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High Hep C Viral Load

I  was diagnosed with hep c 2 years ago...Did not complete interferon treatment because it made me very sick...I then started a regiment of herbal vitamins...My ast and alt levels are very good and have been for a long time...My biopsy 2 years ago put at stage 1 and my genotype at 1a...I guess my question is if my viral load is high am I doing more damage to my liver and should I consider trying treatment again...My doctor says I should but then I read all kinds of articles and stay confused...Can someone please try to help me?
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Avatar universal
Hi I have been diagnosed and have a high viral load Genotype 1A and 1B. biopsy was at 2. i have registered for a drug trial and scared about side effects, being able to work and being alone thru this treatment.  Can anyone tell me how bad the side effects are and anyone had success with this type of virus and the regular treatment? I am a single mum and want to be around for a longer time I am 52 and start this treatment drug trial Sept long weekend.
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Avatar universal
My viral load is 9,860,000 - my ALT and AST are normal. Have just received my results today. Do you think that treatment will be recommended for me?
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My son is on methodone treatment and during a recent physical he requested a Hep c test.  It came back positive stating "high" viral load.  I have been falling apart ever since. Trying to research everything on the internet I can find.  He has not had any other tests to determine what if any damage has been done to his liver (he is 28) because he does not have any insurance.  We don't know where to turn.  We live in Georgia, can anyone help?

Thanks,
mfl
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Avatar universal
hi, green, transfusion 1978-bike wreck, diagnosed hep-c 6 years ago, biopsy not good, did interferon, didn't work, re-did pegintron 6-mo's, gi-Dr. says no trace of virus, annually since.         all i can get on-line is symtons, how-to-get-it, treatments,      
my question is, can i/anyone actully be cured ? are we contageous ? i have been like a monk for 5 years, but what about from 1978 ?
Thanks
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Avatar universal
I hope if you get another biopsy it will show minimal activity again.  Since you think this GI doc might have that kind of attitude (and some do), I urge you to ask your family doc if he knows who's considered the top notch liver / Hep C treatment docs in your state (or in your area.) In my case, there weren't many in  my immediate area, and my first GI doc  (in my immediate area)  was the pits.  Now I go to Duke (almost 3 hours away),  but it is worth every mile.  If your family doc doesn't know, just keep doing what you are now (researching it on-line.)  Best of luck!
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Avatar universal
Hi Motherfletcher.  I came across your note and thought I'd try to help, too.

Your viral load can fluctuate a lot, and a good GI doctor will tell you that a high viral load doesn't correlate with severe liver disease just as low one doesn't correlate with mild liver disease and that the viral load is used to determine how well the patient is responding to treatment.  A low viral load can be seen in patients with severe liver disease, and a high viral load can be seen in patients with very mild liver disease.  Extremely high viral loads have been shown to be associated with a slower response to treatment, however, and lower viral loads have been shown to be associated with a more rapid response to treatment.  

I'm sorry you couldn't tolerate the treatment before. The side effects for some are very disabling and most are not successfully treated because of the "side effects".  

If you were 1/1 on biopsy two years ago, that is most likely very good news for you (that is very mild damage), and it would be even better news if combined with that very good biopsy your labs have remained consistently OK in the liver function testing area (your enzymes, i.e. ALT, AST, and your GGT, Bilirubin, Alk Phos, Albumin, platelets, rbcs, wbcs.)  Do you know the results of your most recent lab work?  How often have you been going for labs since biopsy.   Get copies of your lab work  (always a good idea).

I hope you are under the care of a very good GI doc who knows about the newer treatments in trials now that could possibly be on the market within a few years for geno 1A's.  Granted, they may not "fly",  but they may, and it's imperative you know about the drugs if you have Hep C and are geno 1A and did not do well before.   These newer drugs are being watched very closely by the experts in treating Hep C (and by hepatitis C patients, too.)   If you aren't under the care of a liver doctor who is knowledgeable about these drugs in trials  (the most popular ones with the most promise), chances are he is not AS good as a GI doctor who does know about them and can tell you about the ones that look most promising.  If your doctor has not said anything to you about future treatment  (or isn't familiar with the "HCV drug pipeline") get under the care of a doctor who does know and can tell you so that you can make the most informed decision possible in concert with your doc.  Your doctor needs to tell you everything about the treatment that is approved now to treat Hep C.  You need to know everything you can possibly find out, and getting on-line is a good way to find out, too.

That's a good point about Pegasys being possibly one that would give you less sides.  I know several, though, who have treated with both and many who were disppointed to learn that Pegasys for them had <strong>worse</strong>  side effects for them than PegIntron.  

There are many with Hep C who are enrolled in a watchful waiting approach with their GI docs now because of the promise of newer drugs (VX-950, in trails now, PhaseII, is the one being watched most, particularly for geno 1A's).  If your GI doctor has not talked to you the possibility of your being a candidate for a "watchful waiting approach", do yourself a favor and go get a second opinion by a GI doctor who will assess you to see if you are a candidate.

