GOOD NEWS TO SHARE

Hi! I haven't posted a while but thought I would share some good news with you all. My name is Barry. I was diagnosed with Hep C, genotype 2b, VL of 3 million, fibrosis in 1999. I was placed in a study with pegylated interferon & ribovarin for 6 months. I was undetectable at end of treatment and just had testing performed three years post treatment and still undetectable. RNA was zero! Thought I would lift the spirits of those who have completed treatment and were undetectable at end of treatment. I don't think I will get tested again. For those on the treatment, hang in there. It is tough, believe me I know. The treatment works either real well or not at all. However,being on the treatment does give the liver opportunity to repair itself. My best advice is to get checked at 3 months into treatment. If your VL dropped by a log of 10, stay on the treatment. You have a good chance for SVR. If not a log drop of 10, talk to your Physician about waiting for something else. I heard there is another treatment coming out soon with less side effects but have not researched this yet. I also took effexor to combat the deoression and drank lots of H2o. Lastly, have a good support group to help you through including family, friends, Church and support groups.

Regards,
Barry

[dheana]

I am so happy for you. You must be very happy.Is you quality of life now improved as you cleared the virus and healed the liver?
Do you still need the AD to cope with day to day life?
Sorry for asking too many questions but I need to know that I'm not alone...

[Bartt]

I love questions. It is not too difficult for me to remember data and my experience since this was very traumatic for me. I am no longer taking any meds. I can honestly say that I am at 100%. I must admit that the meds did cause short term and some long term memory loss which has returned for the most part. Not everyone will go through this. As most of you know, everyone has a different experience. I gained back my 20 lb.weight loss and am now helping folks with life threating illnesses. I am grateful that I look for the opportunities in situations and through all of this have discovered a new chapter in my life. I have learned to chill, take time off work to be with my family and can now really empathize with folks crossing their threshold in life as opposed to sympathizing with them. I was blessed to be put into contact with a wonderful Specialist Ellen Shaw. She placed me in the study and is a no nonsense type of person that treated me with dignity & respect. Life is not the same but much better. Let me know if you want any specifics.

Regards,
Barry

[CARUU]

Thanks for sharing your story!  It's inspiring to hear from you. caruu

[ral]

Hey Bart

Thanks so much for coming back and letting us know. I am very very happy for you!!


GOD BLESS

Bob

[dheana]

I think we all have a very though time while on tx.We could call it "trauma".We need support to get through this. Is good to forget but I wonder if this trauma will change our life for good. If the change is in better we should consider it positive. I would like to weak up tomorrow and forget everything...

[Ambush]

Barry, Thanks for dropping in to share your great news and offer encouragement us all!  Live your life healthy and happy!
ambush :)

[PhilaGuy]

What great news!  This is what I need to hear as I begin this long road ahead!

I was hoping I could get some feedback from all of you.  Next Tuesday, I have my first appointment with a hepatologist.  I'm recently diagnosed, had probably since a blood transfusion in 1984.  I am genotype 2b, with a rather high (9M) viral load.  I began experiencing some malaise, URQ pain, etc., and that's what sent me to my physician.  My blood tests were fine, except for a slightly elevated ALT (46).

Anyway, what can I expect from this first appointment, other than making an appt for a biopsy?  Can some of you share your experiences?

Many thanks!

-- PhilaGuy

[meandhepc]

This is great news to hear!  

How kind to share this with everyone  :)

[cindee]

Great news! I know you must be thrilled! I am 2 months post, but still having some tough times. I will be so glad when it's all over and I am feeling much better! prayers to all, Cindee

[DonL]

Probably not much else. Your dr will probably talk about the various treatments available. Go for Pegasys, in my opinion, which seems to have fewer sides. The biopsy is key--do not hesitate. I've had 2 (1990 or so and 2002) and the last one was pretty easy. You need to be in the hospital, but it is pretty painless. Take something to read--you'll get bored.

I believe that 2 and 3 have such a good success rate at 24 weeks (70%) that he will want you to start on it. For someone with 1 and 48 weeks (35 to go), 24 weeks looks like a piece of cake.

Follow the threads here and some of the archives to get a sense of what to expect with side effects and plan the 24 weeks to be as easy on the rest of your life as possible.

Best of luck.

