I have Hepatitis C with genotype 1A.
I went to see my doctor who specializes in Hepatitis today. We agreed that I should go on the therapy necessary to bring my viral count down from 67,000,000 which is very high indeed. 5,000,000 is the level most people with Hepatitis can tolerate and live normal lives. My level is dangerous and needs to be addressed.
I'm leery of the treatment. The last therapy I underwent was in a clinical study. My bipolar was aggravated severely. I was in an almost constant state of mania. Worse, my psychosis ran amok to the point where I tried to commit suicide. I convinced myself at the time that I was only cutting on the underside of my arm instead of the usual forearm. It was no doubt a psychological trick I played upon myself.
The physical side effect was also devastating. I loss weight and my muscle tone decreased dramatically. Because of my manic state I convinced myself that I needed to fast during the study. The lack of food and the instability that causes fed my mania like gasoline on a fire. I lost weight precipitously. I lost whatever touch I had with my body which wasn't very much to begin with.
This time I feel much better prepared. For one thing I am physically strong from working out at the gym. I am in tune with my body as never before. My bipolar and psychosis is more under control than it had been during the trial. I no longer rely on Lithium but rather the big-muscle state-of-art Geodon. I feel as though I can detect the early warning signs of each and curtail them before they become out of my control.
All this doesn't keep me from worrying, of course. I'm afraid that Blue Shield, my Medicare Plan D provider, will only pay a fraction of the cost of the Hepatitis medication. It's all new and does not exist in generic form. The usual Blue Shield payment for non-generic, brand name medication is 50% which will probably leave me with a hellish co-payment. I don't know what that might be. My Hepatitis doctor gave me a list of the drugs I'll be taking. I need to go to Walgreen's to find out what my share of the costs will be.
I'm afraid of the physical and mental toll this therapy will take on me. I may be bettered prepared this time around but I am still nevertheless prone to physical and mental distress. I am going to work harder with Tess at the gym to ensure that my core muscle strength is kept up and maybe even increased. I need to rely on those around me to tell me when I am in mania or exhibiting signs of psychosis (what ever the latter might be). I am in deep analysis and psychiatric care. I think I have all of my ducks lined up in a row.
There are also other physical side effects. The last time I was in therapy I became anemic and my white blood cell count dropped. I needed to supplement my Hepatitis medication with Procrit and Neupogin to handle each accordingly. That's a total of three injections I need to take. There's not reason this won't happen again.
I'm not as afraid of mania as I am of psychosis. Although I cannot predict either, I enjoy mania and do no harm to myself or others while in it. Psychosis is as difficult to predict as manic episodes but has dangerous consequences. I will cut myself and even attempt suicide when psychotic. I am not dangerous to others, however, and that's consoling.
The previous treatment I was on had a 20% chance of total remission (cure) of the disease. My viral count at the end of that therapy was almost undetectable, as low as 300 if I recall correctly. This new therapy involves an additional drug and has a 60% chance of complete remission. This is encouraging. I might actually be cured of Hepatitis.
I get the feeling, probably unjustified, that those around me who are going to be a part of this experience aren't thinking as much about me as they are about the impact this therapy will have on their lives. To be sure it no doubt have some impact on them but from my point of view this is my survival am dealing with. The doctor didn't come right out and say it but I have a dawning awareness that Hepatitis will kill me if I do nothing about it.
She is going into full blown caretaker mode about this. She has a calendar planned on which I can keep track of my monthly blood draws and changes that will occur in the medication during the therapy. I can almost see her eyes come alive as we discuss this decision of mine. I am torn. On the one hand I will need her help during the course of the therapy (which can last up to 48 weeks). On the other I am rebellious and bitterly resent needing a nursemaid.
I wonder if I'll be able to tap into my 401K to help pay for the drugs? Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances that will not incur terrible tax consequences. I need to talk to an accountant about this. If my legal case against Liberty Mutual succeeds I'll have more (but maybe not enough!) extra money help pay for medication. If I survive for three to four months between the end of the year until I get my tax refund then I can apportion that for medication. No matter what my financial situation will take a beating.
Meanwhile I get to wait two to three weeks while my doctor's office assistant works with the insurance company to get the best coverage possible. At the time of this writing I still need to schedule an ultrasound of my liver for my doctor. I guess I'll get on that tomorrow.
