I Got A Start Date!

I called the doctor's office and got a 'tentative' start date of next Thursday, May 3rd. Margee, one of my nurses, says she just wants to double check to make sure it's soon enough - don't wanna get shut out by waiting too long. I think it'll be fine since I've already heard from another person doing this trial in Indiana that her start date is on the 12th.

Speaking 12th's...mine and Kevin's 12th wedding anniversary is coming up on May 5th, so I imagine we'll be celebrating early. I'm scouting now for a nice little restaurant or outdoors concert where we can go. Emma has insisted that she wants to celebrate with us, and how can we say no to that little face (above)...so it'll be the three of us, and that's peachy with Kev and me. We all have fun together!

I've been trying to prepare as much as I can for the possible side effects of treatment - stocking up my arsenal and getting my 'game face' on! I've heard that anywhere from 10-20% of people doing HCV treatment experience minor or NO side effects, 10-20% of people experience severe sides (and have to stop), but that the majority in the middle have side effects that are manageable. I like to learn everything I can, plan for everything I can, and then, only then, I'm able to relax and let what will be, BE. If I don't experience any sides or they're minor, that'll be amazing...otherwise, hopefully I'll be prepared and know what to do for them.

Seems everyone I've talked to or read about have said that you will most likely experience "flu-like" symptoms from the interferon shots (actually heard a combination of the worst flu you ever had and the worst hang-over you ever had). I'm planning to give my jabs on Thursday nights before bedtime. Kevin's schedule has changed and now he will be home with us on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so this will allow him to be home for Emma if I'm feeling out of sorts from the shot.

I've got lots of bottled water stocked up, as well as extra-strength tylenol, but I still need to find an OTC sleep aid. Still trying to work out exactly when to take the tylenol....how long after the shot? And if I should take it also before? Apparently the reaction time is different according to the maker of the drug....I'll be using the pegintron 'redipen' from Schering-Plough. My new internet friend, KennyG, (who is doing this same trial but in Alabama) will be starting this Friday, so I'm waiting to learn from his first jab). I found a website that explains more about the shot and how to give it to yourself here:http://pegintron.com

I also have learned from the forum folk that the Rebetol (ribavirin) pills are fat soluable, so I need to be sure to take these with food that contains some good fat to help with absorption. It was recommended to eat part of your meal, then take your pills, then continue eating. Some healthy fats (the yummy omega-3s) that I will eat include nuts (brazil, walnut, almond, cashew), avocado (love guacamole), seeds (flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout and eggs (the ones I buy have 600 mg of omega 3s). Also, recommended was to eat yogurt with probiotics to help your tummy combat all these harsh meds.

I want to give huge kudos to the incredible internet forum mentioned above that I discovered a few weeks ago http://ronmetcalfe.com/hepcforum. It's a fantastic support for those living with and fighting the hepatitis c virus. I am learning so much there that I know will help me during treatment, plus it's just nice to be able to support others who are going through the same thing.

The forum is also how I found KennyG in Alabama and Beth in Indiana, who will be doing this same trial with me. Amazing! There are somewhere around 400 people in the US enrolled in this trial and the three of us were able to find each other on the internet! It really comforts me to have connected with them and to know we'll 'have each other' as we go along. Brilliant!! YAY to the web forum that made that possible!