PCR

I just received my PCR and I am undetectable for hep c. I am genotype 1a. I was diagnosed in 1995 and received a liver transplant in June 2000. Five weeks after transplant I began a one year treatment of Interferon/Ribavirin. It was not successful. I began Peg/Ribavirin in Dec 2001 and began with a viral load of one million copies per ml. In May I was 2017 copies per ml. And as of this past Tuesday I am undetectable. I have been taking 800 mg Ribavirin and a reduced dose of Peg. I often wished I was taking a bigger dose but ultimately trusted my transplant surgeon who overruled the hepatologists with regard to increased dose. I know this is early to celebrate and I am still in disbelief but damn I am thrilled!!!!!!!

[gerard11]

early congrats! your situation seems very close to mine. Diganoised in 1992 am currently going thru tx process (living donor). Very concerened about hep-c attacking new liver, also a 1a geno type, responded but could not hold. Meld score is 13-14  (kidneys remain strong surpressing meld score) but lots of fatigue,ascities (almost weekely paras) bone denisty loss,short term memory loss, sleep reversal, and so on and so on. Txing  while i am still somewhat healthy at 54 years old , emphsasis a possiable 5 yr timeline for the new liver as very short. Trying not to get ahead of myself. How difficult has the new treatment been (know everyone handels it differently). What was your motivation for treating hep-c with a recent tx? Have read some of your other posting and found them very informative. thank you!

[Willy50]

Wow, Mr. Mike; you do go back a ways here don't you?

How amazing that this thread was never replied to until today.

LOL; let me be the third to congratulate you on your PCR results.  (in this thread that is...)

Thanks for sticking around.  Members like you provide a lot of wisdom, knowledge and perspective to this forum.

best,
Willy

[neptune235]

Fantastic news, Mike...  Congrats!!

[newleaf09]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.  Seems that you can get by on reduced interferon better than reduced riba.  Sending hopeful thoughts your way.

[FlGuy]

Great news, Mike.  There is something that I feel down deep inside that tells me it will all work out. I don't know, it's like it's pre-ordained or something. I bet if you fast-forward several years you'll look back and feel it was all worth it.  Another feeling I have, stay off motorcycles for a while.

[mikesimon]

Just to update: I relapsed this treatment. It is easy to see why. I started In Dec 2001 with inadequate doses of both Peg-Intron and ribavirin and my first undetectable was Aug of 2002 - rather late. I stopped in Dec 2002 and relapsed within 2.5 weeks to 6+ million IU/ml.
I never dreamed I would ever reach undetectable and once I did I had renewed hope. I started my 3rd treatment in either late Jan or early Feb 2003 with 180 mcg Pegasys and 1000 mg ribavirin and was undetectable by week 12. I treated for 73 weeks and stopped in June 2004. I am SVR.
Mike

[mikesimon]

Our posts crossed and, as usual, you're right.
I still ride my bike though and will probably be riding in a few minutes.
Mike

[Proactive]

Is that the same bike you had in '02? Prior to your experience?
Pro

[tulsatime]

I am so happy for you! That gives me hope. You have always been a great source of info for me, cause I might need a transplant someday!  
June of 2004. bet you are feeling good now!! take care... Debi

[ladybug52]

Wow...back to the future here at the forum......it has been a full moon weekend

[Trish77]

I'm so smart that I'm going to predict that if you have another PCR, it will tell you that you are SVR.  In fact, I'm going to bet my prize kewpie doll collection on it, if I had one.

What is *really* great......is that we can joke about this.  That you really *are* SVR and that treatment worked for you finally after everything you went through to get to this place - you survived the liver transplant and then the subsequent treatments - and that you are now that coveted and hard-won SVR and here to share your unique brand of wisdom, compassion and humour with others coming along behind you.

Kind of interesting this thread came up.  Perhaps a bit of serendipity there.

People have anniversaries and birthdays and stuff ... kind of nice to celebrate Mike's SVR again - makes all those anniversaries and birthdays possible, doesn't it.  

To you, Mike.

Slainte Mhath!

Trish

[kickboxingmom]

I didn't realize you have went through so much with all this.I want to also say awesome news.Be Safe on the bike.                   Tammy