12 Week PCR results

I got my 12 week PCR results...UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE, UNDETECTABLE,  UNDETECTABLE, UNDETECTABLE, UNDETECTABLE !!!!!!

-Robert

[rifleman]

Glad to hear it.  Told you you'd be fine.  I took my last peg (12 of 12) on 9/2/05 and my last riba on 9/8/05.  Let's just say I feel better than I have in years.  Blood work done on 9/8/05 indicated undetectable HCV at < 10 ml/U, HgB at 12.1 (feels like 16 now), with good platelets and wbc's.  Thyroid survived the peg onslaught with no adverse effects, and the liver functions were all normal.
I was undetectale at 4 weeks and at 12.  I don;t remember if you had a 4 week PCR. . . I seem to recall something about a 2 log drop at 4 weeks or something?  In any event, undetectable at 12 weeks for a geno 1 is excellent news.
My biggest problem now is that I have "The Thirst" and would really like a cold beer or 6.  Doc said wait at least 3 months, but better 6 months, ideally 1 year etc.  Oh well, I suppose I can get by drinking a couple liters of Fresca daily.  I started drinking that b/c after the 3d week of tx I could not stand the taste of water and substituted juice, ginger ale, etc.
Keep hammering away with the toxic drugs & say goodbye to your HCV.
DJL

[dammitjanet]

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray
You can relax & have a good time today!

[doll face]

Yahoo !!!!!!! It is so nice to see good news first thing in the morning. CONGRATULATIONS

[rearfang]

Great news!
Lauren

[IwillBeatHCV]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tallblonde]

Fabulous news!  Thanks for sharing it.

Susan

[IwillBeatHCV]

I envy you...only 12 weeks of treatment--must be nice. And congrats on your clearing this virus. I have 34 more weeks to go...

[sindog]

Thanks for the welcome. I am genotype 1a. I got the biopsy results from the nurse over the phone, she said I was borderline stage 3 to 4 and will talk more with the dr. I started seeing a dr. in my home town, but am also seeing one in Colorado. My hometown dr. tested for the viral load and the results came back that they were more than 50 mil so they tested again. The lab told me that was the old test and the dr. wanted the new test that just came out which gives the better results. I'm not sure if the are giving me incorrect information or if they are ignorant, or maybe I am. The biopsy results came from the new dr. I imagine we will discuss treatment at the next appointment in early oct. Your discussion with nygirl regarding treatment has been very helpful and any advice would be great.
Thanks to all. Call me Jim2

[sindog]

Antoher note: anyone in the colorado area, I had the best experience at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins. I was there for about 3 hrs and the same nurse stayed with me during the entire time. She  acted like she didn't know why I needed the biopsy and didn't ask. I told her I had HepC and it seemed to blow by like her only concern was taking care of her patient.  It was health CARE.

[jmjm530]

Welcome again to the forum.

It it turns out you're stage 3-4, then you probably should treat soon. Meanwhile, try and get copies of all your tests, etc., from both your old and new doctor.

Hopefully, your new doctor has some experience in treating hepatitis c patients. Many GP's and even some GI's aren't that knowledgeable and often send people in wrong directions. If you're uncomfortable with your doctor's approach, a consult with a heptologist (liver specialist) can be helpful. You can usually find them at the larger, teaching hospitals.

We're here to help answer your questions and give general support. As you probably know, none of us are doctors here but there is a wealth of knowledge to sort through. Personally, I always double (or triple check) everything that critically relates to a treatment decision -- whether the info comes from here, my doctor, or a study.

-- Jim

[v eggie dip]

congrats!  great news, hope you both have a wonderful day!

Beth

[jaroman]

Hurray!  Congrats! A huge bridge crossed/ keep fighting.

[jaroman]

I should get my 12 week PCR this week.  Scared....

[strator]

Nice to see people sharing good news. 1st shot last night went fine, other than waking around 5AM shaking with serious chills. It was actually comical trying to get sweatpants on with all the vibration. Other than that just a general yukkiness this morning which seems to be evaporating. Question though-Does taking tylenol the next morning besides pre-dose, change the effectiveness of the meds?

