First Specialtist Appt. is tomorrow. What to expect?

[Tombstoner]

My fiance has hep c. and we go to the specialist tomorrow for the first time. We were not referred here but we decided to go because we want the best treatment. My worst fear is that he is going to tell my fiance he only has a short time to live. But I know that isn't reality. What do I expect? We had the records sent there. He has a 18,400,000 viral load, no symptoms yet. Well he does have confusion a lot but he is bipolar and that may be from his medications.

[Terrylee8]

I know how you feel. When I went I was told they couldn't tell anything without a biopsy.  I didn't know if I was OK or not.  The biopsy showed, that after 38 years, I was 2/2(mild damage).  You and your BF won't know anything till the biopsy results are in.  The waiting is hard.  Viral load doesn't correlate to liver damage.  Some with low loads have extensive damage, while others with high loads have none.  

[Tombstoner]

If he has no side effects yet, does that mean anything? I mean would that tend to mean no damage by any chance? He also has normal liver enzymes. Did you get treatment for your mild damage?

[Terrylee8]

Side effects don't tell the tale,  you can have extensive damage w/out sides.  Same for the enzymes, although his being normal is encouraging.  I'm 116 days into treatment of 48 weeks.Yuck!

[copyman]

having normal enzymes in very good and "most" of the time means minimal damage. you can relax because you will not hear your fiance has a short time to live tomorrow. wishing you two the best of luck