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Can not detirmine genotype due to lov viral load?
Hello, My question is this - If the blood test comes back saying that 'we can not determine the patients genotype due to a low viral load' Does anyone know how to treat an undetermined genotype?
I have no idea how I got it, just vague possible incidents.
I asked to be refered to a hepatologist but have been refered to a g something ologist and its been since around august September (7 months since diagnosis the appointment has not come through.
I could say a lot more about it but I just don't know where to go from here and am very confused.
I have no idea how I got it, just vague possible incidents.
I asked to be refered to a hepatologist but have been refered to a g something ologist and its been since around august September (7 months since diagnosis the appointment has not come through.
I could say a lot more about it but I just don't know where to go from here and am very confused.
P.S. I was(am) also Gt3 - have no idea why, and, really, it doesn't mmater - just means 24 weeks of meds. I did that, spent a lot of time resting, laying around, BUT I was Undetected at End of treatment AND at 12 Weeks AFTEr end of treatment and go for my 24 week EOT Labs next wednesday. If still IPUndetected, my Dr says, I am 'cured'. I feel good, and believe I am still UND.
So all the things I have been telling you are possible!
Oh, and you said you thought you knew where you got the virus! Rather than doing something mean or punitive, tell that person to get tested and treated, so that others will not have the exposure - be the bigger man!
You CAN do this!
YOU can do this!
You can DO this!
You can do THIS!
Just a little Mantra to help you on your way. : -)
P
So all the things I have been telling you are possible!
Oh, and you said you thought you knew where you got the virus! Rather than doing something mean or punitive, tell that person to get tested and treated, so that others will not have the exposure - be the bigger man!
You CAN do this!
YOU can do this!
You can DO this!
You can do THIS!
Just a little Mantra to help you on your way. : -)
P
Ben,
Tough love, here! Pull up your 'big boy' pants, take a deep breath and TAKE THAT FIRST STEP! We are all here, to talk to you, cheer you up and cheer you on, to support you in weak moments, answer questions, etc., but ONLY YOU can do this for you!
You can do something this hard, and, yes, we do understand, with all your problems, just how hard it is, only one way:
by taking the first step, and going after that, one step at a time! it will not/ is not easy! We will not lie to you and tell you it is, and in your case, with all your medical problems, as well as the alcohol and drugs, it will even be more complicated.
However, we will also tell you, that soft as you think you are, you have resources in you that you have not even touched yet! If you want to do this, you can. Again, not easily and not quickly, and maybe, not even on the first try, but you can!
Does the UK have AA and or NA? Those will help tremendously!
Remember, you only have ONE liver, you don't want liver failure, or a transplant, or liver cancer, so the time to treat and get rid of this virus, is now.
The Fact that that requires some hard steps by you, in order to get treatment, well, that the cost of using alcohol and drugs. Everything has a cost, and we can put off paying it, BUT, that only leads to a higher cost.
Not trying to be mean - just trying to help you understand you CAN do this, and we can cheer you on, but no one can do it for you, and, ultimately, if you keep putting it off, the cost will be much higher.
God bless you and lead you step, by step, through this.
Pat
Tough love, here! Pull up your 'big boy' pants, take a deep breath and TAKE THAT FIRST STEP! We are all here, to talk to you, cheer you up and cheer you on, to support you in weak moments, answer questions, etc., but ONLY YOU can do this for you!
You can do something this hard, and, yes, we do understand, with all your problems, just how hard it is, only one way:
by taking the first step, and going after that, one step at a time! it will not/ is not easy! We will not lie to you and tell you it is, and in your case, with all your medical problems, as well as the alcohol and drugs, it will even be more complicated.
However, we will also tell you, that soft as you think you are, you have resources in you that you have not even touched yet! If you want to do this, you can. Again, not easily and not quickly, and maybe, not even on the first try, but you can!
Does the UK have AA and or NA? Those will help tremendously!
Remember, you only have ONE liver, you don't want liver failure, or a transplant, or liver cancer, so the time to treat and get rid of this virus, is now.
The Fact that that requires some hard steps by you, in order to get treatment, well, that the cost of using alcohol and drugs. Everything has a cost, and we can put off paying it, BUT, that only leads to a higher cost.
Not trying to be mean - just trying to help you understand you CAN do this, and we can cheer you on, but no one can do it for you, and, ultimately, if you keep putting it off, the cost will be much higher.
