Aa
Geno Type 1
I would please like to hear from anyone regarding treatment or considering treatment and why with Geno Type 1
Thanks, Rsterling
Thanks, Rsterling
I am 1a and wouldn't even consider not trying tx. I was on pegintron for 48 weeks and relapsed after 2 months. Had a real hard time with sides, but started the pegasys tx anyways. The sides aren't as bad but they are still there and will have to be on this for 72 weeks. Even if I relapse again at least I will know that I did every thing I could to beat this dragon.Its your own personal choice whether to try tx or not. I just can't imagine not wanting to be rid of this disease.
You are dead right about looking at things a lot differently after going through this hellish tx. I am telling you this stuff is tough. When I first started I thought "not too bad" but then it just drags on and on and on, and you get foggier and foggier. I wish I could have moved to the Bahamas for the tx, instead of Old Milwaukee from Los Angeles. But, hey, there are no badgers in the Bahamas are there?
You asked "what if I wait to do tx" right? If you wait the virus is going to be attacking your liver and the chances of beating it will decrease.
Odds of winning are based on: age (younger the better), amount of damage (lower stage damage, from biopsy results), genotype (2 & 3 results best, 1s hard but not impossible -- I was a 1 that cleared early), sex, viral load (mine was 3.2 million)and a few others. I am FOGGY right now so I can't remember them all.
I'm a stage 3 so when I heard the doc say 48 weeks I said "when can we start" -- I don't want to go to the next stage if I can help it.
Take care,
Scott
Odds of winning are based on: age (younger the better), amount of damage (lower stage damage, from biopsy results), genotype (2 & 3 results best, 1s hard but not impossible -- I was a 1 that cleared early), sex, viral load (mine was 3.2 million)and a few others. I am FOGGY right now so I can't remember them all.
I'm a stage 3 so when I heard the doc say 48 weeks I said "when can we start" -- I don't want to go to the next stage if I can help it.
Take care,
Scott
I am 1a genotype, 45 female and have had hepC for approximately 10 - 12 years. I've been on treatment meds for 27 weeks now. I need to do a total of 48 weeks and my doctor will discuss extending my treatment for 6 - 8 weeks, after my 48 weeks.
I am undetectable, and show clear below 50. I started out with 440,000 vl (base line testing before I started the meds). At one point I was at 900,000 vl 4 months before starting treatment.
I am glad that I'm able to do the treatment. It is the only way and the only choice that we have right now in order to rid ourselves of this disease.
I would ask you, why not treat genotype 1's. There are charted and successful numbers that go along with genotype 1's treating for hepC, clearing the virus and staying undetectable with the virus. Genotype 1's also have favorable statistics with the treatment that is available.
I am undetectable, and show clear below 50. I started out with 440,000 vl (base line testing before I started the meds). At one point I was at 900,000 vl 4 months before starting treatment.
I am glad that I'm able to do the treatment. It is the only way and the only choice that we have right now in order to rid ourselves of this disease.
I would ask you, why not treat genotype 1's. There are charted and successful numbers that go along with genotype 1's treating for hepC, clearing the virus and staying undetectable with the virus. Genotype 1's also have favorable statistics with the treatment that is available.
Hey there buddy.
Those numbers still look mighty fine from here.You are still well within the "normal" ranges and that is a VERY positive sign. What I see is that they're staying "statistically" the same. Where the worry might come in is if you saw a BIG shift towards the high side. Even then we know that while on tx those numbers really mean little in the overall end result. The tx itself can sometimes skew those numbers. Lizi is my best example of that. Her numbers were sky high all through her tx and she has cleared. After tx her numbers came back down. Mine dropped down to the low 20's pretty fast and hovered there throughout my tx time.....kinda like what yours are doing.
I'd say that you're doing GREAT and based on what I can see your chances look MOST EXCELLENT!! You know I wouldn't say that if I didn't really think that either.
