Results of 12 week TX for geno 2b

I have gotten the results of my 6-month PCR today.  HCV undetectable at < 2m/u, ALT 31, fibrosure 1 fibrosis 0 inflammation, all other tests normal.
For those who are new, I started tx in mid-June 2005 w/ vl of 1.3 million, geno 2b, fibrosure 2 fibrosis 1 inflammation.  Contracted the hep thru blood products at some date between 1968 and 1992.
Undetectable at week 4, did 8 more weeks pegintron & 1200 riba.  6 week PCR was negative, ALT was 39.
Apparently I am cured.  
Hope everyone is well.
DJL

[Dale_Ray]

YYYYYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is perfect news and there has been so much good news lately that it keeps my spirits and hopes up. Congrats on (I think beamish calls it} slaying the dragon. Dale

[anise]

That is wonderful!  SVR!  

I have a question?  If you are a 2b why didn't you do pegasys and 800 riba?  Is the sequence you did better for SVR?  I am a 2b and taking 180 Pegasys and 800 Riba for 24 months.  Would my chances be better if I took what you took?

[jmjm530]

You just big a real big smile on my face! I can't tell you how  happy I am for you! You stuck to your guns (pun, eh)with the short course and it worked! Good for you! BTW, when you get a chance, you might want to visit a thread a few down by "Amommy" who is asking about the short-course treatment. Maybe you can give her a little insight or encouragment. You ze man.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

I'm glad the decision paid off for you.  I hope Amommy reads your post.

[GoofyDad]

Great news! As I recall, you were hitting a point where you though tx would start to have a bigger impact on your professional life. It's so important to keep an eye on the cost/benefit equation. Your's is an inspirational story. Thanks.

[Forseegood]

hey, that's great! sure helps inspire those of us who are hanging back, great news!

[rifleman]

I took the medication they prescribed for me. My doc does weight-based riba.  Would that work better for you?  Dunno.  I'm not a doctor.  Well, actually, I am a doctor, but I'm not a medical doctor.  My understanding is that 12 weeks is NOT recommended with pegasys.  Rather, 16 weeks.  You also have to understand that you will second-guess yourself post-tx if you do less than 24 weeks.  Some people don't cope with that kind of stress too well.  Still, I am living proof that it can work, and that is better than some Italian abstract in a medical journal.
One thing that is nice is that once the virus is gone and you have a couple months tx-free under your belt is that you cannot sense your liver anymore.  No RUQ discomfort, no back aches in that area, and no feeling it when you bend over to tie your shoes.
Anise, I sencerely hope you are doing 12 WEEKS of tx rather than 12 months, as you posted.  It is kind of funny reading stuff written by people on ribavarin.
Looks like Mr. Liver & Mssrs. Anhueser and Busch have a date this weekend.
DJL

[cuteus]

yes, you are cured! HCV is history. SO far, the RVRs that have checked in and gone for less time, have done well. Very encouraging indeed!

anise; there are only two studies out there on the short tx, one says 12 and used pegintron, the other was 16 wks and used Pegasys. This should not be taken to mean that one is stronger than the other and needed less time. Remember, there are only two studies to date.
You will find studies that will tell you there is no difference in the efficacy of the two pegylated INF out there. One dr will tell you they prefer one while another will prefer the other and others don't care which one you use.
If you do a web search on short tx, you will see that they based it on a negative PCR at wk 4 of tx. If you did not get one, or won't get one, you are taking a chance with short tx.

[wonderingwhen]

Good for you! It has been so long since I have had a date with Miss Busch I think I forgot what it's like. And that is Busch with a C.  

Congratulations!

[Tonyz]

Now that is some great news. You can now put hep_c behind you and go forth with you new life.

  <font size="9" color="red">Congratulations</font>


       TonyZ

[GoofyDad]

To add to Cuteus' comments - no short tx studies have been published with 800 riba, to my knowledge.

[anise]

Rifleman, I did mean to write 24 weeks :)  It sounds like an interesting treatment you did.  And congratulations on your success.  Looks like it might be used for further studies.

Cuteus,  thank for the information, I will look into it the studies you mentioned.

Question:  since this is my third shot, (and the honeymoom is over).  I am having some reactions.  Besides the panic attacks and severe dizziness, I am very nauseous, and have already 'upchucked' water and coffee this morning.  Does anyone have a solution for nausea?  My concern is that I will be 'tossing' my riba pills.  I guess I could always retrieve them and wash them off and re-swallow.  Something, I am not really looking forward to.  

Has anyone have this problem and resolved it?