God bless you and lead you step, by step, through this.
Pat
Thank you Kim for your kind words, It is at the moment very hard to stop drinking although at the moment the drugs have taken a back seat. I am not honestly sure what is worse - booze or crack and Heroin - apart from the expense of the latter but even when I have been sober I have seen the effects of alcohol on others and really - I would not behave that bad if I was just smoking crack or even shooting snowballs!! I dream about drugs every night, when I'm wound up I think of making the call which is easy to do and get a 1/16 oz of each within 20 mins, its even tempting now! the only drug missing is a bit of ket or pcp I would mix with the concoction to make my home-made drug I called ketaherocaine (a snowball with 1.5ml of IV ketamine or diluted crystal added.) I still dream about it, it was my altimate buzz ever but one day I may get it out of my mind completely and return to booring normality. In the meanwhile I have to struggle with benzo withdrawl, methadone addiction, alcohol consumption and trying to not use c, H or even K. Your right , there could of been a few stick injurys that caused it but although I am certain now, that wont cure me but their ***** would save other potential victims (IF its who I suspect then it could well be melitious) I need a sample of their blood 1st but should I bother persuing this route, the damage to me is done and if I am selfish I could turn a blind eye to lots of young people getting infected by these 3 nasty people and concentrate on my own problems. There are big problems with admitting a drug or alcohol problem here - eg. they immediately put your methadone on daily pickup, and your vallium if u admit to using extra - I don't feel like being treated like a puppet by some incompetent fuckwhits who when asked did not even know what physeptone was even tho they give out the 2 week scripts, its an endlessly messed up system, a bad situation and I am loosing my teather - god, a feckin pipe would be a huge relief!!! I must take some sleepers and sleep b4 I snap and phone em! Sorry 4 my language/attitude. I scincerely hope your well, best regards, Ben.
Hi Ben. Understand getting off drugs and alcohol is hard but you have to do it to get thru treatment. If your on Hep C meds and partying, trust me you will not only feel sick as a dog but you will likely not become cured.
You know to you can't be pissed off wondering where the virus came from. It's doubtful that the person who gave it to you even knew they had it. It's kinda a "Silent Killer" as you typically have no symptoms until you wake up with liver damage or Cirrhosis. It's really a dreadful disease.
Now you have to set some goals and work towards getting clean. I will say that once you rid yourself of the virus you will feel so good that going back to using will be a non issue.
Please stay focused and start the process of getting ready to go. Your life is worth it and you deserve a fresh new start.
Be well
......Kim
BTW. At the top of the right hand page there's a search bar. If you type in Substance Abuse, they are a great group and will help and support you.
You know to you can't be pissed off wondering where the virus came from. It's doubtful that the person who gave it to you even knew they had it. It's kinda a "Silent Killer" as you typically have no symptoms until you wake up with liver damage or Cirrhosis. It's really a dreadful disease.
Now you have to set some goals and work towards getting clean. I will say that once you rid yourself of the virus you will feel so good that going back to using will be a non issue.
Please stay focused and start the process of getting ready to go. Your life is worth it and you deserve a fresh new start.
Be well
......Kim
BTW. At the top of the right hand page there's a search bar. If you type in Substance Abuse, they are a great group and will help and support you.
Hi Kim and thank you for your reply. Naturally I would love to get shot of this virus, merely knowing its there is bad enough! The virus is most likely the worst of the 3 conditions affecting my liver. My habbits most likely need to be addressed before I start treatment as they may conflict or prevent me getting it. This I will research more. Quitting stuff in itself will be very hard indeed and I have tried before and failed. I am a daily social drinker and occasional recreational user and take ativan to help me sleep, Methadone and diazepam withdrawl are driving me to an early grave I feel, can I handle the effects that Inteferon and ribavirin causes which seem awful from what I have observed and heard - eg. cracking lips, dry mouth, depression but to name a few and these do worry me as does the tough task of cutting alcohol and abstaining from drugs of sorts b4 treatment. If I ever find out who spiked me with this I will ******* kill them! I am casting my mind back and have a rough Idea, due to the low viral load of 2000 its just a stick injury. I am very unhappy about it! Hey, who wouldn't be. Its the 24 weeks meds too not the 12. I admit I am a bit soft when it comes to dicomfort. I am not sure what to do. If I stop drinking, the treatment is free in the UK but can I stop drink and drugs/meds. its all a nightmare! No sex for me for a while either!, I am rather upset with this situation now and other issues at the moment! I thank you for getting back to me, I do not know what to do. Best Regards, and I hope you are well, Ben.