[Indiana]

WAT TO GO BARRY! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! YOU KICKED THAT DRAGONS BUTT!
You were an inspiration to me in my beginning. You were just finishing as I was just getting going. Both yourself and Magnum really gave me some good information and inspiration to do this. I ended up clearing ans was clear at 6 months post(1b). Your experience and information really helped many of us to look harder at this and get ourselves cured. I stay around and try to help others who are as afraid as I was when you helped me. Youe experience has reached far beyond your small area there and continues to help many here.
I wish you well...........
Jeff

[ringading]

oh what GREAT NEWS DARLIN i really needed to hear THAT TODAY OF ALL DAYS.....i am so happy for you..thanks for coming back to let everyone know and boost spirits!!!!!! CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!

[Oreos]

Barry, congrats on your svr and thanks for sharing!  Very encouraging to know there is light at the end of this roller coaster ride.  If I may butt in with some more good news to share...

My story: female 1a, grade 2/3 fibrosis, base vl 264,000, alt 54, had this bugger 20 years.  3 years ago I did the Intron A/Rebetrol combination and had to stop at 7 weeks due to a severe thyroid problem.  Nasty stuff.  My biopsy Jan '03 showed significant progression and my GI suggested I re-treat.  Started Pegasys tx hoping to respond and survive the sides.  Well...I went to my GI this morning to check in, and OH BY THE WAY, undetectable at 4 weeks!!!!!!!!  I was stunned and nearly fell off my chair.  Dr. says my EVR greatly increases my odds for SVR.  I'm on 8/48 and more motivated then ever!  

Thanks everyone here for sharing your stories and support.    

Woo hoo!

[ringading]

hi there and welcome.....well it could go a few ways depending on the doc, but you are wise to find out here first so that perhaps you can DIRECT the appointment to be more effective for you!!! which ultimately is what we want....

1..you may not get a biopsy unless they really think it warrented, or if others here with more experience think so...if they do...then i'd listen and request one....i didn't...but i'm a chicken!

2. he/she will or should ask if you have a history with depression...if you do...and want treatment, let him know you wish to begin anti-depressants ASAP....to have a good head start on them in your system before treatment begins

3...there are 2 main types of treatment, both very similar i think..and equally effective..you and he/she will decide hopefully on one of them....

4...you must go through some hoops for coverage, but they should help you, also there is tons of info here on help for coverage

5...probably some blood work..and then some more blood work and then some more and then just a little MORE!!!..we call these "vampire visits"

6...the DRUGS get ordered and called in to pharmacy

7...you bring the drugs with you to a pre-arranged appointment..BEFUDDLED!!...to be shown how to inject...and it is then you will do your first shot.....

8....YOUR IN THE RIBA COUNTRY CLUB ..BUT DON'T FRIKKEN SWEAR OKAY..ITS A RULE ( always meant to be broken )..we'll even give you a fruit basket....tee hee...cheers! kimmy

[berlynn]

Wowwwww, your message was extremely encouraging....especially as things have been looking grim for me lately..I think I lost my rose colored glasses...has anyone seen them?. I have been really worried about "life after tx"  and if it really existed and of what quality.  
...You said, "I can honestly say that I am at 100%."

.... 100%, meaning back to how you felt before tx?..or how we should feel being "normal"...or how we would now feel at this point in our life if we had never contacted HepC???....does any of that ?? make sense? .....hahaha ..sorry.
I think that because this is all so new and even the "experts" are still learning...I start to get scared....that after all of this....the rug might just get pulled out from beneath me.....
Thanks again for sharing, you definately make all of this seem worthwhile. berlynn

Oreos,  way to go!!!!!! Good for you. Your "motivation" just might be "catchy".  Thanks, berlynn

[Bartt]

Wow! That is tremendous news for you and everyone else here on the post. Very few (in my experience) show undetectable virus to peginterferon after nonresponse to initial intron treatment. Especially since you are geno 1a. Being undetectable at 4 weeks is just fantastic. This is the fuel (data) you and others need to boost your confidence that you will overcome this temporary setback in your life. Stay the course, don't quit and never, never give up. Blessings to all!

Regards,
Barry

[louisep]

CONGRATULATIONS!  You guys!  I am absolutely thrilled for you both!!!  News like this, keeps me going...thanks for letting us know and WELL DONE!
Louise

[mikesimon]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing. Mike

[Oreos]

Hi Barry, just to clarify, I did respond to tx 3 years ago.  However, the sx were so severe I had to stop.  Blessed to have this second opportunity and believe it or not, the pegasys has been easier for me to tolerate vs. the old Intron A/Rebatrol stuff.  

Bless you all.

[Bartt]

For those wondering how long it took me to feel normal again, it was a good month post treatment to physically feel good. It took three months until I felt mentally competent with no depression. At five months post treatment I was 100% which is how I feel now and how I was prior to tx. However, as mentioned before I believe everyones post treatment timeframe to feeling "normal" is different. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Barry