I hope this all works out.
I went to see my doctor who specializes in Hepatitis today. We agreed that I should go on the therapy necessary to bring my viral count down from 67,000,000 which is very high indeed. 5,000,000 is the level most people with Hepatitis can tolerate and live normal lives. My level is dangerous and needs to be addressed.
I'm leery of the treatment. The last therapy I underwent was in a clinical study. My bipolar was aggravated severely. I was in an almost constant state of mania. Worse, my psychosis ran amok to the point where I tried to commit suicide. I convinced myself at the time that I was only cutting on the underside of my arm instead of the usual forearm. It was no doubt a psychological trick I played upon myself.
The physical side effect was also devastating. I loss weight and my muscle tone decreased dramatically. Because of my manic state I convinced myself that I needed to fast during the study. The lack of food and the instability that causes fed my mania like gasoline on a fire. I lost weight precipitously. I lost whatever touch I had with my body which wasn't very much to begin with.
This time I feel much better prepared. For one thing I am physically strong from working out at the gym. I am in tune with my body as never before. My bipolar and psychosis is more under control than it had been during the trial. I no longer rely on Lithium but rather the big-muscle state-of-art Geodon. I feel as though I can detect the early warning signs of each and curtail them before they become out of my control.
All this doesn't keep me from worrying, of course. I'm afraid that Blue Shield, my Medicare Plan D provider, will only pay a fraction of the cost of the Hepatitis medication. It's all new and does not exist in generic form. The usual Blue Shield payment for non-generic, brand name medication is 50% which will probably leave me with a hellish co-payment. I don't know what that might be. My Hepatitis doctor gave me a list of the drugs I'll be taking. I need to go to Walgreen's to find out what my share of the costs will be.
I'm afraid of the physical and mental toll this therapy will take on me. I may be bettered prepared this time around but I am still nevertheless prone to physical and mental distress. I am going to work harder with Tess at the gym to ensure that my core muscle strength is kept up and maybe even increased. I need to rely on those around me to tell me when I am in mania or exhibiting signs of psychosis (what ever the latter might be). I am in deep analysis and psychiatric care. I think I have all of my ducks lined up in a row.
There are also other physical side effects. The last time I was in therapy I became anemic and my white blood cell count dropped. I needed to supplement my Hepatitis medication with Procrit and Neupogin to handle each accordingly. That's a total of three injections I need to take. There's not reason this won't happen again.
I'm not as afraid of mania as I am of psychosis. Although I cannot predict either, I enjoy mania and do no harm to myself or others while in it. Psychosis is as difficult to predict as manic episodes but has dangerous consequences. I will cut myself and even attempt suicide when psychotic. I am not dangerous to others, however, and that's consoling.
The previous treatment I was on had a 20% chance of total remission (cure) of the disease. My viral count at the end of that therapy was almost undetectable, as low as 300 if I recall correctly. This new therapy involves an additional drug and has a 60% chance of complete remission. This is encouraging. I might actually be cured of Hepatitis.
I get the feeling, probably unjustified, that those around me who are going to be a part of this experience aren't thinking as much about me as they are about the impact this therapy will have on their lives. To be sure it no doubt have some impact on them but from my point of view this is my survival am dealing with. The doctor didn't come right out and say it but I have a dawning awareness that Hepatitis will kill me if I do nothing about it.
She is going into full blown caretaker mode about this. She has a calendar planned on which I can keep track of my monthly blood draws and changes that will occur in the medication during the therapy. I can almost see her eyes come alive as we discuss this decision of mine. I am torn. On the one hand I will need her help during the course of the therapy (which can last up to 48 weeks). On the other I am rebellious and bitterly resent needing a nursemaid.
I wonder if I'll be able to tap into my 401K to help pay for the drugs? Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances that will not incur terrible tax consequences. I need to talk to an accountant about this. If my legal case against Liberty Mutual succeeds I'll have more (but maybe not enough!) extra money help pay for medication. If I survive for three to four months between the end of the year until I get my tax refund then I can apportion that for medication. No matter what my financial situation will take a beating.
Meanwhile I get to wait two to three weeks while my doctor's office assistant works with the insurance company to get the best coverage possible. At the time of this writing I still need to schedule an ultrasound of my liver for my doctor. I guess I'll get on that tomorrow.
I hope this all works out.
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