Viral Load

[Mountain_Girl_2006]

I was just wondering with a viral load of over 7 million, if this is considerd very high or on the low end..my Husband was diagnosed with HebC about 2 month ago and was told that his viral load is over 7 million, but that his enzyme levels had stabilized..He has to stop drinking all together (Which he is), has to stay sobber for one year before they will determine whether or not he needs treatment. Is this the usual approach? We understand if he doesn't stop drinking this could end up being fatal, while of he does stop and stays sobber he should be able to live a full life. He is only 40 and I plan on keeping him around for quit some time. They doctors told us that they won't be able to get a clear picture of what kind of damage there is and how bad until he is sobber and they can redo the viral load and possible biopsy. Has anyone here been thru the getting sobber and biopsy? If so was the outcome promissing after stop drinking? Any information and help would be greatly appreciated. We have 3 kids to raise and a new one on the way, so i certainly can use any help on this in what i might have to expect thru out all this, especially if it comes to having to have treatment in a year. I hear it is a killer on the body,mind and soul and the loved ones around him.

[NYgirl]

Kal - I was sober only a little while before I started - or was diagnosed.  Anniversary January 18th, 2004  :)  Started treatment Sept., 2005   I have to say if ever there was a time I wanted to drink /get high diagnosis day was one of them...but it passed of course and I didn't.



52Tele

For all intents and purposes it's two separate things really because although they are both Genotype ONE - it's two completely different strains of the virus two different subtypes.  So it's like having two different kinds in that respect but they are both a one.

My luck right!  Of course!!!  ;)  There are a couple of us combo people in here - it's very difficult to kill but...we ain't giving up and there have been cures...we just have to be more stubborn then most :)

PS I don't mind you can ask me whatever you want to guys nothing is really sacred anymore as far as things like this goes :)

[cuteus]

I would not wait a yr to get a biopsy, please question that suggestion. He needs to know how much damage there is as soon as he can.


52- a person can be co infected with more than one genotype in any combination possible. The person can have both variants of the same genotype or different genotypes altogether.

[MrsOckert]

You asked what to expect thru this.  Usually a biopsy is done first to determine the amount of damage to the liver.  I do agree with others here that waiting a year for a biopsy seems a little strange.  However, many doctors will make someone wait a year for tx if alcoholism is an issue.  

If you both do decide to treat then yes, treatment can be very difficult for both your husband and the family.  There are lots of websites you can go to that list various side effects from tx.  Make sure you know what all of them can be going into tx.  Then realize that not everyone gets every side effect.  And some people don't have many sides effects at all.  Most likely he will feel like **** most days.

Most people are able to continue working.  I don't say they want to...but they are able.  

The goal at the end is getting rid of the virus (hopefully) and preventing cirrosis (sp?) and/or liver cancer and/or needing a liver transplant.

Hep C is not a death sentence and more people die with Hep C than from it.  Good luck to you both and keep us posted.  If you have any other questions there are lots of answers/opinions here!  LOL   Valorie

[returntosender]

As a recovering drug addict and alcoholic I can say with some certainty, since I have done it myself on a number of occasions - that people like us tend to choose good news rather than bad as an occasion to drink.  Although bad news has worked for me too.  I have managed to walk past the open windows though for about 20 years now so anything is possible.  I did have some help from my bad liver that really made drinking less enjoyable - damn hepatitis! LOL

mg - The difference between having hepatitis c and drinking while having hepatitis c? One of those two choices kills you and the other inconveniences you.  IMHO.

[jmjm530]

Non dectectible by Quantitative Heptimax TMA (<5 IU/ml) and by RNA Qualitative TMA (aka Bayer Versant)(<10 IU/ml). Tests taken six weeks after last shot and five weeks after last riba. Recent discussions regarding Heptimax was the reason for the two TMA's, which could be construed as redundant, but each is performed using a different technology. These results are a BIG relief but won't be popping any corks until the three and six-month post treatment results are in. This has been a stressful week waiting so hopefully I'll be able to enjoy the weekend.

-- Jim

[Mountain_Girl_2006]

First of thanks to everyone and their responses..second, the reason they make him wait is the fact that he is an alcoholic..he has been drinking since he was 15..when i first met him (almost 3years ago) his choice of drink at 4am was vodka instead of water..by time we found out he was down to a six pack of beer...no more hard liquor since february of '05 by his own choice..we found out in march of this year my test results for life insurance..once we knew and the doc. told him he had to quit he started to cut back..all of march he had 2 Tallboys (equal to 4 little cans) versus 3 Tall boys...for this month now he has been only drinking one Tallboy and starting after this weekend he will be done all together...the doctors felt given his history and the fact that he had already brought him self down from all the hard stuff that the stepdown approach would be best for him to eliminate some of the side effects from stopping..so far he has been doing well considering..he has a few nights where he has trouble sleeping, has his moodness..(who wouldn't living with a pregnant woman...lol) but is still in full swing with work and everything else we're doing (like finishing to build our new house..the doctors said they don't believe he has cyrosis "YET" and think as long as he quits and stays that way he won't have to worry about...but they won't know for sure what other damage is there until he is sobber for a year and gets the biopsy..i'm just glad i found this forum, because i need to vent at times and have noone to turn to who can understand this...it is very hard for him to talk about this, but i know he is aware of what will happen if he doesn't quit...he told one of our closest friends that he had HebC and that it will kill him if he doesn't stop drinking..so i think that is the first step in the right direction to acknowledge the problem...I know it will be a long hard road ahead of us, but i also know he can do it and has plenty reasons to make it happen..especially the new baby on the way...so hopefully all the good things in our life will help him to have the willpower to make it....