phase one, Victory!

Got the 12 week PCR results this morning and the virus is undetectable! I'm very pleased as you can imagine, and getting huge warm hugs from each member of the family as I told them was lovely. Before I phoned my lovely nurse for the results I was mindful of how I might feel if I was told that I hadn't cleared, but quickly the next thought was, so be it, I'll continue the treatment until it is!! (the hospital I'm with, will after consultation allow you to continue and test you again at 24 weeks).
So, phase one, Victory!
I have to say it was all too tempting to celebrate this evening with a glass of wine. I'll save that pleasure until after that last test result 6 months after I finish treatment.

I went to a Hepatitis C trust support group yesterday (I try to go every month) and met a women who is 2 weeks into treatment and we discovered that she lives not far from me and along with 2 others in the area wants to revive a local support group. We were talking about how some friends and family despite being willingly supportive, don't really understand how it is being on treatment. I was very quick to remind mine that continuing treatment wasn't going to be an easy ride just because I was clear of the virus. I shall look forward to meeting up and getting started with the group - might get some advice from Hep C Trust about too.

Well, I got my dates wrong (not suprising!) and I don't start back to work until Monday. Which meant that I could concentrate my efforts on getting this house sold. I'm looking forward to it more than I was last week which is just as well since feeling positive takes up half the effort needed. As I've said before, although side effects from TX are manageable at home I'll have to wait and see what it's like at work. Early nights and naps when I get home I suspect!

As for the house, we went multi agent at the beginning of last week and have since then had 25 people come and look at it. I've really noticed my shortness of breath showing them round!!!

Feeling very tired and symptomatic right now as time of the month is almost upon me. All the effects of menstruation have been magnified since starting TX. Don't know if this the Interferon or the Ribavirin. There are times when I'd rather be a man - not really!

week 12, jab 13

Sorry not to blog for a while. Just haven't felt like it really. I have been reading all the others though - they do keep me going.

Had a lovely 5 day break in Cornwall and Devon with nothing other to plan and think about except the next icecream and which beach to go to. My son was very considerate of me and the only tiff we had was extremely short lived with him making the amends - this is great considering that he's 12 and on the verge of that time of life that boys go through (had one go through it already). We came back having had lots of fun and our bond strengthened.

I'm now a quarter of the way through TX. Week 12 (just done jab 13). Just had my PCR test and will know the results when I phone my lovely nurse in 2 weeks. I have determined that the virus will be undetectable. My previous bloods were okay, nothing much had changed and haemoglobin level is 10.2
I've been taking more paracetemol of late as symptoms are flaring all over the place and not at the previously expected times of the week. I'm getting alot of flu-like stuff happening. Last week had the night sweats back, the raging headaches and tummy gripes with slight nausea, sore throat and sneezing, however, all alleviated with paracetemol. I have now trained myself to take the paracetemol at the very first sign and not to wait until I'm zapped by the symptoms, and drinking enough water helps too. I do get out of breath from time to time and just in the last few days slightly light headed once or twice a day - forgot to tell nurse about that one, I'll give her a call. A little bit more hair coming out than usual and am wondering if this is from TX or not - a bit early nurse says.
Maybe it's because all the stress from trying to save my house or rather the equity tied up in it. The possession order came into effect last monday and I'm awaiting an eviction order whilst taking as much action as possible to sell the house. Someone pulled out a week ago of what we really thought was going to be our saving grace. Well it happens, however, this is cutting it fine!! I am trusting that my prayers to the universe will be answered and we will not only be protected but have absolute victory with regard to saving the equity, which quite frankly is the result of all the hard work I have put into this house over 10 years.

I go back to work next week and I have to phone today to find out what my timetable will be. I thought I'd see how it goes and not make any worries for myself beforehand. I am sleeping well and get between 8-9 hours every night - only waking for water in and out! - so, provided I can rest when I get home and get early nights then I reckon I could sustain it. We do need the money.......

Praying that England win the bloody Ashes otherwise No.1 son will be foul mooded for the rest of his time off before going back to university.

8 weeks down

Had 8 week check up yesterday. Everything hunky dory. Liver function tests good - AST/ALT levels down to 11/18 and white bloood cell count okay.
So, I'm now officially a sixth of the way through TX - 40 jabs to go!
I'm feeling very aware that there are quite a few of you out there who are very near the end of treatment or have just finished. I'm very grateful for all of your interesting, informative and inspirational blogs and hope that you'll continue to blog post treatment too - letting us know what we've got to look forward to!

Off to Cornwall for 5 days tomorrow with my youngest - since we're driving, I've had to book it around my good days. I'm really looking forward to getting out of London and down to the sea, going stir crazy here that's for sure!

so far the rhythm goes...

No.5 last Friday. Also, had my 4 week check up with my lovely nurse. She says that my white blood cells are a bit low but nothing serious and par for the course. Back to her in a month. Again, didn't have to pay for the medication. Hoorah! Benefit!

So far the rhythm goes: Injection Fri night, Sat a.m feel fine, Sat pm feel very tired and 'fluey', Sunday get more and more tired with muscle and joint pains, Sun completely wiped, Mon and Tues up and down emotionally and in and out of tiredness and breathlessness.
Last week I went for a massage on Wed morning, it was wonderful and I've booked one every week. Thurs and Fri are my good days, I generally feel 'normal' and my appetite is back, just have to watch that I don't do too much.

Injection sites are doing what they ought (red semi-bruise like appearance 3 days after jab) and it's relatively easy to keep track of where I've done them at the moment.

