HOORAY!!!

Mark this day on the calendar...May 7, 2012!  The Physician's Assistant called our house this morning with the news that the test came back NEGATIVE for Hepatitis C.  The chance that the next test will also be negative is now 99.99%.  HOORAY and thank the Lord.  DH is cured!!!!!!!

Almost there...

This Wednesday, May 2, is the date for the blood test.  DH is extremely nervous about it.  I understand his fear, especially after what happened after his first round of treatment.  We were so sure he had beaten the HCV and we were so wrong.  So, DH gets to be afraid.  But, the docs said the odds this time were 90% in his favor.  That's a lot higher than the 48% from last time. 

Back on the bike!

Last Sunday DH rode his bike for the first time in almost a year.  He only rode a few miles (must've been a little hard for someone who used to think nothing of riding 40 to 50 miles, sometimes even a 100, on a Saturday morning).  But he felt great and had NO elevated heart rate.  I was happy to see him happy.

"the waiting is the hardest part"

Thank you, Tom Petty.  We are waiting now.  Waiting for weeks to pass so blood can be tested and confirmation can be received that DH is still negative for the virus.  He has been off the treatment for 2 weeks.  In 2 more weeks, he'll have his first post-treatment blood test.

GOOD NEWS!!!

Doc gave us good news today.  No more Interferon shots and no more Ribivarin.  Hooray!!!!  Last Saturday was the LAST Interferon shot and he will take the last Ribivarin on Saturday.  DH is still scared and I know he will be until he gets "undetectable" at 4 AND 12 weeks.  Then we can really celebrate.  Thanks be to God!!!!!

Can you see the finish line?

I feel like we're at the end of a race.  The finish line is right there and DH is crawling to make it.  Tonight may well be his LAST Interferon shot.  But he's literally CRAWLING to make it to the end.  He's so tired and he didn't get the Neupogen (or whatever the hell that stuff is called) medicine in the mail.  He was supposed to get it but somehow it didn't come.  Now he's sleeping all day BEFORE he gives himself the Interferon shot.  I'm very glad he has an appointment this Wednesday.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE doctor say he doesn't have to do this anymore.  It's just not living.  And we're some of the lucky ones (we really are because DH is being cured).

Tears were flowing

Last night we watched the movie 50/50 about a young guy with a rare cancer who has a 50/50 chance of surviving.  I was surprised DH picked that one over a political thriller.  The movie shows how the guy has to deal with the fact that he might be dying ( he concludes that he IS dying) and how people around him change - some sticking by him, some not.  I looked over to see DH crying - in fact crying a lot.  I realized how much he's been covering up his fears.  I'm hanging on to what the docs said about "90%" chance of cure and the fact that he has been negative since Week 4.  But I realize he's not going to believe he's cured until he's much further along.  I'm glad we watched that movie.  Got to get the feelings out.

Reality Therapy

I just read Hep C Woman's blog and she said the Hep C came back even though she had negative readings with the 3-drug therapy.  She started a few weeks b/4 DH.  So indeed we must be ever vigilant.  It CAN come back.  DH has only 2 more Inteferon shots to go.  But, just like with the last go-round, the last few shots seem to be the hardest.  He CARRIES ON that he doesn't want to take the shot.  I feel like "Coach" at the end, and not necessarily a nice coach.  I tell him he can't quit now.  And I know he won't.  We're letting ourselves think he's cured.   I think that's OK.  It feels hopeful.

Sleepy Sunday

Sunday afternoon.  DH is asleep.  So often, DH sleeps a lot on Sunday after giving himself the Inteferon shot on Saturday night.  Today he's been sleeping a little more than usual.  Can't wait for this all to be over.

Trudging along...

Here we are in the new year.  DH gave himself the Inteferon shot last night.  He has 4 more to go (only IF the doctor allows him to stop at 24 weeks).  He's still taking the Ribavarin daily, still feeling exhausted each week after the Inteferon.  I know he's not going to believe he's cured until he stays virus free for several months after the treatment is over.  Last night he said "I'm never going to be the same."  I agreed with him.  I observed that after the 1st round of treatment, he was not his "old self" even several months after the treatment stopped.  I imagine it will be many months, if not years, before he gets back to being "Mr. SuperFit" - if he ever does.  Guess we're going to have to learn to be grateful for what we DO have - as in, NOT having HepC if and when he gets to that point for sure (I believe he WILL).