Treatment

I am in my 7th month of triple treatment for Hepatitis C, Type A, and I can see now why so many people don't finish the treatment. The first three months included Incivek, Peginterferon, & Ribavirin.

I developed a pretty bad allergic reaction to the Incivek and despite this, I continued the whole three months of this drug. I then continued the Ribavirin & Peginterferon and my platelets, white blood count, & red blood count continued to drop...determined to kick this terrible virus...I trudged on. I became virus negative in my 4th month of treatment and because of this late negative result, my treatment end date was moved from 24 weeks (6 months) to 48 weeks (1 year).

My doctor lowered my Peginterferon to a lower dose because my white blood count went into dangerous levels. Being a single person, I have had to continue to work through my treatment, which is rather a blessing in disguise. It has given me less time to think about how terrible I feel both mentally and physically.

The side effects of this triple treatment have been the worst part of it. Most people have thinning of hair, mine is almost completely gone, at seven months. I cry at a glance and ache really bad most of the time. It seems that I have gone through phases during this treatment. One side effect will be really bad for several months and then go away, then another one surfaces. I have had acid reflux for many years and it has damaged my vocal chords. The treatment has made my voice worse to the point that I can hardly talk, yet I still see the light at the end of the tunnel!

It was at my 3 month mark, of treatment, that I decided to quit smoking cigarettes...to help the my body become virus negative and to become unreliant on any form of crutch as I had for so many years. At this time I could see the light at the end of the tunnel because I thought that I was going to be finished with treatment at 24 weeks, 6 months, not...I had to go another 6 months after the 6 month mark. This crushed me and my plans, but instead of turning to a life of escape, as I had for so many years, I turned to my doctor's and my sister for advice and support...and here I am, still virus negative in my 7th month.

The message here is that there is a way to deal with everyday pressures and stress without turning to unhealthy escapes. One should find faith and a purpose in life and use that as a way to deal with the obstacles that life and oneself puts in the way...one step at a time!