It’s baaaack!
I knew things were going way too smoothly, I swear I could feel it in the air that something bad was coming.I passed the one year mark with my transplant just a week ago and what do I get? A phone call from the transplant unit, that’s what! I go in to the hospital every 2 weeks and give them a blood sample so they can keep tabs on my condition and there have been a few minor ups and downs with my overall condition but nothing serious, all fairly routine stuff. Occasionally they have thrown in an extra test to see what’s up with my hepatitis c (which is what slowly destroyed my liver) and up till now they have told me that it appeared to be dormant and that everything is fine.
On Friday afternoon that phone call from my doctors office shattered my euphoria into a million tiny pieces. It appears that the hep c is charging back and now has the potential to do some serious damage to the new liver. Much faster acting than before because my immune system was constantly fighting it thru the years, slowing it’s progress to a mere crawl. Official estimates are that it took 20+ years to destroy the old liver, I contracted it years before there was even a test to detect it! But now the very thing that keeps the new liver alive, my immune suppression drugs, will hold the door wide open to attack from the hepatitis because I have no internal defense working in my favor.
Remember a few posts back that I was afraid that my insurance changes wouldn’t cover the $500 a month for my imune suppression drugs? Hahaha, that’s nothing! The new drug therapy they want to place me on to try and cure the hepatitis will cost a staggering $2,000 a month on top of the other drug costs! Holy shit storm Batman!! Thats a lot of cash that I just don’t have! WTF!! My only hope is to apply for Medicaid, apparently, or some other form of patient aid.
Can it get worse?? Don’t be silly, of course it can! The drug therapy lasts for 6 months of injections and oral medication that are pretty much guaranteed to make you feel as sick as someone on chemotherapy for cancer. Because that’s basically what it is, chemotherapy. Yes, all the not fun stuff that goes with chemo, and many of you know exactly what that is like and I’ve personally watched it in action up close and very personal, my second wife died from breast cancer. And my father last year went thru it and is now back to decent health. That was good news!
And then we come to the disclaimer, and another reminder that things could always get even worse. Huh? Worse you say? Yeah, well remember a couple of paragraphs back where I used the word try? Well, it seems that the therapy to cure hep c has a track record of best case 70% cure rate, not great odds but what choice do I have? None! Thats what! All I can do is go on with my bad self and do whatever is needed to kick this shit’s ass!! Hell yeah! I might be down but I ain’t out yet! If I gotta go, it will be kicking and screaming all the way, woohoo!
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Well that just fucken sucks !
Where the hell is the justice in drugs that are supposed to cure a person be so god damn expensive that a person damn near has to kill someone to get it - fucking government’s !
Prayers are with you always Sev :+:
I hear you, Se7en.
My best friend has both Hepatitis C and Rheumatoid Arthritis. This makes treating either one difficult, much the same position you’re in: Treatment for the RA is suppression of the immune system, making the virus go nuts; treating the Hep C will accelerate the damage done by the RA. Either way, she’s in huge amounts of pain all the time, controlled by equally huge amounts of narcotics.
She told me back in May that they wanted her on a similar drug regimen to the one you’re describing–but her virus load is so huge she doesn’t see the point. Do you have any info I can give her on inteferon treatments when virus loads are high? You know the email.
Hugs and prayers,
Serra
p.s. What kind of underwear did you finally get?
I’m so sorry for all you’re going to go through!! You’ve got the right attitude though. You can kick ass and you will! Take care, and I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!! *BIG HUGS*
Stay strong and positive, we need you here in the blogosphere!
Ah, that’s the pits, Se7en. I know you’ll fight like the trooper you are. Good luck, and best wishes, kid. Hugs and kisses and a double dose of *poink*
Man that sucks babe! As always, sending good strong healing thoughts your way. And a *poink* for good measure.
Lois Lane
sending you all the positive energy I can muster for you Se7en!
