Advice on what to do

[browncookie]

Hello,

first of all it's great that such a forum exists, thank you everyone for the wealth of information. I'm writing in behalf of my brother, he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C a year ago, went through Interferon and Ribavirin treatment with zero success. After 3 months the virus load was only a little lower and they decided to cancel the treatment. Yesterday he received the test results and his viral load increased from 3 million to 14 million. The doctor said that this doesn't matter much. Is this true? Or should we be concerned about this? They'll do another test to check the shape of his liver, i hope it's still ok.

Another huge problem is that he has severe OCD. He kinda still doesn't believe it, but i'm trying little by little to convince him. He's still living with his parents, doesn't go out, he's afraid to touch anything, cleans his room every day and so on. So coupled with this horrible disease you can imagine the fears he's facing.

I'd like to ask about the new drugs (Sofosbuvir, Semeprivir). I saw that both of them are approved in the US. But when can we expect them to be available in Europe (i'm from Lithuania)? The doctor that he's visiting now is very vague and doesn't seem to supply any information about new treatments, which is quite maddening. I have no idea how to proceed now, buying the drugs is out of the question, none of us could collect a few hundred thousand dollars. What do you suggesst we should do as a next step?

Thank you very much!

[willbb]

Yesterday he received the test results and his viral load increased from 3 million to 14 million. The doctor said that this doesn't matter much.
-----------------------
Your brothers doctor is correct,and as the others above have mentioned this number can change up or down by the miilions in a day as the war goes on between the virus and the bodys own immune system constantly.

If his doctor is vague about the current  therapies for HCV,my suggstion is that because it is his job to know how to best treat his/her patients ..they get infomed on this  or I suggest strongly your brother be seen by someone who is,in all aspects of the disease (meaning...proper tests to run regarding possible liver damage and current and upcpoming therapies,as this is very important to your brothers well being.

Good luck to you and your brother..
Will

[browncookie]

Thank you for the replies and for the link. Yes, i hope more people will give information. And just to be clear, i'm a man, i think i've come up with a bad username :)

[nan535]

Found this article online. Thought it might interest you.

http://www.eatg.org/news/168788/83_organizations_demand_that_the_prices_for_hep_C_treatment_be_reduced

It's hard for someone from the US to give advice to someone from Eastern Europe in terms of when treatment will be available. What we can try to do is be supportive and try to answer your questions on how to help your brother remain stable. There is so much information on the internet now about Hepatitis C (including on this forum).  
    The viral load really doesn't indicate much in terms of how much liver damage is present. My husband has a viral load of less than 2 million and yet has cirrhosis due to a combination of post transplant complications and Hep C. Others may have a much higher viral load and not have significant liver damage.  
     I am certain others will post with other information you will find helpful.
He is lucky to have a sister who cares about him so much.

Best of luck to you both.
Nan
    

[JimmyMose]

Although earlier treatment is usually recommended many have had HVC for 20 to 40 years.  The stage of fibrous (biopsy or other specific ) and liver function test results plus actual examination and symptoms can provide a better idea of how serious the situation is at that time.   If you have any reports values etc maybe some here can help with their experiences and knowledge to offer suggestion etc.  Only a medical doctor can really provide medial advice and diagnosis (and even then maybe not that precise)  

[JimmyMose]

Welcome to forum. I'm just another member who has HVC.

http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/article.asp?AID=645180

Surprisingly, the level of virus in the blood, called viral load, doesn't help predict the course of hepatitis C. Some people with high viral levels do well. Others, with low levels of virus, develop liver problems. Doctors use the test to gauge how well treatment is working, but not to make a prognosis. Elevated levels of aminotransferase, a liver enzyme, are a sign that the disease is causing liver damage. But even this marker isn't a perfect predictor. As many as 30 percent of patients with liver damage have normal levels of aminotranferase.

This isn't a live chat so please if you leave soon come back later today or tomorrow as ther usually will be more replies.