Should I start Viread ??

[Nbm1]

I am new at this and need help and advice. I was told I'm hep b positive. I have conflicting reccmendation from 2 doctors on if we should proceed with treatment . My viral load is 28000, which according to one doctor is low and we should wait on treatment. The other doctor is saying I have stage 2 fibrosis to the liver and we should begin Viread . PLEASE ADVISE!!

[calmama]

Different people have different reactions to the same medication.  Kidney dysfunction is the only serious side effect of Viread, if we don't talk about the unknown long term side effect(s).  It happens to 1% of the patients taking Viread.  That's why a person should have his/her serum creatinine and phosphorus checked bimonthly.

Are the doctors you saw liver specialists?  If not, you should find a good one and talk to him/her.  Also, try to educate yourself about hep B.  Knowledge is power.  It helps when you are weighing the risk and benefit of treating or not treating.  The final decision is yours, but you need to be monitored by a good hepatologist no matter what.

[Nbm1]

Thank u. I'll get my profile and post it. I appreciate your response. What about the viread side effects I'm really really worried about that. I can hardly handle antibiotic w/ out feeling sick

[calmama]

Fibrosis is graded on a 4-point scale for fibrosis and inflammation. The fibrosis is staged as follows:
• 0 = no fibrosis or scarring
• 1 = minimal scarring
• 2 = scarring has occurred and is outside the areas of the liver which include blood vessels
• 3 = bridging fibrosis (the fibrosis is spreading and connecting to other areas that contain fibrosis)
• 4 = cirrhosis or advanced severe scarring of the liver

ALT and AST are liver enzymes and are always part of a routine check up for HBVers.  You should be able to get the data from your doctors.

[Nbm1]

What is inif mono therapy ? The side effects from Viread scare me to death. Id it really that bad? I think I got this at birth. When my mother died she had Heb b

[stef2011]

it is nothing and most hbv-non infected in western countries have f1 or f2 due to chemicals in the food

take antivirals first and then try intf, intf monotherapy has few chances to clear

[Nbm1]

I'm 49. I didn't know what my alt/ast are. I don't even know what that is. You mentioned starting interferon . Isn't that stronger than viread. I'm worried about the side effects of these medications. I can hardly take antibiotics without feeling sick.  How bad is having stage 2 fibrosis?

[OrientS]

since you have reached f2 fibrosis ..


my advise ..
is to start antivirals immediately ..

[calmama]

Since you have stage 2 fibrosis, I would agree with the second doctor that you should start treatment.

What is your age, alt/ast levels?

[veteranB]

I would start the antiviral, viral load is still viral load.

Also see if you can do interferon. So far it is the best option for us

[stef2011]

if you can monitor by fibroscan you can wait and not rush in to treatment but since drug makers are not interested in marketing any hbv cure your wait maybe wasted time