Questions for Doc who says, 'Wait-n-Watch'

[miked]

Background: 1b diagnosed April 2004; Started tx in May with 3M copies; 3log drop @ 12 weeks but stopped @ 36 weeks because viral load increased(partial responder).

Referred to Dr.Kwo, Chief Hepatologist & HCV clinical trials @ IU Med. Center.  Bx says less than Stage 1 & no inflammation.  If I choose, Dr. Kwo will offer me daily INF+RBV,or IDN-6556.  His advice is to wait-n-watch.

March 30th is my next appointment I'd like to ask the right questions with a wait-n-watch approach:

1.)Does viral load matter?
2.)High iron was what led to my diagnosis.  It went normal with tx but will it rise again?
3.)How ofter should ALT/AST be tested?  What if they rise?
4.)What's the stats for fibrosis progression?  I'm 47.
5.)Any CAM recommendations?
6.)What if tx "angered" the HCV demon and it goes nuts?

Do you guys have additional questions that I should ask or comments on the above?  Any opinions about a wait-n-watch approach?

Thanks for all of your support and help.

Mike

[Tallblonde]

Hey, bigots are people too!  When you show a little more tolerance, Laika, I'll join you in a round of singing Kum-By-Ya.  

I'm glad we have you to police all off-the-cuff-remarks.  This board is sorely lacking in political correctness and I'm thrilled that you're armed and ready to turn that around, by golly.

I'll work on limiting critical remarks to:

1. Conservatives
2. Evangelical Christians
3. White males  
4. The United State of America

You'll find that no one ever utters a peep when any of the above are attacked.

By the way....I'm of French descent on my mother's side of the family.  Thank you for saving me from myself!  LOL!

Au Revoir!

Suzanne

[Tallblonde]

If I slam on a few Republicans will that be an adequate mea culpa for you prickly pears?  C'mon!  Take a chill pill and have a good day!  LOL!

Susan

[cuteus]

BTW, were you mentioning that things were rather slow at MH? This thread is an example of how things get "lively" pretty quick, on occassions. ;-] It just hasn't happened in a while.

[cuteus]

amen to that, I think they actually show that they know how to think on their own and not worry about kissing US's a**.

[Laika]

I'm not interested in a slam on Republicans.  I'm interested in an apology for a bigoted remark.  Nice the way you turned it around--we're just TOO sensitive.  And the French...well, screw 'em, I guess.

[Amerabrit]

well stated!