I agree w/Terry Lee that the 2nd half of txt is the worse. But now the end is OH SO CLOSE! I have been vascillating between wanting to stop now (calculating what percentage of the txt I've completed...I'd read that for it to have even a chance to work for geno 1s is if you complete 80% of the txt. But then I say to myself, gee, if I go THAT FAR, I should just finish the damn thing.
Okay, so back to the vascillating....I go from THOSE thoughts to wondering how I can get the clinic to give me MORE pegintron so that once the 48 wk stint is complete I can WEAN myself off it and let my body's own immune system take back over gradually. I read a very interesting thread on this theory on medline that was very convincing. But I don't trust my brain these days - I want my b rain back and I want my body back (well, except for the 20 lbs I've lost so far) - they can keep those!
I can't imagine anyone getting through more than 48 wks of this stuff. But I also know if this doesn't work this time for me, I will not be doing this again.
Keeping my fingers crossed that this is going to be a year of fantastic labs for eveyone.
Also, just wanted to say that although most days I can't string together 2 sentences so writing on the computer takes just too much energy, I do read mt hep c buddies blogs very often - keeping you all in my thoughts constantly and sending strength.
6 comments:
Hi Denise, so nice to hear from you. This tx is really radical, no matter how much you prepare for it, it still knocks you on your ass. I too read the thread on tapering off the Interferon at the end of the treatment. After researching it further I find that I disagree with that tactic. I say this for 2 reasons. First, the interferon has a very long half life so just stopping it doesn't clear it out of your system for several weeks. Secondly, if this were the case, you can bet that SP & Roach would be using it to maximize their profits at $480 to $600 a shot. I think with us, we either kill it or we don't. If you're going to try the 1/2 dose at the end, Starwitch has 2 pegintron syringes left. We can do this and the holidays are behind us and spring will be here before we know it. Keep on truckin
Hi Denise, Happy New year, I think the 80% rule only works if you take 80% of the medicine over the entire 48 weeks. (For instance, if you were dose reduced for a few weeks on the pen or missed a few ribas.) Believe me, I had a calculator out when I was 75% through, like you are now, and I was scheming how to get to week 80% then quit, when someone burst my bubble. You'll be done by spring, hang in there, you can do it - Procrit is a wonder drug, it doesn't make you feel like dancing, but it does make things a little easier.
Hi - It's Marna:) I am following this and sending you my support:) xoxoxoxo
Hi Denise! So good to read an update. You are in my thoughts often. :)
I can relate.
I'm supposed to start Procrit shortly as well.
Dear Denise,
You have received this letter because we think that you might be able to help with some market research that we are conducting in the area of Hepatitis C.
We conduct research for pharmaceutical companies on a range of different topics. Pharmaceutical companies are always trying to improve their treatments and make them easier to take.
Therefore in any type of research, the opinions of the people who actually take the medications are very important.
In this case, we are very interested to talk people who are living with Hepatitis C.
What we would like to explore is their experiences with their condition and the challenges that they currently face. We’d also like to gain some feedback on what they think could be done to make taking their medication easier.
We would like to run the research in two parts. The first part will concentrate on the patients’ day-to-day experiences.
We will supply them with a diary, which we would like them to complete each day for a week. The diary will only take about 10 minutes per day to complete.
The second part requires their participation in a group telephone discussion about Hepatitis C.
We would like to hold these discussions in groups of three (plus a researcher), where they will be able to interact with other people who may have had similar experiences to theirs, and they will be given the opportunity to point out how their experiences may differ.
These discussions will last approximately 90 minutes and because they will be over the phone, the participants will not be required to travel anywhere / leave their home.
These discussions will be held by an experienced researcher, with an interest in finding out what is important to the patients.
If, during the discussion, they feel uncomfortable with anything at all, they are encouraged to make this known to the researcher. The participants will not be forced to say or share anything that they are not 100% happy with.
The very nature of market research is that there are no right or wrong answers, as everybody’s experiences are unique.
What we would like from the participants is their honest opinions and thoughts. We will of course reward them for their time with a payment of $200, payable upon completion of the research.
Market research also requires us to protect the identities of anybody involved.
For this reason, we will not pass their details onto anybody, and they will not be contacted as a result of anything that they may have said during the discussion.
All responses will be kept 100% confidential. We would really appreciate if you could pass on this invitation to some patients and make them aware about this current study, in case they may be interested in taking part.
If you decide that you would like to be involved in this research, then please contact our recruiter, Dino Lista, at World One Research dino@w1-research.com and on: +44 (0) 207 252 1118 (ext: 1140) and he will give your further instructions.
Thank you very much,
Dino Lista
Sincerely,
Dino Lista
Qual PM
+44 (0) 207 252 1118 Office
+44 (0) 207 252 1316 Fax
dino@w1-research.com
www.w1-research.com
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