Dr Davern?

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Hello:  

I was wondering if anyone has experience w/Dr. Davern at CA Pacific Med Ctr.  I thought I was going to get in w/Dr. Bonacini, but he has very limited appnts at the clinic I will be going to.  

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Thanks GoofyDad and FIGuy for your input.  I saw Dr. Davern today.  He was very professional.  

He indicated the top things that affect treatment are genotype, viral load, race, and stage of fibrosis.  Of course, we also had a discussion about weight.  Due to my genotype, "reasonably high" viral load, and weight, I would have about 35-40% chance of responding to therapy. I asked what the chances of responding would be if I was in a healthy weight range.  His response was "45-50%  Maybe 45-55%."  So weight plays a role, but not a huge enough role by my standards, to consider treating even if I was at a healthy weight.  It was comforting to have a doctor who understood that it was difficult to lose weight and that it is not an issue of simply will power.  And yes, I will, of course, continue to keep eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding alcohol, as I have been.        

The good news is that even after 24 years of having this virus, my liver biopsy (Feb.) indicated I was in the earliest stage of liver disease: Stage 1, grade 1.  At this rate, I'm told I'm likely to die with Hep C., not from Hep C.  So the "to treat or not to treat" question for me for now has been answered.  I will wait for a year or two and see what new treatments lie ahead.  My doc is also putting me on a trial wait list, as I would consider a protease inhibitor trial.  

I'm fortunate that, as a woman, I am less likely to have the level of progression of liver damage from Hep C than men appear to have.  (That is an unfortunate finding for males w/hep c.)  Women, however, tend to have more progression of liver disease if drinking is involved.  (That is an unfortunate finding for female alcoholics.)  

So, there it is.  Thanks for reading.

Mary                  

[GoofyDad]

I treated with a different Dr who worked with Gish at the SF campus. A new young whippersnapper - he was great. EZ access by email, good nurses took my every call, and when pow-wows were called for, the collective wisdom of the Gish posse was brought in.  

[FlGuy]

If I recall correctly, both GoofyDad and Bill1954 treated there.  May be they will stop by and give you an opinion.  Not sure who their docs were, perhaps Gish.