10th Week's Lab Results are.....

I'm UNDETECTED!

I was so very pleased and excited to get the call this morning. I've sort of been holding my breath, hoping I'd make that first hurdle...finally able to exhale for now :)

Here are the rest of my PCR numbers (red highlighted are most recent, in case anyone is confused - others are from beginning of treatment and every 2 wks' labs):

HGB 14.1 11.1 10.6 10.3 11.1 10.4

HCT 40 33 34 33 36 32

RBC 4.5 3.7 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.0

WBC 6.19 3.45 2.78 3.21 2.60 2.78

NEUT 3.41 1.45 1.36 1.58 1.49 1.54

PLTs 335 293 326 274 278 217

VL 10.8 mil 1.5 mil 7,910 1,530 325 <30 UNDETECTED!

WOO HOO

8 week results

Today will be the 10th shot...only 38 more weeks to go!

The nurse phoned this morning and gave me my latest lab report from the 8 wk mark. I was very surprised and disappointed to learn that I'm NOT undetected yet. Viral load was down to 325. well, hopefully the next report...

I can't get the info out of my head that we've all read about...if you're not undetected by week 12, your chances of clearing the virus are down to 3%. It's made me wonder what the percentage is if you've not cleared by 8 weeks? 10 weeks? ARGH - I know it's best not to even 'go there', but instead try to stay positive and keep believing that I WILL clear. But it's hard not to let those fears sneak in...well, I guess it's only normal for them to sneak in, but the important thing is to not allow them to roost there :)

I'm feeling relatively good these days with the worst one being the day following the shot day. The day following the last shot, I thought things were going to be different. I even got up and ran several errands but by early afternoon, the dreaded headache showed up and sent me scooting under the covers with my blackout mask. Still, it seems that I'm getting on okay with all of this.

With my HGB bouncing back from a 10.3 to 11.1, I'm getting around and doing lots of things. We went to the circus in Biloxi last Sunday, then went out to Pirate's Cove and had dinner by the canal with Robert and Sherry, and THEN we went 2 towns over to watch pre-4th fireworks on the lakefront in Mandeville. It was a lot to do in one day under even normal circumstances, but we all had fun, and we ALL slept like rocks that evening .

I continue to see sides from the meds. Nothing I can't handle at this point, more annoyances so far. My white blood cells fell to the lowest yet at 2.6 and I'm seeing the effects of that. I have an infection starting under my thumbnail - but I'm on it w/hydrogen peroxide and an antibiotic ointment. Also, lower molars are very sensitive and back of throat and gum area a bit inflamed. I have the biotene toothpaste and also a perio rinse which my dentist had given me which hopefully will keep problems at bay.

The solaraze gel that the dermatologist has me using for the AKs on my face is going through its phases. Geez it was looking real nasty for about a week there, with all of the AK spots blistering up and turning red and angry looking, now drying up and peeling away. Hey, it's like a chemical peel, I guess, and the skin underneath looks much healtheir and younger than before. Yay - that's something at least! :)

We had fun last night on our 4th holiday. Dined on barbecued ribs on the grill, homemade potato salad, sweet corn on the cob, a platter of homegrown tomatoes and avocados...yummy!

Then after dinner, I sat on the porch swing and watched Kevin and Emma have a blast selecting and setting off all the fireworks we bought. Oh, the squeals and oohs and ahhhs! Glorious!

Take care all, xxx