hcv and liver damage

my husband has just tested pos for hcv.  his first dr's appt is in a couple of weeks, and we've been researching online to find as much info as we can.  what i can't seem to find is this: does having the virus automatically mean that there is liver damage?  is it possible to be infected and begin treatment before damage occurs?  i'd really appreciate any information anyone can give.  thanks!

[DreamAngel]

Your husband will need to have a Liver Biopsy, that is the only way to know if there is any damage, and to what extent. Hope this helps. Good Luck

[odessit]

>does having the virus automatically mean that there is liver damage?
No! HCV is very slow desease, sometimes it takes years for some damage to occur. You should ask your DR for a biopsy, that's the only way to tell liver condition.
>is it possible to be infected and begin treatment before damage occurs?
You would also need to find out Genotype and Viral Load. Based on the results, you would then decide if treatment is appropriate in your case.

[Revenire]

As DreamAngel and odessit stated (and everyone else will too), a biopsy is the only way that you will know where he stands with regard to the extent, if any, of liver damage.

Hopefully, he will have no damage and thus be able to treat with the best chances of a cure (or wait for the treatments out on the horizon that are more 'benign' than the current regimen). Even if he has damage it isn't a death sentence by any means. Treatment works! I'm not going to lie to you and say it works for every single patient but it works on a hell a lot of us -- as many around here will testify.

There are many resources on the internet regarding HCV (this is the one of the best message boards I've found -- mainly because the people here are going through treatment or have gone through it and can help out with almost any question).

If he drinks he should stop (meaning NO BOOZE) RIGHT AWAY until he finds out what's what with his liver. Someone said sometime back that alcohol is the 'Miracle Grow' for the virus.

You should also be tested. Sexual transmission of the virus is rare but possible (more than likely the danger in families lies in the sharing of razors and toothbrushes, accidental cuts, etc.).

Scott

[layla]

I've had HCV for probably 28 years and my biopsy showed almost no liver damage. Others do get liver damage and the rate of progression can be different for each person. Treatment is reported to work best if there is less viral load. My viral load was also very low. I am now doing treatment and it seems to be working. I'm on my 10th month of pegasys combo tx and for me it's not to bad, I work full time and keep a fairly normal life like before. Again it's different for everyone.  This is a very slow progressing disease most often so try not to freak out to much. I spent the first month crying and thinking the worse and now realize that was a waste of enery. People here are very helpful and  supportive. Hope to see you around, hubby too. LL

[satarina]

god, you guys are great.  thanks so much!  i feel much better now.  i've been as positive as i can be for my husband's sake, he's pretty worried.  we know he's had this at the most around two years.  he gave blood in '01, and everything was fine.  so, if this disease is very slow, hopefully this can be kicked with the treatment and everything will be fine.  he is a little concerned with the treatment, though.  the list of possible side effects from the peginterferon is intimidating.  have many of you had a lot of the serious side effects?

[dheana]

I never kneew how bad my liver is.
I have fibrosis 2/6 and inflamation (inflammation) 8/18. Can u tell me how bad is this?

[Revenire]

Side effects? Fatigue, brain fog (sort of like being 'not all there') and just wanting to be left alone have been the main ones for me. In addition I lost about 15-20 pounds, my hair thinned a bit, and I ache (like the flu). I've missed maybe 10-12 days of work and thanks to FMLA I've been able to (I have a mentally demanding job but was able to somehow 'suck it up' and perform). The roughest part of treatment has been the last month or so of it (I am on week 46 of 48 -- well 47 because I screwed up one of my first injections and used an extra bottle -- the doctor says it is fine to stop at 47). I just am worn out.

The thing to remember is that he won't get all of the side effects but he will get some. Nobody escapes some sides.

This disease is a waiting game: tests, 24 or 48 weeks of treatment, 3-6 month post-treatment tests, etc. A lot of anxiety is felt by the patient and by those close to them. That is natural.

[slarso]

Layla, As I just started treatment I am always looking for the bright stars. I too had minimal liver damage,1A, low ast/alt, <1M VC and have had the dragon for over 33 years. Although mild I close to treat now (I am 52) rather than face it, maybe , when I am older. I am glad to hear you are doing so wekk and it gives me great hope

Steve

[odessit]

You made me smile:)
45 or 46 years of age - does it really make a difference? Count it as 3:)

[hph5477]

Here's some stats my GIPA gave me before I started treatment.  Hope this will give you some info you may be looking for.

Cure of infection (sustained virological response)
Genotype 1:  42-46% (48 wks tx)
Type 2-3:  75-82% (24 wks tx)
  Predictors of good response:
     non-type 1 genotype
     < 5 yrs of infection
     no cirrhosis
     <2,000,000 copies/ml viral load (850,000 IU/ml)
     low iron liver stores
     <45 years old
Decrease risk of cirrhosis and associated complications
Decrease risk of liver cancer
Improve quality of life


15-20% clear the infection on their own
85% develop chronic infection (but die of something else)
6-20% develop cirrhosis
3% per year rate of liver cancer (liver transplant)

I have done 6 shots now and have had sx for 1/2 of them.  Sides usually only last a day (or less) with me but really wear me down during that time.  By the next day, I'm feeling pretty much back to normal.  Of course, I do tire much easier now due to the lower blood counts but that's to be expected.

Good luck with the doctor visit/consultation.  Hope all goes well for you both. I found that worried too much before I actually started treatment.....imagining all kinds of bad sides, etc.  It hasn't been near as bad for me in reality as I had imagined it would be.

[Is_This_Real?]

Predictors of good response:
non-type 1 genotype
< 5 yrs of infection
no cirrhosis
<2,000,000 copies/ml viral load (850,000 IU/ml)
low iron liver stores
<45 years old

Well, I've only got 2 of those six, but I'm gonna try it anyway.  The two predictors that I have are no cirrhosis and <45 years old.  The longer I wait those two will or may be gone also, so I figure my best chance is now.

Wish me luck.  First shot scheduled for the day after Christmas.

[hph5477]

I'm with you.  I'm 46, female, Type 1B, had it at least 10 years, 596,000 VL, no cirrhosis; so I am only hitting at 2 of the items as well.  But, I'm going for the full tx of 48 wks.  I'll do shot #7 this Friday.  That was just the data I had gotten from the dr's office.