We have to have some bad days (or not so good) to help us appreciate the good ones! No one ever promised me a rose garden, but if I do the footwork, I will be able to pull the thorns out of my butt and move forward. Progress sister, not perfection and you know it! I'm glad you had the sprinkler moment and shared it as I bet it helped many of us. Remember it is all in God's time. And God doesn't wear a watch! (Jimmy, don't go there)

all best,

wendy 

Hey, 

You sibs are getting along right fine, figuring things out, no in- fightin' (that would never happen in my genetic family, that's why I am soooo glad to have all you sis's and bro's here, as my bigger fam, where I can still learn a thing or two)!

I like your ambivalence and acceptance to change John.

Christine ... Attitude?? Toilet attitude or otherwise? For me, attitude has always undulated around, like a leaf twisting on a windy day! I once said I am merely a child of life, still learning, therefore, for my attitude there is no right or wrong to be had, just is. With this premise I cannot be blamed for anything! heehee

I loved the image of the mesmerizing oscillations, withering flower heads fading from demand, and quiet reflections. I am so thankful you have this time now. We have had more than a few here, account, that at some point in their hepc journey, their realization of what good things happened to them (that they could have never imagined) because of having this affliction! 

Your comment, about "life as we knew it, being on hold" ...yep, I got knocked down kinda hard off and on and then for some time prior to treatment, and while on treatment, profound fatigue (and other things) were at it's height. I resigned to it, toughed it out, did my duty (very gratefully mind you) and waited, and waited, and waited. The milestones passed, and bit by bit, I got to relish incremental improvements. The "height of things" on treatment I strongly suspect had to do with the third drug I was on (I think, but I guess I will never really know) - at times i thought it would never pass, but it did. I am still improving! The most important improvements have already happened, the rest is gravy! I love gravy! Last year was a longish blur, this year is clearer, even though I am still committed to frequent medical intrusions and interactions, so this year too still feels on the longish side - but I am soooo grateful I am cured, worth every minute and second of it, and I feel all of it has contributed to making me a different person (in many ways).

Now, me, nosey and demanding ....  I need answers or I won't be able to sleep! Are you sleeping any better? How much augmentin are you on now and for how much longer - you mentioned  a change to a 1/2 dose of augmentin?? Did the doc tell you to do that? Have your fevers resolved? You were staying close to the toilet due to rumbling guts in response to the augmentin (those risky trips to the mailbox with perhaps a fun "run" back to the bathroom) - has that stopped? Is your skin rash thing the same or better? 

Tomorrow is another day, and we'll all do our best. I'm going zzzzzzzzzzz soon, hope you are already there, in sweet healing slumber. C.

John,

Hope you had a fine time at your niece's birthday party! My granddaughters are 8 and 9 - it's the perfect age in my book. She is lucky to have you in her life. You can remind her as she grows that change happens, acceptance is the key and God already has a good plan for her. She will be exactly where she's supposed to be each day. If you weren't my twin I'd want you for an uncle! Or a sponsor.

 My attitude was in the toilet yesterday but I sat outside and watched the sprinkler oscillate today. I started actually hearing and smelling the outdoors in a way that's been missing during my hyper speed years of homeschooling four kids and then working full time plus. The urgency is slipping away and it feels healthy. It was even okay not to deadhead the petunias because, for heaven's sake, can't they do that for themselves? 

Thank you kindly for helping me get back on the rails.

Christine, everything passes in life, that is what makes it so special. The good times never last forever and neither do the bad times, everything is constantly changing. Embrace the changes and realize that it too will change. Change is good, but comes at a cost of acceptance, you are right where you are supposed to be at this given moment in time. God's will. So you keep the faith and realize that ultimately there is a plan already in place for you, it just hasn't been revealed to you yet! Keep your eyes focused on tomorrows to come, live in the day and embrace every moment and never loose having gratitude in your life.

Every morning I get up a little weak, legs feeling funky, but I muscle out and begin my medication and drink two full bottles of water, have coffee and then believe it or not start to feel my legs get stronger and no so weak. Water I guess really is the trick here, I'm a slow learner but getting there.

Got to run, well walk to my car, its a Birthday for my wife little niece who is getting big now, well she is 9 today. Ah, she calls me Uncle John, that is so..... you know I never had children so when I hear you say you're a Grandmother, I guess I missed that part in my life. Next round, when I get there.

Keep positive.

John 

Feeling a bit disheartened the last few days about my persistent low energy level. Fighting the RA pain and neuropathy gets to me. I did file for long term disability since my GP has me totally off work until further notice. I know I can't work (for even a few hours) while I feel this way but being nonproductive even with simple housekeeping chores is messing with my self-image. I don't even recognize the person I was a year ago. Some of the shoppers who deliver my groceries look older and less fit than I am but they race around like it's nothing. Hoping this is something I will learn to accept - and soon! Life as I knew it seems to be on hold. Does this feeling pass?

