Aa
hepc genotype 1
I am seeking information about viral loads. I have a viral load just under 8 million. With syptoms. I am going to be seeing a specialist in March 2015. What i want to know is why does this virus load matter,and why does it cause severe nausea/vomitting. Pain and inflamation also? Also is a gastroenterologist the best doctor for me? Thanks any advice is apprecated. I have not had a biopsy to date. None of my doctors havee ever ordered one and that really concerns me as i know from blood test my liver functioning test is 60 now.
Yes VL does have a huge part to play and taxes the organs of the body. I take what the docs say with a grain of salt. They don't have the disease.
All my numbers are in range which is unheard of for me. My platelets are still lower than I want but I'm hanging onto this miracle. My numbers haven't been in range in years.
All my numbers are in range which is unheard of for me. My platelets are still lower than I want but I'm hanging onto this miracle. My numbers haven't been in range in years.
You would have to be clear of this virus to KNOW that it does, did, will kick your butt if you have it as a high load. You will see the difference when you have No load. We are all test tube babies here so being virus free from the new miracle drugs is the only way you can compare it. We tend to get used to what that parasite did (does) to us. We make excuses like "overworked" "getting older" "ate the wrong thing" on and on. But it does kick butt. It makes the liver, portal, and spleen do battle and that isn't fun. Altogether comes the symptoms. I'm not going to feel safe until I have been rid of this parasite for a year so I tend to not be so quick to say anything but so far so good. But hey I haven't felt this strong in several years. Right now it's day to day. We'll see the over-all outcome as time passes more. No one knows. But killing this awful virus is key to getting a better quality of life even with late stage damage. I'm still leary of it coming back. In time I'll feel more confident. There are places I have read that up to a year is iffy and after a year one can consider it "gone for good".
I hope everyone kicks this virus for good. No one should have to wait for the treatment. No one.
I hope everyone kicks this virus for good. No one should have to wait for the treatment. No one.
My viral load when I started treatment was 57. I was also diagnosed at the same time with Cirrhosis.
Viral Load is not indicative of Liver Health as everyone has stated.
.....Kim
Viral Load is not indicative of Liver Health as everyone has stated.
.....Kim
can-do-man was correct "Ones viral load means nothing until one begins treatment and does not cause any symptoms." BEFORE TX means nothing except under 6 Mil then with caution tx neive GT1 without cirrhosis with doctor approval could take Harvoni for 8 weeks.
Of course when you start treatment with the new drugs the viral load will go down for most and becomes undected by week 4 some not till a few weeks later.
Also the AST and ALT will become normal within a week or two for most but may take longer for some . There maybe exceptions for a few if they have other medical problem.
This means the meds are working.
The only reason for most patients for a viral load test during tx is to confirm they are taking their meds and boost their spirits when they hear "undeundetected." There isn't even a real need now for EOT vl test for most 99+% will be still undetected. Some don't even get a 4 week post vl test. More important is cbc liver etc bood work at least a couple times during tx or more depending on tx and results.
At EOT my PA said they will do blood work 6 weeks post and then 12 weeks post with vl. For peace of mind I asked for a vl at 6 weeks post. If you are undected at 4 weeks then like high 90's percent SVR at 12 weeks. I was GT2 SOL/RBV . unfortunately another member here with same GT2 and tx was undected at 4 weeks but relapsed at 12 weeks. If you wait till 6 weeks then it's 99% that you will be SVR at 12 like I was.
Let's hope all on treatment will achieve SVR with as less as possible side effects.
Of course when you start treatment with the new drugs the viral load will go down for most and becomes undected by week 4 some not till a few weeks later.
Also the AST and ALT will become normal within a week or two for most but may take longer for some . There maybe exceptions for a few if they have other medical problem.
This means the meds are working.
The only reason for most patients for a viral load test during tx is to confirm they are taking their meds and boost their spirits when they hear "undeundetected." There isn't even a real need now for EOT vl test for most 99+% will be still undetected. Some don't even get a 4 week post vl test. More important is cbc liver etc bood work at least a couple times during tx or more depending on tx and results.
At EOT my PA said they will do blood work 6 weeks post and then 12 weeks post with vl. For peace of mind I asked for a vl at 6 weeks post. If you are undected at 4 weeks then like high 90's percent SVR at 12 weeks. I was GT2 SOL/RBV . unfortunately another member here with same GT2 and tx was undected at 4 weeks but relapsed at 12 weeks. If you wait till 6 weeks then it's 99% that you will be SVR at 12 like I was.
Let's hope all on treatment will achieve SVR with as less as possible side effects.
Hi
Because just like mine the virus is not there or at least at very reduced levels therefore not harming your liver and causing injury. I had numbers consistently just above normal since 1990 but on treatment they have also like yours returned to normal range ALT 26 AST 23 but before treating they were ALT 78 and AST 54 but my numbers have been like that for 25 years. And I was diagnosed with cirrhosis in Jan 2008.
Just that liver function tests do not correlate with extent of liver damage.
