HEP C Threatment Urgency?

Here I am back, about 5 months ago I was diagnosed CHRONIC HEP C in activity Gen type 1A-B with Fibrosis stage I... my doctor advised that I should be serious on a strict diet and check back in a couple of years for another biopsy..
REASON: I am  a Missionary, where there are no conditions for treatment at all, so she says I could wait a bit since medical conditions I described above are not bad at all; (according to her).

NOW, I got MALARIA in the Mission, and that changed the entire scenario, my liver suffered with medication and inflammation, which is normal with malaria,  all three different doctors in the Mission are ADVISING me to start treatment AS SOON AS PRACTICAL...but none have told me when.
Financially, it is not possible for me to start treatment until about MAY 2008...

QUESTION:  DO YOU THINK, according to what I described, I could simply wait?
personally, besides feeling the MALARIA effects, that has been cured already, which should last another few weeks, I feel fine and very strong, mostly I believe is the feeling of my wife and son, friends and family back home thinking I am really bad, which really, I am not.

Thanks guys.
brazeagle

[cajunlady]

There are a few people here that will chime in and give you there opinion and can so better than I.  If it does come to the point that you have to start treatment and financial is the problem; I know there are a few people here who can direct you to the drug companies and other options of getting the drugs free.  So, don't let money stop you if your liver needs you to start sooner than later. I might even suggest (my opinion only) another biopsy to see if further damage was done to your liver since Malaria.  That will give you a much better outlook on what your liver is saying.

Good Luck to you and your decisions and for being someone who likes to help the unfortunate, my hats off to you.

Cajun

[brazeagle]

Thanks,
I am going to do it next month when on VACATION in NY.
Best regards
brazeagle

[Becky D]

My prayers will be with you and yours. Just wanted you to know that. I also have concerns about medical expenses for tx of Hep C. Sorry I can't remember who but someone on this forum recommended that I contacted Commitment to Care @ 1-800-521-7157 and Peg. Asst. @ 1-800-387-1258. I'm certain they will be able to help. Hang in there. God has you in his hands. He has everything under control. Remember, He can open doors that no man can open and close doors that no man can close. I know this to be true. I am a Ca. survivor. Wasn't given much of a chance to live. Went thru 6 mo. of comb. chemo and went into remission. Then I went downhill again and refused any further care. I was put on hospice. I became closer to God than ever and laid it all in His hands. No more tx. just devine intervention. You know what?? Drs. are amazed that I'm alive and Ca free.Where did the Ca. go and how it is possible without tx., God. Thats all I can say. Praise Him and in all things give thanks. Praise him in the midst of the storm and remember in His word He says, "When you are weak I am strong." Onc. says I'll be the only miracle she will ever see in her practice. Just remember, Jesus is still in the healing and miracle business. Call on him and start walking in his healing power today. Many scriptures refer to His disire to heal all that come to Him. Speak those scriptures over yourself eachday and watch God do His thing... In Christain Love, Becky

[brazeagle]

Allright Becky,
I am sure all is under control and we shall not worry, The Creator is always conspiring in our benefit and it can not be differently.
I am happy that you are a believer, I have so many proof of real life situations that puts me at easy.

All it takes is to BELIEVE and to CARE for others and things will fall in our hands smoothly.

Take care and best regards to you and to all readers with great unconditional love.

brazeagle

[FlGuy]

Whenever you decide to treat the hcv you should make sure that you are always in the vicinity of modern medical facilities for the full extent of the treatment duration.

[jmjm530]

Hepatitis C is a very misunderstood disease even within the medical community. For that reason, it's a good idea to get yourself evaluated by a liver specialist (hepatologist) especially if liver complications arise, which might be in your case the bout with Malaria.

Unless the Malaria somehow increased your liver damage, I don't see why that would prompt you to treat any sooner -- quite the contrary -- but I'm not a doctor.

In general, Hepatitis C is a very slow moving disease, and as a stage 1, you have time on your side. You should also know that newer drug treatments are in trial, and if all goes as hoped, future treatments (2-3 years) will be half as long with twice the cure rates.

Again, I'm sure the mission doctors are excellent within the scope of their expertise, but before you start treating based on the malaria scenario you outlined, do seek another opinion. The treatment drugs can be very harsh, and unless your liver damage has accelerated, I don't see how treating on top of your malaria induced inflammation would be helpful. May 2008 isn't that far off, and unless a liver specialist gives you a very good reason to treat earlier, I'd wait. Also, by that time, more trial data will be in on the newer drug treatments. One you might want to keep on eye on is the Telaprevir trials.

All the best,

-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

i agree with jim. you really need a biopsy or at least a fibroscan to determune if you have liver damage. stage 1 is nothing....about what one has from years of an unhealthy diet or too many martini's. you will have to have blood tests every month and they probably will not let you get 1 years drugs at one time.

again, new tx is sooooooo close so why waste a year of you time taking dangerous drugs when that will change soon. i had mine 37 years before tx.

ps. i was a missionary in palau so. pacific. working at a high powered shortwave station broadcasting into south east asia. it was rewarding. where are you?

bobby

[brazeagle]

Thanks gents,
great to hear that and for sure, in the Mission, there are no liver specialists in here.
I am taking 2 weeks vacation (FINALLY) in Sept and I will do a biopsy in NY and see what is going on. As soon as I get results I will post it back.

I appreciate your inputs.

ps.: I was in South Lebanon/Israel, then Kosovo and now in Haiti.

Regards,
Luiz
brazeagle

[brazeagle]

I will defenetely do that,  that is the main reason I got to wait until MAY 2008 if needed to treat.
(extra cash)
Regards and thank you
brazeagle

[honey11]

Hey Eagle,,,Sorry to hear that you got malaria but glad to hear you are cured!  I also feel next May would be fine for you to start your tx.   I think at stage 1,,,you should be fine and have very good odds on being SVR after TX....Good Luck!

[brazeagle]

Thanks
I am sure all will be okay,
take care and soon I will post again
regards,
brazeagle

sorry, I understand SVR but what does it stand for?  tks.

[meki]

Sustained Virologic Response (cure by any other name - 6 months of UND after treatment (tx) by most doctors.

It is the closest we have to cure --- or being cured ---- and even some doctors or hepatologists consider it HepC free.

good Luck - it sounds like you're on the right track.

Meki