Hep C

[susan1955]

I seen my Liver Doctor April 17, 2015 Found out in January that I have Hep C.  Seen my doctor and going to start me on treatment.  I do not know what I am going to be put on.  I had all the test done again and they are looking at what genotype I have.  Everyone I was with had Genotype 2b. I have kidney failure.  I have a blood disorder , have had 4 strokes.  So because of the kidney failure I had she said it was caused by my hep c and wanted to start treatment.  I see her May 6,2015 to talk and start the process.  My viral load is 15,900,000, which she said, that I would be on the treatment longer.  She had told me what treatment I would be on but it just went right over my head said there would be two different treatments I was so overwhelmed .  This is all new to me I did not even know I was sick with this, so I guess I am lucky in that manner, a friend I hung out with in 1978 along time ago, we got in touch with each other and she said I should go get checked for hep c.  Well this is were I am at today.  I will post more when I find out more.  Really don't know what to expect.

[Livelife777]

Welcome Susan to Medhelp.   You will find yourself cured of Hep C in a few months with the current new meds available.  If you can get thru quitting smoking and drinking this new regimen will be a cakewalk.
Keep us posted while on treatment should you have any questions or concerns.
......Kim

[SurfsideGal]

Hello Susan. It sounds as if your doctor has things under control. Since the doctor has said they will treat you longer because of a viral load of 15,000,000 you can be fairly certain they will have you on Harvoni if you are genotype 1. I wish you an easy treatment journey and best of luck clearing the virus.

[susan1955]

Thank you all for the support.  Just so you know I quit smoking 3 years ago and i don't drink anymore quit that also in Dec of 2014. I am being positive  and take a day at a time

[patra_]

I have what my Husband calls Happy Fingers.  I touvh things and things happen.  That is why the above ended so abruptly.  Obviously, I touched something at the wrong time.  : -)

Again, welcome to the forum.  I think you will find that most of us, if not all, on this site, agree with your Dr about treating the hepc should help some of the other things. And never has tx been so 'easy' and side effect free!  No, I am not saying there are no sideeffects, just that with these new meds there are few to none, and they seem to be much milder that those with previous meds!

Good luck, good treating and On To SVR!

Blessings, Pat

[Rbeth]

Hi Susan and welcome to this forum, so very glad you found your way here! It sure sounds like you've walked through a lot. Is your doctor a hepatologist? I'm so glad you're going to be treating. Your membranous glomerulonephritis can be a secondary condition( result) of hepatitis C. From what you've said " I had MGN" it seems you've been treated for that, it resolved on its own or your doctor wants to treat to eradicate hep c & get to the root cause of your kidney disorder. I am NOT a doctor, just want to make sure I ( we) understand. It also sounds like you will have a combination treatment  & I'm sure the choice will depend on what genotype you are. Try not to worry about the amount of your viral load, many here have had higher, treated & cured! In fact, mine was quite high.

Anyway, I'm sure more folks will come on to post to you. In the meantime do try not to worry, have your doctor explain things to you & please come and post back with your genotype & treatment protocol. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your doctor. What is the condition of my liver is an important one.  Write down her answers. If she is a hepatologist, infectious disease doc or GI doctor who treats hepatitis, she should be able to address all your concerns. Treatment meds today are so much easier to take. You will see!

Again, a warm welcome, look forward to "seeing" more of you.
Blessings,
Randy

[patra_]

Welcome to the Forum, Susan.  Sorry for all your medical problems, but it sounds like you are on the right track.  The thr meds the doctor mentioned to you were probably either Harvoni or Viekira Pak.  they are both the latest thing in tx (treatment) for Genotype 1 - both Gt1a and Gt1b.  But maybe not.

Don't count that as what the Dr said, just giving MHO.  

Please do keep us informed as you get more information and updates.  We have many c are, supportive, very knowledgeable people on here who are or have been treated, both by the above mentioned meds - although those are so new that we still don't have a large body of experience from real worls treatment -  but getting more very day and the results are looking good!

Start now drinking LOTS of water, eating a very liver friendly diet.  If you use alcohol, quit!  If you smoke cigerettes, quit, or at the very least start quitting.  Get excerise within your abilities (you want to work up a sweat, but not over tax you system).  These things will help your liver cope with all that virus, and perhaps, help the meds to be more effective - at least that is my take on it.

[susan1955]

On my comment page  I meant to say I had Kidney failure.  I do not at this time I had Membranous Glomerulonephritis and my doctor said it was caused my Hep C