Best Hapatitis C treatment for my 62 years old mom?

[fiddel]

Hi, I am really glad to have found this site. My mom is 62 and had hepatitis C/B (nobody knew for sure at that time) 20 years ago but after a short treatment she was completely healthy and hasn

[mfsca]

Your mother should be writing about this herself. I am 62 and did treatment.  It didn't clear the virus.  She should look for a heptalogist to keep track of her situation over the years. The doctor will want regular blood tests and ultra sounds.   If she has no liver damage then she certainly can wait for one of the new treatments that will be easier to take. But that is up to her and the heptalogist.  If she cannot find a heptalogist near her than she should investigate a gastroenterologist who treats Hep C. I have some heart issues also.  But, this can be handled by a doctor who knows hep c and her cardiologist. You are very compassionate and considerate of your mother. But she needs to make decisions to care for herself correctly.  You are going to have to trust that with the right information she will make the right choices.

[Pauly Boy]

Hi All,
I'm trying to reach NYGIRL. I hope I've left enough posts to get your attention . I am trying to start TX and I also take suboxone . I want to speak with some one who is like me. I heard you have had the same situation. So,if you'd be so kind, give me a shout( ***@****). Anyone who canhelp get this message along: thanx. Look forward to speaking with you NYGIRL.
Thanx,
Pauly Boy

[can-do-man]

Go with your doctors advice. Theres done here. If she has heart problems why risk killing her. Some will say treat till it kills you. Maybe get another heaptolgist advice and find out from THEM what she should do or take. Best of luck to you and your mom

[NYgirl]

The only way your mother will be able to get RID of this disease and be "Cured" is through conventional treatment (Interferon and Ribavin) (Copegus and Pegasys are just kinds or names).  Milk Thistle etc MIGHT help her to feel better but no herbs or vitamins can cure this disease.  ONLY treating. As a 1B...that is about the toughest kind to beat but the odds are 50/50 so that is pretty good.

None of us are doctors in here and only your mother can make a decision on whether to treat or not.  Although she has minimal progression is she is having such a hard time with the disease...it might be worth talking to the doctor about it.

I have treated and am now undetectible and I am a geno 1A and 1B.

Best of luck

[NYgirl]

ps did she have a biopsy that is the only way you can really know what is going on with her liver disease?

i have heart issues but nothing drastic and it didn't affect me at all.

[Krisso]

maybe this is a really dumb question, but how can you be 1a and 1b both?  Any more info on genotypes?  GOd websites to check out, etc?   Thanks in advance!

[NYgirl]

The subtypes of Geno 1 are both A and B.  Apparently whomever or however I got this...the person before me had gotten both types or gotten it twice somehow or whatever - or shared blood with someone who shared blood with someone ELSE on and on like that.   I guess it's the same as sex - whomever you share with goes back in to infinity -----

So I have Geno1A and Geno1B one Genotype two subtypes. Aint that great instead of one to kill I have to kill TWO. But finally at week 24 I AM UNDETECTIBLE FINALLY.

There are a few other Combo Types in here besides me...Susan for example. We're the crazy ones ;-)

[Eyedeas]

At 62 with minimal damage and her health history, treatment probably is not the best idea.  As a 1b her chances of clearing after a years treatment is still only about 50% and treatment can be fairly mild to pretty severe.

That said, there are alternitives coming down the line that could be worth waiting for if you have little damage.  

There is nothing else out there right now that really is effective against the Hep C virus.  Anything that says it can cure Hep is being pushed by snake oil salespeople.  

She should take good care of herself, keep her weight down if she can.  TELL HER DO NOT DRINK ALCHOHOL, ANY, AT ALL!

Milk thistle is one of the few things that many people feel is okay to use to help with symptoms.  Then again, others will tell you not to load anything on your liver.

She'll need to watch out around chemicals, gas, even paint fumes will bother her
more as nearly everything is processed through the liver.

Read through the threads here on the board. there is a ton of information.  One last thing, one of you should be collecting and keeping copies of all teast and procedures that are done.  

Hang tough and thanks for caring.  

Kim

[jmjm530]

The reality is most general practioners don't have the experience and knowledge to offer Hepatitis C treatment advice in all but the most simple cases. Same, unfortunately, with many GI's. By your own description, your mom's case is not simple when you factor in her age and heart condition.

Do both of you a service and have her seen by one or two liver specialists (hepatologists) who treat large numbers of Hepatitis C patients. They are usually found at your larger, teaching hospitals. These folks will be more equipped to acess your mom's liver condition and general health in terms of whether she's a good treatment candidate.

My personal feeling is that if it turns out that at age 62, your mom has little or no liver damage, in spite of a 20-year old infection -- then I'd probably hold off on treatment for now, given her heart condition. BTW none of us here are doctors and of course none of us have examined your mom. That's why it's important you take her to a hepatologist.

All the best luck and let us know what you find out.

-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

all we can do is share our view. this treatment can be a real nightmare or some of us breeze through. myself, if i was only stage 1 or 2 i would not EVER consider tx now.

as was mentioned there are some real hopeful drugs in the line and hopefully should be ready in 3-5 years that are 1000 percent better and with almost no sides. i wish i had the time. i tested stage 2, 9 years ago and opted to wait. it was a good decision. there are 4 million americans with hep c and the first drug company to find the magic bullet will make billions. that is a hugh incentive.

you may try and find why she is having these symtoms.

good luck,it is your call,
bobby

[fiddel]

Thanks for everything you guys posted here. It really helped me in a way. We really haven

[fiddel]

Thanks for everything you guys posted here. It really helped me in a way. We really haven

[cuteus]

how does the dr know she does not have liver damage? did they do a biopsy? If they did and the stage is bt 1-2, she has mild damage and if she is showing no extrahepatic conditions like arthritis, cryoglobulinemia, etc she can just monitor her condition until something less damaging comes along in about 5 yrs. My practice had people in their 70's treating for the virus and doing well. If there is a cardiac condition, it is imperative that the anemia that comes from the tx gets controlled. \
if she did not have a biopsy, please schedule one soon.
good luck to you

[Dale_Ray]

I'm 1A and the doctor had me see a heart specialist prior to beginning the Pegasus / Copegus treatment. I think he just wanted to be sure. This is a difficult treatment for most and if you add adtional health problems it could be to much. Make sure you have her see a Hepotologist or someone who specializes and has experiece with Hep C. It is great that she has no liver damage but I know she must be worried and i Hope you can find the answer. You'll get some very good answers for the other folks in this forum before the day is out. Dale