-- Edited by MyMallards on Saturday 10th of June 2017 08:32:01 AM

Hi, my treasured Canuck. I missed you! I knew you'd celebrate with me! But, Wow! Cheers, dancing and killer poetry! Thank you! Considering a zero tattoo on my forehead.

Hey Christine!!

Had to be travelling out of town, (doc appointments and car trouble, just got home! - just in time, to travel for anotherYep,  appointment!), so, could not respond until now. But I peeked in, and saw your great news!!!!!

I am sure it was hard to hear me cheering from afar, but believe me, I made some whooping big cheering noises for you, and small noises too (like, aaaaww nice), I am so happy and relieved for you.

To celebrate, I was hoping you could hear my jubilation from afar, but maybe it only sounded like one hand clapping. I recorded it (just in case), here is me, my partner, and a few of the gang at my hep docs office.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYA40UtEBak  It feels so freakin cool (when somebody wins), just makes me want to dance - I practise this one (in private) - still learning the moves.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5xs2ukksE

I've done the math for you  ... 28 days= 0. Oh lovely zero. My very favourite number! 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (and forever) - they also all equal zero. Tole ya, zero is just this amazing number! I love math! (now that I have learned zero) - its the only number in the multiplication table I have mastered, and it is so nice to always get it right!

Also, I love, LOVE, LOOOVE Wendy's .... kill, KILL, KIIILLLL mantra clip! (my very all-time fav). Yep, yer killin it! It is Done deal.  This was a mantra I used for a while ...

No, no, no - I didn't say  "Viral LOAD", ... I saa-id ... "Viral ODE" !! You know, like ... as in ... "Ode to a Virus"??

Begone you vile

wicked thing,

herald my war cry,

it's your death I sing!

Be forewarned,

you'll taste my steel!

Of your innards,

I'll make a meal!

I'll pierce your breast,

crush your head,

slaughter your children,

oooh how,  I  wish-you-DREAD!

When you're starved and bleeding,

dis-armed, eyes sloughed,

then I'll strangle you thoroughly

'til quite cold enough!

And when your flesh

rots and decays,

I will celebrate,

every day!

I'll dance on your bones,

no grave for thee,

your evil soul to

purga - to -ry!

Your essence will vanish

Into hell's abyss,

dust, washed to nothing,

OH - MY - BLISS!

I tire of you,

you creepy skum,

no right to exist,

YOUR DAYS ARE DONE!

The army has come!

(a velpa war cry!)

I'm on Zep for 12 weeks too. Close to half way through now. Expecting my undetected status will hold and some magical day I'll be a true SVR. Won't that be sumthin'?!

Counting the days til your first bloods are done, John. Then we'll lock arms and wait for results together. Oooh, I'm getting chills just thinking about it.

But Dude-twin, we have GOT to get some consistent sleep! 

I'm so happy for you, for you, for giving us strength to carry on.  How long did your treatment last with the Zepatier? Mine is projected for 12 weeks. Love your Eagle. 

Christine, yes, 7 days away from drawing my blood work. I've never doubted anything but positive results from this, after all it was all orchestrated by his will, not mine.

Funny both you and I have other things going on, my stomach has been bouncing real bad with lower abdominal discomfort that runs all day until I lay down at night to rest and then I'm up every 2 hours like clock work, trying to force myself to relieve myself, ugh.... after, back to bed again for 2 hours and up. Cipro and Flagyl, that is the culprit here. Been 7 days now taking these med's. I just want to stop taking the Flagyl, that is what is ripping me apart and just continue with the Cipro  for a total of 10 days.

I believe in my heart of hearts, I didn't come this far to be dropped. Agreed, this too shall pass!

How you feeling?

Now that's what I'm talking about! 

Your liver forgives you girlfriend  

ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Tig. I feel like the luckest girl in the world! I want to hug my liver and apologize to it. if the primary organ of this monster's attack can thrive then it feels like the rest of bod has a chance of too. My Zep twin is approaching his 4 week lab date too and I'm praying today for his big fat zero as well. Go strong, brother John! Just keep in mind that some medical centers only run these tests twice a week when they have enough to batch test.

FABULOUS RESULTS!! A Big Fat Zero? How cool is that!! Congratulations is in order, drinks on me! Grab your water and take a loonnnggg pull on that bottle.......... I'll wait.......... Now don't you feel great? I knew it, I just knew you would, lol.

Seriously, that's super great news. These are powerfully good drugs and will deliver as advertised. I'm happy you are all getting this opportunity to grow as old as I feel, ha, ha! Maybe that isn't worth striving for, but a healthy, happy and virus free liver sure is! 

Keep on fighting and never look back!

