I started a six month Interferon therapy for Hepatitis C on Oct 1 of 2007.

The docs told me to think of it as chemotherapy.

It boosts my immune system to the point where my immune system starts attacking my own body.

I look like the stereotypical AIDs type of patient, with skin sores.

I also have the runny nose, cough, muscle and joint aches, hair loss, insomnia, bizarre bowel activity, etc., that most chemo patients have.
I spend hours in the recliner, and run out of breath doing simple housework.
Walking up a flight of stairs will have me huffing and puffing for a long time, and it upsets observers.

I fly an EMS helicopter for a living (I got the Hep C from repeated skin contact with human blood), and the Feds have grounded me during this treatement because of the high number of suicides associated with Interferon, and I guess they don't want me to use the helicoper to commit suicide.

Frustratingly, I love my job, and not working has had significant impact on my emotional state.

I have continued to ride both of my bicycles, an ultra-light fixed gear bike, and a heavy-duty studded-tire Ice Bike (also fixed gear); however, I have geared down to about 3/4's of my normal gear ratio.

I try to do a daily training ride.

My wife will sometimes badger me into riding, especially when I have trouble summoning the energy.
However, every time I ride, and especially when I have trouble getting going, it improves my emotional state enormously.

My docs tell me I have done remarkably well, compared to other patients on this treatment, and they attribute it not only to my current riding, but to the fact I came into this treatement as a regular rider.
They constantly encourage me to keep riding.

Some people wonder how I can ride a fixed gear bike, and yet get so hopelessly out of breath climbing a flight of stairs.

I have given this some thought, and talked to my physicians about it.

For one thing, in addition to gearing down, I have reduced my cadence in climbing.
I have an intuition about the anaerobic/aerobic threshold, and I THINK, in addition to doing less work for unit of time, I also keep my efforts in the anaerobic strength regime of the associated muscle groups.

I also have a personal history of having served in my youth with a military special operations group noted for extreme physical fitness, and so I think I have a learned high tolerance for the pain associated with the upper edges of exertion.

However, I have also "blown up" on a few occasions, for the first time in my life.
I have hit a point where my heart cannot move enough blood to satisfy my body's needs.
My physicians say my heart has hit the point where it cannot move enough RED BLOOD CELLS.

I have a low red blood cell count due to this treatment.

A fellow worker, a former professional triathlete, has told me to ask for EPO, and I have yet to do so, I think out of concerns for the present general goofiness of my blood chemistry.

In any event, my point: every time I ride, everything gets better.
Sometimes it takes a huge effort to get out the door and on the bike, but every time I do it, the whole world gets better.

So, to those facing chemotherapy, or Interferon therapy, I say, make the effort to get on your bike.
You don't have to ride fast or set any personal records.
Just ride.

Just ride.