Good news!!!

What great news I was able to give Don after reading an e-mail from his doctor, his 8 week viral load test showed the HepC virus in his blood is undetectable!! The kids were thrilled to hear the news and Don's family was in town visiting so we were able to share the news with them which was so exciting. This medicine regime has changed Don's personality and I feel like I have to be on-guard at all times for a personality change that might come about in the wrong setting. He gets very aggitated and it happens instantly, but being "undie" makes everything we are going through worth the effort. I actually think things have gotten a little better since we received the good news. Don's major complaint is the fatigue. He gets aggravated and tells me it's because his "mind says go but his body says whoa". His shakes help tremendously with the side-effects and we are thankful everyday for that. He has not lost any hair and is not having any dry skin problems which is all good news!! We will continue with what we are doing now for the next 39 weeks as long as the virus remains undetectable, which would be the answer to our prayers.

Moving Along

Things continue to go well with Don's treatment. The first three times Don tried to clear the virus in the late 90s and early 00s', he was started on a full dose of Ribavirin and Interferon. This time, his introduction to the medicine has been very gradual. The doctor told us that due to the liver cancer, he was going to take things very slowly. Don decided he likes this approach much better!! He is now on a full dose of Ribavirin and is tolerating it well. He will increase the Interferon next week and we hope everything continues as it has so far. A new medicine, Neupogen, was introduced this week by injection. Neupogen is used to increase the production of white blood cells. Don said it felt a difference in how he felt within a day or two of taking the shot. I am not saying there have been no valleys to traverse during this new treatment. When Don gets tired, he says it is like hitting a concrete wall at 40 miles an hour. He just stops in his tracks, exhausted to the point he is unable to move. But, after sleeping it off, he feels better and back amongst the living. He continues to faithfully flood his body with his nutritional shake and we are certain it is helping him through his treatment. At some point, a new drug, Victrelis, will be added to the mix and we have been warned that it is not pleasant. Neither of us is looking forward to it, but he wants so badly to be rid of this virus that he is willing to tackle the side effects for the chance of being HepC free!! We will continue the journey and pray each day that we will arrive at the much anticipated destination...UNDETECTABLE. So happy to have you travel with us on our way!!

Beginning a New Journey

Last month when Don went to the doctor, it was suggested that he begin a new treatment to erradicate his Hepatitis C virus. Don was all for it and told the doctor, "Let's go!!" So begins a new journey and I hope this road leads to success for my poor husband who has has been trying to get free from the grip of this virus since his diagnosis 14 years ago!! Because of Don's liver cancer history, the doctor has started him slowly on the medications and only prescribed half doses so he can monitor the liver's reaction. So far, he has felt okay - maybe a little more fatigued and certainly a little more "outspoken"! We have decided on a secret code for an attitude adjustment when we are out in public. If I think he is being a little too "outspoken", I will simply rub and pat his arm. He is supposed to take my gentle pat as a sign that he may be getting carried away. We'll see how that works!! Our fondest prayer is that the side effects will be diminished by the nutriton Don receives through his daily shakes. He had such phenomenal results with the chemotherapy side effects because of the shakes and technically, the HepC treatment is chemotherapy, so...we are saying our prayers and hoping for the best. Don's viral load dropped from 4 million to 750,000 with the shakes during his liver cancer treatment and is now at 950,000 so we are hoping to get that number headed in the opposite direction soon. I'll keep you posted!!