Finally, something worth smiling about today. 
That’s really great to hear, Aye.
{{{Ayesha}}} Good luck in the days to come.
We may not have spoken before but I have to say…
CONGRATS AYESHA!!
** OldBroad ** Thanks !
** Dr.Pinky ** WooHoo I do love to watch nakkid broke toe dancing ! Thanks.
** Ang ** Thank you and hugs back at ya.
** spooje ** You’re welcome.
** SexyWriter ** Not everyone who tests positive for Hep C has the active chronic form of the disease. For those of us who do, symptoms usually do not show up until the disease has progressed to the point where our liver is showing the damage. Most people find out they have it because doctors look for it after finding elevated liver values when doing testing for other health problems. Everyone is different, some show no sign, some get very ill.
Treatment is real, and for some it is working. So far there are very few doctors who will say cure, a cure implies that it is over and will not resurface. The doctors I have dealt with say remission and sustained remission.
Since combo has only been being used for a few years it is too early for doctors to use the word cure IMHO. That is because of how devastating it is to relapse, been there done that. Cried like an idiot.
There is no 100% cure but treatments are getting better. Yes they are horrible, I have flu like symptoms, shortness of breath, fever, chills, body aches, had my face break out in a rash that looked and felt like a bad sunburn, complete with peeling. Dizziness and all that. The paper work I got from the drug company about how to take care of myself during treatment is the same that is given to cancer patients undergoing chemo.
Without medical coverage it is very, very expensive, I have heard of prices ranging from $550. to $1200. for two weeks worth of meds. The newer the drug the higher the price. And more effective
If you want to learn about the disease and treatment I suggest you follow the links in this thread including the one in my sig. Also do a search for Hepatitis C that will give you all types of sites to check. And you can email or post to me about this anytime. And you can do a search here for the word Hepatitis C and my username. I can’t answer any and all questions, but I can, will, and do share my experience with the disease and treatment here on the board. I do it because according to the CDC ** “almost 4 million Americans are infected with the Hepatitis C virus” ** http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/chronic.htm
And manny, manny peoples ( 
) who have it don’t even know the disease exist, I sure didn’t. I feel a responsibility to get the word out and this is my way of doing it.
The best thing you can do for your friend IMHO is to treat her like you always have. And do what you are doing, educating yourself. There is so much ignorance about this disease that Heppers are treated like plague carriers. It is not passed by casual contact. Heck even my husband doesn’t have it.
Just some of the famous people who have this are David Crosby, Dusty Hill (bassist for ZZTop), Freddie Fender.
OK, end of long rambling answer. You can tell I am passionate about this. Sorry.
** cucumber ** Thank You !
** TruePisces ** Thank you too.
** picmr ** Thanks.
** iampunha ** Thanks, you have to stay like that [cheesy song voice] Until the twelve-th of Never, and that’s a long, long timmmmmmmmme [/cheesy song voice].
** Persephone ** WooHoo ! The twister mat ! Thanks.
Thank You ** Spider Woman **
** Silver Fire ** I am glad it made you smile, thanks.
** hardygrrl ** I am not sure who I have or haven’t posted to anymore but that doesn’t matter, thank you .
Ayesha thank you SO much for the information. And I DO intend to continue to treat my friend like I always have. And in fact, I knew she had Hep C very shortly after I met her and it has never affected my treatment of her. The only thing that may be different is that she doesn’t have a vehicle, so when she told me about her potential treatment, I offered to drive her to the doctor or help her out in any other way I could. For example, if she is too sick from treatment to get herself groceries run errands, I will likely be handling that for her.
I felt a little nervous about asking her some rude-sounding question, such as “So exactly what IS wrong with you? What ARE you taking?” or something like that. So I asked YOU my rude questions instead. We are pretty close friends and I don’t think she’d take offense at my questions, but I just want to sort of let her tell me what she WANTS to tell me and not pry any further.
Thanks so much!
-L
** SexyWriter **,
I did not find your questions rude at all. I am glad you are asking them. If more people would ask they wouldn’t be so freaked out.
Hepatitis C can (not always will, but can) lead to cirrosis of the live, liver failure, and some people have even developed liver cancer. In other words people are dying. They are dying because no one wants to talk about this, people would rather stick their heads in the sand than learn or talk about this. So I don’t find any question too personal or too rude.
Congratulations, Aye!!
That is some of the best news I have heard in a really long time! I am so happy for you! That is so great! I really hope you do not have another relapse!
I will continue sending you positive thoughts and I will cross everything I possibly can!
Congratulations! Now don’t be such a stranger, hear? I missed you!
Yes!!
This is great news, and puts into perspective all those little worries that life throws up.
I’ll fill a glass to you Ayesha
CHEERS!!
Yaaaayyyyyy, Ayesha!!!
I’m doin’ a backflip hearin’ this for ya. You tell that liver to keep on livin! I know a lot of folks with Hep C, mostly musicians; it’s been a hushed epidemic in that community. Thank you for being open and involved in dispelling the ignorance of this disease. Stand up and SHOUT, baby, you deserve it!
HUZZAH!!
Congrats, Ayesha! That’s great! I’m doing a happy dance as we speak, and I not only am crossing my own fingers and toes, but I crossed my FRIENDS’ fingers and toes too, while they were sleeping!
(And before anybody gets any ideas, I didn’t cross any naughty bits while they were asleep. So get yer minds out of the gutter!) 
Yay again!
Yay for you, Aye!
I am so extremly happy for you!!!
And to echo Mistress Tater, don’t be such a stranger! But, all is forgiven since it meant such wonderful news.
Now is the the medicine that you were had such a hard time with a few months back?
And the last time I heard from you things weren’t so good with some people where LionSOB works. Did things get worked out with that?
Oh, Sexywriter, you will find that Aye is very open, honest and helpful about any questions you might have. She’s a pretty special person IMHO. And you sound like a stand up kind of person yourself. Good luck with your friend and to your friend.
** evilbeth ** , Thank you.
** tatertot **, Thanks, I warned y’allthat I might not be here as much when treatment started. I’ll try to do better. Please don’t hurt me.
** casdave ** Thanks, you can lift one glass to me, but no more. (Bad for your liver ya know)
** elelle ** Thank you, and long time no see. This has been a hushed epidemic everywhere, but as more of regular people speak out I am hoping that more musicians, especially those with name recognition will join us. This dragon must be slain and it will take all of working together in our own way to get it done.
**Jester ** Now do you think I’m the kind of girl who has her mind in the gutter? Damn I can’t fool anyone anymore ::sigh:: Thank you.
**Tengu ** Thank you
** Kricket ** Thanks, how is your son doing now ?