Hello From Madison Square Gardens!
Willie Pastrano is a little known boxer but he was at one time light heavy weight champion of the world. A stylish slick fighter he trained often with the young Ali and many say that Ali got a lot of his moves from Pastrano.
The reason I’m telling you this is because he came out with a great quote, something that seems both apt and for me at least inspirational.
He may have been fighting Jose Torres, his final fight in which he lost the championship when obviously struggling the Doctor came to him and said;
“Willie do you know where you are?”
To which Willie replied;
“Damn right I do. I’m in Madison Square Garden getting the shit knocked out of me.”
As you may have guessed my 12 week PCR test results came in as promised today [a big up to the Hep C Boy medical posse] and the news wasn’t good.
At 12 weeks there are 3 possible results, undectable [which is good], a 2 log drop in the number of hep c virus in your blood [which is OK] and a failure to achieve at least a 2 log drop [which is bad]. I drew the bad straw today and failed to make the 2 log “cut”, which is another way of saying killed 99%+ of the virus, I just about scraped 95%.
Now that doesn’t sound that bad but the truth of the matter is that the hep c virus is relatively easy to kill, to a point. I would imagine that about 90% go bye bye with the first interferon injection, its that extra 10% that are hard to nail.
Treatment in the UK is largely specified by the NICE guidelines and they recommend that treatment is withdrawn if a genotype 1 doesn’t make the 2 log drop at week 12. They are only guidelines though, intended as a good guide to the best practices for the average patient. No doubt many Doctors follow them to the letter but in my case thankfully I’m staying on treatment for the moment. I have a meet with my Consultant later this month where I hope we can discuss the options as we move forward but if you are looking for good news then the fact that we have already stepped outside the guidelines is a good sign. It shows that my people are thinkers and trust me thinking is good.
Now be very quiet….listen…can you hear that? Thats the sound of the bell calling my non-responding ass off the stool for round 2. Back into the fight for me, you get another boxing quote.
“I’m scared every time I go into the ring, but it’s how you handle it. What you have to do is plant your feet, bite down on your mouthpiece and say, ‘Let’s go.’” - Mike Tyson
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:57 am
Hang in there my son…
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Just round one. From what I have read of your comments you are a fighter with a excellent attitude. I am happy they are going to keep you on tx .
Denise
January 4th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Hang in there and keep fighting. Just because it didn’t drop low enough this time doesn’t mean it won’t ever. You never know. Just hang in there and keep on going and be thankful you have the doctor you do. Keeping you in my thougths and prayers daily!
January 5th, 2006 at 3:55 am
This just means you have had a slow round one. It happens, don’t forget we have been there. Yes you have taken a blow below the belt and it hurts like hell. Get your breath back and come out for the next round with some heavier gloves on!
We will be in the front row watching.
Seconds out, round two!
January 6th, 2006 at 7:51 am
With that grit, determination and fighting spirit your medical team know they are right to be backing you as a winner.
4% of that virus is not a lot - another day they might have found less floating around in your bloodstream. There’s still everything to play for.
Wishing you well
Ron
January 6th, 2006 at 10:44 am
its not over yet chief, but you know that anyway.
January 6th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Well hey, congratulations on having a medical team who’s willing to step outside the “official” guidelines, and keep fighting this thing! My best wishes are with you, as always.
January 7th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Hi HepC Boy,
I’m sorry to hear about your 12 week pcr results. However, you are definitely a fighter and your attitude rocks - these things matter. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
Sue
January 7th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Glad you are still fighting! My prayers are with you. Keep the faith, I know you can win this round.
January 8th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Thanks for the thoughts everybody!
Reading them I think my post may have sounded a little negitive, it wasn’t meant that way. Geno 1 with Cirrhosis is the marathon run of hep c treatment, I’m prepared for a long hard run. Cirrhosis is for life not just for Christmas
Maybe I will start to respond soon, will be pushing for another PCR at my next hospital visit so we can see the lie of the land. I’d switch to daily infergen in a heartbeat but I think I will struggle to convince my medical people to take that route. I have a few fallback positions, as per usual
And of course, subject to the normal blah blahs, I’m not going to be dieing any time soon.
The main thing is this…..in 12,18 or 24 months I want to be able to sit back with my medical people and all agree that we gave this round of treatment our best shot, whatever the outcome.
January 8th, 2006 at 10:04 am
You are such an inspiration
Teddy
January 8th, 2006 at 11:03 am
Sorry to hear about your pcr results Hep C boy
Good to hear you are remaining on tx tho and wishing you all the best with it.
Hugs
x
January 9th, 2006 at 11:44 am
I was told I had Hep c in 1980 when I was 20 never had any problems until i was mid 30″s then was given interferon by needle I became so ill i had to be hospitlized and i accepted Iwould die from hep but you are an insperation for me to go back and fight for my life in my late 40’s. Good luck Mark
January 9th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Hi Mark!
Treatment has come on a fair bit since you tried I guess, interferon is still a mainstay but it is well worth having a chat with your medical people, lots of options.
You are still a youngerster in the late 40’s nowdays, 50 is the new 30
Do you know your genotype?
January 10th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Mark,
I am 53 and on treatment 4 weeks now. It is going well so far with some minor side effects. I encourage you to see a doctor and try again. As Hep c Boy says to me you have got to “Keep the Faith” and fight this thing. You will be in my prayers. Please let us know what you find out and how you are doing.
January 12th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
See Mark, I mean Jimmy is almost elderly and he is doing OK
Just came across this quote:
Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it’s addressed to someone else. - Ivern Ball
I see myself in that, I’d be sad if you made the same mistake as me. Go see your nice Doctor, have a chat!