"Suburban Mom" says...

suburban mom said...

update:
I am genotype 3a and I saw the GI doctor yesterday. He was very encouraging. I will most likely start treatment after Christmas.

Your time frame is similar to mine. Yes, good idea to wait until after Christmas. A poster on one of the forums commented that treating Hep C is not an emergency. It's a slow bug. That's both a blessing and curse. It's slow and insidious. More like a leak in the basement than a fire in the attic. Frankly, it's much better suited to the state of our medical arts. You have time to put things in place. I'd suggest getting long term disability insurance lined up if that's an option. That, and getting regular blood tests were the only overt actions I took when I learned I had been exposed to the bug.

Note that I say I learned I was exposed to it -- I never had a viral load test or showed any symptoms until August of 2005. I had a life insurance questionnaire that asked whether I had ever been diagnosed with any liver disease. I accurately answered in the negative. I had never received a diagnosis. I knew I had been exposed, but at the time I filled out the form I had no symptoms and was, as far as I could tell, virus-free. Maybe I split hairs, but I think it was an accurate statement.

'Burb Mom, having genotype 3a, you're in a lucky group. It typically indicates a 24-week treatment, although that may change with your situation. Basically, your bug is easier to kill, so be thankful small favors. As we head into October, typically the time that Americans make their insurance arrangements, you might also consider putting some extra dollars in a health care reimbursement account. Better to pay for the likely extra medical expenses with untaxed dollars.

Good luck with treatment. I'll be following your blog, so keep it updated.

Chris

Still in my undies...

Just posted the following to the Hep C Nomads Forum and to the UK Forum

Hi all --

Haven't been here in a while, partly because I had no new news, and partly because I've been crazy busy. But I wanted to share this. I dropped off the sample for my 18-month post tx bloods a couple of weeks ago and just got the call from Doc. UNDIE-tectable! Doc, being a conservative fellow, says I'm "still in remission." I look at it like this: It's gone. It's stayed gone. There's nothing to make me think it will be back ever! I'm done and I feel great. No significant souvenirs of treatment that aren't attributable to the calendar.

To those facing the start of treatment: You have to make your decision based on your situation, but I'm proof that there are good outcomes.

To those in the throes of treatment: Hang in there. There's a finish line and it's worth the work to get there. This bug is beatable, but you have to do your part. When you really start feeling sorry for yourself (you do, admit it!) consider the blessing of being reminded of your own mortality without having to actually face it.

To everyone dealing with this disease either directly or indirectly: There are good results. Keep in mind that this group's post-tx crowd is skewed toward those who didn't have a good outcome. They're still feeling lousy and still need and deserve support. Those of us who have been blessed with a successful outcome have the opportunity (not to mention the responsibility) to make up for six months, a year or more of being out of commission.

All best,

Chris

Not much else to say. The kids are great, Spouse is going crazy with her new job (office manager in junior high school). Eldest is away at school being a dormitory Resident Assistant (kind of a designated adult/babysitter) and Orientation Leader (sell the school to prospective students). It's paying for this semester. She has gotten very serious with a young man we've known for a while. And they're up there with no curfew! Difficult for a dad to get his head around.

Middle (aka Son) is a senior in high school. He is the student body president (as was Eldest) and is playing football. We're having the doors widened so he can get his head through them.

Youngest has also decided to follow the example of the older two and entered school politics as freshman class president. I showed her the "Destiny" clip from Young Frankenstein. Spouse and I wonder at the wisdom of her taking on student government. She's the smart one of the bunch and is in lots of advanced placement classes. "Stugo" takes a lot of time out. On the other hand it's fun and keeps her from burrowing too deeply into the books.

On the whole we've got things down to boring. I'll take boring. Guess that's the definition of middle-age: you learn to appreciate boring.