Monday, May 22, 2006
Bette's Journey~
I would like to begin by thanking my family for their unconditional love & support. My Doctor Zimbalist, for his continued support and determination that together we could beat the Dragon. Last, but not least my husband who gave me his love, hope, strength and courage when I had lost mine! My name is Bette and I live in Brooklyn, New York. I have a daughter and a son. I am blessed with 3 beautiful grandsons, and 1 princess. I was diagnosed on April 14, 1995 with the HCV during a routine medical check-up. I had my biopsy in May, and thank God, there wasn't any liver damage, only mild inflammation. I was informed that my viral load was 4 million and that I could start mono-interferon treatment immediately or wait until I was sicker. It didn't seem it matter either way to him if I treated or not. But he sure did fill my head with all the horrible things that HCV can do to you.
He also told me maybe one day you might need a liver transplant. He also told that I only had a 10-15% chance that the treatment would work! I looked him right into his beady eyes and asked "Dr. who makes up that percentage'? He looked back at me like I was a moron and said people who take the tx make up that percentage. I smiled at him and said so why shouldn't I be one of those people? He asked me if I had a blood transfusion or if I was an IV Junkie. I replied no. He smirked at me and said well, those are the only ways you could have been infected. I felt so happy, and asked if perhaps the tests were wrong, he assured me they weren't. That my primary had diagnosed me, he ran tests and the biopsy confirmed it. I was so confused at this point and thought this was all a bad dream, how could I have HCV, if the only way of getting it didn't apply to me.
I might be a blonde, but hell I'm not that blonde. For me it was a "no brainer" why wait until I was sicker. I informed Dr. Creep that I preferred not to wait until I was sicker and that I would begin treatment at once. Well, that is, after I went on vacation to Puerto Rico. Although, I didn't know anything at all about Hep-C, I did realize that I needed time to digest all that was thrown at me. I felt before I could heal my body. I would need to heal my soul~
I began my journey on August 7, 1995. I made a decision to continue working, for I wanted to keep my life as normal as possible. I did not want to be a victim. I vowed to live my life with Hep-C and not make Hep-C my life! My six-months of treatment were extremely difficult, I did not have the support of that man who called himself a doctor. He had me taking my injections at 9am, which was real nice, the sides would kick in while I was at work. I also had every side effect that you can imagine and they were being ignored by him. For six months I was told, they are only flu-like symptoms.. Yeah, like hell they were. When I complained that I was depressed, he firmly stated that it was NOT from interferon, and and asked if I or any member of my family had a history of mental problems. He made me question my own mental health. He was a Doctor from hell and by the way, his name is Dr. Rovito, who made worldwide news, about 4 years ago, he was the doctor who was responsible for infecting 42 patients with hepc during endoscopy procedures at his Brooklyn Clinic. A very close friend of mine was one of those 42.
At the end of six months he labeled me a non-responder and told me, sorry there isn't anything more I can do for you. I was determined to find a Doctor who would truly care about me and would help me get well. After interviewing several doctors. I found Dr. Zimbalist who is the most caring and supportive doctor I have ever known. It is vital to have a doctor who will be in partnership with you, and also one that with help ease any side effects that you may have. Doc Zimbalist promised me, that together, we would beat this! He soon put me back on interferon, this time for one year, but most importantly, I was told to take my injections in the evening so that I could sleep some of the sides away~ He also provided me with an escape hatch, ambien sleeping pills, when the sides became too intense, I took one and checked out. Most importantly, I told him, you might think I'm lying but I never did IV drugs or had a blood transfusion. He asked me why was I saying that and when I told him Dr. Rovito said those are the only two ways of getting it. His face turned red and he was outraged, he said presently there are about 15% that have HCV and are unknown origins, we call that sporadic infections and that is the category you fall into.
After completion of one year, I went into remission for 7 months. However, I relapsed or as I call it "my fall from grace." That is when I did loose Hope, I had been on tx for a total of 18 months and thought after my six month PCR I was home free.
Strange but when I was first diagnosed I never had any symptoms, but about 2 weeks after my 6 months post tx PCR I felt real sick and called my doc and asked for another PCR, he thought I was crazy but said if it will make you feel better I'll run another one. He was stunned it was back... I felt like I was free falling from the Empire State building and was convinced that I would one day die from HCV. I told my Dr. that I was done. I didn't want to try, and was so sick of feeling sick. He tried his very best to convince me that the "3rd would be the charm." However, it was my son, who knows just how to push my buttons.. He told me if I did not continue to fight this disease and I died; he would buy me the biggest tombstone that would read "My Mom died because she was a quitter and the biggest loser I ever knew." I got mad at that remark and even madder at HCV. Plus I just had to prove my son
My Doctor decided that I should try 18 more months of tx. This time, I vowed it would be my last time, and as "they" say "da 3rd is da charm." I truly felt like the poster child for Schering Plough, I think I heard they have my face on their vials. Doing 3 injections a week for 3 years was a bitch, but back then it was the only game in town and I was willing to play.
Trust me, I know tx is hard, but no pain, no gain. So for those who are able, not all are, please just do it. I have lost too many because they wanted to wait for a tx without these horrible sides.. But remember time waits for no one! Today there are several choices and there is at least a 60% chance, now that's hope! For those who read this, please don't ever give in or give up, for there is always Hope~
May 16th, 2006 I celebrated being cured 8 years
# posted by Joyfulstill @ 7:19 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
3 years of treatment. Wow I met my super hero. At 8 years being undect for sure you can say you are cured. I am undect 19 months, you sure gave your blog the tight name
Post a Comment
# posted by 
: 12:31 AM
: 12:31 AM << Home