You are near the end now. This is the time when that little depression monster came out for me. I found myself agrueing with myself about continuing the tx to the end. It was a VERY tough time...... but all in my own mind. I got through by just surrendering myself to the "Brain Fog" and refusing to let myself make ANY tx decisions that would change what I had been doing. I ended up doing 2 extra weeks because of how the scripts were written. I had read enough over the years to have already decided that 52 weeks was the most I would do so 50 weeks worked out well for my plans.
So....Hang tough now, close your eyes, and let the last weeks float on by. You're lookin GOOD.
Those numbers still look mighty fine from here.You are still well within the "normal" ranges and that is a VERY positive sign. What I see is that they're staying "statistically" the same. Where the worry might come in is if you saw a BIG shift towards the high side. Even then we know that while on tx those numbers really mean little in the overall end result. The tx itself can sometimes skew those numbers. Lizi is my best example of that. Her numbers were sky high all through her tx and she has cleared. After tx her numbers came back down. Mine dropped down to the low 20's pretty fast and hovered there throughout my tx time.....kinda like what yours are doing.
I'd say that you're doing GREAT and based on what I can see your chances look MOST EXCELLENT!! You know I wouldn't say that if I didn't really think that either.
You are near the end now. This is the time when that little depression monster came out for me. I found myself agrueing with myself about continuing the tx to the end. It was a VERY tough time...... but all in my own mind. I got through by just surrendering myself to the "Brain Fog" and refusing to let myself make ANY tx decisions that would change what I had been doing. I ended up doing 2 extra weeks because of how the scripts were written. I had read enough over the years to have already decided that 52 weeks was the most I would do so 50 weeks worked out well for my plans.
So....Hang tough now, close your eyes, and let the last weeks float on by. You're lookin GOOD.
Indy,
Did you ALT/AST levels fluctuate during tx? I've been undetectable since week 12 and am almost done ... SIX shots to go. My ALT/AST are still in the normal range but have inched up a bit >>
MONTH AST 10-45 ALT 4-45 ALKP 35-125
November 2002 60 104 80
(Nov. pre-tx)
April 7 2003 34 33 71
April 21 2003 35 28 76
June 2003 36 37 76
October 2003 40 38 73
My doc and nurse says not to worry but I wonder if this means the little DEVIL is hiding, waiting to say HELLO again.
Any input?
Thanks,
Scott
Did you ALT/AST levels fluctuate during tx? I've been undetectable since week 12 and am almost done ... SIX shots to go. My ALT/AST are still in the normal range but have inched up a bit >>
MONTH AST 10-45 ALT 4-45 ALKP 35-125
November 2002 60 104 80
(Nov. pre-tx)
April 7 2003 34 33 71
April 21 2003 35 28 76
June 2003 36 37 76
October 2003 40 38 73
My doc and nurse says not to worry but I wonder if this means the little DEVIL is hiding, waiting to say HELLO again.
Any input?
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks all who responded to my quetion. I greatly appreciate it. I'm really going into this blind with not much input from the doc. Only that it is my decision but with no info to base that decision on. So far all my other tests look good, ie, blood, ultra sound, and I'm going for the liver biopsy tomorrow. My biggest concern was what if I wait, what then?
Again thanks all. Rsterling
Again thanks all. Rsterling
I am going to guess at your question: The new drugs (protease inhibitors such as BILN 2061) for treating HCV are probably 3-5 years away or longer. They will, more than likely, be used in some form of 'cocktail' with the current ones. If you have little to no damage, as shown by a liver biopsy, and feel that waiting is a risk you're willing to take OK but know that the virus just isn't sitting around waiting for the new, 'benign' drugs. It is busy attacking your liver.
It is NOT something I would do -- beat it now, fight it now, try NOW.
Genotype 1 is what most Americans are infected with and is the hardest to treat. Your personal situation is unknown so giving advice to you is hard (besides me not being a doctor >> even if I was it is you that has to decide about treatment).
Do you have significant damage to your liver, as in Stage 3? If so, then I feel you have no choice but to treat -- barring some other health problem.
Scott
It is NOT something I would do -- beat it now, fight it now, try NOW.
