Ribavirin aches

Egag! I moved my ribavirin times to 0100 and 0900 to try to capitalize on the drowsiness it causes. And it would have worked, except...

The latest kick from ribavirin is nausea that starts about one-two hours after I take it and lasts for a couple of hours at least. It seems to get stronger with each application. I suppose I could sleep through that, and through the horrid parched mouth raging thirst that it causes, but it also magnifies every pain and ache in my body an hundredfold. There is a swarm of angry bees in my hands, where the papercuts are (and, adding insult to injury, the damn cuts take forever to heal, due to my low platelets). My right shoulder, where there is a little asymmetry as I type at the computer keyboard at work is a giant knot of pain and misery. In my nose, the bleeding spot is a burrowing toothed worm. Gah! Am I doomed to no sleep for 16 more weeks? I can see why many patients develop depression at this stage of the treatment.

This Friday, more bloodwork. We'll see if I have any platelets left...

Interferon catches up!

Up until today, my interferon side-effects were minimal, as it turns out. Tonight, with my 8th shot, I think that I finally realize what people are talking about. Just did it 10 minites ago; right now, I am lying down, achy and miserable. The weird vague abdominal hollow ache associated with flu, mild but horribly annoying background muscular pangs, general weakness and, for lack of a better word, discombobulation--it's all there, although the slight disorientation that attends the first few minutes after the shot has gone away--and the general feebleness seems to be dissipating. But WHOOO! rhis was a sort of a rush I'd never had before--and hope that it goes away quickly. I only have to experience it at least 16 more times...

A miscellany of decrepitude

Here are some interesting observations: each day, I walk from the MAX station to my work and back, about 2 km each way. Before I started the treatment, it took me a little less than 20 minutes and I arrived fresh and comfortable. Now it takes me more than 25 minutes, and I am out of breath, winded and generally miserable at the end of it. GAAAAH!

A change in timing: moved my ribavirin med times from 0900 and 1700 to 1700 and 0100, leaving incivek times the same. Ribavirin makes me drowsy (and somewhat nauseous) so better to do at night. Helps me sleep...:)

There are two teams working on Hep C vaccine, and both promise one within 5 years. wonderful news, if it pans out, but of course we must not get our hopes up prematurely: such breakthroughs have been announced before, and if HIV research is any indication, optimism is not warranted at this point at least. Anyway, here and here.

The Wackiness advances

6.5 weeks into my incivek, with 5.5 weeks to go....unless either my platelets drop below 30, significantly increasing the risk of a stroke, or the rashes cover over 50% of my body. The night before last, I had 1 patch. Now I have at least 5; at least they are not too irritating...yet. My GE, ever an optimist, says that they are likely to grow and there is a non-negligible chance of getting one in my anus, which will certainly make it slightly less fun.

Otherwise, my anemia is certainly within acceptable (and even encouraging, since it indicates that the treatment is functioning as intended!) limits even though I can only walk for 2-3 blocks before stopping to catch a breath--and slowly, at that! And the aches and pains are growing, and cycling about, ranging from mild nausea right after medication to a thorough funk right *before* medication to everything in between.

Also, cogninitve effects: it is becoming more and more difficult to concentrate and process information. For the first time in my life, I am having problems reading: the effort puts me to sleep, as likely as not. Sensitivity to light has increased, together with some rather nifty visuals which deserve a post of their own.

But enough pissing and moaning! The good news are that the viral load remains undetectable and that I only have to keep taking incivek, which is the primary culprit, for 39 days only. The other meds will continue for at least 12 more weeks after that, and they have their own set of side-effects, but incivek is apparently the nastiest--and the most likely to work. So I guess my chances of survival for the next 5.5 weeks are relatively high...:D

New developments

I was definitely hoping to avoid the rashes associated with the treatment, but it doesn't look like I am going to be so lucky. First traces exhibited themselves around my right elbow on Friday, almost unnoticeable then. Since then it has grown into a patch covered in hard nodules, no strange colours or anything, only mildly itchy. Looking online, I find that it is common for such rashes to begin during the 7th week of treatment--which I am entering into now. Blargh. We shall see. So far, not red or blistery. Apparently, the treatment is continued while the rash covers less than 50% of the body. I guess there are ways to control it, and associated itchiness. I have an appointment with my GE tomorrow and will report afterwards.

Everybody, have a shot for me

My viral loads are undetectable, down from 15 mln 4 weeks ago. Have a drink for me; in a few months it looks like I'll be able to (cautiously) join you:

Hepatitis C Quant Not Detected <=43 IU/mL Final
Hepatitis C Quant Log Not Detected <=1.6 LOG 10 Final

A small text file

Something like 9.6 kB, 3000 amino-acids: a ridiculously small beast. The complete genome as an XLS file available here, for those who want to synthesize the damn thing themselves.