I'm really glad that I'm not working and hopefully we can keep it that way for the rest of the summer. I don't think I could concentrate for prolonged periods of time.
I'm also hoping that we can get an adjournment for 3 months to allow us to sell the the house without the added worry of court hearings!
Seems like everything is on hold at the moment. I even cancelled my NVQ assessment course, my lovely nurse is writing me a letter so that they'll waive the fee. I just don't have the energy or the motivation. The most I'm doing each day is chanting, shopping, preparing an evening meal, a bit of paperwork, checking emails and blogs and reading small amounts. I suppose that's quite a bit considering the way I feel!

The boys have been very quiet all weekend, courtesy of JK Rowling - bless her heart! I mustered the energy and drove them up to our local WH Smith on Saturday night to join the queue of HP fans. Great atmosphere. Then whilst boys read all night, I slept.

patience a virtue??

Went to see my lovely nurse this morning. Told her about the weepiness and she said I shouldn't worry about it, that it's a common experience on treatment. Also the same with the tiredness. So all confirms the very positive advice I've had from other bloggers - thank you.

I'm in the middle of filling out a crash incident form as some stupid hit and run (van) driver crashed into the side of my parked car this morning. Fortunately, my neighbour got the number plate and we got the evidence too - red paint all smeared down the front right wing! As if I need this right now. Ah well, got the opportunity to vent my rage later on the way back from the hospital when another stupid driver (van again) decided to pull out in front of me and stop his van there, in the middle of the road. When I asked him to move he said No! I raged and ranted and sounded my horn and lost it completely - basically I had had enough! Eventually he moved but not without cajoling me with sexist comments.

Injection 3 tonight - can't wait!!!!

trying to muster motivation

Saturday 25th - Injection 2 down, 46 to go. Really on the way now. First injection at home last night and everything went smoothly, although I did bruise myself a little. No symptoms to speak of as yet but I've taken the paracetemol both last night and this morning pre anything happening. If last week is anything to go by, I may start feeling 'fluey' tomorrow. Last Sunday and Monday I was distinctly under the weather with achey eyes, head and muscles as well as feeling extremely tired and lethargic. By Tuesday, I was right again although unmotivated - fortunately I could blame the hot weather itself!
Interestingly my period has been delayed by a week. Could be all the underlying stress of starting treatment....................

Monday 27th - Spent alot of yesterday in tears. Just couldn't hold them back, they seemed to come from no where and nothing in particular that I was feeling down about. At one point though I did feel really sorry for myself and that just made them worse. I've never cried in that way before, it was all so unexplainabl e and has to as a result of being on treatment.
Today I have a headache that I went to bed with last night and just hasn't shifted. I don't want to take too many paracetemol so I'm drinking lots of water and staying out of the bright sunlight.

Just had a meeting this morning with my team about work next September. I work as a freelance Communication Support Worker for Deaf university students. I had to fill in a form for my availability and I put that I'm available all through the week. Although I've no idea how I'll be feeling by then, I need the work and have to remain positive. I haven't told them that I'm on treatment for Hep C, it just didn't seem appropriate, but I'll let them know if I feel that I can't fulfil the work next September.

Other things that are happening are painters have started rejuvenating the front of the house in an effort to engage more interest as we currently have it up for sale - Mmm... I know, bad timing but can't be helped as we've run out of money and and are deeply in arrears.
Also, trying to muster motivation to do the work for my NVQ3 assessment - I'm due to see my assessor on the 8th July. I really need the piece of paper that says I'm qualified and competent to be doing what I'm already doing. I thought now would be good time to finally do it since there's not much work happening for me, but I hadn't bargained for this lethargy.

grateful to have started

1 down and 47 to go! It feels good to have finally started treatment after all this time. I was diagnosed April 2004, biopsy September 2004, decision to have treatment January 2005 and funding finally through May 2005.
Yesterday was good, I arrived at the hospital thoroughly prepared and ready to get started. Then I was faced with the actuality of administering the injection myself and although my lovely nurse and my lovely husband were wonderfully supportive, it was all in my hands - literally. I was almost there several times and each time a wave of fear prevented my getting the needle in. Finally, the nurse suggested that she do it and I come back next week and try again. I so didn't want to go through the whole procedure again and I had determined that I would do the first one myself no matter what. Deep breathing and chanting quietly, I started up again in much the same way as I get into the sea; slowly, bit by bit and then I was in. It wasn't so bad and I said so. Hubby said he'd write that one down for posterity!
I left the hospital stacked up with my medication for a month (didn't have to pay for it - benefit!) and we went shopping for the weekend. Followed by lunch in the garden and sunbathing for 2 hours - bliss.

Late afternoon I felt compelled to go and sleep, which is generally how I feel most days and upon waking felt ever so slightly spacey with achey joints. Time for the paracetemol! I don't normally take any painkillers unless I really have too, but since I've determined not to suffer throughout this treatment, I took them immediately - not a time for heroism!
Dinner (nothing wrong with my appetite as yet) with dose of Ribavirin and trash TV, then sleep right through 'til 9am this morning. Awoke with a headache, so more paracetemol.

I feel generally tired as I do most of the time and this weather although beautiful is draining on the energy stakes. No matter, I've set time aside to completely rest so that is what I shall do. I feel that I've got off lightly although my lovely nurse did say that it can take about 4 weeks or so for symptoms to realise themselves. Wait and see job. I'm just so grateful to have started.
I looked at the latest copy of blood test results that I'd asked for and thought I'd post them here for what it's worth!:
AST 76 up from previous 45
ALT 137 up from previous 74
Viral Load 71,100 down from previous 580,000 (iu/ml)

Both my kids are being very considerate - 19 year old being quiet up and down the stairs (he lives in a different time zone to us) and 12 year old allowing me to have time on the computer without fuss!