Post treatment for me, 5 months out.

[Garyknrd]

 I decided to quit going to the doctor about a month before I finished my 12 week treatment.
  The last month was very bad for me. My eyes watered up and I had a hard time seeing. Not good.
  I decided to travel and forget about it so I am in S.E. Asia now, (5 months after I finished the 12 weeks) and have never felt better. Before the treatment my exercise was limited and I was always tired. Now my energy is back and I am running 3 KM daily and walking another 3 KM. along with some strength training.
  I have some pretty serious liver problems, I had liver cancer and the Hep-c was killing me. But, now I feel much better. Just to be clear the liver cancer is not my main cancer I thought I should make that clear.
  I am heading back to the states next month and was wondering if I need a follow up. Before I left the doctor told me not to leave and I needed some serious tests done on my liver, but now I feel much better. Also told me I needed follow ups on a monthly basis. Is that really necessary? Haven't been back for 5 months now and no problems.

  I guess I need to check to see if the virus is gone? But, all of my previous symptoms are gone so not sure.

  Anyway I highly recumbent the treatment. I am amazed at how much better I feel.

  Cheers

  P.S.  One other thing I wanted to mention is. If you are diagnosed as terminal the folks at Gilead are very helpful. (when I first started the treatments I did not know I had some other serious problems) They helped me get the treatment threw my doctor and it was fast and very timely. I have been diagnosed as terminal 2 times now and not dead yet, so go figure.  haha  By terminal I mean given less than a year to live.
The main thing I think if you are terminal take the treatment if possible. Your quality of life will improve unbelievably.
 
 

[Lynn K]

How you currently feel is not a good indication of being well. Cancer has little to no symptoms until it is very advanced.

So sorry to read of your health challenges.

Fo myself with compensated cirrhosis I have testing every six months see my hepatologist every year.

Liver cancer is very serious. If your doctor wants to see you every month I suggest you get back in track with your medical care as soon as you can.

Wishing you the best of luck

[Garyknrd]

Yes, my last bout with liver cancer was about 14 years ago. I quit treatment after about a month or so.
My primary cancer was class IV colon cancer. I also quit that treatment after a few months. The liver cancer reared it ugly head after I stopped treatment.

Back in those days they dished out Morphine like candy for terminal cancer patients. After I opted out of all treatment, which my doctors almost had me committed for...
I would get up in the morning pop a few morphine tabs, eat a healthy breakfast and get into my exercise routine.

In the group I was with, in the CRC (cancer research center). I was the only one that lived. The rest died a horrible miserable death at the hands of the oncologists! Puking, sitting in a chair with chemo being pumped into them threw their catho port... To this day i tear up thinking about my lovely beautiful female friend I had there. I saw the doctors literally murder her IMO. But, she trusted the doctors like they were gods and could do no wrong... God I miss her.

So, I follow up regularly now, and even though I am sick again, I would rather die in a morphine coma at the end of life, than suffer for months, years in total misery. I have read lately they have made some good progress with other treatments. So I will look into it.

But, this thread is about Hep-C, so again I will say. If you are really sick with a life threatening illness and have Hep-C. If at all possible take the cure, and your quality of life will be much much better. At least in my case it is.. Well worth the 3 months.

All the best.

[Lynn K]

Best of luck to you congrats on your hep c cure.

Yes chemo is not for everyone it is a difficult treatment and some people do decide to opt out rather than endure the ravages of chemo therapy.

Liver transplant is not without its challenges as well so some people also decide they will opt out from liver transplant.

Good luck

[Garyknrd]

Haha, that is a caned doctors response... I have heard that for years from the doctors... Unfortunately most folks that opt out, have already been mortally wounded by the doctors. Unable to recover, basically walking dead when they decide to opt out.

Just for grins I will post my results after I get back to the states.

Cheers

[Lynn K]

What can I say I’m a believer in modern medicine I gather that you are not. I guess we all make our choices

Good luck on your results

[Garyknrd]

  Informed research is the key, I took the cure for Hep-C a very good modern medicine.
Again a typical response.

Cheers

[Lynn K]

I can’t speak to whether or not my response may be typical to some group or another it is simply my own thoughts.

[Garyknrd]

Personally I think you got your feathers ruffled a bit... haha

Modern medicine is a marvel. But, you need to do the research. Unfortunately most folks think of a doctor as a know all, see all God of some kind. And they follow them blindly.

Fortunately that trend is changing slowly, The last time I was in the research center it was obvious. With posters pointing to better health options...

The problem is people want to have their drinks at the end of the day, sit around watching TV, posting on the internet (haha), and think medicine will cure all their health problems. Without much change in their life style. Doctors make a fortune from this, as well as pharmaceutical company.

I do see a lot of people with Hep-C that really try to take care of their overall health which I find very refreshing. Two thumbs up.

Regards

[Lynn K]

I do my own research. I agree most need to be a partner in their healthcare.