newly dx

[uush]

I was recently told by one of my Drs that I have hcv & that my viral load is 4300.  I read that 200,000 is considered very low? Am I misinformed? or does the viral load number not really mean a thing? I am so confused....

[ceanothus]

Welcome to the forum, and best wishes for getting to start treatment soon! It can be a tremendous support system, with really good information and emotional support. In general one has to be careful about information gathered on the web, but this site is far better than most, in that we have some very knowledgeable members who post scientifically accurate and up-to-date info, and also are usually pretty quick to gently correct any incorrect posts that others might make. I hope it is as helpful to you as it has been to me so far.

[suezeeque]

Sorry for the highjack...  But for the past few years I noticed my chest getting redder and redder.  I also developed small red dots on my chest.

I, too, attributed it to age, sun damage, etc.  Even though I had stayed out of the sun completely since 2009, my chest stayed red.  Red enough that people asked me about it so often I stopped wearing v neck shirts.

It's gone now.  My chest is no longer red.

Is this related to HCV?  Even if my liver is F1?

[orphanedhawk]

The problem I had was I'd begun to go into menopause which is what I attributed my symptoms to, and they fit:  fatigue, change in sleep patterns, etc.
I was active, ate well and it wasn't until my belly swelled up with ascites that I saw a doctor who diagnosed me.

There was one small symptom I had for years, a spider angioma on my chest.
Every dermatologist I saw said two words, " sun damage."
Not one suggested getting a liver panel.

In retrospect there are things now I can say were from hep C but none stood out.
Unfortunately my story is not unique.

Like you say, you never know.

[uush]

No I never had any symptoms except as of now some liver damage and what looks like malignancy in the biliary duct. But as I have 2 other dx (lymphoma & and polmyositis) I wouldnt have known which symptoms were which. I have not had a liver biopsy yet but will let everyone know as to find out the best tx.

[printze]

That is scary, did you have any prior symptoms? Were you feeling ok and it was only discovered through biopsy? It goes to show that you never know.

[milliehepc]

So right - this decease is hard to figure out.  I have a VL of 1.5 million and stage 2/3 - Type 1.  Go figure.  Hope everything goes well for you - will be looking out for your post.

Welcome to the forum uush.  This is definitively the place for us - and indespensible for us newbees.  

Good Luck.
millie

[threepaddleCurt]

There is a lot about this disease that really makes little sense.  My VL was 15 million 6 a year ago (still waiting for the current VL), biopsy 1/1 with some questionable tumor development,  and liver enzymes not seriously elevated.  Yet, I am pretty dysfunctional as far as living life right now.  Hoping for treatment to start within the next couple weeks, will keep everyone posted.

[1oftheclub222]

I had a VL of 2.4 million and only have stage 0/1 liver damage...so weird how it works that way, nothing about this disease is logical....

[orphanedhawk]

When originally diagnosed with hep C I had a viral load of 750,000 and decompensated cirrhosis.
Low viral load didn't stop hep C from destroying my liver.

[Anne1717]

Oh - I believe they consider anything under 800,000 low but that may have change since last year

[Anne1717]

Hi and welcome to the forum.  Hrsepwrguy has given you great information but I would like to add,  from what my Doctor said anyway, that having a low viral load to begin with increases your chance of clearing the virus early with treatment.  That was my scenario.  I started with a very low viral load - 60 ish that kept fluctuating to 1200 ish. Maybe others will chime in with different thoughts but I can only say what was true for me and what the doc said.  

Anyway, stick around - many great people here who will help you and you will get through it.

Best of luck, Anne

[hrsepwrguy]

Here are a couple of good pages for the newly diagnosed. Please feel free to ask questions, there are lots of knowledgable and treatment savy people here that are more than willing to help.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/First_Steps.asp

http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/diagnosis/index.asp

[hrsepwrguy]

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis, you are correct that you have a very low viral load but viral load really doesn't say anything about the current condition of your liver, your viral load really only comes into play if and when you decide to treat and then it will be used as a starting marker to judge your response to treatment. More important factors at this point would be the condition of your liver and your genotype.