To add to what other posters have said.Being over weight with HCV increases your risks of diabetes,fatty liver,heart diseases.If you can try to lose weight before starting treatment it will increase your chances of having a successful treatment.
Thanks for all the posts. Its nice to have a community to discuss this. I am married and me and my husband have said a word on the subject since I got diagnosed. He knows he needs to get tested but wants me to have all the facts at one time and then give them to him. We are opposites I need to know he doesn't want to know. Will let you know how the Dr. goes tomorrow. Just in the few responses I feel less alone. Thank you all so much.
I saw one of your earlier posts and I can imagine how overwhelmed you must be since you just found out you have Hepatitis C. Once you find out your genotype and the state of fibrosis you are you might have an idea how to plan. In many cases Hepatitis C is asymptomatic so going by how you feel might not be the most reliable treatment indicator.
In the short run be sure to obtain copies of all your lab tests from now on. I do remember getting tested for Hepatitis A & B and getting vaccinated for both of those conditions.
http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_immunizations/article.htm
Hi,
To your question "Do most people start treatment right away?"
From what has been posted plus my intuition on the question, the most common answer may be the condition of one's liver. If it is at stage 3 or 4 for inflammation and or fibrosis. Then there is an urgency because the liver doesn't regenerate as quickly in these later stages. If however, the liver damage is minimal and in the early stages then one may choose to wait for the new and improved treatments that are in the pipeline.
Surely some more experienced people will have more to say about this. But, they may ask you to provide some more details about your condition.
I too am a bit on the heavy side. Don't have much of an appetite
since starting tx.
I think is important that you know what is the level of damage on your liver. There are people who are asymptomatic yet have cirrhosis.
Maybe a first step will have to determine through a biopsy where you are at and then consider your options again
When to treat depends on many factors, one of which is your stage of liver damage. Have you had a liver biopsy?
Advocate1955