Operation “Ditch the Bag of Cement” begins today

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Dad and Hannah at Letchworth State Park 2004 After a year of sitting around doing nothing but suffering from the side effects (flu like) of 48 weeks of my HCV treatment I have acquired an embarrassing bag of cement around the middle of my torso 😎 ‘er I should just say it – I am fat! Today marks the beginning of a mission: “Operation BeFit” or as the title of the post says “Operation Ditch the Bag of Cement.”

I weigh in at an totally embarrassing weight of 257 pounds. My goal is 205 by year end and <225 by summer camp in July. I am off to a good start, walked on the treadmill this morning for 30 minutes for a distance of 1.5 miles. It is a start. May I a year from now look like I did in 2004 as the picture with my daughter Hannah on the left reveals.

Chuck Norris – one bad dude!?! haha

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  • When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
  • Chuck Norris can light ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
  • Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.
  • Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay’s potato chip.
  • Chuck Norris is suing Myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you.
  • Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.
  • Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
  • There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
  • Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.
  • Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
  • There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’s beard. There is only another fist.
  • When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
  • Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
  • Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
  • Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
  • Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.
  • Chuck Norris can ride his handlebars with no bike.

Have some more to add? Leave a comment…

One more update on my 48 weeks of treatment for HCV

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It was a long 48 weeks for sure but the end has come. I took my last pills the day before Christmas Eve. It was a great Christmas present to be med free. I still felt like I had the flu for a week or so after that. I feel great now! My energy is back. The brain fog that I had has cleared up and my mind is racing two zillion miles an hour again. I like that, but I am sure some of my friends do not. I have a lost year to make up for – so look out 8-). Food tastes normal (like really good) again. My skin is still very dry and itchy but getting better, that is one of the nasty side effects of the medicine. I am sleeping mostly through the whole night now – YES! I am so thankful I was able to do this treatment, not everyone who has HCV can tolerate it. I have some friends and relatives who could not complete the treatment. It  is a very expensive treatment, $20,0000 just for the medicine. I am thankful that is all paid for.

So what lies ahead? Six months from now I will get tested again for the viral load. If it is undetectable at that point will be in remission (technical term is SVR sustained viral response). So June 2010 will be a big day for me. Please join me in praying for SVR!

Hepatitis C is a serious disease, many have it and do not even know. Please consider getting tested! One of the best sites on the Internet for information and support is a site I found called HCV Support – the site is loaded with information and informative videos. The forum is full of very helpful and compassionate people. They helped me greatly.

Thank you for all that showed me great support this past year – I appreciate it much.

Week 47 TX Update – Almost Finished!

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It has been one long year for me being on the HCV treatment like I am, BUT the good news is I have one week left. I just took my last injection last night and have six days of taking the pills left. I went to my liver doctor’s office last week and everything is looking good. My blood work numbers are all in the normal range now. My liver enzymes are at the best numbers they have been in thirty years. I have not said much on here the last three months for I have felt miserable. I was in “endure mode” just trying to get through the treatment. I went to work yesterday and had a good day – even stayed a couple hours later than normal to get caught up – it was a rare day. Before that I had not left my house for two weeks.  I am very much looking forward to getting off these medicines. I am very thankful for there invention and being able to even take them ($20,000 plus for the year) but I have to admit I hate the side effects and hope never to have to go through something like this again. I have found out I am not the tough guy a I personified to be (haha). Feeling like one has the flu for 47 weeks straight has been tough for sure.

A big thank you goes out to all that have helped me this year to get through this. A special thank you to my dear wife Carol who has been the greatest to me during this time. I have been grumpy and irrational many times to her and she bit her lip and walked away. She helped me with the injections each week and put up with my crazy food requests. Thank you Carol! Also I would like to give a great big thank you to my Pastor, Pastor Art Kohl (he is also my employer at the church) he has been outstanding to me and gave me great latitude with work this year. His support has been unending and he has shown me great tolerance and understanding. Thank you Pastor Kohl.

I am looking forward to getting back on tract in 2010 – things like Summer Camp at Commonground Baptist Camp and my ministry in the prison and at Church. Both where put on hold in 2009. I have learned much this year and I hope I can use that knowledge to help others for the rest of my life.