Hahaaa!! Install a hose fitting...yes! You're killing me! Clearly decades of viral attack doesn't affect the wit and humor organ.  Yay for that, eh?! 

Hey...I got some lab results today. My 4 week HCV RNA was "undetected." Yesss...that's right ...UN-freaking-DETECTED! VL is less than 12. So how about that? 

Waiting for the applause, 

Christine

MyMallards wrote:

So, we are on the right path. I know it but need reminders on the hard days. Not scratching and drinking my gallon of water is my goal for today.

I have to make a confession. Father Tig, I have sinned.  On most days during treatment I have overestimated my water intake. The gallon jug is now my accuser. Almost midnight and it's still 25% full...and I've tried! Fortunately I'll be awake til 3 so I have time. Ha. Can I get a reduction on the requirement based on body weight? :::spoken so sweetly you can't resist::: 

 

---

 Dear Christine,

The long answer is:       NO 

I will however, allow you to roll over the water quantity missed. Kinda like leftover minutes on your phone plan. Understand this is on a limited basis and must be consumed within 24 hours! I do like the drinking out of the hose idea! How about we just install a hose fitting somewhere??? That would make things easier! Might even be fun, woohoo! 

We are not normal. Normal is a cycle on a washing machine! 

Hey John, good to 'see' you. I know what you mean about just wanting to feel better! Even a little bit better goes a long way. Really hoping that we will get general health improvements by staying the course with Zepatier. Our beat up (twin) bodies deserve a break! 

I got some relief from my rheumatoid NP, Barb, today. No new pills and no more tests. She gave me some better things - hope, compassion and recognition of my humanity. Truly remarkable how Barb sat with me and looked into my eyes like I'm a person, not a problem. Her kindness was palpable. It's no fun to be sick and the medical treadmill is exhausting. I was disappointed to hear that I don't need to go back there til September because she is Good Medicine! She wants to "let the Zepatier do its work." The hope is that maybe my arthritis symptoms are only 'reactive' to the Hep C and not true chronic rheumatoid based on my positive RF but normal CPP results. (Canuck, any thoughts on that?) I would like to imagine that someday I will be able to walk the beach, chase my grandkids and plant a garden. Ahhh. Hope. Dead dragon. Life back. 

So, we are on the right path. I know it but need reminders on the hard days. Not scratching and drinking my gallon of water is my goal for today.

I have to make a confession. Father Tig, I have sinned.  On most days during treatment I have overestimated my water intake. The gallon jug is now my accuser. Almost midnight and it's still 25% full...and I've tried! Fortunately I'll be awake til 3 so I have time. Ha. Can I get a reduction on the requirement based on body weight? :::spoken so sweetly you can't resist:::

Wish I could have you all over for a cookout. We could drink from the full-blast hose. 

I love that you're really not normal,

Christine

Christine,

We are all real, but normal, I'm not so sure about that!  Glad you're feeling some better. If you purchase a gallon of Calamine lotion, get one of those little foam paint rollers and roll on the relief!! Scruffy is right, DON'T SCRATCH!!

#DrinkWater #GallonPerDay

Wow this tread looks like a throw-back to about 3-4 years ago when rash was a expected side effect. So my advise Christine is DON'T SCRATCH!!!!!! No matter how much it itches scratching will just make it worse. Way back when Incivek was part of treatment the rash it gave was considered life threatening. With that much on the line we learned not to scratch. The new drugs are much better you will be fine. Keep your spirits up.

Best wishes for you.

Ah Christine, it does sort of create a little confusion when you are taking more than one drug besides Zepatier, which one is it that is causing the discomfort. I get it. Since my bout of diverticulosis and diverticulitiswhich may include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating, and the med's for that trip, Cipro and Flagyl, I seem to have it all, the fever for a while, the chills as well, the headaches which at times pound.....so I get it, Water.

I do as I should try to drink as much water as I can, sleep at least 8 hours a day, although that is broken every 2 hours I get to relieve myself and from the pain i feel in my lower abdominal track. Could be from the med's or the Diverticulitis. Who know's at this point, I just want to feel better. 

Hope you feel better. 

Well here we go again- day- 18 of the Zepatier. 

You do sound better in that last post. I can hear it Yes, we are real. 

(scratch-scratch) Am taking half the augmentin. That's what I can live with since my GP says we really don't know which med is the welt culprit and she doesn't have a strong opinion today per her message. I have noticed less chills/fever since starting it. But if I get one more itchy spot, that's it! Good thought, Jimmy, about developing allergies over time. Keeping that in mind. Canuck, btw, my AST is down a smidge more from last week (now 25) - ALT is the same (15). 

