Medical

Obviously I have not posted any updates in two weeks. I have been too ill to even care about my stupid computer. I have only checked my email two times in the last two weeks. Those that know me know that it is not me.

First, thanks to those who have called me on the phone and sent letters and cards over the last few weeks. I appreciate it very much. This treatment is very difficult. It has been four plus weeks now. It has not been a fun time at all. Picture having the flu for four weeks and you can start to get the idea on how I feel. After week four I had some blood drawn that will give me some very important information – like if this treatment is working! I will find out today or tomorrow if it is killing the virus. There is a 50 50 chance it is working for me. So much so that I could be RVR  – Rapid Viral Response – the virus being undetectable. That is the ultimate goal. If there is no reaction to the treatment I may be pulled off as soon as week eight. Insurance will no longer cover the treatment if there is no reaction. If it is working we go on!

It is hard to explain how I have felt these past four weeks. There is no way I could have done this without my wife Carol. She is a true friend! I love her dearly. Of course I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, who sustains me, for giving me peace in my mind and heart through this time.

I will post the results of the blood work here when I find out today or tomorrow.

So far week two is better than week one for sure, although this weekend was tough to get through. Last night I had the first good night of sleep in two weeks. I felt decent when I woke up. Then four more Ribavirin pills down the ole hatch. Yikes…. I dread these pills. Little over an hour after taking them flu like feelings come upon me. Today though was better than the last few days. I will just have to get used to having this terrible taste in my mouth and having chills every now and then.

Now the good news. I called the doctor’s office this morning to see if they received the results from my blood work on Friday and indeed they did. The numbers are good. Red and white blood cells are not down either are platelets. That is good news as they explained it to me they would be down some. Mine are not!

I am very happy for all the prayers. THANK YOU!

I went to work today for the first time in a week. In reality, today was the first time I left my house in a week. Despite a nasty headache most of the day I was able to get some important things FINISHED at the office today (year end financial stuff). That feels good in itself!

With this treatment I am to get blood work done often. Today I went for the first draw of my blood. It went smooth!

Well I have to say, I did not think that this week was ever going to get over. Week one was terrible. They say each week progressively gets better. I hope so. I will be receiving my second injection tonight at 9PM – yipee! The pills are what I really detest. They leave a nasty taste in my mouth and effect me in a way that I have still not figured how to explain. For those who go to summer camp all summer picture how you feel when you get home that last week – that is how I felt all last week. Exhausted and weak.

Do not take me wrong I am grateful for this treatment, I am privileged to be able to receive it. I am thankful for my doctor and the nurse assigned to help me monitor the treatment. They have been great to me. I know it could be worse and that some reading this have things in their lives that are way worse.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

I did not have a good weekend or Monday. Even today, Tuesday I am very sore and extremely exhausted. It did not help that on Sunday evening we had to call an ambulance to take our handicapped son Michael to the hospital – where he remains still today. He has pneumonia. I go for blood work on Friday and we shall see how my red and white blood cell count is. I spoke with the nurse assigned to me to monitor my treatment today and she said, “okay just keep pounding the water to get that stuff out of your body.” She assured me next week will not be as bad as this week and each week progressively better. I hope so. I cannot sleep – yet I am exhausted. I am still doing fine mentally considering all that is going on right now. (Lisa out of the house in Bible college – I miss her much, Michael in the hospital and this dreaded treatment.)

Thank you to those who have commented and emailed me that they are praying for me.

All I have to say is – I am exhausted and sore all over. Having to drink at least 128 ounces of liquid each day has me in a certain room in the house WAY too much. Mentally I am doing fine, me body is …. hmmmm  hard to explain how I feel right now.

So far so good, just took my first Pegylated Interferon injection via a Redipen. The shot was pretty simple and it did not bother me at all. What would I do with out my wife? She did the work  😎 .  Praying all goes well and the flu like symptoms stay away! Will report back in the morning.

I have Hepatitis C, a blood-borne illness caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) which affects my liver. I am not ashamed to admit it. I have had it for over thirty years. After all these years I decided to visit a liver specialist as my energy level (like my friends can believe that) has gone way down to the point of I feel exhausted often. I had a liver biopsy this last year and it showed my liver was at level zero out of four levels as far as damage goes. That is very good all and all but my HCV level is very high and active. Because of this level and high liver enzyme levels it was determined that I would go on a treatment of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin. This treatment will last for 48 weeks. I will take four Ribavirin pills in the AM and three in the PM everyday for 48 weeks and I will get one injection of Pegylated Interferon each Friday night for 48 weeks. Phew – seems daunting. I will just take it day by day the best I can.

I am putting this out in the open and my subsequent adventure with this treatment as a source of information to help others contemplating taking this treatment. Also so that my praying friends can get an update as to how I am doing.

Well then, no turning back now. I took the first four Ribavirin pills an hour ago this morning. My first injection will be at 9 PM tonight. The side effects can be very drastic and are common. Nausea and a flu like feeling will almost be for sure I am told. We shall see. So far I feel good.

This treatment only has a 50% chance of success (getting the count of the HCV down to dormant levels, less than 5 – I am currently at 3,800,000) this dormant level is called sustained virological response (SVR). Please pray I reach SVR!

For those interested, more information on my treatment can be found here: www.beincharge.com

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