For example say you had an acute liver viral attack from hepatitis A you would have very high ALT and AST levels in the hundreds but once the acute infection resolves you would have very little if any liver damage. But say with us chronic hep c patients we have a slight but constant attack over many years eventually scarring occurs and significant liver damage even though the numbers were only just barely above normal or even just the high end of normal. But over decades of steady attack liver damage may occur.
Because just like mine the virus is not there or at least at very reduced levels therefore not harming your liver and causing injury. I had numbers consistently just above normal since 1990 but on treatment they have also like yours returned to normal range ALT 26 AST 23 but before treating they were ALT 78 and AST 54 but my numbers have been like that for 25 years. And I was diagnosed with cirrhosis in Jan 2008.
Just that liver function tests do not correlate with extent of liver damage.
For example say you had an acute liver viral attack from hepatitis A you would have very high ALT and AST levels in the hundreds but once the acute infection resolves you would have very little if any liver damage. But say with us chronic hep c patients we have a slight but constant attack over many years eventually scarring occurs and significant liver damage even though the numbers were only just barely above normal or even just the high end of normal. But over decades of steady attack liver damage may occur.
Haven't' experienced all of your burdens but i think viral load DEFINITIVELY played a part in IT!!!!!!
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/c-hcv-viral-load
Am I Getting Sicker if My Viral Load Is Rising?
Dr. Anania: Not necessarily. With HCV, viral burden in hepatitis C does not necessarily predict the natural history of clinical disease. And therefore, patients need to understand that we use that measurement to help us guide therapy and response to therapy. We use it in conjunction with other types of laboratory data -- liver enzymes, liver biopsies sometimes, and viral genotype. Taken all together, these tests give us a snapshot of what is going on. But viral load numbers themselves do not predict disease.
Dr. Pearlman: Unlike HIV, HCV viral copies do not directly affect a patient's prognosis and how fast disease is progressing in the liver. Remember, we are measuring blood levels, not what is happening in liver cells. HIV viral load does have a lot to do with quicker progression to AIDS. But HCV viral load does not tell you how fast hepatitis is progressing.
I think viral load has HELL of a lot to do with hep-c When i had my hep-c v/l checked in Dec 2014 it was 18 million my ALT's & AST in the HIGH HUNDREDS (My liver panel in general was ALLL OUT of RANGE!!!!) After 2 weeks on Harvoni my v/L dropped to 340 THREE HUNDRED FORTY and my ALT 41 AST 24 Once my V/L dropped all my liver test are now in normal range.... The Hep-c viral load keeps you liver INFLAMED!!
Things are much better now for Hep C. I had a viral load of 10 million and am also 1A. I treated for 12 weeks with Solvaldi/Olysio and now it has been 12 weeks since the end of that treatment. I took my "12 week after" test for viral load this past week and I am still undetected.... since week 2 of starting treatment!! Yippee. So get your doctor headed in that direction and talk to the drug companies for help obtaining the treatment, and you will be surprised how easy it is to treat and get rid of this terrible virus! Good Luck to you!
Hi there....yes those are symptoms of HCV. I had your same symptoms for many years as my LFT's rose. Very uncomfortable, wishing you the best
Peace
Deb
The OP knows his viral load and is atributing all his symptoms to Hep c which may or may not be the case is all.
As we are afflicted with hep c there is a tendence to thing all our symptoms are from hep c. In your case that seems to have been the case.
Congrats on clearing the virus and feeling so much better than you did.
I dont think were we saying hep c doesn't have symptoms just that if you have symptoms they may not be from hep c
Best to you
Lynn
As we are afflicted with hep c there is a tendence to thing all our symptoms are from hep c. In your case that seems to have been the case.
Congrats on clearing the virus and feeling so much better than you did.
I dont think were we saying hep c doesn't have symptoms just that if you have symptoms they may not be from hep c
Best to you
Lynn
I beg to differ. I had a viral load over 6mm. Upon being rid of this virus so far I have not had nausea, vomiting, vertigo, extreme exhaustion, Liver/spleen inflammation, jaundice, hair falling out, skin issues, bloody nose, wasting, no appetite, colonic issues, severe memory loss or any of the other symptoms and I have late stage liver disease. This virus kicks butt once it reaches a certain point. It doesn't live in a vacuum. It does battle heavily on the entire system. I no longer take the nausea meds or the nadalol. Now no swelling of the liver or spleen. Time will tell. This parasite eats away at your entire system. Heck I couldn't even lift my laptop with one hand. I can now. I eat with a good appetite and everything seems normal. So far so good. Even my hair has grown in shiny and thicker and I'm increasing in muscle mass. You aren't going to tell me that the virus has no symptoms. Nope.
