Well, this day came a few months sooner than I anticipated. I just got my final Hep C viral load test results, and I'm still NEGATIVE, which means that by all measures and standards, I have cleared the virus permanently. That's it, I'm done.
I believed this day would come, but there was always this little itch of doubt at the back of my mind. That itch just got scratched for the last time.
I'm inclined to say I'm cured, but there is the remaining damage to my liver, caused by 20+ years of playing host to the virus. However, I also know (thanks to other tests) that the damage hasn't gotten worse since I finished treatment, and in fact, might actually be showing signs of modest healing.
Looking back at the odds, this was a serious long-shot. Hep C, type 1a (which I have -- no... HAD!) is one of the most difficult to treat. With the full cocktail of Peg-interferon plus Ribavirin, the odds of success were about 50-50... maybe a little better. But if you read back through this blog, you'll note that I had to drop the Ribavirin early on in the treatment, thus lowering my chances of success to 10%. Maybe even lower since I'm a hemophiliac, coinfected with HIV.
If you want proof that mind-set is everything, here it is.
So this is the coda to the symphony that was my experience with Hep C. The story is told and all loose ends have been tied up. That said, this will very likely be my last post on this blog.
I'm going to leave the blog live, as I've always intended it to be a resource for other people living with Hep C and facing the question of treatment. I genuinely hope you find it helpful, and wish anybody in that position who's reading this the best of luck with whatever decision you make. The treatment options are continually improving, and that's cause for optimism.
As before, if you ever feel inclined to drop me a note to ask questions about treatment or just to let me know you saw the blog... by all means, do so!
Be well.
I believed this day would come, but there was always this little itch of doubt at the back of my mind. That itch just got scratched for the last time.
I'm inclined to say I'm cured, but there is the remaining damage to my liver, caused by 20+ years of playing host to the virus. However, I also know (thanks to other tests) that the damage hasn't gotten worse since I finished treatment, and in fact, might actually be showing signs of modest healing.
Looking back at the odds, this was a serious long-shot. Hep C, type 1a (which I have -- no... HAD!) is one of the most difficult to treat. With the full cocktail of Peg-interferon plus Ribavirin, the odds of success were about 50-50... maybe a little better. But if you read back through this blog, you'll note that I had to drop the Ribavirin early on in the treatment, thus lowering my chances of success to 10%. Maybe even lower since I'm a hemophiliac, coinfected with HIV.
If you want proof that mind-set is everything, here it is.
So this is the coda to the symphony that was my experience with Hep C. The story is told and all loose ends have been tied up. That said, this will very likely be my last post on this blog.
I'm going to leave the blog live, as I've always intended it to be a resource for other people living with Hep C and facing the question of treatment. I genuinely hope you find it helpful, and wish anybody in that position who's reading this the best of luck with whatever decision you make. The treatment options are continually improving, and that's cause for optimism.
As before, if you ever feel inclined to drop me a note to ask questions about treatment or just to let me know you saw the blog... by all means, do so!
Be well.