12 week test results confused!

[hunapu]

I have Hep C Geno 2b. No liver problems. Very slightly elevated alt/ast before treatment, picked up in a cholesterol test. My VL was 2,300,000 when TX began in Sept.  At 4 weeks VL was less than 10 iu/ml, and I was tracked for 12 weeks TX.  As of yesterday (which was 12 weeks) my VL is up to 250 iu/ml using quantasure plus.  I'm very confused about these results and can't see/talk to gastro till appt. Did my VL really go back up? Is this a significant presence or below threshold of the test?

[cougareyes]

I feel what you're saying, I was hairstylist for 20 years; my hair was into the middle of back. I'm in week 23 and have lost about 2 inches in length due to losing hair and none growing back. I also have bald spots than range from a quarter size and bigger. My pony tail is at about 1/2 the density of before tx, I smooth my hair back to cover the bald spots. It's very disturbing but I knew the risk of this was possible.
I hope it all balances out for you, believe me; male or female you'll never find anyone more vain than me.    Peace

[hunapu]

Update:

I saw the Gastro/PA.  The 12 (actually 11 week) week PCR 250 iu/mL is no doubt a rise from week 4 <10 iu/ML, and it means that even though I was below detection at 4 weeks I still had some tiny amount of virus.  But, they will keep me on Tx until 24 weeks (geno 2b) and they said that it is still a strong likelhood of successful week 24 VR and potential for SVR. I have still gone from 2,300,000 to 250.   Since I was already on 180 pegsys/week and 1000 mg Ribba daily and given my weight they can't up the doses.

[NYgirl]

I haven't been losing too much of my hair that I've noticed but today I had on a black shirt and noticed that I seem to have about a billion split ends...nothing like I've ever had before (so of course I spent work today cutting them off one by one).

Has anybody else noticed this?  The bad thing for ME is I work for a world famous hair / beauty company and and having such dead looking hair is NOT going to help me out here!

I have more product than anyone in the world...but it just is not going to help!

God bless tx.

[hunapu]

Thanks DD.  I'm actually on my way to see the Gastro/PA right now, so the wait was only one day.  They will be able to better interpret the labs and help me formulate and agressive plan.

[DoubleDose]

Please excuse all the typos above...was in a rush to beat the storm and run errands!!!

DD

[DoubleDose]

First and foremosr, I hope you are not stopping any of your tx medications, in light of the PCR positive result.  I would think your Gastro would now have you go for a full 24 weeks, assuming you are4 fully undetected on the next test.  I would ask for another PCR..IMMEDIATELY!  At this juncture, you cannot afford to miss any doses.  

Second.... You can't talk to your doctor until your next appt.??????  That is crazy!  He should have been on the phone to you as soon as your PCR pos. result came in...to plan the next move!  I would place an EMERGENCY call to him ASAP!  This is the time to salvage ytour tx!  not sit and wait for an appointment!

Third...I assume you have taken the same dose for each of the 12 weeks so far!  If you dose reduced in any way, this may have caused the viral breakthrough you have experienced.  If you have not reduced dosagem, your doctor may want to slightly adjust your dosages upward (Interferon, or Riba, or both), in order to address the apparent viral resurgence.  Another quick PCR would vreify whether this last result was accurate or not, and which direction things are moving.

You are moving in the right direction to achieve SVR, but need to alter the treatment plan!  Don't be complacent...or let your doctor be complacent.  You need to intervene now.

Good Luck!!!

DoubleDose