Hep-C advise

  I was recently confirmed to have chronic Hep-C. My viral load is just under 1,000,000 . Results of genotype are not in yet. I am being advised to have a liver biopsy. Is there a correlation between viral count and amount of liver damage? What would consistute a "mild" case of Hep-C? I am currently taking herbal treatments in the form of a tea prescribed by a certified accupuncturest who is trained in traditional Chineese medicine. Have you heard of any positive results from this? I probably contracted this illness over 20 years ago and I am now 46 years old with no symptoms and I am otherwise in excellent health. I am also seeing a gastroenteroligist here in Houston who advises a biopsy next. What will that tell that the blood tests and the ultrasound i`ve alreadyhad? My SGOT and SGPT levels have been elevated for at least 15 years. I quit drinking alcohol 15 years ago and have otherwise taken good care of myself lately. I previously had Hep-B but was told 15 years ago that it wasn`t active. Could that have caused more liver damage than the C alone? I also wonder why I wasn`t diagnosed Non-A non-B back then? If my liver biopsy indicates minimal liver damage i`m inclined not to go on interferon and to simply monitor my condition and wait for more effective treatments to be developed. What would you say to that plan? How would the illness best be monitored in the future?
    

[HFHS-MD-dm]

Dear R.J.:
Well you certainly have a lot of questions but I