Cure or treatment

[Belinda54]

Do you ever think there will be a cure for this disease that is "Never" discussed? I refuse to take infuron treatments because I have had hep c for 30# years so guess it isn't too bad.  The dr. did tell me the virus was active but 'O WELL' what am I to do???????????? I would love to talk to other ladies my age  group 54 that understand this disease or anyone else.

[sldb]

Iam 53 treated started treatment when i was 49, SVR continues last pcr  Feb. 2009.  I believe i contracted the virus in the late 70's. Stage 4 when i started treatment, I wouldnt wait too long to treat. My last u/s and mri showed no micronodular lesions, where previous u/s showed this sign of cirrhosis.

[charm27]

Hi! ALl I can tell you is that Im 53 and am post tx 3 months....Im glad I treated even if I dont achieve SVR. It will help my liver to some degree....Tx wasnt fun but i have NO regrets. MANY people have cured and I personally believe its DEFINTELY worth the trip...I didnt want to wait for better drugs I thought I would try now...Im a stage 2 so I do have the opportunity to wait but decided to give it a shot...
If it doesnt work this time I will more than likely wait two years and try again!

I also have lived fine with the disease HOWEVER why let it progress when we have a chace in curing it?? It was worth the 55 weeks I invested in my liver!
Wish you well.
Charm27

[meakea]

Let us know what your new doc has to say!!  Good luck and stick around.

[Belinda54]

THANK YA'LL soooo much for helping me to learn more about my health condition.  I do love this website and plan to keep in touch with everyone.  I have a dr. appt. march 20 with a new dr.  will c how that turns out: Belinda54

[fretboard]

There are alot of ladies on this forum who know alot about this disease.  Come on down, you will most likely learn something.  latr  

[Trinity4]

Drinking beer and taking pain meds as stated in another post is not going to help your liver.  I guess you could say "oh well, I'm advancing my liver disease what am I supposed to do?" because I can assure you that have some degree of liver damage after 30 years of HCV.  
I am 56 years old and currently treating with interferon and ribavirin.  I am undected of any virus currently and hope to be SVR (cured) after completing treatment  Treating with those drugs is the only cure for hepc but if you refuse to treat at least give up the beer and pain pills, the alcohol for sure.  That is something you CAN do, otherwise, you're just advancing your liver damage.    

  

[meakea]

Darn it.  My word wasn't bad so I don't know why it put in ***.  How about:  "I have Hep C and it bites club".  :)

[meakea]

Oh, and one more thing:

Welcome to the "I have Hep C and it *****" club.  We have all been there and we have all felt what you are feeling.  You have done a good thing for yourself by finding this site.  Stick around and you will find there are lots of people "out there" just like you...and you will find comfort in that just like we have.

[meakea]

I'm a 54 year old female who has had Hep C my entire life but I didn't find out that I have it until last year.  I had a transfusion when I was 2 days old and that was the culprit.  I started treatment with interferon and ribavirin 27 weeks ago and, even though it can be a struggle, I am getting through it.  Treatment isn't for everyone but it is definitely an option to consider.  Have you ever had a liver biopsy to know the condition of your liver?

If you have specific questions or concerns, please let us know.  I certainly hope that you don't truly feel that you are in a position of "Oh well, what am I supposed to do???"  There are things you can do...depending on what stage you are in.

I wish you the best!!!

[Marc1955]

Someday there may be a whole different cure for HCV. Also, because screening of the blood supply has improved so much, thirty years from now it will be a much smaller issue and not as many people may care.

For now however there is only one treatment. I don't think you should be so cavalier. It's not unusual to have had the disease for 30 years You might feel great today and be seriously ill ten years from now. That is still twenty years short of your expected lifespan.

What you need to do is obtain a liver biopsy to establish your current level of liver damage. If it is slight, you can afford to wait for new treatments. If it is substantial, you will need to consider treatment. Once liver damage has progressed to cirrhosis, the chances of successfully treating the illness go down and treatment becomes more complicated.

Try not to bury your head in the sand. There are people who love you and care about you and want you to be healthy and around for a long time. You owe it to them to be responsible in managing your illness.

[FlGuy]

I see from another of your posts that you mention Reynauds, red hands and type 2 diabetes along with hep C.  How was the Reynauds diganosed?.  Because there is a link amond hepatitis C, diabetes 2 and red hands.  Just because you've had hcv mre than 30 years does not exclude the use of interferon.  Many of us had hcv that long and some even longer.

[FlGuy]

Why not interferon?  Many have used it to achieve a cure. Many in their 50's.