i need to know how much chance i have on amount of peg im on

hi al just wonderin if any1 here who has had to be lowered on interferon been cured.i am on full dose of riba,6 per day
.i was on full dose of pegasys till wk 8 my wbc dropped so me doc dropped me down to 1.35mcg/0.5ml in stead of the 185mcg/0.5ml so iv been really down about my stupid white cells.

i am geno type 3a and only on 24wk tx liver ast alt normal,were a lil elevated b4 tx.doc cant give me drugs to help wit wbc cos in australia and they havnt approved it here.

pls any1 do u think it lowers my chances?

[jonney4141]

Hi there! yes I had to lower pegasys (same amount as you) and i am undetectable as genotype 1b, also had to lower my riba. I was scared too, but so far so good, just took shot 31 tonight. my blood has been low, but I have heard that that means the medicine is working, so that is a good thing. I am not a doctor, but can only share with you my experience.
good luck
jonney

[becksta29]

thank u so much 4 encouraging words

[Marcia2202]

I believe that one of the most important things is whether you were undetected at your 4 week PCR.

I was a 3a on full dose, but only cleared at week 8 and thus extended to 32 weeks of treatment.

[newleaf09]

I agree that it depends on being undetectable.  I was on 28 weeks and cleared very early.  I spent 2/3 of the entire TX on reduced dose interferon due to low platelets, sometimes dose was very low and always with full riba.  I was nervous about PCR's when the dose was first reduced, but they came back UD again and again and again.  After the first UD on reduced dose I stopped worrying it about it.  It should be fine and will keep you safer.

Don't reduce the riba; full dose is important.

[becksta29]

thanks 4 all input it really helps,the more people i hear that get lowered on peg and get clear the better,it gives me hope.

[nygirl7]

I think it is more important early on to be on full riba than peg.
Being a geno 3 it is important when you became UND - do you know when you did because if not perhaps being on lowered dose you might consider extending if possible as Marcia did.

3 can either be an easy geno or one of the hardest to get rid of...there is just no way to know which unfortunately.

[becksta29]

thanks for ur reply,i wish i had of researched tx b4 i started,this site has taught me so much.
i hav no idea when i became undetected i still dont know,i get my first viral load test when i finish tx.my doc told me nothing really,except how to take meds and that my liver didnt need biopsy cos lft was fine and he says that my lfts are looking gd still.
its to late for me to ever know what viral load was in first few wks,i only have 3 shots left,i just have to go on the unknown for another 6 months like i have on tx,it would have been real nice to know what was happenin back then but i had no idea what tests we were meant to get,i would have gladly paid for several tests to c viral load to ease my mind,but didnt know i could or what they were etc.
i have asked to go on tx for extra time cos of my low wbc etc but he doesnt seem to think it will help at all and has said i should be ok,i will stop at 24wks and i just hope i undetectable at wk 4.wish we had rescue drugs in australia for wbc cos i could have stayed on full dose,but we cant have it all,im lucky to be getting tx for first time for free,well under 100 anyway(which is why they dont do extra tests cos of money,i asked him last appt)i just wish he had of gave me the info and i would have paid the money for the tests.
has marcia finished her tx yet,hope it went well,do u know was she dropped to same as me?
i really appreciate any feedback as it worrys me constantly and i have had nothing but negative thoughts about getting rid of this cos of my lower dose.no matter what my doc says i need to read that people do get cured from lower doses.

[becksta29]

lol oops just realised marcia was in this thread,sorry im an air head,im so foggy it aint funny.so id say she still on tx.

[Isobella]

I'm a 1a and lowered my peg weeks 7 thru 11.  Altho when they told me to go to 135, I still did 150.  I was RVR and remain UND at 12 weeks post, so far.  I'll get my latest PCR results next week.

Marcia is done tx-ing and she is still UND also.  

SVR to all,

Isobella

[becksta29]

thank u

[becksta29]

to isobella and marcia,fantastic to c u have undetected still,hope it stays that way,keep us posted hey,thanks soooo much,its so soothing to me