Do not discard the hope that future therapies could improve success rates of treatment.  Learn all you can about the treatment now and any "rescue drugs" your doc will or won't use, and learn all you can about newer drugs in the pipeline.  And please don't think you are going to necessarily "get worse".  It's easy to think that but it's not necessarily true at all, and in fact most people with Hep C do OK with this virus and don't die early because of it.  I met two people in their 80's this past year who had no clue they had chronic Hep C (one a pathologist who just retired recently, and the other a retired plant worker who found out he has Hep C when he went in for knee replacement surgery and it was found by chance.)  They are both doing fine.  So - we do get old - lol :)  

It's wonderful your husband is supportive no matter what you decide to do.  That is a great thing!  Learn all you can.  Happy Holidays!  

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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your help...Any input is welcome...My labs have all been very good except the latest viral load and naturally I panicked...The doctor I have seen is new to me...It was a consult and he said that I needed to be treated...I know that is why we go to a doctor...I see my family doctor quite often and he orders all my labs...I will be seeing him again next week and would like to have another biopsy...The GI doctor only seemed to be willing to see me if I wanted treatment...I take a lot of herbal meds and I feel better than I have in along time...Thanks again for the input, and you a Happy Holiday also...
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Avatar universal
My genotype  1a...The most difficult to treat...I am 51 years old and I weigh 150 lbs...My over all health is very good; and I do exercise...Were you able to take care of yourself and have a somewhat normal life during your treatment, if you don"t mind me asking...I do work and have a 10 year old Grandson that lives with me...He knows that I am sick and will probably get sicker...My husband suppports whatever I decide..Any help is deeply appreciated...Is it normal to have to take a second treatment? I am lost when it comes to this treatment...Thank you again...
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Avatar universal
PS. keep in mind your viral load fluctuates all the time. It is  important to know the viral load number when you begin treatment so you have a wayy of gauging your progress, but it is a constantly changing number. You could test 3 times in one day and get 3 different results.
You are smart to face your disease head on and fight it. I know how hard it is to do, but you CAN beat this thing.
I'm on my second round of treatment.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response...The treament was the Pegintron...I had never felt so sick in my life...I am considering trying again...I have a different doctor this time and he says he can get me through this...I then turn around and read every article on the internet and then that"s where the confusion comes in...I guess I have to follow my heart because I definetly want to be better and have a lot to live for...It"s been 2 years since I have been diagnosed and was in denial for the longest time...Now I have accepted the fact that I have Hep c; and probably can make it through the treatment...Thank you again...


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Avatar universal
I would suggest trying the "other one" Pegasys this time. It is suppossed to have much milder side effects than PegIntron.

I would also look into taking weight based dosages of Ribivirin, there is quite a bit of evidence that proper dosing of Ribivirin is essential to clearing the virus. What genotype are you? How much do you weigh? I would be aggressive in pursuing the treatment dosage amounts this time and make sure you and your doctor are following the latest protocols that are showing the best results in patients to increase your chances of the treatment working this time.
You can arm yourself with studies showing the increased success rates for those who are on the correct amounts of Ribivirin.
You want to hit the virus hard and try to clear it fast. Arrange with your doctor to do the PCR test after 4 weeks of treatment. If you have cleared the virus by that time, at 4 weeks, your chances of the treatment working improve substantially. You can also use it as a reaccessment point, if it isn't working by then, chances aren't as good that it will work even if you take the meds for the entire year.
If you clear the virus by the 4th week of taking the meds, studies show this as a VERY positive sign for clearing the virus. You can also watch your diet carefully, use probiotics and drink lots of water.

A lot of doctors are a bit behind on the learning curve of Hep C and new knowledge is coming all the time so it is imperative that you learn all you need to know so you and your doctor can apply the  meds in the most optimum manner.
You might want to click on the "Hepatitis" forum on this website for more info, and studies to aid your education. There is a lot of info. on that forum regarding Hep C and treatment. You can access many of the most recent studies through the archives. Also check out clinicaloptions.com for good treatment info.

Best of luck to you!
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Avatar universal
Do you know which type of Interferon you used the first time? One possibility would be for you to try the other one, there are two companies that make pegylated interferon. One is called PegIntron the other is called Pegasys. Many say the side effects of Pegasys are much easier to tolerate than the PegIntron. It can be a difficult treatment but if you use sleep aids, mild pain medications and/or anti depressants that can help make it through the treatment.

I would try again. Many people end up stopping treatment like you did for one reason or another, I'd give it another go. Your experience won't necessarily be the same as last time.

There is no natural remedy for the Hep C virus, you can use natural supplemental support like you have been doing but that does not eliminate the virus, though they can help to reduce inflammation of your liver, they can't stop it. I'd follow our doctor's advice and try again to eliminate that virus.
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