HepC/Cirrhosis~interferon

My boyfriend is going to start treatment with the Interferon in 3 weeks, and he is flipping out.  I am wondering what to expect, and really, I am flipping out too.  He is having severe abdominal pains, and other issues maybe due to prostate.  He has a lot on his plate, and I am just wondering about the whole thing with not only HepC, but having the Cirrhosis with it.  The doctor said he has 40/60 percent chance of it working.  Has anyone else had HepC and also Cirrhosis that could possibly help us with their experience?  Thank you so much

[tulsatime]

Hi, I have cirrhosis and hepc, I am geno 2. So I treated for 24 weeks. I was undetectable at 12 weeks and 24 weeks during treatment, but relapsed on my 6 months post test. So I took a break and started treatment again. We are going for 54 weeks this time. The virus is harder to clear if you have cirrhosis. But people can do it. Also while he is treating he will be helping his liver to heal. Mine is a lot better since I did the first treatment. I don't have the liver pain in the upper right side like I did before treatment. How long is he treating for and what geno type is he and his viral load? Everyone is scared when they first start treatment. And everyone has different sides. The main things you need to know is No alcohol, no drugs, no Tylenol products, no aspirin, because he probably has low blood platelets due to cirrhosis. Take a vitamin without iron. Drink lots of water during treatment. And remember the first shot will be the worst. So stay home the next day after the shot and expect flu like symptoms the first one for a day or so. But things get easier. He will be tired during treatment, but will get through it. Just remember you are not alone!! I am on shot 8-tomorrow night. Take care and let us know how he is making out, He might get lucky and be one of the ones that don't have too many sides. Mine is mainly fatigue, I count myself as lucky. Good luck... Debi

[FlGuy]

Are you sure he has cirrhosis?  Did he have a liver biopsy?  Do do you know what geno type (variety of hepatitis C) he is?  Is he overwieght, smoke or drink?  Does he know how long he's had hep-c and how old is he?

[GrandOak]

I'm a geno 1A with stage 4 cirrhosis who is nearly 10 months into treatment.  I have been fortunate to not have had to experience to many of the side effects associated with the treatment, with the exception of anemia and low immune system.  One thing to consider is how advanced is his cirrhosis.  Mine turned out to be at the beginning stages with biopsy showing no damage to the critical areas of the liver.

Unfortunately, I my first doc cut my ribavirin 6 weeks into tx instead of prescribing Procrit because of dropping Hgb putting my close to severe anemic situation.  I switched docs 8 wks into tx and was immediately put in Procrit and struggled over the next several months to increase both the riba and Procrit until I was able to return to original dosage of riba and move beyond to the higher dose weight-based dosing formulas now recommend.

I started with a VL of 72,000,000, went to 2,400,000 by week 8 and 1,8000,000 by week 12. I did show a viral breakthrough 24 wks into tx with a vl of 2,900,000, but much of this was thought to be due in large part to the reduction of riba too early into treatment.

Since I do not suffer from many of the sx;s others do, my second doc decided to give me 12 wks at full riba dose before deciding what my fate for treating this disease will be on this attempt. I find out in a three weeks what that will be and what options I might have.

I would recommend not getting to concerned about how the treatment might affect him because no one can predict how an individual will respond.  There are a variety of things I've learned and was advised to do during my tx that I'd be happy to share that may help, but to go into it all here would be rather extensive.  Tulsa's post hits upon many of them, although there are a few deviations I was advised to follow.

I wish you well, welcome you to the forum.  Although none of us or doctors, there are good folk here with lots of experience of dealing with this disease at various stages of the treatment with a variety of genotypes and a variety of results from trying the treatment.  So keep an eye open for note worthy posts and do not hessitate to make posts if your boyfriend has questions, is looking for advice, or simply needs to vent.

[Maggimae]

Don't know how to start a new thread but this title pretty much covers it anyway. DX HCV 1997. No treatment, ever. Biopsy 1997 stage 1 grade 0. Biopsy 2004, stage 3/4 cirrohsis and no, I don't drink. SMoke cigs however but nothing else. No anti's, no aspirin, no pills except they nuked my thyroid in 98 so have to take that. I have been testing and retesting for a liver transplant. They have refused to treat me now because my kidneys are at stage 3. I wanted to tell the one girl that was so concerned about her friend having cirrhosis and starting treatment. A friend of mine drank a case of beer a night almost everday for years. One day woke up and quit. One month later, found HCV. Stage 4 cirrhosis. Went right on the usual combo and kicked it in one year. He even worked through it. Well, most of the time. A day off here and there. I am wondering, I hate sitting here waiting to just die. I have avidly fought this thing since dx. I am hanging on quite well for one so sick. I still do alot. But I was told to get on a transplant list for backup and then do treatment but it took so long to get all the tests done that when I finished they said nope, no treatment for you. Oh and by the way, you are fired as a patient. Non-compliance. What? I only worked with a PA anyway but never figured it out other than I had an infection in my back for 2 yrs and complained about it and they never did a thing. An MRI in Miami showed it and I had to do 6 weeks of IV anti's 7 days a week 2 x a day, to get rid of it. It was in the spine. Maybe they thought I would sue? I dunno but if you were me? What would you do? Just sitting here letting things get worse is not my style. I almost got in a trial but was not post menopausal.My only disqualification. Then like 2 months later, the doc said I was. She based that on a really high FSH. I still don't know why I progressed so fast and the doctors just say something with my immune system? My HEMO is 11.1. I pretty much stay there. I have used Aranesp. Gave me real bad muscle joint problems. Walked like I was 90. MY spleen is sometimes enlarged, sometimes not, I have portal hypertension so I can't overdo or I will blow up like a balloon and end up in the hospital. I eat healthy, try and get alot of sleep although have trouble and get excersise everyday. IRon levels are low. No probs there. Brain fog is awful. Can't remember ****. My alternative doc has me on HGH, Somatropin, and DHEA as I have none in me at all. I take water pills and have for years and believe that is the kidney problem. Never got the thyroid udner control so they put the usual band aid treatment on me. You guys are certianly knowledgable and just want an opinion or two. It just seems totally stpuid to sit here and do nothing. Wait for a liver that will never come? Oh ya. They head tranplant doc in Miami called my fist biospy a sampling error. Now, I know I'm not smarter than he is but he is wrong. If you look at my labs from the same time, they directly reflect the biopsy. Albumin was 4.2 and now is 2.4 etc. etc. I don't know why I progressed like this, but anyway, thanks for reading if ya got this far. Will check back and wish you all well.
PS> Don't worry about rashes. I have had them for 10 yrs from thyroid and liver and itching is sometimes unbearable. You can live through the treatment. Not to make it sound easy, I don't know from ex. but I have heard. But this to shall pass as they say. I could use a little light at the end of this viral tunnel. Oh, and I'm not drinking pee. LOL NO MATTER WHAT!
Maggi