Just finished ordering my groceries for delivery tomorrow. (Thank God for that service! It became available in this area exactly when I started needing it. So, so grateful.)  Wouldn't want to have to ask for help with that, right Wendy?  Eek! Letting my family and friends help is going to be a gradual deal for me. Anyway, I ordered a gallon of spring water so I can refill the container daily and ingest the Exact Dose. Somebody around here may have a teeny obsession with water. I wonder if that person followed his own rules. (wink-scratch)

What a difference a day makes. Nothing measurable really changed but my attitude is better tonight. Plus the relief of not trying to go in to work in the morning. Resting is the only option for now.

I'm starting to believe you're all real. Is this a normal side? 

Christine

Greetings and Yuck. Sorry how you are feeling.

The Augmentin would have roughly the same effect on me. I am allergic and have ended up in the ER due to severe rash/itch/blotch. 

I was not always allergic to these sorts of antibiotics until around 30 or so. Reactions tend to be progressive in severity.

I don't know that Zep would have this sort of reaction but I do know the antibiotics can.

All my best

JimmyK

It sounds like you had a perfectly miserable time of it. What a Bummer, with a capital B! I'm glad you're home, hopefully feeling a bit better.

These drugs affect so many things. It's difficult to say what is responsible, but any reaction to a medication can cause urticaria. I don't know for certain, but they (you know, they) probably don't even know the entire picture on interactions yet. I do know these new DAA's are effective Dragon killers. What was the decision on antibiotics? Are you continuing the Augmentin?

Good luck tomorrow at the Rheumatologist! Get some relief, no matter how far you have to drive, but be safe about it...

Gulp, gulp, gulp! You know what I'm talkin' about! 

Well I only made it at home til 6am. The itching and fatigue was driving me mad! Plus the whole restless episode left me nauseated and unable to even choke down water. (I can feel Tig having chest pain about that. Lol) I called the on call doc who mimicked your voices perfectly and said to "go in to ER." Hmmm. Are you in collusion?! 

I drove myself in a frantic haze without even putting on clean underwear. (Twin John is surely disappointed. Its not our family norm.) It's amazing what we can do in desperate circumstances, right? Plus the traffic on a Sunday morning isn't a problem. 

The ER doctor didn't think my welts looked like an allergy to the Augmentin but 'might be a reaction to the Zepatier or something else." They gave me more Benadry, Tylenol and fluids. Also drew CBC and CMP that came back "normal." I will check the patient portal tomorrow to see if my LFTs have changed. No viral load results are in yet - I asked. 

Was interesting to see that puritis is a possible Zep dermatology side! When I left the hospital I suspected the doc had just made that up. Not sure I like being in the 1-10% though. Grrrr. 

Feeling a little less like road kill now. Staying mostly horizontal helps. I'm drinking the prescribed water hoping it helps the headache. Haven't eaten yet because I can't think of anything that sounds good and takes less than 30 seconds to prepare. Might try oatmeal or a piece of toast pretty soon. Or ice cream! I've earned it. 

Need to get some strength back so I can drive 30 miles to the rheumatologist tomorrow. That's going to be an itchy trip for no gain. But, I have to make the appointment in order to stay active with the office. If I can clear the Hep C they might treat me someday. Oh gawd. This is a far cry from my real life. At least I don't feel alone. Nobody else really gets it. Thanks again.

Onward and forward,

Christine

You have got to get some help today girl! If no kids around to drive you ask a friend or neighbor. You are worth it and please do not let pride get in the way. Virtual hugz!

Just a review of common sides that "might" be found with Zep - "skin" is mentioned (as did one other person on Zep, who popped in here briefly, a while ago, but has not reported back since). All the documentation on Zep seems to lean to ... that sides (if experienced) decrease as your body adjusts to the course.

Just saying ... pruritis and skin issues "can be", from one drug (or another), and/or from other circumstances.

Ill feelings/sides/symptoms/complaints ... should always be checked when they occur, when on a course of meds, and especially when one is on important multiple meds for multiple issues. In cases of multiple meds, it needs to be sussed which drugs may cause what.

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash/pruritus^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, abdominal pain^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 11%)^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (up to 11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Irritability^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, depression^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea^[Ref]

Yep, me too Tig, (looking up Zep and antibiotics), last week, when we first found out that our twins had both been put on extra drugs! I also found nothing, except what I mentioned about nafacillan perhaps decreasing the uptake of the Zep. And in John's case, about the dairy and cipro.

Our precious cargo needs an objective augmentin/drug assessment/opinion (IMO).

ALL the drugs are important, too important to not know, whether to take them or whether not to take them. Conundrum, perhaps dammned if you do, perhaps damned if you don't, needs an objective review. C.

You're right. I know that and don't want to accept it at the same time. I have an aversion to hospitals when I'm the one in the bed. Can not figure out how to safely avoid going this weekend though. I'm between sepsis and an allergic response. Oh darn!

