the pan lol 

wow ...not even a week yet.....

i look forward to posting results ...having first tests done 18th April xxxx