At last Biopsy results.....waited 3 months

[android323]

Well results are in ...I was a bit in shock to ask any coherent questions ....nervous but it seems after a lifetime of drinking like a fish and basically living the Woodstock dream ...my liver is at stage 1....Doctors says I am very lucky and that I can treat ...which he says is always best ...or I can choose to wait ...for some new drugs coming down the pipe...I am 53....and now I treat my liver like a God.......and I take zero medication of any kind ....my inclination is to wait.....??????

[desrt]

Don't know your genotype, but given your situation - stage 1, 53 y.o. - I would be inclined to wait if geno 1. The new drugs your doctor was talking about will be added to the curent combination of interferon and ribavirin. It may take some time for a dosing schedule to be worked out based on patient response. There seems to be a difference between what doing 12, 24, or 48 weeks of IFN/riba will do to your mind/body. If you can clear the virus, and do it using the minimum amount of meds needed, it may be worth the wait.
If geno 2 or 3, you may wish to give it a try and see what your responses are at 2 and 4 weeks. Know you live in the land of socialised medicine and you might have to pay for those extra PCRs out of pocket, but could be worth the expense to make informed treatment decisions
Good Luck.

[Lynno711]

I also chose to wait, waited 5 months, because I was frightened.

Just finished 48 weeks, and am now waiting for blood results.  I honestly feel that I would do it again if I had to.

I was told that there were new drugs on the horizion if this tx didn't work.  So I'm hoping for the best.

Good luck in your decision - Lynne

[Magnum]

I would wait until the end of next year when the new protease inhibitor drugs should be licensed and distributed. The success rate with these is much better than the Ribavirin and Interferon combo. I'll wait along with you and the others...

Magnum

[android323]

Hi ty so much everyone.....I am geno type 1b...and am living a tottaly clean lifestyle ...doing the hot yoga to boot...)...I will wait until the new drugs .....This board is the best ......My hope and prayers to everyone on here.....hep c does change your life ...but with love and care it can be for the best .....Peace

[newleaf09]

It may be 2011 before the protease inhibitors are approved and released, but I agree that you are a good candidate to wait, especially considering the new worship your liver is receiving.

[Rockerforlife]

I have a feeling that people like you who have had it  for a long time and remain in the mild stages of liver damage are easier to treat and SVR fast,so when you do TX,wether you wait or not,you should slay the beast on the first blow

[android323]

I just feel so good today .....in balance I have so much empathy for those whose news is not as good.......I hope that soon there will more attention to this disease and everybody will eradicate this dragon forever