I hope to get a few hours sleep. Will contact Dr on call in AM and they will tell me to go in. Then y'all can say you told me so. 

Glad I have you.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but... If you have increased difficulty breathing or you get dizzy or disoriented, call 911 before you pass out. I looked up the adverse reactions between Zep and Augmentin, nothing listed. Doesn't mean it can't and you already have some issues you're working through. It's well worth checking into tomorrow, or earlier if necessary.

Try and get some rest. Elevate your head a bit and relax if that's all you can do. Don't forget to chug a lug that water. That is vital throughout all of this! Good luck... 

Oh friends. I have no known allergy to the cillins. I can't get in the tub because I have no confidence that I can get back out. I'm too weak to drive to ER tonight and no kids abailable to take me now. I will stop the Augmentin and take Claritin. May be best to go in AM. Thanks again! 

Ah so, I get to do all the talkin? 

Don't answer my endless questions then .... have you taken augmentin before (or either of the components of augmentin before?) have you ever reacted to "cillins" or ANY antibiotics before??

You could be reacting to something else .... when in doubt, it would be very easy to swtich up augmentin for something else.

I would get an immediate second opinion on how your "hives/lesions" look, how your skin looks, your hx of recent pruritis, and let an objective doc reveiw your meds (all of them) and see if he wants to change up anything.

Can't you go back to the ER (you were in before) for advice? Put your meds in a bag, and present yourself for a query, better safe than more hives/pruritis.

Besides, while you are there, you can get the doc to pull your sensitivity result on your blood culture and see if a chnage up of antibiotics is called for anyway.

Has your fever finally settled (and not just from the use of tylenol)? 

You ARE sorely being tested, sorry about that. When you consider all, I know you will know what to do. C.

Hey I don't like the sound of that! Have you ever taken Augmentin before? You sound like you're having an anaphylactic reaction! Are you sure you aren't? Taking more if you're not sure can lead you into an even worse reaction. Go cautiously...

What have you done for the itching? There are some good OTC products, Caladryl lotion helped me a lot. Zyrtec and lotions got me through. You might investigate the Oatmeal products. The bath products are nice. A good soak up to your eyeballs is nice and calms the itching. Don't use anything warmer than lukewarm! Hot water and harsh soaps will make it worse. Avoid them while you're Dragon slaying.

One other piece of advice, and an important one; don't scratch!

Just peeking in to say I'm reading you all but not really up to talking today. I itch like crazy on top of the pain and fatigue. I have a few raised red areas on my legs that itch worse than the rest of me. But my flesh is both itchy and tender all over. Not fluid filled like garden variety hives. I don't dare stop the Augmentin because I can't let the sepsis worsen. Just feel like this is all too much today. 

The analogy should be something about the final crinkle of the last blister pak. I can hear it now! Use our calendar and enter the date of your last pill. What we fondly refer to as EOT. It is a wonderful day and well worth looking forward to!

Canuck, thanks for the enjoyable dialog, makes me laugh. Stomach, well, gut still twisted, fever left, only sweated up a half a T-Shirt last night, changed the bed and ready for a little sleep tonight, so far, sleep has been good, a little broken but okay.

Yeh, it helps having friends that want nothing in return but the friendship, there are still some people out in the world left. YOu're one of them as well as my other friends here, my Twin...haha, hope she got good results back!!! Praying she does

JohnAnton1 wrote:

---

Canuck, Confusing you, well I'm Polish that says it all..hahah. My insurance company, the first round of dispensing the drug came in two week periods, yesterday I got my second two weeks for Zepatier, totaling then a months supply, now on day 15 of taking the meds.

The Gastro that initially drew the blood work, and prescribed the Zepatier- just resigned, so it left me with no one treating me accept her last instructions of coming back in a month to run my blood work. I was in shock, that medical group would have a Doctor quit or resign and no one called me, I called them to check to see if I could take the Cipro and Flagyl for my stomach issues ( Still have a hard time pronouncing and spelling Diverticulitis) so I will talk about my stomach issues.

I am fortunate however to have a best friend who is a Kidney specialist that I can call to send me in a script for the Diverticulitis. Of course I did not take the drugs until I cleared it with the Pharmacist .

So, yesterday I called the medical Group, set another appointment with a new Gastro in place of the one that quit. Per my last directions, I am scheduled to do my blood work on the 19th of June and I scheduled to see this new Gastro on June 21st to read the results and talk about where do we go from here. I HOPE that someone medically will be with me on this round.

I am grateful to have a friend as my personal Doctor, his Father was my Doctor, and him and I have been friends over 50 years. The both of us have been around the world as young adults fighting in competitions, Judo. We have a life time bond. At least I have one Doctor in my life that knows me and cares. But he is not a Gastro. Hence the need for another one to continue my journey with treatment.

