Happy Thanksgiving

I remember last Thanksgiving as a little miserable.  We didn't travel anywhere because DH was still in his 1st round of treatment.  Seems everyone else was otherwise engaged and we weren't sure what to do with ourselves on Turkey Day.  We decided to go out and did, but turns out the food served wasn't very good.  We were feeling sorry for ourselves because we felt no one really cared about what we were going through (major self-pity, I know).  This year things are different.  We have family coming over on Thursday.  I think this blog and the response I get helps us feel people care more.  AND - it looks like we REALLY have something to be thankful for - DH possibly, likely, probably going to be in the 79% of people who are cured by the 3-prong treatment.  It can't get much better than that!

Good news!!! (and maybe even better news)

Doc visit today.  Yes, DH was "virus undetectable" at 8 weeks.  He will get his 12 week blood test this Friday.  They have to re-visit the 4-week blood test because apparently the lab reported it as "less than 43" instead of truly undetectable.  IF DH is "virus undetectable" at 12 weeks AND they can clarify that the 4-week test was truly "undetectable," DH will be able to stop treatment at 6 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That is the best news ever! He takes his last Incivek this Saturday, then continues on Interferon & Ribivarin - MB only for 2 more months! 

Doc said DH is "remarkable."  He is handling the treatment quite well, lots of complaining at home to the contrary.  He was athletic and strong when all this started.  I think it's helped him.

Praise the Lord!

Still waiting...

We're still waiting for latest blood test results.  Not sure why it's taking so long to get them.  Several days this past week DH said he thought he was becoming anemic.  He's so very tired.  This morning he raged at me after he got up for "the way I looked at him."  I didn't even know I was looking at him!  Is this riba rage finally showing up?  We saw that during the first round but not so much this time.  Must be rearing its ugly head.  It sucks!

Spoke too soon

I may have spoken too soon about DH feeling better.  This weekend has not been as good.  Yesterday he seemed quite ill when he awoke from his nap (he always takes that daily nap - I know he needs it).  Today he seemed quite ill before he "went down" (he's down right now).  We're waiting for the results of the blood test.  Apparently the lab screwed up, so he had to go yesterday morning to get his blood taken again.  The results of this test will be the next test for the virus (next after the 4-week test).  Hoping for those wonderful words "virus undetectable" of course.

Going into Week 9...

Is it my imagination, or is DH feeling a little better?  MB the body gets used to the meds.  That seemed to happen on the 1st round of treatment.  I'm glad he's on the short-term disability and can rest when he needs to.  Tomorrow he gets his 2nd blood test for HCV levels.  We were at the doc on Wed. and they said they wanted a full week 8 b/4 the test ( so they didn't test that day).  Hoping for another "virus undetectable."  I told them how very depressed he had been and he said some of that was just melodrama.  I told him if that was true to knock it off - told him how very, very worried he made me (and that he was bringing me down, too).  So, we'll see. 

Uncertainty

Uncertainty is a given right now.  Uncertainty about a cure, uncertainty even about what life will be like after the treatment.  Some people are so affected by the HepC treatment that they never return to work.  I don't think DH will be like that, but who knows?  The short-term disability was approved, but long-term would be another matter.  My not having a permanent job adds to the uncertainty for sure.  Like they say...one day at a time.

Week 7 coming up

Tonight DH gives himself shot #7 of Interferon.  So, week 7 of Incivek - 5 more weeks to go.   I'm pretty sure they'll test for the virus again during week 8.  Hoping for the "undetectable" again.  He continues to feel "poorly" - all side effects of the meds.  And he still gets VERY depressed.  He got depressed because Steve Jobs died and said he's going to be "just like him."  NOT TRUE!  Poor man had pancreatic cancer and DH has HCV and is GETTING CURED!!!  I'm going to ask the doctor if mb they should up the anti-depressant - but that's mostly about me because it bothers ME to come home to that every day (selfish, I guess).  The coughing continues.  Prob ask about that, too.