Hi there Crystal...finishing treatment is important so you can hopefully stop the damage being done to your liver! The side effects are nasty but no worse than if you had cancer and were on chemo for that. In fact from what I have seen the side effects are less. You don't say which side effects are bothering you but there is medication to help you tolerate most of them so you can finish your treatment. The odds that the damage will resume are likely unless you completely overhaul your behaviors that caused the damage and then you run the chance of loosing your liver function. Can you let us know what side-effects you have that would cause you to condsider stopping the treatment?

HI thre rascal1--
I just have very emotional days but my side effects are mostly caused by my rheumatoid arthritis flaring uncontrollably. I am in pain, on narcotics with little to no relief. I am tired all of the time and can not work. I am just feeling sorry for myself. What I KNOW to do, I am not doing...and that is PRAY PRAY PRAY. I apppreciate your prayers and encouragment.

Crystal you can seek help from your rheumatologist they have wonderful medications out there for your arthritis and you can take them and do treatment. Good luck!

Crystal,

Everyday I want to stop TX. This shit is killing me. But, I just keep pushing because Ive had many friends die from the disease and its ugly. They die in pain and wish they did TX. Read this thread on this other HCV support site. Everyone always talks about how you can live with the disease for 30 years....but nobody ever talks about the other end of it where its taken peoples lives within 5.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/My-brother-was-told-he-is-in-liver-failure/show/1802460

Thanks rascal1. My rheumatologist will not treat me until I am done with my Interferon. UGH! I think its time to fire him :)

Hi Evan-
That is just what I needed to hear. I just said the same thing..."ppl live 30 yrs with this dx, why am I still doing tx?"
But, you are right. I have to just keep fighting~ Good to know that you feel the same. I am so glad to have you here with me, walking thru this horrible trip together. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!

Not many with Hep C diagnosis live for 30 years I believe that would have been said by someone that wanted to justify why he/she shouldn't do treatment. There are different types of Hepatitis and some worse than others. It is best to catch it at an early stage before much liver damage is done!

Thanks rascal1!! Now, can you tell me this EVERYDAY :) Thanks for your encouragment and congratulations on your victories and remission. That is awesome!!

Print off the parts that give you encouragement and place on the refregerator!

Awesome idea!! Gonna start doing that NOW!! Yours will be my first :)

Crystal, I wanted to stop tx everyday I was on it. I kept thinking I would rather just die than go thru the bad sx. I completed tx & I'm cured. Don't give up! Every person treating goes thru this. Tx works! Evan is right, the sx are bad but being sick until you die is a lot worse. I've never watched someone die from hep c but I'm sure its ugly. You're young, you've got a long healthy life to live. I am sooooooo grateful for tx. There are so many that don't have that luxury.

Thanks Rhonda. I so needed to hear that right now. Today is a good day. I am learning to enjoy every single moment that I can. I DO want to complete tx. Thanks for your encouraging words. I do want to live a very long life now that I have defeated so much. I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving!

Crystal,
I was doing some research this morning about autoimmune diseases and Hep C. Rheumatoid Arthritis came up as one so if you had this before the Hep C, it will definitely make it worse so doing TX is good. But, if it came after the Hep C, it may be what caused it. Its real interesting what Hep C can do to us. People think its just affects the liver but no, it messes with our kidneys, spleen, etc. I know dealing with the rheumatoid arthritis at the same time of the TX is tough. I have degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis that causes me great pain. Tx exaggerates it too. Just keep your eye on the prize and look at how much you already got invested in TX.

http://journals.tums.ac.ir/upload_files/pdf/_/17201.pdf

Thanks Evan!
Yes, I had RA before my tx ever started. Some days are bad and some are gloriously beautiful (like today as you can hear :)
I have just learned to enjoy every second of these days. I hope you are doing well. I think of you alot and want to thank you for encouraging me so much! Hang in there!

Crystal I was just readin your post about quitting, PLEASE don't quit if u don't have to. I know the side effects are hell and most of us are living proof. Every month you go undetected is a step closer to completion. I went to my dr today and besides not having to take victrelis anymore I am Hep C free and I am done w treatment in 2 weeks. So push yourself, it will get worse before it gets better, you r young, smart and beautiful. Don't give up.

Thanks TLCTampa--
I promise I am not going to give up. I have had the best weekend ever. I stopped taking my Wellbutrin and it seems like my head is not as foggy as before. My ears are no longer ringing and I actually have a little energy. It makes me wonder if I am allergic to Wellbutrin. My Dr. is switching me to Zoloft to make sure that I don't get too depressed during treatment. I have 7 weeks under my belt...not gonna give up now :)
Thanks for your encouragment.

Sounds like a good plan. Grin and bear it soon your misery will pay off!

Crystal, My family doc send me to an autoimmune spec because I have Graves diease, before I was treated for hep c due to pain in my bones and joints. She found I had almost no Vitamin D3 in my system. It turned out to be the hep c causing my pain. She told me to take 3000iu/day and I was shock that my pain did actally get better. I really try to make sure I take a good vitamin every day. Autoimmune conditions can be triggered by hep c, it's called "Reactive Arthritis". Bless ya, Jan

Jemspirit
Do you take 3000 IU's of Vitamin D each day? Is that what is helping with your pain level?