I hope that I was a little clearer on my delivery of information this time. Hope all is well with you my Canadian friend.

---

 Ah! OK. Thanks. I gotter figured now! 

Man, your pharmacy must trying to make a few more pennies for themselves, for each dispensing (handling) fee (that's how it works up here anyway) - up here pharmacies prefer you come in frequently/repeatedly to pick up small portions of your ongoing prescription so they can charge you a "dispensing" fee each time! Who knew there was so little profit in these hep drugs that they have to scrapple around to squeeze a few more dimes out of the deal for themselves! On the other hand, maybe it has nothing to do with gleaning more dispensing fees, but rather, trust/mistrust of the public ... we cannot be trusted with more than 14 days worth of pills at a time? - who knows, what with our limited knowledge/abilities what we might do with them! - loose them, sell them, flush them down the toilet?? Oh good grief! Oh ya ... just recallled ...  toilet .... well, we did have one gal here one time who tried that with one of her pills. hee hee Oh ya... then there was Syd (not her fault tho), she, under the influence of riba, dropping them down the slots of the floor air register until she lost count (I used that same tactic when I was a kid, facing cold carrot coins on my plate!) - they fit and disappeared through the slots so nicely.... oh, where was I ? Oh ya ...

So, now I fully comprehend why you were so put out about that gastro doc up and leaving (I missed that bit, did not connect the dots that she was also the one who was slated to guide you through this Zep thing. I, for some reason - (I just tend to make things up as I go along!) - thought she was "just" your divert. person or something. Unreal!!! It was bad enough when I just thought it was a doc who quit on you - but being you are "mid-stream", that she was the one who worked you up and got you committed on Zep!, I am horrified she, and the whole associated practice (her co-horts) allowed that to occur with no fan-fare or prep for the event - dismal pro-activeness on their part. Yes, I too hope who replaces her is right on!! Please do let us know, and what blood letting schedule the new doc will set up for you. Good you have friends in high places lookin out for you, and you, being the adult in room, I know you will make it work no matter what stumbling blocks they threw in front of you. You've got a good self-directed plan going on here, the only bit lacking is hiring a new technical advisor replacement.

How is the gut feeling today?? Has the gripping pain left? Did you still wake up soaked in sweat last night?? I hope not. Let us know on that front too - if the cipro/flagyl has kicked in (for the good).

You must get "blister packs" (not bottles) of Zep, so I will have to figure out some analogy for the happy celebratory rattling sound for that last pill in the bottle. Dem dar new-fangled blister paks are jes a tad too fancy fer me.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKhtZX17lZQ

Tig, I know you pound the hydrating and I get it, if I don't drink enough water my legs get weaker that is usually my first sign, then the headaches start coming in with more power. So yes I am a hard learner but I get it now. I try to drink at least 8 bottles of water a day, or I buy myself a big one gallon jug so I make sure I have a gallon going on at least. Thanks for the drive my friend.

Thanks for offering to load my LinkedIn picture let me think about it what one I want to load. Where do I find my profile again?

And thank you for your support.

John 

Good morning, John. I can add your L-In photo as your avatar if you want. It's done through your profile page. You can add attachments to your posts using the function at the bottom of your reply. That sounded clear as mud... Let me know if you have any questions or need help posting attachments.

HYDRATE!

Posting Attachments

Good morning my Twin...hahaha... no I am 5'11", in shape for 60 years of age, worked out all my life, growing up practiced Judo, so I was on the mat fighting and training everyday for 20 years. Today, have not been to the gym since December, I'll change all that once I clear this virus in my body, quit smoking, quit drinking almost 23 years ago and go on a health kick. Wish I knew how to up load a picture of me, but here is my Linkedin link, it shows me in the airport in Arizona waiting for a flight back to NYC. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnanton1/  I know its always nice to put a face to the name. Hunt, no only as a child with my Father, shoot guns, yes, love to shoot pistols, fish, sal****er in the Summer sometimes. I love the Sun. Take **** from no one, but slowly learning that I don't have to be the one to serve Bozo, basically meaning, I keep my hands to myself today. Yep, I dance to no ones beat today, just my own. 

I pray your blood work comes back okay, I am so happy to connect with you and this group, you all give me the inspiration to continue and the hope that this will in God's time be resolved!

Talk to you soon.

John

Canuck, Confusing you, well I'm Polish that says it all..hahah. My insurance company, the first round of dispensing the drug came in two week periods, yesterday I got my second two weeks for Zepatier, totaling then a months supply, now on day 15 of taking the meds.

The Gastro that initially drew the blood work, and prescribed the Zepatier- just resigned, so it left me with no one treating me accept her last instructions of coming back in a month to run my blood work. I was in shock, that medical group would have a Doctor quit or resign and no one called me, I called them to check to see if I could take the Cipro and Flagyl for my stomach issues ( Still have a hard time pronouncing and spelling Diverticulitis) so I will talk about my stomach issues.

