Still in pain 6 months later

[BronxRican007]

Hey All!

I hope that everyone is doing well these days. It's been a while since I posted. I've been busy looking for a job after I retired from the military in Jul.  About the same time I completed INF therapy and I took my last shot. On Friday I go in for my 6 month check-up. Things have been ok since July except that in Dec I went to the emergency room twice for gallstone flareups (common?). When they did a liver panel on me in the ER my AST and ALT levels were in normal range (goodnews).

Question whats the % of folks were don't reach SVR 6 months after TX?

I was undetectable at 24 and 48 weeks and started TX with a low viral load (379,000). Not that it matters but if I didn't clear the virus I'm not going back through TX again. I'll wait until something better comes along.

Combination therapy with VX950 looks promising; does anyone know how many more years before that drug is approved?

I'm getting ready to start a new job with a transportation company. How much do I let my employer know about my condition?
Do I have to report it during the company preemployment physical? (It's part of the background check)

I noticed some old-timers still posting on the boards---what a wild roller-coaster ride its been. I hope you guys are doing well.

Takr Care
br007

[bobbyullc]

many newbies with all the questions we asked.

[Kalio1]

Virtually every company who offers health benefits tests for Hep C now. It is a requirement from the ins. provider. They test enzymes, but specifically test for Hep C also. The govt. might be lagging in testing the population but insurance companies sure aren't.

[honey11]

Hi Bronx,,,Did you do a 3 month heptimax?  If so and you were clear,,,,then you should be out of the woods for your 6 month.  I still had lots of post sides at 6 months and was SVR,,,,it took more like over a year to start feeling like my oldself.

[friole]

Good to see you post.  I think you have it made -- especially with those normal liver enzymes.

I personally don't think you have to tell your new employer anything.    You are clear.  However, I am not sure that is true if you have to fill out paperwork for a new medical plan.  YOu must be honest on that.

Congrats on retiring from the military.  I really had no idea you were still in the service when you were txing.  I knew you went to the VA for treatment but that is all.

Re gallstones after tx.  I don't think it is related BUT I found myself drinking much much less water after tx was over, and I know that not drinking enough water is a common cause of gallstones.  Could that be related for you?

Good luck on the new job
frijole

[jmjm530]

They may not test for HCV if his enzymes are normal. That doesn't mean you shouldn't disclose, just that the onus could be on you, not the tests.

[Kalio1]

Sorry to hear you are in pain. I hope it improves soon. Best of luck on your 6 month PCR results! I remember what a tough battle you waged on tx. We are all rooting for your SVR.
Your testing for the job will likely include testing for HCV, you will show antibodies even if it turns out you have cleared the virus. I'd just tell them the truth, if you are SVR on the 6 month test, tell them you had this disease but you treated it and now are cured but you will always have antibodies just like other viruses (measles, etc).

If it turns out you are not SVR and are positive for the virus or have raised enzymes, they probably have a health policy in place as to how they deal with that situation. Maybe you could ask the company for their basic medical qualifying criteria? That might give you some answers. Are medical benefits part of your job benefits? That might be significant.

[jmjm530]

Just wonderful to see you checking in! Sorry about some of your post treatment issues. Hopefully they will resolve with time, and I assume you're seeing a specialist regarding the gallstones.

Regarding your questions and if I remember correctly you were genotype 1. It's hard to give odds since you waited until week 24 to test. That said, given your low viral load and the fact you were non-detectible when you did test, I think the chances of being SVR are a lot better than not.

Regarding Vertex -- we have a number of folks here now participating in the trials. Within the year we should have a pretty fair idea how this drug will do. If things go well, it should be on the market by 2009-2010 but may be available earlier in expanded trials, again depending on how things go.

Don't really have an answer to the job question but -- assuming you're non-detectible -- if they ask about current conditions, you can honestly say you do not have hep c, in other words no need to disclose. However, if they ask about past conditions, not disclosing could come back and bite you. A judgement call here on how much this job means to you, how deep you think they might check, if they will even care, and how long you think you'll be there. Of course, if you do disclose, make sure you write the words 'treated and cured' quite plainly.

Yeah, it's been a wild roller coaster ride, hasn't it. I was non-detectible at six months and am doing my 1 year test in another month or so.

All the best with your six month test and please come back and let us know how it went. I'm sure it will be good news, but in the event it isn't, the newer drugs do look promising and hopefully they will be a lot less of the roller coaster ride.

All the best,

-- Jim