Hepatitis C Treatment

Twelve Things I Won’t Miss Now that Hepatitis C Treatment is Over

May 20, 2013

This week I completed my 3rd hepatitis C treatment. Since I was participating in an interferon-free clinical trial, this course wasn’t too bad. It was also short—only 12 weeks. However, I did have some side effects, prompting me to write a list of twelve things I won’t miss about treatment: Having to take pills, not [...]

Read the full article →

Looking Good with Hepatitis C

May 6, 2013

Few words are more irritating to someone on hepatitis C treatment than, “You look good.” During this and past hepatitis C treatments, I cannot tell you how often I heard, “You look great,” and think, “Yes, the pale pallor of anemia leaves my skin milky white. Would you like to see the rash that seems [...]

Read the full article →

Seven Secrets to Hepatitis C Treatment

April 29, 2013

I tend to distrust articles and books that claim knowledge of secrets that will make something easier, solve a problem or unlock a mystery. One exception to this is duct tape, which really is the secret to just about everything, although I have not found it useful during hepatitis C treatment. I suppose if I [...]

Read the full article →

Hepatitis C Treatment: My Kingdom for Some Red Blood Cells

April 11, 2013

Look, I really don’t want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you’re alive, you’ve got to flap your arms and legs, you’ve got to jump around a lot, you’ve got to make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death. –  Mel Brooks Hepatitis C treatment involves a [...]

Read the full article →

Standing between Hepatitis C and Hope

April 8, 2013

Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself. ~ Samuel Butler Twenty-five years ago, I acquired hepatitis C. I was a fearful person, and as hepatitis C unleashed its destruction, I felt whipped and defeated. Quickly I came to a realization—having hepatitis C was one thing; suffering with it was another matter altogether. In short, [...]

Read the full article →

Hepatitis C Week 4 Lab Results

April 4, 2013

Although I am in my fifth week of a hepatitis C clinical trial, I just received my week 4 viral load—nondetectable. (For those who don’t know what this means, I am free of hepatitis C). This does not mean this is a permanent cure, but it is the most evidence I have to hang my [...]

Read the full article →

Healing Hepatitis C

April 1, 2013

I am tempted to write an April Fool’s Day post, something outrageous and clearly foolish, but I’ve done enough clowning around this month. My April Healthwise column (How to Talk to Us) in the HCV Advocate and my Hepatitis Comics website satisfied my mischievous streak. April Fool’s Day is precious to me as I love humor, and [...]

Read the full article →

Snowshoeing Through Hepatitis C Treatment

March 28, 2013

A fact of treatment: some days are better than others are. A fact of life: all days alive beat the alternative. This week marks the completion of 4 weeks of hepatitis C treatment. If I had been doing 48 weeks of treatment, I’d be a twelfth of the way through. However, I am doing 12 [...]

Read the full article →

The Reality of Hepatitis C Treatment

March 25, 2013

I just finished my second book, Hepatitis C Treatment One Step at a Time: Inspirational Readings and Practical Tips for Successful Hepatitis C Treatment (scheduled for September release by Demos Health). In this book, and in my first, Free from Hepatitis C, I make suggestions to patients and their caregivers on ways to weather relationship challenges [...]

Read the full article →

Adventures with Hepatitis C

March 21, 2013

In my last post, I discussed the side effects I am having from my adventures as a a hepatitis C study patient, taking sofosbuvir (formerly GS-7997), ledipasvir (formerly GS-5885), and ribavirin. My tendency is to blame ribavirin for all the side effects, since I feel very much like the last time I took ribavirin. I [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries