Well, 36 weeks was a good run ...
I have no idea why it is that I continue to puzzle the medical community.
I had fairly minimal side effects until the edema and cellulitis raised their ugly heads in my lower legs. I was put on Keflex 500 mg, every six hours, around the clock, for 10 days to kill the infection. It helped, but it was still there.
Then, on Monday, I was put on 500 mg of Cipro ER (an even more powerful antiobiotic) and they made an appointment for the next week at a Wound Treatment Center. (Sigh, they only take new patients on Mondays.)
On Wednesday, Dr. Scott pulled my treatment -- no PEGIntron, no Ribivarin, no Neupogen. He's convinced it has something to do with my suppressed immune system ... and I think he's correct. He fears me even doing one more shot.
I tested negative viral loads at 24 weeks, as well as at about 34 weeks. So, the doctor's position is pretty much this: At this point, it's too risky to continue treatment; 36 weeks is better than 40; not as good as 48, but better than 40. The main concern now is not the Hep C, but killing the cellulitis and whatever is causing the knots on my body ... which are likely releated.
I talked to the Schering-Plough "Be In Charge" nurse and she said I can expect side-effects to continue for about 6 months -- sometimes more. (As it stands, I found myself getting weepy watching "Field of Dreams" while propped up in the den. Go figure.)
I awakened this morning thinking about this and have found myself wondering if I should have said, "No! Full-steam ahead!" While in the kitchen, I looked at the bottle of Ribivarin, which I would be taking right about now, and caught myself checking my legs to see if they looked any better today than yesterday ... and they didn't.
In the meantime, self-treatment includes the suggested rest, sleep, elevate the legs above the heart, use warm compresses. For a guy like me, who's used to going from about 9 a.m. to midnight, this is more than difficult. Still, I have to make progress.
So, here I stand. I thank God I was able to make a good run of 36 weeks. I thank God that, until a few weeks ago, I had fairly minimal side effects. I thank God that I am free of Hepatitis C, free of cirrhosis, free of liver cancer ... and pray that I remain free of those things.
I think it's going to take a while to get used to not doing the treatment, to being at peace with where I am in this journey. I know God is with me.
Grace and peace ....
I had fairly minimal side effects until the edema and cellulitis raised their ugly heads in my lower legs. I was put on Keflex 500 mg, every six hours, around the clock, for 10 days to kill the infection. It helped, but it was still there.
Then, on Monday, I was put on 500 mg of Cipro ER (an even more powerful antiobiotic) and they made an appointment for the next week at a Wound Treatment Center. (Sigh, they only take new patients on Mondays.)
On Wednesday, Dr. Scott pulled my treatment -- no PEGIntron, no Ribivarin, no Neupogen. He's convinced it has something to do with my suppressed immune system ... and I think he's correct. He fears me even doing one more shot.
I tested negative viral loads at 24 weeks, as well as at about 34 weeks. So, the doctor's position is pretty much this: At this point, it's too risky to continue treatment; 36 weeks is better than 40; not as good as 48, but better than 40. The main concern now is not the Hep C, but killing the cellulitis and whatever is causing the knots on my body ... which are likely releated.
I talked to the Schering-Plough "Be In Charge" nurse and she said I can expect side-effects to continue for about 6 months -- sometimes more. (As it stands, I found myself getting weepy watching "Field of Dreams" while propped up in the den. Go figure.)
I awakened this morning thinking about this and have found myself wondering if I should have said, "No! Full-steam ahead!" While in the kitchen, I looked at the bottle of Ribivarin, which I would be taking right about now, and caught myself checking my legs to see if they looked any better today than yesterday ... and they didn't.
In the meantime, self-treatment includes the suggested rest, sleep, elevate the legs above the heart, use warm compresses. For a guy like me, who's used to going from about 9 a.m. to midnight, this is more than difficult. Still, I have to make progress.
So, here I stand. I thank God I was able to make a good run of 36 weeks. I thank God that, until a few weeks ago, I had fairly minimal side effects. I thank God that I am free of Hepatitis C, free of cirrhosis, free of liver cancer ... and pray that I remain free of those things.
I think it's going to take a while to get used to not doing the treatment, to being at peace with where I am in this journey. I know God is with me.
Grace and peace ....