[HepCinLA]

Hello, sorry to butt in on this thread but just a quick question...
I am on week # 3 (out of 48) and I think the Riba is really starting to get to me.  I don't have any symptoms except for feeling very tired, short breath, a sore throat and occasional cough.  I also feel cold most of the time.
Last night I slept for 12 hours and woke up feeling tired.  I am able to get basic household chores done but find I constantly need to take breaks to catch my second wind.  By 6PM I am completely whipped and just count the minutes til I can crawl into bed.  
I am on the Ideal study and won't be able to get any Procrit til my hemoglobin drops to 10.  I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks for my 4 week follow up and viral load test.  I did have my 2 week check up last week but according to the nurse my results won't be back in time for my next visit in two weeks!!!  
Could my hemoglobin number be close to 10 yet or are you basically bedridden at that point?
Does it really take 3 weeks for blood work to come back or is that only w/r/t the viral load number?  
Should I tell the nurse to pester the lab to turn in my hemoglobin number before my next visit?
Even though my next visit is in two weeks, should I insist on another hemogloblin test this week?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.  By the way Robert congratulations on your test result!!
Thank you.

[GoofyDad]

Great news Robert, it's so great to see this stuff working! Thanks for posting the good news. And keep up the good work.

Strator, I'm in the same boat as you. First shot was last night & no probems to speak of. Took 2 tylenol PMs and only woke up to pee. Today I feel jet lagged and a little stiff. I'll probably do a touch of light yard work and take a swim. Reading what others have dealt dealing with, I feel lucky and grateful. I guess when I get upto full load in Riba things may not be quite as rosey. I hope my lack of sides continue, and that those who are suffering from sx take turns for the better.

I took a pre-tx class last week & the nurse says most people with the real fluey like symptoms report not drinking so much water. Off for another slurp for me.

Also, I'll toss this out for anyone interested. When I told my Doc that I felt really good pre tx, he commented that I'd probably take to it OK. He said the patients with problems typically had HVC complaints going in to treatment.

[v eggie dip]

glad to hear your first shot went okay...Not so sure I like hearing what your doc said about people not having any symptoms prior having better result with sides...I am achy alll the time now, hope that is not an indicator of things worse to come...

Beth

[bobbyullc]

HI SAME HERE, MY FIRST SHOT WAS SUNDAY AND I WAS TRYING TO FIND SWEATS AND NOT WAKE MY WIFE. BETTER NEXT DAY THEN FINE. HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY. 47 MO TO GO.
LUCK

[Lynne5477]

Yep, remember those days well.  Yes, I was cold ALL the time.  I think it's the lower Hgb causing it???  And, yes, with the anemia, I was taking breaks all the time.  I would go walking with my husband and have to ask him to slow down or just stop for a few minutes to give me a rest.  Cleaning house seemed to take forever because of all the breaks I needed just to catch my breath.
  I got so used to the feeling that I didn't realize just how fatigued I felt all the time til I finished tx and got my energy level back.  What a difference.

  On the labwork, I always got my results back within a couple days; even on the PCR labs.  My dr's office used LabCorp so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

If you start feeling any more fatigued and out of breath, I would call your dr and see if they want to do labwork more often just to keep a closer eye on your numbers.

Good luck to you.

[friole]

Hang in there.  I am trying to study about Ribavirin today to understand it and its absorption better. It is hard reading all that stuff.  I have read that it takes 4 weeks for your body to maintain a level of Ribavirin in your plasma that is optimum.    Up to that point, I believe it spikes between doses.  At 4 weeks, it should remain at about 2200 ng (nanograms) per milliliter thru the end of treatment.  

Personally I had a lot more fatique around week 3 and 4 than I do now at week 10. I had days like you speak of, but not all of them. My hemoglobin dipped to it's lowest at 4.5 weeks.  Although you are in a study, I still think you should be able to get immediate access to your bloodwork, not just finding out at your next appointment. Those CBC's are usually back to the doc on the same day or next. Did they say they would call you if the hgb is under 10? All the normal laws on medical records should still apply.  I would ask the doctor to put it in your file that you are to get your tests mailed or faxed to you when they come in.  Try writing a letter to the doc if he does not return calls.

good luck, kathy

[GoofyDad]

I hope it goes well for you. I thought about it before I even posted that I'm sure most Docs want to find encouragement for us wherever they can.

Patient1: Gee but I feel great.
Doc: Well that's a good sign, you'll probably take to the treatment real well.

Patient2: Gee, I already feel pretty crappy.
Doc: Well you'll probably be one of those patients that feels better as soon as they start treatment and begin knocking back the virus.

[v eggie dip]

I am glad you posted that, it's good to hear whatever any doctor has to say, be it good or bad...

Beth

[PasoPerson]

Last Thursday was shot #4 for me.  I, too, have been very very tired for a couple of weeks.  My hemoglobin was 11.1 on 9/8, so my NP had me re-do test on 9/15 to see if it's still dropping.  I will get those results tomorrow, no doubt.

