Write a Comment
4 Comments
Dearest Kim, I loved this article. I too feel empty. I worked my whole life, I didn't. / don't know how not to get up each day and go to work. I worked at a small bank in our town for 28 years. So thank you for validating how I feel too. Love you sis, Margee
Only people who truly need to take the new drugs should take them. 75% of people with Hep C will never get sick so the majority of infected people do not need to take this new treatment in spite of its fantastic cure rate. . Most people do not get sick with Hep C and if they do it is after decades. You should not rush into treating as this drug has only been on the market for a while and they do not know the long-term effects. Thirty-eight years ago I took an approved drug for nausea in pregnancy and my daughter was born with deformed pupils and another deformity that did not show up for decades. She gave birth prematurely as a result of it and our beautiful granddaughter died at three weeks of age. Do not rush into treating unless you are progressing in the disease. I did treat because after THIRTY-FIVE YEARS my Hep C was progressing. For the last ten years, I resisted pressure to take interferon. Thank goodness.
Excellent article. I also took Solvadi and Ribavarin and was cured. However, I have not experienced any raise of energy or appetite and still am not sure what to expect at age 70. I do feel that many of the medical problems I had were caused by the HepC or made much worse. I was cured in January 2015 and followup blood tests alarmed my GP. Unfortunately, my liver doctor had to resign after helping me get the treatment due to health problems. I have not found another one so I am relying on the HepC Forum for information. Being cured has given me the desire to date again and I have found someone who makes me happy I did take the treatment as I no longer fear giving it to anyone else. That in itself is a wonderful, freeing feeling. :-)
Lynn
Regarding the comment that 75% of people with Hep C do not get sick - I am not sure as to the accuracy of that percentage, but, for argument's sake, let's assume it is true. For over 40 years, I thought I would be in that 75% and would get through life with no major symptoms. My blood work was done regularly by my physician, and, although the two biopsies I had done in the past 20 years showed some deterioration, it was nothing alarming - and I felt really good. When the "miracle cure" was introduced, I figured I would look into it and just be done with the virus, once and for all. My liver specialist agreed I would be a great candidate. Well, we were both shocked when routine testing for insurance purposes revealed a cancerous tumor on my liver. That was six months ago, and since then, I have had the tumor removed through ablation as well as a GI bleed that knocked me to my knees. These past months have been one thing after another. The future most likely holds a liver transplant for me, the only way, according to my doctor, I can have a chance at life. I am sharing this story so that those with Hep C won't get complacent just because they are feeling well. Despite mostly clean living and being presumably healthy, it got me. Make sure that you are an advocate for yourself. That includes not only regular blood work, but I would suggest regular ultrasounds/MRIs as well. Don't have your head in the sand! This disease cannot be ignored! Finally, I want to acknowledge that, in the middle of all of this, I am held up by an abiding faith that, despite the fact that this was a shock to me, it was not to God, and He will get me through. Blessings to all!
November 27, 2015