*HUGS & SMOOCHES*
that is so fucking unfair.
sorry, sweetie. But you have the right attitude going into it: SHOW THAT HEP WHO’S THE BOSS OF YOU!!
me.
bwahaha!
sorry, trying to lighten the mood.
big hugs, good thoughts, and fervent prayers, coming your way.
Life is a Bitch and then some but you can and will give it hell sweet one. Kick and scream and we are all going to be right with. If I can do anything to help you please know I will in the meantime you will have my love, my best wishes, and positive energy and prayers….By the way you still got a lot of living left so kick this one so you can kiss a lot of em . After all I still want to see the ceiling shot because seeing is believing…lol
Dude you gotta love life to go through all that shit and $$.
Well fuck. I’ll have you in my prayers and 70% sounds good to me, I’ll take those odds.
Hey, at least the odds are in your favor. Keep that good attitude going and stay positive, and I know you can beat it. We’ll be right here beside you all of the way.
*huge hugs*
Oh, Seven, this sucks in a not good way. I don’t know what to say except I’ll be here, praying for you. (hug)
Ok Seven.. We’ve been talking and here’s the deal: We will give up all of our Beggin Strips for now and send you the $$. The cats are still in session. Your friends….Louie and Chuck.
If anybody can beat that-it ’s you. I’m sorry it’s back. Kick it’s ass okay? BIG HUG
You know you are a very strong person Se7. I wonder if I would be so brave as to face that challenge again. I wish I could meet you in person. People such as yourself come along so rarely in ones life. I am glad I know you here. Of all the folks I know, you will be the one to beat the odds. You will be in that 70 % success rate. Why do I say that? Because of your awesome attitude. You keep kicking and screaming and we will all kick and scream right along side you. SMOOOOSHES and SMOOOOOCHES:)
Oh Sev I’m churning. e-mail me.
Yeah motherfucker, you kick that shit’s ass up and down the fuckin street! In the meantime I will send some curse-filled positive thoughts your way.
Hey sev,
that is suck-ass news!
I swear this country is so fucked when it comes to taking care of folks who really do need and deserve it.
Tonight we went shopping for Zach’s lucky underwear for his heart surgery.
You know I get scared, but the other option is a lifetime on heart meds.
I just can’t imagine.
Sending healing vibes your way.
Now I feel bad about all the pouting I have been doing on my blog and here you are going thru this. This just sucks, I think a lot of the drugs out there carry a double edjed sword. Keep your chin up and know that there are people here pulling for ya.
god I hope it works seven
A good friend of mine passed away a couple years ago because of hep c…PLEASE do what you can to take care & get better! The world would be a much more boring place without you, Seven!!
{{{Se7en}}}
Frikkin frakkin rakkin sakkin…
I’m pullin’ for ya, sweet. Go get all ‘rochambaud’ on the ass of Hep C!! You can do it.
WOW thanks everyone for all the sweet and cool comments!! smooches and hugs!!!!
woohoo!!
Do what it takes, man! Kick it’s ass!
Fuckin’ shit…. kick it’s ass, laughin’ all the way, sweet!!!!
Hey Se7en, I’m doing a quick drive by hello and throwing a whole bunch of *boosmooches* your way. Love ya Babe, and I’m praying for you.
Crap. If anyone can do this it is you. You have a terrific attitude and I believe that THAT almost more than anything else will put you in the 70% group.
We need you!!!! Hugs, dahling!
Big stinkin’ bummer. Everyone seems to think you’re a fighter. You do have a feisty attitude. Be strong, fight your best fight. You have a lot of strong thoughts rooting for you.
Your fighting, going to beat this attitude *will* surmount this shit news. Insurance companies suck too often for needed meds, treatments, and operations……I’ll think on alternative ways to come up with $, while you continue concentrating on staying healthy!
You aint’ “going nowhere”, cept to visit all of us who adore you.
xxoo
With your amazing attitude, the world will be yours. Keep the faith Hon, I am.