[friole]

Thanks for posting the good news.  I am certainly glad the short tx worked for you.  Say hi to Bud for me.
frijole

[cuteus]

EWWWWWW! I guess you could, since it is your own body fluids, but ewww!
Ginger seems to help some. I always found a spoonful of plain or vanilla yogurt very soothing.

goofy might be able to link you to the studies, looks like you are still on time for the 4 wk mark, and I had forgotten about the riba dosage. TY

[anise]

Yeh, I am sure not looking forward to re-swallowing, but those little pills are expensive and I want to make sure I get them in my system.  I forgot to mention that I some ginger I had taken with the water and coffee, went with them down the toilet.

Any help on this would be appreciated.  Riba on its own is rather hard on the stomach.  Whew!

[rifleman]

I finished tx on Sept. 3, 2005.  Had one beer at a friend's wedding on October 6th.  After that, I would have one bottle of brown ale on Friday evenings.  Around Christmas, I drank 6 or so beers at a party.  On New Years, rum.  After that, I still had an ale or 2 on Friday nights and maybe a 6'er on Sat or Sun. Didn't seem to affect the SVR any.  I seriously doubt that reasonable alcohol consumption can make a virus come back once it is gone.  Life is to short to worry about that.
DJL

[rifleman]

There is an interesting philosophy regarding the different genotypes that I discussed with some medical types that I know.  Don't know if it holds water, but it does seem logical.
The thought is that genotype 2 is the pure strain of hep c, sort of like in the movie Blade ("I was BORN a vampire. . . you were merely turned").  Hep C is thought to have originated in Indochina. Genotype 1 may be the result of mutations that make it tougher to kill than geno 2.  Here is the gist. . . I get infected with geno 2 and my immune system is unable to suppress it, based on the natural elusiveness of the virus.  I pass the virus on to you and your immune system has a go at it to no avail.  You pass it on to person 3 and the same thing happens.  Each time the virus is spread to another person and not cleared, it is subjected to yet another immune response and in turn becomes more difficult to treat.
DJL

[Forseegood]

very interesting...I have heard that the virus mutated from B in Vietnam during the French occupation...

[amommy]

Congratulations!  Thank you so much for posting this.  I am struggling right now with how long to treat.  geno2 clear at week4, but not weight based riba.  Anyway, this encouragement is fantastic!  Congrats to you!  Now go celebrate! :)

[anise]

Just lost the post, Harmph.  Thanks for the ginger idea of taking it everyday as it might be cumulative.  I am going to go out and buy real ginger and put it in hot water.  Should work.

[mikesimon]

Congratulations!!!!! Great news. Mike

[NYgirl]

Rifleman - couldn't get better news UND AND such a GREAT improvement in the LIVER!  uyayayayayayayayayayaya.  What a wonderful report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amommmy - I have to go back and look because I can't remember what geno you are but...pretty much I am one who believes in following the letter of the law when it comes to treatment - not really too worried about the Riba either way honestly (although I do take more than necessary LOL) just because years ago people were able to clear with JUST the interferon and adding even 800 Riba on board has to be better than that.  I believe the studies say the Riba is MOST important in the first 12 weeks...but it's not the NUMBER of pills you take but how much they GET into your system you know?  That seems to be the key to me.

i was NOT undetectible (419 left) at week 12. If I am clear at 24 I will treat for the recommended 36 weeks on top (making it a 60 week treatment minimum) at LEAST. I want to make sure I get them all.

If I am not clear then I'll switch over to Infergen and start all over. Magnum doesn't seem to have to great a time of it it's so much harder although a GREAT chance at clearing - so I am hoping I just have to do the 60 LOL

[NYgirl]

I am struggling right now with how long to treat. geno2 clear at week4, but not weight based riba.


OK aren't you supposed to do 24?  You don't want to do more than that or are you looking for a shorter course?  I honestly think the longer you take it yeah it's not great for us but the better chance maybe of killing them all so you never have to do it again.

JUST my opinion.

[rifleman]

Check on this with your doc, but I don't imagine that the amount of Riba you take daily makes a difference.  Perhaps 800 is the right dosage for your weight.  I got 1200 b/c I was (and am) 6', 200 lbs.
The key was undetectable at week 4.  Again, with the Pegasys they will probably want you to go 16 weeks.
I recall that the standard protocol was to go twice as long (after clearing) with tx as it takes to clear the virus.
To put it simply, you have undetectable HCV in your system as of week 4.  You may have cleared a week after taking your first shot.  What you are doing now is saturating your system with interferon and ribavarin in order to wipe out any stray viruses that may be trying to hide.  Sort of a mopping-up operation.
At 12 weeks I was used to the sides and they were not bad, but I knew that they would get worse.  The lowest that my HgB got was 12.1.  Also, my doc told me that the 12 weeks tx was what he would do if it were him instead of me.
I will say one thing, though.  If I had relapsed I would have waited for the newer drugs to come out.  The peg and riba is a terrible experience, as we all know, and it can produce serious side effects.  The less time you are on it the better.
DJL

[sunspot]

Great to hear from you and with such good news. I'm so glad it worked for you. I was wodering how you were doing.
P.S. I finished 48 wks tx and I will have my first post tx PCR on April 1.

