i was diagnosed with hep c genotype 1A and a high viral load, i started the triple therapy treatment , interferon , ribaviran, telaprivar, and was to undergo a 48 week treatment, at week 4 i had a viral load test done and it was undetecable, week 6 the virus was indetecable , and at 12 weeks undetecable, the add on drug teleapriver guidelines say anyone responding at week 4/6/12 can have there treatment cut from 48wks to 24 without jepordising treatment well that is what has just happened to me, what a lovely xmas present. i still have to wait 6 months after treament finishes for my final viral load test, but based on the way it has gone it`s looking very good, my sides effects to the tripel therapy were slight anger after interferon injection and up to 48 hrs after, then i`d calm down, always very tired and out of breath, slight itching of the skin in various body parts, in general i`ve been one lucky lad as side effects go, if your liver is in good condition with no cirrocis this helps big time, not with everyone but a lot, so now my final viral load test is september 2013 instead of febuary 2014 i`m very gratefull to the hep c tem at the hallamshire hospital sheffield and dr gleeson for there excellent support,
thanks sheffield
-- Edited by banjopaul100 on Monday 17th of December 2012 12:43:22 PM
This is a discussion board for recovery from drug addiction through the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous. I am glad you are getting some Hep C treatment, but how does this relate to recovery from addiction?
It has to do with cleaning up the wreckage of your former life. I just finished hep C treatment. It is horrible and the medications could seriously drive you to a state of madness. The medicines affect your mental health I was accusing my husband of things I knew in my heart he was not doing but my inner voice was screaming at my head something was going on behind my back. Now that I look back on it I am ashamed but at the time the feelings were so real that I couldn't convenience myself completely that I wasnt right. Now in my sane mind I now that he was just working to support us through the time I was receiving treatment. Anyone who is receiving this treatment has my support get it anywhere you can because the doctors who give you medications they don't really offer services to help you through the mess it makes your life and your head space. Not to mention it makes it so your not able to do much but couch potatoe which we all know is a dangerous place for us that are in recovery.
Woa! No need for personal addicts, period. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT OR HOW MUCH YOU USED, BUT ONLY IN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT YOUR ADDICTION AND HOW WE CAN HELP. THERE IS ONLY ONE REQUIREMENT FOR NA MEMBERSHIP, THE DESIRE TO STOP USING. I don't give a rip if all someone did was smoke herb or slam smack, makes no difference as far as qualifying for the NA program.
Dealing with Hep', Relationships, Jobs etc. all part of dealing with Recovery and living life on life's terms.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
WE are here to share our ESH in a loving and caring manner.Our 10th Traditon tells us that while some issues may be considered outside issues anything affecting our recoveries is material for sharing.Anything that may affect our ability to stay clean and grow spiritually is not an outside issue.We can use these guidelines ....if all things are for sharing... such as 1)am I sharing from my own experience or putting for an opinion?,am I continuing to dwell on the problem or seeking a solution?,is my sharing based on dividing or drawing the group together ?and am I making clear we SHARE what is for ourselves and not Narcotics Anonymous.Our TRADITIONS ARE THE TIES THAT BIND US TOGETHER,OUR COMMON WELFARE AND PRIMARY PURPOSE should come first avoiding any controversy that may have us walkin out the door...WE worked toward the application of spiritual principles in all our attitudes actions and behaviors. WE are one addict helping another in a loving and caring manner,no Big I's or Little U's. Keep coming back let us know how its going I will lift you up in prayer...
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
maybe i should have started out by saying i`m in recovery and working a 12 step programme has enabled me to have the HEP C treatment, anyway i won`t get a resentment
this is my first post on the NA forum so hello to you all and i`ll keep you updated on my progress, and i hope that someone who is thinking of starting treatment this may help, one other thing they don`t do liver biopsys anymore there called fibroptic scans, no more invading the liver to take bits away it`s done by scanning it, all good stuff
Anything affecting our recovery is something we can share about to get feedback from other addicts. Hep C treatment is a big issue for many addicts dealing with this disease and presents a challenge. So, talking about how one is dealing with Hep C treatment through the NA program (meetings, steps, sponsorship, etc.) is appropriate.
However, the focus of discussion in NA meetings (and this forum in my opinion) should be on recovery from addiction through the NA program. We can run into trouble and alienate people when we get too bogged down on outside issues, such as politics, religion, medical or psychiatric treatment, etc.
I think we need to be embracing of all who come here seeking help for any issue related to their using or their recovery. "Inclusion" is the word I'm thinking of.
I know one other person on the forum who went threw treatment recently, I too have the disease but not the really bad strain and have not had treatment as of YET and i know i'm going to need every bit of this program and its teachings to get threw that. My brother inlaw had the treatment and died a year later from cancer of the liver and pancreas but he used this prgram that he had in his life for 25 years and he died with the most dignity i've ever seen from anyone, he basically told me " I had a good run considering how I lived the first half of life", and thats how I want to go, he was my great teacher and I loved him so dearly....
This is definetly all to do with the past and we're having to deal with it in the present, I have had a tough life physically, aches and pains, fatigue so bad I could barely function , I just pray to God he gives me strength to get threw and move forward.
Best of luck with your treatment, stay healthy, keep taking milk thistle it help the liver thats all I take for mine.
The hep.c treatment I went thru in 2009-10 has left me with side effects that I can feel to this day.. The unusual nervousness, general debility and a very strange mental state were the main ones. Among the strange mental states were the one called dyslexia, but I luckily got over that one through Meditation. I walked too, lots inspite of tiredness and that gave me an edge. The psychological condition was sorted after consultation with a fab clinical psychologist Hair fall ( oh, i love my long hair) was another effect. I can still feel very weird even these days, 2 years after treatment got over and I cleared it.
And like Dave has suggested, Id like to share that I did'nt go to pieces. Yes suicidal thoughts were there when I was alone in England, and I also felt very lonely. So I re-located back to India and was greatful for the company of my ma and my daughter.
But the support I recieved in the N.E. England Fellowship of NA was outstanding. I felt like a folk hero at times, the way I was coping with the treatment. I shared, shared and shared thoughts and feelings in the meetings and also significant people in my life.
Yes, there were those that judged and characterized me but by and large most were supportive. The nurses at NHS, the faculty at my University, and few others showed me that love and understanding are not the monopoly of NA.
But having said all that, the love of one addict for another, the wordless language of recognition and belief is what wins the day ! One guy especially, my dear sponsee tony, went out of his way to be there for me, Im greatful to him.
Keep coming back Paul,,,,,, recovery hugs to you mate.....(P.Desmond is the name of my favorite saxophonist too)....
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
I am going to get into the treatment and I heard about Telepravir, here in India, it's just Interferon and Ribavirin. I'm going to explore this option of adding Telepravir too.
yes, it has been a huge decision for me to go for this treatment, especially as 3 members/friends with hep c have developed cirrhosis last year. Thanks to many members who took this treatment and have come through to the other side, I got a lot of strength and hope from their experiences.
