Jan 1 ~ Jan 7 ~

After talking to the doctor, I started the new year by going up to 5 days a week on my injections. Since the 3 days a week allowed the viral load to come back, this was the only option. He told me to have my labs done weekly again, and if my WBC goes too low, it will be back to 3 days. I'm hoping that won't happen, but if it does, I'll try to get him to lower the dosage instead of the days. I'm still doing 15mcg and could drop that down to 9mcg if necessary. I haven't figured out yet if I am a glutton for punishment, or just too chicken to stop! By Wednesday I was feeling mighty punk, though. I've decided to do the shots on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I've noticed lately that the Darvocet isn't quite doing the job on these headaches. I go see the doctor on the 24th so will find out if there is something else I can take. They're also starting to bother my stomach. I wish I didn't have these headaches, but since they are about the worst part of my side effects, and everything else seems minimal, I can't complain.

Jan 8 ~ Jan 14 ~

I'm feeling the effects of doing the shots more often this week. I find myself more fatigued than usual and not feeling so great. It's a general feeling of blah and an upset stomach. I haven't had the diahrrea like I did with the combo, but now I have terrible constipation. I'm hoping it isn't another onset of diverticulitis. That was awful! My appetite is wanning again but I am still eating and maintaining my weight. My hair is starting to go again. I'm not so bothered this time, as I know when I stop the meds it will come back. The headaches are still bad, even when I take the Darvocet. I'm only taking it now when I absolutely have to. It's been 2 years on the 9th that I stopped drinking for good! Don't really miss it much either. I did a newspaper interview this week. My first! The lady was real nice and I think it will be a good informative article.

Jan 15 ~ Jan 21 ~

This wasn't such a terrific week. My hair is falling out, I lost another 3 pounds, my appetite is almost nil, and I am so tired I can hardly climb the stairs. We lost a wonderful member of the HCV community too, and his death really shocked me. Ron Duffy, who ran the HCV Global Foundation, worked harder than anyone else I know, and he will be missed. I was pretty down about this and wonder why do all this treatment and transplant stuff if we are just going to die anyway. That isn't a good attitude, I know, but there are times when I wonder why. My headaches are such a pain. Now my eyes are starting to hurt again. Maybe I should quit for awhile. I'm beginning to wonder why I continue if it isn't working. I'm afraid to stop though. That is a decision my doctor is going to have to make. I keep doing it because I feel like I am at least doing something to fight this disease.

Jan 22 ~ Jan 24 ~

Well, this is it. I went to my appointment on the 24th. I am no longer on treatment of any kind. I kind of figured he would stop as my platelets went down to 42 and he had said that he would stop if they went below 50. My enzymes are up again too. I told him I didn't want a PCR because it would be a moot point. No matter what it said, I would still be off treatment. He feels that the Pegelated won't do me any good. I did the Rebetron and did not respond, so I won't respond to the Pegelated either. (It's the same drug, with a time release factor added in.) He mentioned Interlukin10 so I guess whenever that comes out we will try it. We are now going to do another liver biopsy to see if the Interferon has done my status any good. I'd like to see some of that fibrosis being reversed. I think then I won't feel so much like I have wasted 2 years of my life on these drugs. Because of my legs becoming very weak, the doctor also signed the papers for me to get a Disabled Parking Placard. That will help alot, I'm sure. I don't know for sure how I feel about all this yet. I think I am kind of in shock. I will maintain a Post Treatment Journal for a while.