Have had my 5th shot, but here is BIG NEWS....

I just got a call from Margee and Sadie (the study nurses in charge of me during this study), and my 4th week viral load is.....drum roll!!!!! down to 7,910! That is more than a 4 log drop in 4 weeks! Right??? From 10.8 MILLION at the beginning, to 1.5 million at 2 weeks, to now 7,910 at week 4. WOO HOO - I am so very, very pleased with those numbers!

Here are the other numbers (the first number is my beginning number, second number is labs at 2 weeks, third number is labs at 4 weeks):

HGB 14.1 - 11.1 - 10.6

HCT 40 - 33 - 34

RBC 4.5 - 3.7 - 3.5

WBC 6.10 - 3.45 - 2.78

Neutrophil 3.41 - 1.45 - 1.36

Platelets 335 - 293 - 326 (go platelets :)

I'm also feeling much better now that I stopped taking the Lexapro (anti-depressant) two days ago. I started taking them at 10 mg a day almost 2 weeks ago and had an absolutely horrible reaction. After the first night, I sensed from the sides that it was just too strong a dose and dropped the dose for the next 4 days to half that. I still had awful sides continue. The first night I felt totally psychotic...disoriented, crying jags, felt helpless, severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. Heart pounding through my chest and ears, brain all swirly/throbbing, clenched jaw and other muscles, and blurred vision :( Suffice it to say I felt just awful.

Then after advise from Dr. dropped doseage once again to 1/4 dose, and STILL felt awful. They advised stopping, saying that I am either sensitive to it, or that the lexapro added to the other strong meds was too much for my body. They are going to discuss it all with the Dr. (today is his surgery day so he's out of the ofc all day) and they'll call me back tomorrow with feedback.

I've suggested Prozac according to what TerryLee has reported from using it, and also from some info I read about it on the internet suggesting that it might be better for me.

Other news re the combo therapy and me :) I used to live in the Virgin Islands and then in Puerto Rico in my late teens and through my 20's. I did a LOT of sailing and hanging on the beaches and well, I don't think any of us had even heard of sunscreen back then :( The result has been that for more years than I can now count, I've been a regular at a dermatologist due to all my years of severe sun exposure AND starting out already with very fair and freckled skin. I've had skin tags, basil cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, moles, and other things to pop up that we subsequently scrape, slice, burn or freeze away :)

Anyway...these usually occur once or twice a year and it's been a routine thing to go in when that happens and nip it in the bud. But now, with this treatment? I've all of a sudden had a huge breakout of, what I suspect is basal cell activity. I've got at least 15 or so spots that have blossomed all along my collar bone and shoulders, as well as more along my hairline and above and beside my eyebrows. Got an appointment with my dermatologist, Martha Stewart ;) on June 20th to see what's up with that and to take care of whatever it is. I'd heard of skin rashes with treatment sometimes, but these are definitely not a rash, but something I've seen before. Just weird to see such a profusion of it all at once, like fireworks or something.

Fun stuff is that Emma will turn 8 this Saturday and Kevin and I are in the throes of planning a small family birthday party for her on Sunday. It'll be a pool party and picnic on our property. We're planning barbecue chicken on the grill (marinating and then grilling w/recipe I love from Lee Bailey), my famous potato salad, a platter of tomatoes and avocados with fresh herbs and balsamic vinegar...Rustic artesian bread loaves with olive oil/garlic/herbs dipping sauce. Relatives will be bringing salad and hors d'oeuvres to the backyard birthday celebration. Emma has requested a double chocolate cookie cake that says, " Happy Birthday Princess Emma" :)

She is so excited and it should be fun for all.... and with the guest list comprised of only very understanding and wonderful relatives, I'm not worried about being able to pull it off. They will all jump in and help do everything! And of course, my darling Kevin will be working his behind off to get the house and yard in order - he's an amazing guy!