Hello everyone! I was diagnosed with HepC about a month ago. Genotype 2b, viral load 1,000,000. Had a biopsy--stage 2 liver disease w/mild bridging fibrosis. I was supposed to start treatment tomorrow, but went to dr. today, have a UTI :( I called my GI to make sure the meds were ok to take w/Ribavirin and Pegasys, but he told me I need to treat the UTI before I start treatment, as the treatment will affect my immune system. So, I will be starting next Saturday. I am kinda upset, really wanted to just get started so I could quit obsessing about it. Not to mention, the sooner I start, the sooner it will all be over. Anyway, I was glad to find this site. Have been looking for about a week before deciding to join. I've never been one to share my problems much. Maybe it's time to change that!! I look forward to sharing the ups and downs of treatment with others who have been or are going through the same thing.

Have a great weekend!!
floridagirl

Welcome Floridagirl. I'm sorry to hear about the UTI. They are just so annoying. I get them fairly frequently. I am happy to hear that you are a genotype 2 as your chances of a cure are excellent. That is very good news. If we can be of any help to you or answer any questions feel free to vent or ask us anything. Many of us have "been there, done that".

Welcome FloridaGirl:
You've found the right site for Support! I to was a geno type 2 and I have recently done the treatment you speak about. Well, I did it all but 10 days worth of treatment! I tell you, If it was not for "Voices" I would not have made it. floridagirl, listen to Susie because I have yet to see her wrong. "she knew my genotype before I did." they are all just beautiful people here Floridagirl who have been thru it all!

take care keep in touch and I'll be watching for your progress.

Hello, floridagirl, and to Voices. Sounds like you are a very take charge kind of woman. Sorry that your treatment has to wait a week, but your doc is right on target to help you have a successful tx. I%m glad that you did find us, and don%t hesitate to post if you have questions or just need a little support and a kind word or two.

I live in Lake Worthm FL. Where are you?

Please keep us updated on how you are doing and feeling, and as Susie said, genotype 2 is very responsive to treatment.
Best regards
Judi

I live near Palatka. It's close to St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville. It's pretty rural around here, but that's what I like about it. I really appreciate the warm welcomes from everyone here.

We're happy to have you florida. The more the merrier. How's the UTI? The meds seems to work rather quickly. Hope you're feeling better today.

Much better, thanks. Now I get to be anxious about starting tx all over again. I guess it's just fear of the unknown. I've read a lot on this site and others about how horrible it is for most people, but then some people seem to not do so badly. I'm trying to stay positive and believe that I will be one of the lucky ones.

Have a good evening!!

Hi there, and welcome!

Those UTI's are no fun. We will be thinking of you as you start treating...please come back and keep in touch here?

Sometimes I envy that warm climate you have, but here in Minnesota, we get to have a real winter with tons of snow, and I just love it!

-Betsy

Welcome Florida,

I think you'll find being here not only comforting and understanding the physical and psychological effects but it'll also help you begin to talk about things.... anything things. I find it so helpful to talk things out and having this one extra layer of screen between us helps us do that. At least that's what my therapist always said. Until she died and left me to flounder along all by myself.

This board will spoil you for anything else of it's kind. Once I found it I thought they were all like this one. No way. Now I have advanced emphysema and to get anything nearly as good as this board will take doing it myself. I've looked all over and found lots of message boards for emphysema but none with as much warmth and genuine caring in it's people as this one has.

I encourage you to stay and promise you'll make friends and feel better just knowing we're all so very much alike in our illness, our fears and for some of us our obsessing.
sharron

This site and friends I think have saved my life. I was typ2 but the Doctor took me off of the treatment as I could not take it. this has been over 4 years I also have hiv but so far my liver is still going ok some damage but also in the norm range and Im now Im still doing ok. Good luck on your treatment. Check in often even if it's to vent.



Bob and Lois

Well, being a worry wart myself, I can't say relax and expect you to respond. Just know that you are not alone on this journey! You now have a whole new family and we listen to all problems that arise. Kinda think we have seen it all and we seem to have someone who has had firsthand experience in most issues. Everyone does respond differently, but I wish you no side effects. I wish you well and that your spirits stay high and the meds kill the dragon! Post day or night. We're always here! And, no question is a stupid one! They all deserve an answer.

Hugs

Hi floridagirl....

I WAS geno 2 and did 24 weeks treatment with Pegasys/Riba waaay back in 2004. I cleared the virus and now it's gone gone gone. It was a challenging 24 weeks, I was tired and spent lots of time vegging, but I worked all the way through with no absences, and managed to have a bit of fun too -- attended an all-day outdoor music festival in the brutal 100 degree Texas heat, stuff like that.

I was so scared before my first shot...I thought I'd die. Much to my surprise I woke up the next day feeling fine with just a little muscle soreness that I knocked out with 1/2 a Tylenol.

Drink lots of water and indulge yourself! Relax, ride it out, drink lots of water, and keep your eyes on the prize!
6 months out of a lifetime is like the blink of an eye and someday your treatment will be a faraway memory.

I need to stop by voices more.....it's been a long time.. This place was here for me 24/7. I spent hours logged in while on treatment and it helped TONS!
Best of luck!

RANT, it's been forever! It is so good to see you. Thanks for sharing your story with Florida. What is going on? Anything new and exciting? Thank you so much for stopping by. It's great to see old friends now and again. Have a super Thanksgiving.

Thanks Rant!!

Your experience with your first shot was about the same as mine. I really expected to be sick all day today ( first shot was last night), but I have felt fine all day. I have been drinking tons of water and eating a lot better than usual. Taking my riba with peanut butter toast, a nurse told me to take it with high fat food to increase absorption. He also told me that my 3rd shot would probably be the worst. I still didn't expect to feel so good today. I'm sure it won't always be so easy, but I know that I will make it.
Thanks again and take care.