Hi Ben. So nice to see you back. If it's determined that you are Geno 3 the treatment at this time would be Sovaldi and Ribavirin for 24 weeks. Are you saying that it's time to get treated and cured! Your life would indeed be so much easier without having this virus hanging out.
Should you feel the time is now just say the word. We can all help you get the medicine needed to move forward. It's really up to you?????
What do you think?
......Kim
Should you feel the time is now just say the word. We can all help you get the medicine needed to move forward. It's really up to you?????
What do you think?
......Kim
Hi there, it has been a long time since I logged in now and I hope you are all well. I eventually found out what genotype I am. It was either 3a or 3c I seem to remember which she also said was not so common in the UK and more so I Australia and Asia which is odd. I have over time racked my brains as to where I could of got it and came up with about 3 times that I may of come into contact with it eg. I have some memorys of minor injurys that may of occurred places. Anyway, no use speculating now, its here and there's not much I can do, drinking has to be stopped before treatment, this would be very difficult I feel, I am drinking far more since they have been drasticly reducing my diazepam to almost 0 now (been on diaz for 8 or so years). My viral load has increased to 2000 at last count from lowest 120 and they actually said 'wait until it gets higher 1st' (I'd of thought it best to kill it early myself although I am now drinking a fair bit still and also on medication and very occasional other stuff that I've mostly cut out now. They made the mistake of calling me on my birthday telling me the test had come back negative (this was the 2nd test) and I said 'are you sure?' later it was revealed that it had been an admin error and that it said I had no STDs so they had assumed and entered neg for this too - that was quite emotional and annoying. That was not long after I had found out. There are several symptoms I am experiencing but could probably put them down to other things or illneses of their own so am unsure if they are related. Eg. Depression, anxiety, bloatedness around the stomach, trapped wind, heartburn, insomnia (could just be the beer and lack of drugs/meds). I have not had a good look into this yet but I heard there was a new medication out now and I wondered if you know of anyone that's tried it? I believe it could be hepatitis C protease inhibitors, and nucleotide analog NS5B polymerase inhibitors but then I may be mistaken and there might be something else? I will have a proper good look soon. I am also worried about sexual activity in the future and the possibility of passing it on during (although I am not in a relationship at the moment) also, telling a partner would be another barrier but not telling them unkind!?! I'd be interested on any thoughts and opinions on anything I have mentioned. I hope you are all doing good. Cheers 4 now. :-)
Hey ben! I myself have a undectable genotype due to a low viral count. The test has been repeated twice and still can't determine my genotype. I see a gastro dr and he cosulted with a hepatologist on how to treat me and I was told, since my genotype can't be determined that I would have to be treated as if I were type 1 with interferon and new meds for 12 weeks, but also said since my viral load is so low that regardless what meds I'm given that there is a 90% I'll respond to whatever I'm given
Btw my viral load is 700. Anyway I really hope this helps you.I start treatment very soon so I'll let you know how it goes, good luck
Btw my viral load is 700. Anyway I really hope this helps you.I start treatment very soon so I'll let you know how it goes, good luck
Hi. You do not need a biopsy to determine your geno type. A simple blood test will give you the geno type and the # value of how strong your virus is. You can have that test done by the health dept or a doctor. The new drugs that they are treating for hep c don't always use interferon and ribavirin . That decision is determined when they find what geno type you are. Good Luck to you Ben and hope you find those answers soon. Kim
It was a shire shock when I discovered I had the virus and new little bout it then but for about 10 years had never shared either water/bowls/shrpe especially but I may of neglected my cleanliness at times *ie swabs) when desperate and abused alcohol at some occasions in earlier days. Although I was wise I thought and mostly used after the 1st '6 month period' just to keep stable and to feel well, its a pity I was put on to methodone at that point which may of worsened matters or did it? a question I do not know, on the plus - it is a rationed, regulated, supervised, maintained dose. on the - side the temptation to use is still there and very present constantly compelling urge, I am honestly in **** up to my eyeballs and could explain all in as brief as pos but its wether you have the time and also, you are right in that a liver biopsy will be the only way I think to determine my genotype, I just do not see a vast response in any pro wanting or advising me this, just others who's opinions vary. You are also correct I know I should quit the narca ie H and Cc and boose but these seem to be the only confort to me at the moment - a pipe in the evening with a drink, take my meds (which are harder to arrange than narcs) and understanding all that has some at once and reading up about it. Its a minefield of advice I have been given and it scares me that I have this virus, I want it gone. I know I have been a fool in the past, its all about changing for the better!!