Best to you, Dana

[roxxiroo]

Besides adding ginger to my diet, I had to stop coffee or anything very acidic. I love vinegar dressings, but I have to avoid them. I find that the excess acid from coffee, tomatoes and the product they are in such as ketchup and pasta sauce, and anything with vinegar can make me nauseous, queasy, and dizzy.  For my caffeine I do drink a cup of quality tea. The first few weeks of treatment I could only drink a half cup, and now I can handle a full strong cup. Coffee will be a treat again some day. Hope you get better.

[NYgirl]

Oh you just listed MOST of my favorite things on that list.  No WONDER we lose weight on tx...it's no miracle it's that we give up all the things that are the best!!!!!!  :(

Ive been trying to drink tea as well but just CANT give up my morning coffee. It just stinks that we cant take antacids doesn't it?

Try fudge pops - they are my new Tums :)

[dyce]

Great news, I don't believe moderate alcohol comsumption will bring the virus back . If that were the case every1 that drinks would have hcv.
              Glad to see your svr, it gives us all hope.

Dyce

[roxxiroo]

I read about your love for fudge pops. I keep meaning to get some. Tea takes a while to love, but I almost like it as much as coffee. I wish I had lost a couple of pounds. I'm a few over from adding more fat to my diet. Oh well, after treatment I'll get back on track.

[Mister beagle bailey]

That is the kind of news I like to hear.  

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a 2B and going shot # 10 this Sunday.  I'm on Peg-intron and 800 riba @ day, viral load before tx was 318,000.  God I hope I have the luck you have.

         Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

Please don't toss the riba.  I went through the same thing and at one point thought I was having a heart attack because it had gotten so bad for almost 2 weeks and started to get pains in my chest.  I never told the DR till it got that bad, he gave me some meds for it and in 3 days I was fine.

Hang in there and tell your Dr. about the problem.
Please don't give up, when this happened to me I thought about stopping tx and after all the encouragement I recieved on the forum I'm glad I did stay with it.

                    Bob

[GoofyDad]

As far as I know, most US geno 2/3's are dosed with 800 mg because studies show that over 24 weeks that has comparable efficacy to the traditional weight based dosing seen in the treatment of geno 1's.

Other studies have shown that for RVRs, 12 weeks tx is comparable to 24 wks, using weight based riba.

I have not seen any data on 800 based riba over 12 or 16 weeks. Maybe 800 is as effective as weight based.

Heck, I don't even understand how riba works or the synergies of combining it with interferon therapy. So who knows?

[couchpotato]

I am absolutely thrilled for you. Being a FORMER geno-type 2 myself, I felt extremely lucky to only have done 24 weeks, but you my friend, have been given the brass ring. Enjoy that Bud, you deserve it!

Mattie

[Mister beagle bailey]

Goof I think you are right about the riba.  My weight went from 175 down to 152 and I'm on 800 riba.  Would you say that like weight base riba?  God I hope I do clear and wish I had the 4 week PCR.

      Bob

[anise]

Since I did throw up the coffee, you have a point in that I just might have to give it  up, sigh.  This stuff really messes with the system, doesn't it?

Mr. BB, emails are so hard to to be clear sometimes.  I realized you thought I meant I would have to 'toss my riba'.  What I really meant was I might 'vomit' my riba.  thereby losing it to the toilet, etc.  Since they are so expensive, I thought about retrieving and washing them to re-swallow.  As always I treasure your input.

[dodger1]

I had the same problem as you.  I went to the doctor and he told me to drink aloe gold.  It is aloe vera liquid.  IT WORKS!!  I drink every morning before I eat.  It holds down the nausa everyday.  I was vomitting every morning with my pills also.  I have not vomitted since I have been drinking that.  They also recommend it for chemo therapy patients for soothing there esphogus and stomach. Don't give up gets some aloe vera and drink up.  Take care Sheila....

[Mister beagle bailey]

Sorry, it's the brain fog as time goes on it gets worse. :) I have not been able to drink coffee since starting tx. It seems all I can have is 1 cup of tea in the morning and sometimes I don't even finish that.

      Bob

[anise]

Dodger1, what a great idea.  How much aloe vera do you drink before your 1st meal.  I know aloe vera has so many qualities, but didn't know it could harness vomitting.  I'll let you know how it does for me.

Mr. BB, yep, I think coffee is a gonner for me from now on :)

[anise]

Dodger1, what a great idea.  How much aloe vera do you drink before your 1st meal.  I know aloe vera has so many qualities, but didn't know it could harness vomitting.  I'll let you know how it does for me.

Mr. BB, yep, I think coffee is a gonner for me from now on :)