Hi, I am sorry you are feeling so poorly. As the others have stated, your symptoms may or may not have anything to do with hepatitis C. Your viral load is good for two things. It tells you that you do have chronic hepatitis C and it is used to monitor whether treatment is working. Biopsy is not often required any more as the drugs are so much better at curing the disease than they were even 5 years ago. Doctors can get a pretty good idea from your physical exam and laboratory work if you have late stage disease. There are also other non-invasive tests that help with staging the disease such as fibroscan, fibrospect, etc. There are three specialties that commonly take care of hepatitis C patients. They are gastroenterologists, hepatologist and infectious disease docs. Unless you have a very complicated and late stage disease you likely do not need a hepatologist. Good luck on your road to cure.
I think that the Fibroscan is rapidly replacing biopsy. Good luck. Lots of people are being cured now with the new drugs.
I have never seen it as A1 only seen as 1a which is th e most common genotype in the US
April
How many weeks of Harvoni? Harvoni ir not usually used with ribavirin do you know why yor were prescriber Riba?
I am also taking Harvoni with ribavirin I started out on 24 weeks of Harvoni then asked my doctor about adding ribavirin which we did starting with week 10. So I had 9 weeks just Harvoni and will have 15 weeks of Harvoni Riba. I am a null responder to 3 interferon based treatment and have cirrhosis diagnosed in Jan 2008 I also relapsed after 12 weeks of Sovaldi Olysio so that is why in my case we are treating so agressively
Bet to all good luck on treatment
Lynn
April
How many weeks of Harvoni? Harvoni ir not usually used with ribavirin do you know why yor were prescriber Riba?
I am also taking Harvoni with ribavirin I started out on 24 weeks of Harvoni then asked my doctor about adding ribavirin which we did starting with week 10. So I had 9 weeks just Harvoni and will have 15 weeks of Harvoni Riba. I am a null responder to 3 interferon based treatment and have cirrhosis diagnosed in Jan 2008 I also relapsed after 12 weeks of Sovaldi Olysio so that is why in my case we are treating so agressively
Bet to all good luck on treatment
Lynn
new to this forum. my load is 7 million. am A1 also. started harvoni in mid jan with zero side effects. also take ribavirin twice daily, zero side effects. good luck dear
i was told its A1 i am trying to learn as much as i can. thanks so much for your help everyone.
Ones viral load means nothing until one begins treatment and does not cause any symptoms. A Hepatologist is best but if one has to go to a GI doctor be sure he has lots of experience treating Hep C and is up to date on these new treatments
Welcome here and wishing you he best.
Welcome here and wishing you he best.
Hi jblue and welcome to the forum,
Hepatitis c in itself at least initially has few symptoms for most which is why it is called by some the silent killer meaning that by the time it has advanced enough, damage may have occured to produce symptoms due to liver damage.
I am NOT saying the symptoms you are having are due to advanced liver disease they could have a number of causes.
Normally nausea and vomiting are not sumptoms of hep c. Most commonly reported symptoms are tiredness and maybe body and joint aches.
Yes a gastroenterologist is best equiped to diagnose and treat hepatitis c and your other gastrointestional symptoms as well.
Viral load do not mean much except when treating to determine that treatment is working. Viral load and liver function tests mean little as to how much damage has occured.
People can have very high viral loads and little damage or low viral loads and more damage same for Liver function tests. Is that you ALT or AST? How are your bilirubin and platelet counts? Do you have any idea how long you may have had hep c? When were you diagnosed?
Do you know your Genotype? Could be somthing like 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b etc...
Your genotype will help your doctor to decide the best treatment for you.
Your symptoms may be entirely unrelated to hep c and liver disease. I am sure your specialist will have more testing done. Also an alternative to liver biopsy may be available in your area. It is called a fibroscan it is non invasive, requires no preperation, and can be done in the doctors office in 5-10 minuets.
Come back with any questions we will be glad to help as much as we can good luck
Lynn
Hepatitis c in itself at least initially has few symptoms for most which is why it is called by some the silent killer meaning that by the time it has advanced enough, damage may have occured to produce symptoms due to liver damage.
I am NOT saying the symptoms you are having are due to advanced liver disease they could have a number of causes.
Normally nausea and vomiting are not sumptoms of hep c. Most commonly reported symptoms are tiredness and maybe body and joint aches.
Yes a gastroenterologist is best equiped to diagnose and treat hepatitis c and your other gastrointestional symptoms as well.
Viral load do not mean much except when treating to determine that treatment is working. Viral load and liver function tests mean little as to how much damage has occured.
People can have very high viral loads and little damage or low viral loads and more damage same for Liver function tests. Is that you ALT or AST? How are your bilirubin and platelet counts? Do you have any idea how long you may have had hep c? When were you diagnosed?
Do you know your Genotype? Could be somthing like 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b etc...
Your genotype will help your doctor to decide the best treatment for you.
Your symptoms may be entirely unrelated to hep c and liver disease. I am sure your specialist will have more testing done. Also an alternative to liver biopsy may be available in your area. It is called a fibroscan it is non invasive, requires no preperation, and can be done in the doctors office in 5-10 minuets.
Come back with any questions we will be glad to help as much as we can good luck
Lynn
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