May I ask - what are the new meds for hep c ? I have only been told of interferon and R together - is there something else that works better? Thank you for your time.
Ben
May I ask - what are the new meds for hep c ? I have only been told of interferon and R together - is there something else that works better? Thank you for your time.
Ben
I am so sorry that I seem to have missed your latest reply befor I responded, an overlap of mails, I shall read through your last reply again to check I did not miss anything vital to my reply and your post and shall mailback immediately if I did, please do the ssameif you think I did. I too am mos likely technichly 'alcoholic' but not as severe assome ie am a social drinker..
I had a docs appointment today not with a pro in hep but with a addiction doc, he was nicely portrraid but would not budge or chande anything in my plans for reduction or increase of the 2 drugs I take mainly and said they were both bad which I do agree on that point but so is heroin wjich is easier to quit. Hep C was not his dept although I took my mother with me ( her memory is better than mine I hate to say but its true) and I also spoke to another user today who has been thru the interferon and r and said he coped wheras another found it almost intolorable so do I want to persist and kill this virus or let fate be fate? I have had other privte suggestions both in and out of the favour of treatment and of drug use - drug use. There are so many options it is a minefield and I don't know WTF to do I really don't. I am on about the lowest dose tolerable for me of methadone with a 4hr cluck when it ends B4 next dose, can not take this home and work ie a job as this is not allowed unless I stop smoking crack and using heroin which is only now and again anyway. If it were not for my family I'd just bullet it and come to an abrupt end now and save a future turmoil but some say the treatment is tolerable. I wish I knew more, I have a big day tomorrow and must research in between. many thanks for your reply, bye 4 now, benuk21
Hi and sorry about the problems that you are having. To answer your questions did not get a liver biopsy as they can determine the severity of your liver thru blood work and imaging. You need to find a Dr in your are that specializes in liver disease. Depending on your situation they can do testing and determine what treatment that would work best for you. I do know that in order to get better you need to stop drinking and drugs. I am a recovering alcoholic so know it can be very challenging. Am on the newest meds for Hep c and they are very easy to take with few side effects. Have t had a drink in almost 2 years and let me tell you life is so much better without it. Hep C causes many problems and when you mix it with alcohol it's a deadly combo. Please don't lose hope and get yourself an appt. with a liver doc and they will advise you were to go from there. You can turn your life around as its never to late. Wish you well. Kim
Thank you for your reply, I went for years, over a decade even as an IV user but was always so careful and 2 years ago was negative. I have visited someone one interferon and R and also have visited people who have denied treatment. I have been offered no more accurate tests at all and get the impression they don't want to know to be honest - a self inflicted mistake they maybe think?? I had a liver function test, kidney etc and they all came back fine but I do like a drink. One has to therefor ask the question.. Do I want to get old?. If I was well, I would not be thinking this way, I think I have been uninformed by anyone (you excluded) on this matter and feel desperately worried. Even tho its a low VL Interferon is an absolute bstard so I am told, I am not sure is Id prefer to live with it than go through weeks of hell but then do not know if living with it is worse and will get worse. I am a discrase to my family, have no friends and my favourite drugs are something I am trying to quit - should I? that is another thought, if I just carry on I will no doubt die younger but these are all just thoughts - may I ask - how did you find the treatment? did you have to have a biopsy? Many thanks, Benuk.
Hi. Also had the same question as viral lode was so low no geno could be established. Think at the time my # was 43. They did additional testing with more sensitive testing and found I was geno type 2. My #s did increase after that. My Doc stated the fact that the # was so low was due to my immune system trying to fight and clear the virus on its own. Supposedly 15% of the time the body can clear the virus on its own. I'm on the new hep c meds for 12 weeks and the virus cleared after 2 weeks. Still have 5 or so weeks to go. Even tho my virus was a low # still had all the bad side effects of someone whoms #s were in the millions. Hope this helps. Kim
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