OK! Here we go.

According to the material that I received from my doctor, furnished by Schering Corporation, "Approximately 4 million Americans have chronic HCV (Hepatitis-C Virus) infection and 70% of these patients will develop chronic liver disease. HCV infection is responsible for the deaths of 8,000 to 10,000 Americans each year. Because so many people have this disease, effective treatment of chronic HCV infection is an important public health issue."

I have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis-C, (Fibrosis-Stage 3, Stage 4 being cirrhosis) and in order to prevent cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure or even liver cancer, I have chosen to take therapy offered by the Schering Corporation. PEG-INTRON® (peginterferon alfa-2b) Powder for Injection REDIPEN® Single-dose Delivery System combined with another drug called REBETOL® (Ribavirin, USP) Capsules. I take two capsules each morning and two each evening and give myself a shot with the REDIPEN once a week for a total of 48 weeks. I have had four shots and have only 44 to go. ☺ At least, I am on my way!

The only way you may become infected when hanging around me is for you to get my blood in contact with your blood. Some may believe that you can pass the disease on by kissing, or by sharing certain personal items but that would be true only if the kissing got violent, you know. . . . . like biting, or the personal items contained any blood. You see, HCV is a blood-borne disease, meaning that it is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. We will not be kissing, sharing a razor, toothbrush or a drug needle, so please do not avoid me like the plague. There is one other way to get infected with HCV - organ transplants or blood transfusions. If you had an organ transplant or a blood transfusion before 1992, you should be tested for the virus.

Serious side effects can develop from the treatment: body organ problems, heart problems, blood problems, mental health problems and death. ☹ There may be some others but that's enough, isn't it? Some more common and less serious side effects include: flu-like symptoms (headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and fever), extreme fatigue, appetite problems, thyroid problems, blood sugar problems, skin reactions, and hair loss. Sounds scarey doesn't it? I think I am through the roughest part of therapy but this is a journey that I have never taken before so, I will just trust God and continue on this path of healing.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis-C and any damage that has been done to my liver thus far, cannot be repaired, by the doctors or the drugs but our goal is to treat the liver in an effort to stop the active viral count. Now, I believe that there is a God who can do what doctors and drugs cannot do. If He created my liver, He can heal it. I will do what I can and I'll let God do what He will and I'll just go on living until I die. That may be 20 more years. I will probably outlive some of you. Who knows? I have already made it to 64. How many more years must I have before I can say, "It's been a good life"?

I believe that I am doing well on therapy. I have experienced some side effects physically and mentally. I'm not too sure about the 'mental' thing. I was already wondering if I was having mental side effects from life itself. So far I still know my name, rank and serial number. ☺

Don't Be Stupid!
Ten years ago, I attempted to donate blood for a lady who was in the hospital and the blood center sent me a letter by certified mail informing me that my "test for antibody to the hepatitis C virus was initially reactive," but I thought it was nothing to really be worried about. "After all, I was just getting over a cold and they probably only found a strain of flu or something," I figured. So I did nothing. About six months ago, I was feeling really bad and went to the doctor. I found out that I was sick. I had a full scale check-up and here I am! That leaves a lot unsaid, but I'll try to find an ending place for this blogging. I do feel better. I sleep better. I am losing weight (I'm on a self-imposed diet). And after this therapy is over, I expect to be a new man. Don't be like me if you have been exposed to any ones blood. Get checked and if needed take the therapy.

Any comments may be helpful.