The gastro doc said I had 2 options. One would be to stay with him knowing that this whole process would be costly with many office visits. Two, was he would refer me to a hospital that was doing a study on Hep C and all costs would be consumed by them. Hello, no brainer here. See ya doc!
This is now Jan. 2009 and I met with the provider for the study. I did extensive blood work and they had to send all the information to a pharmaceutical company that is doing a clinical trial in conjunction with the study to see if I would be accepted. I’m thinking, I am the perfect candidate for this study and trial. I’m not taking any medications other than vitamins. The interferon and the trial drug would have nothing to interact with. I’m exactly what they are looking for. The pharm. company was very excited about this new medication and we would not know if we were getting the actual drug or the placebo. They called me and said that I needed to go and have yet more blood work done! I have so much blood work taken I feel like I could date a vampire!
This pharm. company wanted to select 200 people to participate from 200 location sites that would be found in the US, Europe and Argentina. I am having terrible anxiety and fear of taking the interferon. Everyone I had spoken to and read about had horror stories. I had at one time gone to a Hep C chat line and everyone there scared me so badly with the grueling side effects I exited right away. I just wanted to lie on my bed and crawl into a hole. Oh God, how am I going to get through this? I was held captured in fear.
Thanks for stopping by and until next time….I stand still on the still waters. Diane
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Oct. of 2008 I went to the doctor for what appeared to be cellulitis from a blister that I had gotten from a pair of new shoes. My doc said I should throw the shoes out. Nope, I don’t think so. I loved them and am still wearing them today. She asked me to do blood work. Two days later she called me and told me that my liver enzymes were elevated and wanted to have me be retested for Hep B and Hep C. I was shocked beyond measure. I went and retested the blood work and she called me and said I was positive for Hep C.
I had gone back to the dr for a Hep B vaccine and the nurse was telling me that I basically could write a year of my life off! I don’t want to write a year off. She made me feel as if I was wearing the Scarlett Letter of A for afflicted.
Now I'm really freaked out. WHAT??!! She told me that I needed to see a Gastro doc for this and set me up for an appointment. How could this be? It had been over 30 years since I was living that life style. What was going to happen to my life? I did a great deal of crying and screaming at God “WHY?” This is so surreal.
I had gone online for information on Hep C and read several sites with much information. I had also spoken to people who have Hep C and tried to educate myself. I went to the doctor and was told this has probably been lying in my system for many years. He had me do more blood work to see if I could possibly be just a carrier vs. actually having the virus. Well, of course, I thought I was a carrier. Unfortunately, it was not the case. When I went to see him for the results he told me that I did in fact have the virus. I have genoa 1A. I'm shaking and crying and taking notes as he is speaking, knowing that I'd never remember what he was telling me. My life was about to take a dramatic change….
Thanks for stopping by and until next time….I stand still on the still waters. Diane
I had gone back to the dr for a Hep B vaccine and the nurse was telling me that I basically could write a year of my life off! I don’t want to write a year off. She made me feel as if I was wearing the Scarlett Letter of A for afflicted.
Now I'm really freaked out. WHAT??!! She told me that I needed to see a Gastro doc for this and set me up for an appointment. How could this be? It had been over 30 years since I was living that life style. What was going to happen to my life? I did a great deal of crying and screaming at God “WHY?” This is so surreal.
I had gone online for information on Hep C and read several sites with much information. I had also spoken to people who have Hep C and tried to educate myself. I went to the doctor and was told this has probably been lying in my system for many years. He had me do more blood work to see if I could possibly be just a carrier vs. actually having the virus. Well, of course, I thought I was a carrier. Unfortunately, it was not the case. When I went to see him for the results he told me that I did in fact have the virus. I have genoa 1A. I'm shaking and crying and taking notes as he is speaking, knowing that I'd never remember what he was telling me. My life was about to take a dramatic change….
Thanks for stopping by and until next time….I stand still on the still waters. Diane
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