I FEEL SO ALONE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO . HELP!

[baby4cakes]

WELL I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HEPATITIS C WHEN I WAS PREGNANT 4 1/2 YRS AGO.I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR THIS BACK THEN BUT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WNEN YOUR PREGNANTSO AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN I HAD NO TIME HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THE BABY SHE CAME 1ST. WENT FOR MY YEARLY CHECK UP WITH MY MD.MY LIVER COUNT WAS UP. HE TOLD ME I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO GO AWAY AS I HOPED IT WOULD ((MAKE BELIVE WORLD I WAS IN )).HE GAVE ME THE NAME OF A DOCTOR TO GO.I DID GO HE GAVE ME ALL THE BLOOD TEST THE BAD NEWS AGAIN HEP C TOLD ME TO HAVE A BIOPSY DONE.PIECE OF CAKE THAT WAS.WENT BACK FOR THE NEWS I WAS GENOTYPE 4 AND I HAD SCARS ON MY LIVER.NO OTHER INFO WAS GIVEN OH HE DID TELL ME THAT GENOTYPE DOES NOT RESPONE WELL TO TREAMENT BUT TO COME BACK ON THE 29TH OF OCT TO START TREAMENT PEG-INTRON & REBOTOL 1200MG A DAY AND A SHOOT A WEEK.I WAS SO OVERWHELM I LEFT WITH NO OTHER INFONO ALT/AST/GGT/VIRAL LOAD.I KNOW NONE OF THIS I FEEL LIKE WAS JUST A NUMBERI DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.GO SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR?GO BACK TO HIM BEFOR THE 29TH AND GET MORE ??? INFO.I HAD TO HAVE THIS FOR ABOUT 25YRS I NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING I HAVE A DAUTHER THAT NEEDS ME VERY MUCH.

[Tallblonde]

I just wanted to say that I continue to be deeply touched by the kindess and compassion of this group.  

Susan

[Dirac]

I can understand what you are going through. I have the
same genotype and I did finish treatment one month ago.
I have been taking the same medicine and dose that were
prescriped to you. About the resopnse of genotype 4 please
read this article:
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/222676.htm
yes it has less response than types 2 and 3 but it
has a better response than genotype 1.
Any way I was undetectable at week 12, 24 and 48.
I am waiting now for the six monthes post treatment test.
I wish you the best of luck.

[tigerdream]

Don't feel alone, many of us going through the same fears, desperation, lonliness. I have not been on this website too long but from what I have seen, when you need answers, comfort, comradery, friendship, prayers or just someone to b*tch to, this is the place. When I feel alone in this fight I think of a story I was taught. -A woman in a village was devasted when she found her child dead. In desperation she ran into the street holding her childing crying "Who can help me?!! Why has this happened to me?!! Who can give me back my child!!?" She was sent by local monks to a great Lama (priest not beast!)She begged the lama to bring back her child, he said he would do this if she did one thing, to bring him a mustard seed. The woman turned for the door to get this and the Lama stopped her and said "But it must come from a house that no husband, wife, child, mother, father or sibling has died". The woman knocked on doors all day, many offered the seed, but no one had a house that had not suffered. The woman soon understood why the Lama had required this, and returned to the Lamas retreat, thanked him, and took her child home.-   I don't know if you get this but it has helped me to personally understand that we are all in this together, so please, don't feel alone. ~Tigerdream~

[baby4cakes]

I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE.SO YOU ALL THINK I SHOULD START TREATMENT ON THE 29TH BEING I'M GENOTYPE 4 IT'S RARE IN THE USA AND HARD TO TREAT.

[baby4cakes]

ALSO I FORGOT TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY LIVE CHAT ROOMS FOR THIS ??

[britgirl]

I don't belive it is true that genotype 4 responds badly to treatment. Although you have to do it for 48 weeks, your chances of cure are much better than for genotype 1.

[baby4cakes]

THAT'S WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID. GOT ME FEELING VERY DOWN ABOUT EVEN DOING TREATMENT.HE SAID 2 &3 DO WELL WITH THE TREATMENT 1 & 4 DO NOT.

[MajNeni]

Hi,
Sorry you're dealing with Hepatitis C, but welcome to this board.
Relax, this is a slow moving disease, and there's a lot you can do. You seem to have a good doctor (preferably a gastro-enterologist or hepatologist) to work with you. You're going to need this doc for a while, so make sure you have good communications. Good luck, and come back here with your questions and comments.
Here are a great bunch of web sites where you can get informed.
Don't go crazy: the information on these web sites should be the same, so read just enough.

