Decrease in viral load ???

[viman]

I just got my week 12 viral load back and I started at 1,360,000 now down to 300,000. I'm 1a, and doctor recommended I continue to week 24 and we'll check viral load again. Has anyone heard of someone becoming undetectable at 24 if they weren't after week 12 ? Thanks.

[cindee]

Hey you, did you seethe post I sent to you down below...it was listed in ears ringing ?????? Are we gonna be punkie-junkies???? ((((((HUGS))))))) Cindee

[thanbey]

It doesn't happen often. But it does happen.

The 12 week test is the best predictor of a response we currently have. A two log drop is also reason to continue therapy as it, too, has had some data suggesting a possibility of response, although not to the degree  of the 12 week test.

Your doctor seems to believe that you are tolerating the treatment well enough to continue and give it a chance. I'll have my fingers crossed for you.

I hope this helps,

thanbey

www.hcop.org

[cindee]

I didn't go back and read the post, I think you said on 4/21, but maybe what someone was trying to say is....after you do your last pegasys shot, then you continiue your riba capsules/pills for one week. Hope this is what you're looking for. And sometimes a dcotor will decide @ the last minute for you to go ahead and do 52 wks instead of 48...and the same goes, if you do a 52nd shot, then do the riba for another wk. Wishing you the best! Prayers, Cindee

[cindee]

I didn't go back and read the post, I think you said on 4/21, but maybe what someone was trying to say is....after you do your last pegasys shot, then you continiue your riba capsules/pills for one week. Hope this is what you're looking for. And sometimes a dcotor will decide @ the last minute for you to go ahead and do 52 wks instead of 48...and the same goes, if you do a 52nd shot, then do the riba for another wk. Wishing you the best! Prayers, Cindee

[lost and confussed]

ok now i am confussed
below on 4 21 many were saying to take it
now it is no
do all doc's just play wheel of fortune with us or do they have different methods for different types and stages?

the things that make you go HMMMMM!!
:0)

[twotells]

Like others have said, I think this happens alot.  I was at 1.7M prior to tx, then <1K at 12 wks, then undetectable at 24 wks.  I wish you the best,  Dave

[Is_This_Real?]

hey.  Thanks for your information and response to me over on the other forum.  I had asked about taking the riba for a few weeks post finishing the Pegasys, as that is how my medicince will run.  (My prescription or medicine from the mail order pharmacy will come in a 48 week supply of Pegasys, but actually a 52 week supply of ribavirin.)

I had asked you (well actually, I just posed an open question to anyone) about taking the extra Ribavirin and if they thought it would be beneficial.  You and sean had both responed, and you both told me to be CAREFUL.  You advised me NOT to do that unless I talked to my doctor first.

Well, long story short, I posted a few 'links' to other sites to try and explain my thoughts and the basis for them.  However, the moderators at the other forum did not like me posting 'links' to other sites, and they deleted my questions and all responding posts.

Anyhow, since I could not respond there, I did want to respond here.  Just as you and sean recommended, I asked my doctor about that, and she simply said NO.  Do not take ribavirin without the Pegasys.  The ribavirin does not kill the virus, but just as you said, it merely makes it weak and susecptible to the Pegasys.  She said, exctly as you and sean said, that the ribavirin causes the virus to mutate, and to take it without the Pegasys to then kill the weakened virus is dangerous ... she expalins taht IF there were any virus particles left after the Pegasys is finished, the ribavirin could cause it to mutate to a form that is then not as easily killed by the Pegasys should a person decide to treat again.

You also had asked why I did not consider just doing the whole treatment more than 48 weeks?  I asked my doc about this, and she said NO, I will not try anyone more than 48 weeks.  (She is an infectious disease doctor) and she said that IF I had liver damage and needed to extend treatment to help the liver, that I needed to find a gastroentrologist and plan to transfer to him!

However, I had limited liver damage, so I guess 48 weeks is it for me!   Whoopee, took shot 16 yesterday, so I am 1/3 of the way done!

[cuteus]

like rev said, yes it happens, I was 374,000 pre -tx, was 125,00 at 4 weeks after starting tx, which I thought was pretty good until I read here people are undetected at that level :-( , had a reading of 5700 at week 12 and finally undetected at 24. slow responders, geno 1, might need longer tx to ensure SVR. I am trying to go that route.   The higher the viral load the longer it takes meds to work in our genotype.
Hang in there till week 24. If still detectable, many practices stop tx.
GL to you