I am fortunate however to have a best friend who is a Kidney specialist that I can call to send me in a script for the Diverticulitis. Of course I did not take the drugs until I cleared it with the Pharmacist .

So, yesterday I called the medical Group, set another appointment with a new Gastro in place of the one that quit. Per my last directions, I am scheduled to do my blood work on the 19th of June and I scheduled to see this new Gastro on June 21st to read the results and talk about where do we go from here. I HOPE that someone medically will be with me on this round.

I am grateful to have a friend as my personal Doctor, his Father was my Doctor, and him and I have been friends over 50 years. The both of us have been around the world as young adults fighting in competitions, Judo. We have a life time bond. At least I have one Doctor in my life that knows me and cares. But he is not a Gastro. Hence the need for another one to continue my journey with treatment.

I hope that I was a little clearer on my delivery of information this time. Hope all is well with you my Canadian friend.

That is awesome you got a good nights sleep Christine. I have had insomnia for years so I get it. And your blood draw YAY. 

As you both have mentioned stomach issues and we have talked probiotic....I wanted to share that I put a scoop of chocolate protein powder in my vanilla yogurt. Helps as I do not care for the taste/consistency of the yogurt on so many levels. Its not Dairy Queen but it is more like my own chocolate pudding but healthy!

lol, you and brother John both get me to giggling, with your wry, funny plays with words and pictoral humour - you must be twins! at least in the humour dept - (it must be the drugs).

Good the both of you are trying so hard, and with trying circumstances testing you, you still have room for humour. "Risky behaviour", "anti-bionics", hee hee hee hee!

If it is of any consolation to you two, constipation is not all it's cracked up to be either.

I really do have my fingers crossed that the antibiotic courses you are both on will kick in soon, big time, and do their duty for you (as far a relieving what they were intended for), even if the sides from them feel like double-duty. 

So, Christine, did you end up having only the PCR and no other bloods? 8 hours of sleep!! OMG. Any fever today? I am so glad you are staying put at home.  Yes, I will be clapping more, but I'll let you in on a little secret, I admit I already had a wee mini-party for you, with that ALT drop at 3.5 weeks! Sorry, I should have let you know. 

Gee John, you got me all confused now (it doesn't take much!, happens often), who is your Zep directing doctor?? Who is taking care of you? Gastro resigned 3 years ago, diverticulitis lady up and quit without telling you, so ... is it your GP who guiding your Zep tretament and following you? Who bellied-up and got you your cipro/flagyl tout suite. And, why would you be getting only 2 weeks of Zep delivered at one time - doesn't everybody receive shipments in increments of 4 weeks at a time?

I don't know what blood draw shedules have been pre-arranged, for either of you (other than you are/were both to have 4 weeks draws), but as far as hep labs (VL's and related) going forward over the 12 weeks, what's the Zep plan?, and, in my ignorant opinion - both of you need frequent bloods (and doc visits) in relation to your other symptoms as well. 

Here is me hoping for no feverish sleepless nights for the two of you. Hope you rest as easy as this tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwji6HiXWCs

The test results should be in in a matter of days. Since you had them done at a large center the wait time is generally short. The viral load takes the longest of all to complete, the rest are probably done already. Did they give you a website portal to check? Some docs make you come in, so either way, you should know fairly soon.

I've got a bunch of new wildlife here too. I noticed two baby Cardinals today. Just learning to fly. Mom and Dad are hand (beak) feeding them the suet cake I leave out for all the feathered friends here. I live in a migration flyway, so we see all kinds of birds. Everything except Robins. I never have figured that out. I enjoy a lot of nature right out the back door.

Best to concentrate on getting cured, resting and hydrating. This will be over before you know it and then you'll be back at work. Make this brief period count. Take advantage of the down time! 

Hi all! 

Love reading all your posts. Hope you keep feeling better brother John. I like picturing you as how I would imagine my twin to be - which makes you about 5'4" and slender with thick dark wavy hair.  You hunt, fish, take no **** and laugh often. Alright, so I could be wrong. Ha! No matter the details, I'm glad we're getting stronger together in this safe place. 

It was such a beautiful sunny day with a fresh breeze here in Michigan. What a great day to be resting out on the deck. Irises in bloom and peonies on the verge. Chipmunk babies, sassy squirrels, bluejays and butterflies. I did pull out a half dozen weeds but then my body said 'Sit!' so I did.  It has been a long while since I've been able to feel good about putting my feet up. Healing is my work for now. It's enough.

Perhaps it's a coincidence but I was asleep by 1:00 last night and slept for over 8 hours. Halleluja! Praying for a repeat but under a lot less pressure since I don't have to be up,  dressed and in to my office. Getting dressed is the trouble. My joints won't wiggle in the morning. Unfortunately my employer has a dress code that demands I be dressed before punching in. 

