Should I have a baby while waiting for new medicaitons?

[gigemags]

I am 37 and found out I have HCV while pregnant this past year. I am a b1 and stage 1 grade 1 on my biopsy (which I had while on maternity leave). I have a beautiful 5 month old daughter, however she is my only child and I planned on having another until my diagnosis. I told myself if my stage was a 2 or higher on the biopsy then I would start treatment in September, as my doctor recommended. While I am so grateful my biopsy results are "good," I am torn as to what decisions I should make.

I would really like my daughter to have a sibling. Part of me feels if I could have another baby in a year or so, then maybe the new medications will be available by the time that child is a little older. There are so many reasons to wait for the new medications - shorter/ more effective treatment, hopefully less long-term side effects. I have to work and feel my job would be more secure with a 6 month rocky road as opposed for a year. I know  all the reasons to start treatment soon (I have to wait until my FMLA kicks back in, so it would be next May before I could start), but 50/50 chance, according to my doctor, that treatment would work, lessen or reverse damage that has already been done, etc. Part of me feels selfish for wanting to put off treatment until the new medications come out. Part of me feels selfish for wanting another child, knowing that I have a potentially life threatening illness. The only known risk factor I have is a blood transfusion when I was days old. I have stopped any social drinking and have never touched drugs. My husband has M.S. and is in good shape, his meds work well for him.

I asked my doctor back in February if I could wait for new treatment options, he said he hadn't heard of anything coming available for Hep C. Should this be a red flag? When my biopsy results came back I had to call to get them and the nurse said there was a note on the paperwork saying I could wait. But at that time I was thinking of waiting until my daughter a year old so she could breastfeed. I know I cannot get pregnant when taking medication. I worry constantly about my health now, when I once took it for granted. I'm tired all the time but that could be because I have a baby. I know that no one can say if my disease will progress in the 3 years I may wait to start treatment. But has anyone decided to have a child and put off treatment to do this? If I started meds soon I would be approaching 40 by the time I clear the 6 month wait post treatment. Sorry, this is long. I am feeling very isolated and my husband doesn't understand why I am so worried over what to do. He thinks we should go ahead with another baby while waiting for new medication. Thanks for any insight, I have been reading this forum since I was diagnosed on July 22, 2008.

[JennyPenny]

My best advice is to have a baby first. With stage 1 disease you have time to wait for treatment. At age 37 if you treat first and then wait the required time before you can get pregnant, you will be 40ish and who knows if you will be facing fertility issues. New and better treatments will be available by 2011. Your doc is out of the loop. Find a new one. And have fun with your children.

[annieCinMD]

I agree with JennyPenny. You definitely want to wait for the new drugs. Those of us testing them in trials have had some pretty good results. I would really have to wonder if these drugs are all that good for our eggs. I'm 47 and really don't care if this throws me into menopause, but I would have concerns if I were 10 years younger. You are definitely tired because you have a baby! That is pretty much why I decided one kid was it for me. My sleep is way too important! I wouldn't worry too much about the disease progressing You've probably had it longer than I have (21-29 yrs) and you have the same numbers I do, Grade 1 Stage 1. It generally is very slow to progress. Good luck with the babies!

[meakea]

I agree with Jenny and Annie.  As long as your OB-GYN is on board with you then go ahead and have a baby and treat later...and because your liver is still in pretty good shape.

I do believe better treatment meds will be out in the next couple of years.  The newer meds will actually be a combination of the current meds (interferon and ribavirin) PLUS another medication that will act as a triple combination therapy and, as a bonus, this new treatment will most likely be taken for a much shorter duration than the current treatment regimen (24 weeks vs 48 weeks).

If it wasn't for the fact that I didn't find out about my Hep C until I was 53 years old, I would have waited for the newer meds but, being 53, I felt I needed to get it done before my general health and age became a factor against me.  

I gave birth to 3 children while I unknowingly had Hep C and all of them are now adults and all are negative for Hep C.  

[nygirl7]

he said he hadn't heard of anything coming available for Hep C

It doesn't sound like your doc really is up to date on hepC really as there are several new drugs currently in trial stages that we are hoping to have out soon. Of course, there is no guarantee but they are extremely promising and a few look pretty possible.

I gave birth to two children while positive but I didn't know, I was lucky.  There have been people in here who have contracted it while children but you know that is very rare (I believe a 3% chance is the number?).

As stage 1 you do have plenty of time hopefully to wait for the new drugs to come out - just make sure you monitor your situation closely.

Seriously think of finding a new doc though - one who reads the journals and latest studies and has a slight clue about what is going on in the world of hepC, this doc sounds like he learned about it long ago and still thinks that info is up to date but it's not!

[wtgb]

I  was in your same situation and had all of your concerns.  I contracted hep c as a health care worker.  I was 33 y/o when I was diagnosed, a couple of months before I was getting married.  I was healthy and had essentially no symptoms with very mild disease. My docs were very supportive of my decision to move forward and have children and wait for a possble better treatment in the future.  I had my first son at 37 and my second son at 38, I am now 43 and considering treatment.  from the beginning of my quest for how to manage my disease (1999) to now there have been many new advances in a short time.  I am in favor with having your family first and then persue treatment.  Good luck
626mm