How long to wait to re-treat? Post TX PCR.

[jmjm530]

Feeling very positive finishing my 2nd week without Peg and my first without riba -- but being the pro-active soul I am, a couple of questions:

(1) Some of you like Calio, have jumped right back on the treatment bandwagon within days/weeks of relapse. Goofy, I believe has indicated he'd do the same thing in case of relapse.

Others, have indicated their doctors wanted them to rest/heal like 6-months or so before re-treating, as mine once suggested.

First, for all those who re-treated, how long did you treat and how long did you wait before re-treating, and what logic if any did your doctor give you?

And related, did any of your doctors discuss in detail the why's or why nots of re-treating sooner or later. I ask this second part because one way of looking at it is to hit it hard again before the virus has time to get strong. Another way, is to take a rest and let the immune system get strong before re-treating.

(2) So when exactly is the 4-week post-tx PCR/TMA?
When we count our treating weeks, we start with the Peg shot. So our treating week 4 PCR would be the day before our 5th shot. I'm assuming it works similar post treatment, except the difference is post tx we already start with drugs in our system. So do you start counting from the day of your last shot. Or, do you start counting from the day of your last riba?

Here's my example. Last shot Wed March 8th. Last Riba Wed March 15th. I therefore think my week 4 PCR/TMA should  be Tuesday April 4th. But counting from last riba would make it April 11th. Any input welcome.

Thanks.

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Sorry for the delay. To answer your question I had to flip forward on my calendar, and for some reason the pages were stuck.

Anyways, I'd venture it would be the 11th, but I guess it really matters what the convention is.

Wow! 90% at 4 weeks and 99% at 12? I thought it was more like 99% at 6 mos or 12 mos? Maybe I do remember something about 3 mos being similar to 6 mos when sensitive tests are used, but that seems to contradict the theory that the virus will escalate quickly, doesn't it?

It never ends......

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the response. Of course I don't plan on re-treating other than in the case of relapse. LOL. But -- if research shows that re-treating sooner is better than later -- then this is the time to plot out worst scenario outcomes/solutions. I do agree with you about the research data -- and what about the 'experts' (hepatologists) themselves. Ask a dozen this very question, and I have a hunch you'd get quite a split in answers.

Regarding EOT -- are you then suggesting that the week 4 PCR should be taken 4-weeks (plus 4-days) from the final shot, irrespective of whether I continued on with the riba another week.

Lastly, how soon did you hit the virus between treatments when you had only 40,000 copies? Was it your call or did your doctor urge you on because of low viral load or some other reason?

-- Jim

[susan400]

Since this is my 8th round of treating, I've come off of treatment and then, took a break, several times.  I always felt like I needed a break to be able to get some sanity back.  My last break before this treatment was for 5 mon and most of that I had to deal with a herniated L5-S1 disk, which needed surgery.  To be honest, whenever I finally do get off of treatment this time, I'm going to be SOO ready to be off of it.  Especially on the Riba since I've been double-dosing that.

Susan400

[GoofyDad]

Thats OK. I was done with those pages anyway....

[GoofyDad]

Your stamina is an inspiration for many. Wow - 2x riba. My 1,200 riba had me under the table. Nasty stuff, that.

[jmjm530]

(1)So when are YOU having your first PCR/TMA or is that TBD; and (2) how long do you plan on waiting to re-treat in the small event of relapse, or are you staying more in the moment? Sounds like Calio jumped right back on the tx horse but my doc wants me to wait at least six-months and from the gist of the conversation today, it would probably be with a protease inhibitor in some combo or another.

-- Jim