Big four week lab draw done today. How long, my friends, before I get results? Went to a large medical center lab here. What is customary? I didn't feel the urgency to see how the Zep was doing until now. But now I NEED to know! You know?!

Canuck, will you clap again no matter the numbers? (I listened to the applause YouTube again today. It's my new favorite song.) I hope the results are 'a big fat zero' for me and for the encouragement of my bro-twin. 

Must agree that It's All About Restroom Location. The Augmentin is a B. My walk to the mailbox and back feels like risky behavior. This too shall pass. Everything passes...right quick. Ha! 

Hey John,

Nice to see you over here twinning/communing with Mymallard! Sorry for your rough ride tho!

Without going back to your other thread .... had you mentioned a kidney issue hx prior? You made mention of a kidney doc friend below - so, is there any kidney hx? Just wondering. If so, then your water intake and flushing is all the more beneficial, and good you are on ZEP, as being sofa free, it just happens to be just a little less for the kidneys to deal with.

You are (unfortunately) familiar with diverticulitis and treatment of, something I have no experience with. I know there are commonly tried treatments and managements that help, such as the one you are on. Some of my friends with life-long gastro issues, that eventually became severe for them, did achieve better health with a resection of a troublesome piece of their bowel that was beyond repair and quelling, they reserved that surgery past what the doc had recommended, and when they eventually had it done, they had such relief they wished they had done so a little earlier. Bowel maladies can be tough afflcitions to cope with, but it seems so many people have bowel conditions these days. I know quite a few people with bad luck bowels - they have to work at it to keep their bowel condition and health in a decent state of equilibrium. It can be done!, managing a uncooperative unhappy bowel to be in a happy state again! I am glad you are aware of what to do and know to seek remedy. I am very hopeful you will turn the bowel corner quickly this time around, worked before!, and it sounds like there has already been some intial indications of relief already?

All I know is "tender gentle care"(of your whole being, and of your upset guts) - with a stress free, soft bland diet, including some benignly nutricious things such as rice/applesauce - can only help. Re: your cipro/flagyl combo, all I know is there are other antibiotics and other combo's people try. For you, if you and your doc are convinced this is the combo that has worked for you (in the past, and will be best now), then good - my only tidbit of caution is that I have read (I am sure you already know everything you need to know, as you have been through this before) but I will throw it in anyway, is that it may be necessary to separate dairy away from the cipro dosing times, and the importance of re-establishing normal bowel flora once again because of the antibiotic therapy.

I agree, maintaining gentle exercise (within reason) can only help in the short and long term. Being in a disadvantaged state is not condusive to trying to re-build strength and endurance too early in the game. Maintain as best you can. Nothing like a walk for the mind, body and soul (mind you with all our ongoing water intake and bathroom output consideratons) walks can be considered "point a to point b" bathroom marathons, scout out and make note of the public washrooms along the way! When you are feeling better, and when you really are in recovery mode, you can start to work on recovering more and more things.

I agree wholeheartedly with Christine, we shall see, and will remain very hopeful that many of the things which have been plaguing us may indeed resolve/improve when our bodies and livers are no longer being kept busy dealing with this draining distracting health-sucking viral hitchhiker on our backs! Good riddance to hep c - better health, here we come!

Jimmy, you're right. Just do it. Thanks, I live right outside NYC, and I have to park on the street, sucks but I use that as my walking. I make sure I park about a mile away to force myself to walk. Then I have my dog, she reminds me too, its time for a walk. Thanks again my friend.

John 

JohnAnton1 wrote:

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"... Maybe the answer is as simple as I sit all day on a computer working and don't move around enough, not sure but strength is there walking up and down stairs.

 Greetings John.

Speaking from experience, the all day on a PC working while on treatment will cause atrophy unless you work in a good exercise routine. Not much mind you, but consistent usage of your muscles.

You will be glad you did.

Again, what you can do fairly comfortably, so long as you're doing.

JimmyK

Haha, the Twins, you made me chuckle. Yes, been to that rodeo a few times, not easy but I refuse to do surgery, just trying to work with it, changing diet, eating pro-biotic's daily, staying hydrated for sure. The good part about this is, the only side effects I feel from the Zepatier so far are a little fatigued, not much but my legs feel weak most of the time, joints. Maybe the answer is as simple as I sit all day on a computer working and don't move around enough, not sure but strength is there walking up and down stairs. Over all I am in pretty good shape, stopped working out in December but have always been in the Gym or the mat practicing martial arts since i was a little boy. All is good though the anti bionics are starting to work for my stomach. Waiting on my next two week supply for Zepatier to arrive today.

Thanks Tig, for all your concern