BUT, I just got all fed up "inside myself" with my lack of energy.  And I told that stupid ole dragon there was still fight left in this ole woman, so here I go.  I got the energy up to actually "spring clean" our office (both of us work from home, telecommute) which has about 1000 papers and trinkets scattered here and there.  Top to bottom, it's now clean.  And that wasn't all, then I went out and pressure-washed the inside and out of my very very dirty horse trailer.

Now, these just didn't happen.  Took a total of three entire days to get these tasks done, but guess what ... strange as it may sound ... I have more energy now than I did a week ago.  Go figure.  

Maybe we have to call on something deep inside us, our energy reserves if you will, when we get all fed up with being the way we are.  I don't know how to explain it, but I also have shortness of breath, so took many breaks and sucked down the water the whole time.

Just a suggestion, 'cause it sure made me feel good what I accomplished in those four days.  Just me, my family says "no big deal" but cannot possibly understand what I feel like inside.

So, HepC - you go get 'em.  Go for a walk, clean something that's driving you nuts, push push push if you can.  If not, well I didn't do much either for the first 3 weeks.  But with this shot last Thursday came a resolve within me.  I will pray you find your energy reserves to keep on keeping on.  God bless you -

Carolyn

[scruffy]

I had a cough and got cold easily through nearly my whole 48 weeks of tx. Also the fatigue came and went but usually stayed at a medium(bearable) level even though bloodwork never went far below the low end of normal but did stay down there all through tx. After tx the cough went away fast and the other things improved at a little slower rate. Good luck-

Robert, congrats on the fine news!   frank

[chellski]

hepcinla - im wk 24/48 (just took shot) i've been feeling lots of aches in joints; lothargic, and the toughest is the breathing! my lungs feel so tight just from two flights of stairs.  my hgb is at 11.4 and 6mo ago was 12.4 so it hasn't dropped drastically, or is it hovering near 10.  this loss of breath has only been for about a month or so; other sides do come and go, and i enjoy when they're gone.  one thing my doctor said AGAIN, is to drink alot of water...go figure...says water is a gift to your body.  good luck to you.

robertz - thanks for sharing the good news - you're almost done! way to go....michelle

[friole]

Congrats to you both.  You were the two starting the week I began reading posts and I like to hear news from you both.  Good luck on the PCR, rifleman.
Kathy

[cquest]

Told you not to worry! Good for you, I'm glad you can get back to life as you knew it pre tx!
Cin

[FlGuy]

Good to hear your good news.  You said that you finished 12/12, inplying you were done.  Does the peg-riba end for you?  I've seen some studies about EVR and that some docs may stop after 14 weeks (geno 2/3) with EVR at week #4.  I thought you were geno 1.  How did you manage only 12 weeks?

[cuteus]

I was wondering the same thing, but maybe he was not a 1. Still, 12 seems very short, even for that geno.

Rob; you can relax a tad now, don't grip the lapbar so tight anymore! ;-]

[NYgirl]

YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!

that is all there is to say about such phenomenal news!

YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!

[friole]

Wow -- I am so glad to hear it.  I am getting more nervous as that 12 week date approaches.  Congrats,
Kathy

[rifleman]

I was a geno 2 and cl'd somewhere before the 4 week PCR.  I started tx about the time the results of the Italian study indicating 12 weeks as effective as 24 for 2's that EVR'd at 4 weeks.  Decided to roll the dice for SVR w/ 12 weeks.  Dr. advised it as well.  I was not having bad sides, but the meds are rather toxic.
DJL

[cuteus]

I am soooooo ENVIOUS!
I think the dice has a lucky 7, wait, double seven!
good luck!

[FlGuy]

Like you choice of terms 'WAS' a geno 2.  Again, great news and I wish you well.  Have my 12 week PCR later this week.  Did not test at 4 weeks (so no early-on evidence of EVR then).  Am a geno 3A.  When I started this I did so with a commit to do the full 24.  Now , after 3 months of this stuff I'm wavering on my dedication a little bit.  I know I can make 24 but it sure would be nice to get a little reprieve - like you. Again, good luck in your SVR.

[cuteus]

it also has to do with the amount of liver damage, as more providers now feel that HCV "hides" in scarred/fibrotic tissue.
If there is EVR, mild damage and the right genotype, the chances are better.
Hang in there, it is almost over, though it seems like an eternity already.

[nor cal mom]

I just recieved my 12wk VL. I am neg also,Hurray for us!!
I had a bad pukie Friday night so this news makes me want to stay with the treatment Good luck to everyone on their upcoming checks  Darcy

[cougareyes]

Congrats you guys, I go for my 12 wk tommorrow. Friole I know how you feel, I'm a little anxious about it myself.