Get the basics on the FAQ's of these general HCV sites:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/ (American Liver Foundation)
http://www.natap.org
http://www.hepnet.com/hepc.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
http://www.battlinghepc.com./
http://www.hepcassoc.org/links.html (many links)

http://www.themedicineprogram.com/info.html (helps pay for meds if you can

[dheana]

I am 1b and negativ after 3 month and 6 month. I belive I'll obtain a SVR after the end of treatment.
You are young and the treatment will go well

[dheana]

Don't be scared, try to think positively and you'll make it. I have genotype 1b which is  more harder to be cured and the results are good so far.
Keep in touch with us and start the treatment. Figures about ALT and other **** are doctor's business, don't care too much. Follow doctor's advice and the chance is there. Don't give up.
Dheana

[baby4cakes]

I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THERE IS HOPE I MESSED UP ON THE MED'S I'LL BE TAKING PEGASYS 180 ONCE A WEEK & REBETOL 1200MG A DAY. HOPE IT WORK'S AS WELL AS YOUR'S DID.

                        THANK YOU & GOD BLESS US ALL

[Revenire]

Sorry to hear you're so anxiety ridden but anxiety comes with the disease. Believe me, crooked pictures cause anxiety in me these days (week 39 out of 48 -- but I am PUSHING my doctor to let me go further -- I am a, WAS a, 1a that has been UNDETECTABLE since before week 12).

You need to get more details on your biopsy: stage for one. Press your doctor. Get copies of the biopsy report, get copies of your bloodwork. No matter how good our doctors are, or in your case, aren't (a guess), it is US that need to take charge of tx.

You're getting started on a long road and need to get ready for it. You give this damn disease your best fight, the most you can do and you beat it. Don't let some doctor tell you 1s & 4s can't win -- we've got plenty of 1s around there that BEAT it!! Sure, 2s & 3s are easier -- better odds, etc. SO WHAT?

Keep coming here, sound off, let your feelings out -- we're all going through this and we support each other.

Scott

[doll face]

Hang in there We have all been in your shoes at one time. I know it all seems overwhelming right now but on a good note the pegasys seems to have less side effects than the pegintron. At least for me I have been on both. Good luck to you an remember we are all here for you.

[baby4cakes]

I DON'T KNOW IF THE DOCTOR IS A BAD ONE. IT'S JUST I DID'NT KNOW WHAT TO ASK AND HE'S IN A OFFICE WITH 20 OTHER DOCTOR HE VERY BUSY ALL THE TIME.HE HAS HIS ASSISTANT COME IN 1ST SHE STARTS
TELLING ME ALL THIS STUFF I HAVE GENO 4 MILD CIRRHOSIS SCARING OF THE LIVER.BY THE TIME HE GETS TO ME I'M IN ANOTHER LAND FROM THIS NEWS.ALL HE SAID IS WE'LL START TREATMENT ON THE 29TH OF OCT. AND TYPE 4 DOSE NOT RESPOND AS WELL TO TREATMENT.OCT 29TH IS THE NEXT OPENING TO SHOW ME HOW TO TAKE IT.I WAS THINKING OF CALLING AND ASKING IF I COULD COME IN AND ASK ???? OR WAIT INTIL THE 29TH.WHAT DO YOU THINK ????

                              ROSE

[cindee]

hi i am a genotype 1a in 43 wks of treatment. have been undetectable since 3months....was told i had the dragon for @  least 20 to 30 yrs. viral load was waaaayyyyyyyy up there! so hang in there.....much love and prayers to you.p.s. this has helped me:              DON'T  QUIT
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low,and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, BUT DON'T YOU QUIT.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst'
THAT YOU MUST NOT QUIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Revenire]

Get a copy of the biopsy and post the results HERE and let all the folks around here look at it. It is too hard to tell any other way. If you don't feel good about doing that then ASK the doctor to sit down and explain the results, in terms non-medical people understand.

I don't want to say your doctor is a bad one and I realize they are busy people but he/she should have taken the time to explain your results.

I know this is a lot to take in BUT you have to settle down and realize that treatment can STOP the virus and HALT the damage to your liver. This disease is NOT a death sentence!

Feel free to ask ANYTHING at this forum: this is one of the kindest, smartest group of people I've ever met.

Take care,

Scott

[Revenire]

"MILD CIRRHOSIS" meaning what score? There are several stages of cirrhosis ...

The good news is if you respond to treatment the damage to your liver will stop. Plenty of people live with cirrhosis. Some studies even suggest that treatment can reverse cirrhosis, although I do not believe this has been proven.

I am glad you're going on Pegasys, everyone who has done both (almost everyone) says it is easier to tolerate. You will be taking a healthy dose of Ribavarin, which is good.

[ral]

Don't feel alone anymore there are people who will support you and help guide you on this site.

God Bless

Bob