Hit the VL Wall at Wk 24

I've been lurking around here for several weeks, but it's time to jump in.

I'm a male, 52, Hep C 1a, on 180 ug Pegasus/week and 1200 mg Copegus/day.  Went from 6.8 logs VL at the start, to 4.3 logs at week 12, to 4.6 logs at week 24 and 4.7 logs at week 26.

AST and ALT were 89 and 56 at week 12 and down to 55 and 32 at week 24.  All the WBC's, RBC's, Platelets, hemaglobin and hematocrit are lower with each test but not bad. My liver is looking good, but not the VL.

Didn't have a biopsy, but an ultrasound with no signs of cirrhosis.

I bumped up my ribavirin to 1600 mg/day a week ago - one day before my week 26 test. My doc is looking into options - Pegintron, infergen, higher dose of Pegasus, etc.

Has anyone out there kept going from a similar situation and made it to SVR?  If so, how did you do it?  Any good South FL docs out there?  I hate to quit now after going so far - besides I'll miss my eyes weeping while watching Deal or No-Deal or Walker, Texas Ranger reruns.

[GrandOak]

I'm a male, 47, Hep C 1a, on 180 ug Pegasus/week and 1400 mg Copegus/day. Went from 7.857 logs VL at the start, to 6.398 logs at week 8, to 6.255 at wk 12, and 6.477 logs at week 24.

But, Riba cut from 1200 mg to 600 mg at wk 4 and slowly worked back to 1200 mg at wk 20 and then to 1400 mg at wk 26.  Started new 12 wk 2 log drop target at wk 26 since I'm not suffering much from sx's, except for anemia and neutropenia.

[mycoldfeet]

I am exactly your stats 1a 52yo and vl, I relapsed but so far am responding to tx, but if you have an hour go to www.clinicaloptions.com they have a video to watch, you have to register and when you get to type of Dr. scroll down to "other" it's actually a conference of hep Dr.s and they have the latest thinking on non-responders, It may help you talk to your Doc, they have a core video and advanced, watch them both. Very informative.

[FlGuy]

I'm also in South Florida, FLL area.  Snook, Beagle Bailey (other guys here) and I have gone to specialists at U.M.. Let me know if you want their names or other info. They are docs who know their stuff and deal with tough situations like yours.  At this point you need to know where you are and find out what options may be avilable to you. If you try to see these guys you may have a wait of a couple of months

[sfbaygirl]

Whew! I have a pictue of you in a puddle next to your computer at work. I can't believe you even took 1400. You are a glutton for punishment. I did ask my dr. about upping my Riba to 1200. I probably would have done it myself, except the darn pharm doesn't even send me enough Riba for 30 days!~ I have no extras! Probably saved me from myself. LOL Now that I am feeling better my twisted brain is telling me I need more drugs, cuz' I am not feeling bad enough. What demented thinking, huh?

[sfbaygirl]

says; I bumped up my ribavirin to 1600 mg/day a week ago

What! I thought you lowered your riba? There is NO way you can handle that amt of Riba given your weight and history of anemia!

[NYgirl]

LOL not me - that is what the person who posted said.

Dear God at my weight I'd turn into a pile of mush with that much Riba!  This disease has made me pretty darn sketchy looking and if I went on that much riba....I can't even imagine it.

Some weekends though...I was taking 1400 a day - no WONDER I had so many hemo problems...but in my mind even though I KNOW better I kept saying the more the better the more the better...I can be a real idiot sometimes!


But thanks for trying to bring me back to ground zero, fortunately it's not me on that high amount of Riba. I am SO GLAD to have been dropped to 800 after 46 weeks of OD'ing on it LOL!

:)

[NYgirl]

I bumped up my ribavirin to 1600 mg/day a week ago


As someone who just upped their Riba all of the time (I have two genotypes 1A and 1B and wanted to have a double whammy killer to kill the virus) let me tell you - you can get BIG problems with anemia that might force you to quit treatment if you keep upping the dosage.  After a certain point...there really isn't any reason to.

But I sure understand the "logic" of doing it!

I'm just concerned that you are going to have a huge reduction in hemoglobin as a result.  I have found the less Riba the better.

You need to have a biopsy to determine liver damage...for some reaosn we all think in the beginning that the ultrasound tells us much but it really doesn't.

It's pretty quick and painless and I'd totally advise you to get one.

I'm female - week 53 of 72 - Geno 1A and 1B starting VL 568,000 UND somewhere between 12 and 24. (which is why I am treating for 72 - I agree with the docs that if you are not UND at week 12....it's necessary).

Good luck to you!

[Rastiss]

FLGuy - I would like to hear any recommendations for other doctors in South Florida.
GrandOak - It sounds like you and I are having similar results. I wish you luck. Once the drop in VL stalls, something needs to tip the balance back. I asked my doctor about switching brands of interferon or going to intergen or higher or more frequent doses and he's looking into it.

I went back to my regular 1200mg/day of Ribavirin after a week-long attempt to jump-start the process again.

I wonder where they make those VX950's and if they are hiring any night watchmen.