Genotype 1 is what most Americans are infected with and is the hardest to treat. Your personal situation is unknown so giving advice to you is hard (besides me not being a doctor >> even if I was it is you that has to decide about treatment).
Do you have significant damage to your liver, as in Stage 3? If so, then I feel you have no choice but to treat -- barring some other health problem.
Scott
RS - The biopsy will tell the tale. I know this can be high-anxiety time but hang in there.
Indiana - Thanks for the encouragement. You're right about the depression -- it's stronger now than anytime during tx. I only have 5 shots, I think, left. Seeing those numbers creep up even by 1 or 2 made me paranoid. Hope you're doing well and recovering nicely. BTW how does it FEEL to be off this *(^#?
Scott
Indiana - Thanks for the encouragement. You're right about the depression -- it's stronger now than anytime during tx. I only have 5 shots, I think, left. Seeing those numbers creep up even by 1 or 2 made me paranoid. Hope you're doing well and recovering nicely. BTW how does it FEEL to be off this *(^#?
Scott
It feels GREAT!! My Brain Fog was noticeably improved in about 2 weeks. The physical stuff took awhile longer but it was a steady and noticeable progression which was encouraging. Now just when I think it can't get any better....it gets even BETTER!! I think a lot of it has to do with the mental boost I got just from going through tx and completing it. It has changed the way I look at life and handle problems. I seem to laugh at any problems that come my way. Others notice it too. Think about it....how good is a life when things really can't bother you or bring you down? Since nothing can compare to tx and I got through that, what can really make me feel bad? Hahahahahaha I even got rid of "The Badger"! Hahahahaha
That 1st beer was kinda bad though....I did NOT like it at all. 2 sips and I got REAL dizzy. It felt like Brain Fog too. That kinda scared me. I was at the bowling alley and after 3 games I never did finish it. It's not so bad now but I still don't like the feeling much. So....ok....one drawback....its kinda ruined my drinking. hahahahaha Maybe that is an intentional side effect they built into it...?? If that is MY lasting side effect then I can live with that. I kinda grew partial to Powerades anyways. Thay taste better and some turn my tongue a weird color so I can gross girls out. Hahahahaha
Life is good.................
That 1st beer was kinda bad though....I did NOT like it at all. 2 sips and I got REAL dizzy. It felt like Brain Fog too. That kinda scared me. I was at the bowling alley and after 3 games I never did finish it. It's not so bad now but I still don't like the feeling much. So....ok....one drawback....its kinda ruined my drinking. hahahahaha Maybe that is an intentional side effect they built into it...?? If that is MY lasting side effect then I can live with that. I kinda grew partial to Powerades anyways. Thay taste better and some turn my tongue a weird color so I can gross girls out. Hahahahaha
Life is good.................
I am a G1 and have had HCV most likely for 28 years. I have been extremely active and healthy all my life but about 7 years ago I started having unexplained problems. I attributed it often to turning 40ish but the symptoms were getting obvious enough that I discussed them with my doc at the time. Nothing was found and they said I was healthy as a horse. Well I was diagnosed at a regular yearly exam. Like most I didn't know what to do or think. I went along as recommended and got the biopsy and labs done. I decided to do tx because I hate being contagious and mostly because I do believe the tx works much better if you have it with good low labs and are healthy. I also think it's much easier to handle if your healthy. Who knows how this disease will progress in each one of us but I don't want to risk waiting. This is a very personal decision for each person and only you can decide for yourself. Hope things work out for you. LL
Why not??
I WAS a type 1b...did 50 weeks of Peg/Intron + Riba and was ultimately successful.
I never even considered NOT doing tx. I had no symptoms before but wasn't about to wait for them to show up.
You can't succeed if you don't even try...............
I WAS a type 1b...did 50 weeks of Peg/Intron + Riba and was ultimately successful.
I never even considered NOT doing tx. I had no symptoms before but wasn't about to wait for them to show up.
You can't succeed if you don't even try...............
I would highly recommend reading past posts to get a lot of information about treatment.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
