hep c viral load

[sicknscared]

i have a viral load of 1030000. i know this is very high and i am very worried. does anyone know what the cut off point is for positive treatment reaction or am i so far gone that i am needing transplant or on top of liver failure?
what side affects should i look forward to good or bad while being treated for 48 weeks. please help me understand.

is a viral load of 1030000 even considered treatable?

[SixtiesSage]

SNS,
   Viral load means nothing as far as liver damage goes. Sometimes people with the lowest viral load have the worst liver damage. This is because there is not much liver left, and the virus just can't survive without it. Therefore the only way to tell is to have a biopsy. What they do is find a suitable place to stick a small pin into the liver. Then they take a "core sample" from the hole the pin made. Thats it! More scary than painful. After that, best to have a genotype test to then decide weather or not to treat. I have talked to people with viral loads 10 times what yours is and their biopsy showed almost no damage so don't be too scared about your situation!

[Pdilly]

Get a good Heptologist or Gastrointologist.  They will do a biopsy (really nothing to it and bring a good book).  That way there is no more guessing and all the cards are on the table. I deal knowing the facts myself better than playing the guessing game.  Good luck and keep in touch.

[honey11]

Hey Sick,,,,Yes treatable!  Mine was 8.5 mil and did tx and am SVR! The viral load fluctuates back and forth so don't put alot into that.

[mremeet]

That's not a high viral load, very average to low actually. If you were just maybe a 100,000 or so lower you'd be considered to have a low viral load. Plus as the others have stated, your VL doesn't mean a thing as far as being "too far gone". You can have a viral load 20-70 times higher than yours and have virtually no damage, or someone with even lower VL than yours can have cirrhosis. The only way to know where you stand is to get a biopsy and see where you're at. But don't be afraid in the meantime, HCV moves slow and usually takes a long time to get to that point. Take it one step at a time and get yourself checked out. Then consider your options. Best of luck.

[mkeela]

This page may help you understand the viral loads, among other questions you may have. You actually have what is considered a low VL (under 2 million). Please follow the advice in the comments above, about a doc just for the Hep C and treatment (tx) and know that you are not alone in this. I wish there was something someone could say to ease your fears. Educating yourself should really help, and visiting and taking the support offered in these forums. Be well, and welcome to the forum.

http://www.janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm

[APKhaos]

My VL immediately before treatment was 27,500,000. Stage 3 liver damage. I have had HCV since 1974 [diagnosed and treated for acute HepA back then, but found out all those years later that I'm non-reactive for Hep A and B, so it was HCV right from the start!

[headsrtails]

Viral Load in eq/ml

Classification Remarks
below 200.000 very low/below detection limit of bDNA test

200,000-1,000,000 low  

1,000,000-5,000,000 medium
average viral load at 3,200,000 eq/ml

5,000,000-25,000,000 high  
above 25,000,000 very high  

[tulsatime]

Viral load goes up and down. It does not mean more damage. Only a biopsy can determine the damage to liver. My VL was 5 million last time I started treatment. 6 months after stopping treatment mine was 39 million. Then 6 months later was 2 million the start of this treatment. VL only is important to determine if treatment is working. Don't worry about your VL in fact that is low. Get a biopsy that way you can decide if you need treatment or can wait for better drugs coming out soon. Take care best of luck to you... Debi

[drk30]

my docs just called and said my genotype is 2b with a viral load is 1,580,000--i haven't had the biopsy yet--i am to see them in 2 weeks--what happens next?---i really don't know what to expect in the near future--

[m-l]

this may not be working anymore but these comments are really helpful when one has just started treatment to be told for the first time that viral load is over a million and v high plus knowing that am at stage 6 fibrosis.
keep positive comments going as these far more helpful in keeping moral up!
m-l

[hcv spooked]

Does anyone understand this Log value and viral load. Mine is 7 and I hear this is high. Something like 14 million? This is freaking me out.l

[merryBe]

viral load is only an indicator of how active the virus is, you could have little or no liver damage yet.
you will need a biopsy to know whether your liver is shot or very treatable.

a higher load may mean you've had the virus longer, it may mean you'll need treatment a little longer, 76 wks, vs. 48.

But it doesn't mean you aren't treatable, or shouldn't treat. the best indicator of success is your log drop when you begin treatment.If you reach a 2 log drop in the first 12 weeks, it means the treatment is succeeding in killing your virus. for you, a 2 log drop would mean 140,000.
many people drop that much in 4 wks, but you are allowed 12 to reach that. If you don't it means you are not responding to the treatment. At which time you start praying for the next trial drug to become available.

you shouldn't be worrying, but do start getting lots of rest, water, no party night, no smoking, especially no pot, and no alcohol. Alcohol and pot increase fibrosis times 10.

here's a good site for viral loads:

http://www.janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm