to MED or not

[MikeLA915]

Hi Guys,  first post here in Hep C land...I am 55 male, who was diagnosed with Hep C in 2002...How long I had been infected before that, who knows? so at least7 yrs...I didnt do anything about it.  Because I was invunerable, and I didnt, and still dont have any symtoms..  3 yrs ago, I had a disabling stroke (clot). talk funny and wak funny. On both LTD and SSA disability (thank God).  My point, my gen practicioner said I should go see a interal med specialist for the Hep C (after he looked at blood tests.  I was/am type 1A genotype,  Specialist did a biopsi 1 month ago.. Got results today and said "Well, good news is, you dont have cirrosis, yet."  He said it was stage 2, whatever that means.  He wanted me to do the MEDS but advised of the rate of success vs side effects of medicine etc,  And I said well what will happen if I dont take meds.  He said that I would/could have cirrosis or liver cancer anytime within the next 5 yrs... I dont know how he can know that, but I do trust doctors.. My question(s) is/are:  does anyone here have experience of how long it takes to go from stage 2 to cirrossis.  I dont even know how long I've been at stage 2.  I read somewhere if you have stroke or heart conditions, you shouldnt take the meds. Is that true.  My doc says if I'm not having seizures, I should be fine to take the meds, IF I can handle the side effects..  If you do get cirrosis, is that a death sentence? or at least a slow walk to death?  Sorry for all of the questions and rambling on.. but I feel great now, he also said there was a chance (type 1A) the meds wont work..

what to do.. Help!!!  he is sending me to classes.  Classes just for the interferon etc meds..to have a "class" just for med taken, it must be brutal.. and I'm a big sissy, just when I get a cold..

thanks

Mike

[jmjm530]

First, welcome to the forum!

Second, as "Copyman" said, don't even bother talking to a GI or internal medical specialist about Hep C unless you want to hear 5-10 year old news. In fact, GI's (Gastro's) seem to be 2-3 years behind the curve as well. Hep C is a very fast moving field. If you want current knowledge, diagnosis and treatment protocols there is only one type of doctor to see and they are called Hepatologists. You can usually find them at your larger, teaching hospitals. If money and logistics allow, see two or even three as opinions even among the experts do vary.

Stage 2 is considered moderate liver damage. As to when you will develop cirrhosis, no one can tell for certain but statistically it will be closer to ten years than five years as your doctor suggested. You could ask him where he pulled the five year figure from, but again, I'd suggest you pose those types of questions to a Hepatologist, not an internal medical specialist. Anyway, here's a study that supports my above, statement on fibrosis progression to cirrhosis. Free Medscape registration required, but quite worthwhile for the short time and effort involved.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554637

Personally -- and please consider this a general statement because none of us here are doctors or have your complete medical records -- I would strongly urge you to wait for the newer drugs to come out of trials. That is likely in the next 2-3 years. These drugs promise to cut treatment time in half with better results. The drugs are quite toxic, especially the interferon. Research it out independently. Spend some time here backreading threads. Not five minutes, but at least five hours and preferably a weekend or two. Also, check out other sites like jJanis and Friends.

All the best,

-- Jim

[copyman]

Welcome. You have come to a forum where you will learn a lot about Hep C. It is hard to say how long before you advance to cirrhosis, it could be 2 years or 20. There is nothing predictable with this disease. Perhaps your doc sees something in your bloodwork that leads him to believe it will be within 5 years.

First thing you need to do is make an appointment with a Hepatologist (liver specialist). He will have the latest protocols on treating Hep C.  There is no way I would treat with a GP.

You have options being a stage 2, you can treat now,  wait a few years for the new drugs to come out, or get into a trial for one of the new drugs.

there is another website for hep c that has a lot of info for newbies. google "janis & friends" or maybe someone else will post the link.

And last but not least, relax, most people die WITH hep c NOT FROM IT !!!!