About Me

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This blog is a personal space where I can post some of my photos and talk about some of my favorite things. I have many interests, including, but not limited to: The Western Mystery Tradition, Rosicrucianism, Gnosticism, Modern Chinese Medicine, Photography, Music, Chess, Computers, ad infinitum..... I love to read, hate television, but do enjoy good movies. Newest entries are always posted on the top of page.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Good News and Some Frustration

Well, since my last posts I was seen by a local Gastroenterologist who ordered an Abdominal Ultrasound which I had performed this last Thursday and a Liver Biopsy which has been scheduled for Tues. September 04. The good news is that my lab work showed my viral genotype is type 3a. The reason this is good news is that the length of your treatment depends on what hepatitis C genotype you have. Genotype 1 generally is treated for 1 year and genotypes 2 and 3 generally are treated for 6 months. Also of significance is that studies have shown that treatment works for up to 50% of people with genotype 1 and up to 80% of people with genotype 2 or 3.

The frustration stems from being notified by my current Gastroenterologist that he won't put me on treatment until I am evaluated by a Psychiatrist for clinical depression, Clinical Depression is one of the main contraindicators for current Hepatis C Combination Therapy. This is due to the fact that when I discontinued my very short trial of interferon treatment around six years ago I mentioned the D word ("depression") as one of the reasons I wished to discontinue treatment at that time. Yes, I was a little down about not being able to work etc. and so decided to quit treatment and return to work, hoping to manage the virus with alternative methods (Chinese Herbal medicine etc). I know however, I don't have clinical depression and this is frustrating me because now that I have decided to undergo treatment I find myself anxious to get started. Oh well, for now it's hurry up and wait for the ultasound, biopsy results and the Psych referral.


As far as the labs which have come back already here is my current baseline;

AST is slightly elevated at 67
ALT is slightly elevated at 110
HDL Cholesterol is low at 37
And HCV Viral Count is at 5,790,000 (Genotype 3a)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Here's to the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.
-Leonard Cohen