need urgent advise!

[nency]

I am 30, generaly healthy, and I have hep c 1b, VL   max 250, AST, ALT normal, biopsy first stage fibrosis, my doctor insist on starting Tx, I have drugs at home now, but I am scarred to start!
Please give me advise!

[sunspot]

You have drugs in the fridge and an exam in 4 days. Waiting a week to start tx might be a good idea. Lots of folks here had flu like reactions on first shot day.
Best of luck with whatever your choice is.

[nygirl7]

As we aren't doctors in here and we DONT know all the reasons that your doctor is insistent that you start treatment right now - I would pay attention to what HE has told you to do.  We just sit here and guess at stuff...you have to understand that. NONE of us are educated physicians who take lots of different factors into play.  We just hear what you say.

Don't be afraid of treatment though. I am a big fat baby when it comes to needles and pain and the thought of giving myself the "flu" every week.  I found that it wasn't any fun but it was doable for sure. I did 72 weeks - asked to extend my own treatment to gt better odds and my sides were horrific, really on the bad spectrum side. If I could do it - you can too!

Why live with this disease any longer than you have to.  If your doctor says kill it now, kill it now.

[GrandmaA]

If I were you I would wait for the new meds and a good hepatologist. I took Dr. Zhangs herbs for 3 years before treating. They stabilized me and got my alt/ast down, they stop the inflammation. If the inflammation is stopped the progression of the disease is also.  Maybe you can get in a clinical trial soon because you have never treated (treatment naive). Many on this forum are doing great in the trials for the new meds. Sometimes it can cut the tx time in half. I'm 65, genotype 1A and only treated once and finished 4 weeks ago. I started with a gastro and switched at week 11 when my viral load was 680 to Dr. Gish, an excellent hepatologist. I started with a viral load of 640,000.  I have been undetectable since week 13-15. I treated 51 weeks. I also took a couple of Dr. Zhangs herbs (with his permission) during tx to lessen the side effects. I'm feeling very good now. His website is sinomedresearch dot org .  Best wishes to you.
  

[zena49]

I WAS IN YOUR POSITION AT ONE TIME DX IN 01 FIRST TIME, SO WENT AHEAD AND DID TX I CLEARED BUT RELAPSED I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE MY FIRST DR. BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY CHOICE AT THE TIME SO I DID PEGINTERFERON/ RIVA FOR 6 MONTHS. FOUND OUT IT WAS BACK AT 11MON. WHEN I HAD SOME BLOOD WORK DONE, BUT I'M GETTING READY TO START AGAIN MONDAY 10-15. THIS TIME I'M DOING PEGASYS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BUT WOULD RATHER GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT NOW I'M 49 DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE LIVER FAILURE WHEN I'M 60 OR 70 IF I CAN HELP IT. GENO 3A STAGE1 GRADE 2. GOOD LUCK WHATEVER YOU DO.

[kcrandy]

i will tell you from my own experience that knowledge is a very powerful thing and from what i can gather from your threads you seem to be a smart person .  i like yourself was told in the 80's about my hep and like some have said in here was told not to worry to much .  you see back in the 80's there was not a lot of information about the different types of hepititis viruses so i didnt "worry" about it either!  not until my health started going south and the help of a very good doctor in the veterans administration i was later re-diagnosed with hec geno-type 1a  and the doc wanted to start treatment! i too went the internet for some investigating of my own and i found out about hep c and treatments side effects etc.  i found information that said that i could possibly go the remainder of my life and never have to get treatment, heck i found information that said i could even be one of the fortunate "15%" of those who have hepc never have problems with the virus.   and while i was out to justify why i could wait for treatment  later "if i need it"  my liver was being destroyed by this "very" baffling and cunning virus" so two years after the VA doc advice i went thru the  screening process to start tx and found out that my liver is stage 4 cirrosis and that i had only had two options wait for end stage kiver failure and possible transplant or get tx that does not or is not very good for someone  in my condition my odds were not to good.  i chose to get tx and i even received a second opinion as suggested in here and i started tx.  so far i have been beating the odds my viral count after 48 week
10-10-2007 is -0-.  the side effects you ask about are different for everyone are they bad side effects i believe attitude plays a big part.   frame of mind  and being surronded by a "good" support system will help any person make it thru the tx. i agree with many in here having all the information you can absorb and as fully informed as you can stand :o) we can make it  

which ever way you choose im sure all of us will be there for you pulling for you and spiritually pulling for you  either way  : 0 )

[debnevada]

we don't know what you'll feel day by day because, it's true.....every case is different.

we also do not know what other medical conditions you have or your current medical condition as we haven't seen your labs or anything like that and we are not docs

deb

[nency]

Honestly, I have done a lot of reading in regards to Hep C, but still not sure if I be lucky to stay with low viral load or will go the other way...,  I was very upset about diagnosis, especially in a beginning two years ago, because I even never tried  recreational drugs in my life, never done anything crazy, I do not drink, the only thing I do is trying to make my parents and friends happy and  be proud of me.
I have a good job and all.. and I have no idea how all these happened to me. I hope you understand and shear my feeling, I am very happy that you care for me  and responding.
I have arranged everything for treatment but after what you telling me I am  again back into doubts,
Thank you once again, please keep in touch, I need you
Please share with me what I am going to feel day by day during first month of Tx.

[jmjm530]

I ditto much of what Mre says, but in my first post I just wanted to get across what I thought to be a broader point -- and that is to get comfortable with any decision before you make it. And part of getting comfortable, is seeing a doctor you have confidence in. You say you have "spoken to other doctors". The sad fact is that most doctors don't have much of a clue about Hep C (or it's treatment) and many that do are around 2-3 behind the current studies, etc. I suggested you see a hepatologist because among other things they tend to be more current in thinking and studies. My personal opinion is the same as "Mremeet's, which is don't treat, wait. That said, a reasonable case can be made for treating now. It's really up to you to come to your own decision.

-- Jim

[mremeet]

Without going into all the agonizing details, no way would I treat right now if I were in your shoes. There's just too many good hep C antiviral drugs that are just on the cusp of becoming available. You have very minimal damage and you can very easily wait a few more years for these drugs. They'll in all likelihood cut your treatment time in half (which will be hellish I can almost assure you), and simultaneously essentially double your odds of being cured. You sound like you don't know much about your disease or its treatment. You're a bambi in the headlights and you seem to understand that on some level. The more informed you become, the less likely you'll want to start taking those drugs in your fridge anytime soon. My advice is to hold off and learn more about what you're getting yourself into, and learn what's just down the road. If after 1-2 months of learning about HCV and its treatment you still feel like going for it, then do so. The drugs will last that long, so don't feel pressured by anyone (including your doc) into starting right now (that is unless you have some special/peculiar health condition that would dictate immediate treatment beyond what you've mentioned). Good luck...

[nency]

I would like thank you all very much for your advises and support!
My doc not hepotologyst, but I have spoken to other doctors and everybody saying that if I can tolerate side effects - it is a good idea to get rid off the virus, but I know that ribavirin can affect DNA and cause mutations, and  I am afraid about cancers after many years after Tx or it might affect my future children somehow?!
Please let me know if you have any other suggestions for me, and let me know how you feel after interferon injections? What did you do to feel better?! I have been waiting for this 2 years and seems that finally decided, but I have final exam in 4 days should I start today or not?

[charm27]

This is a serious situation having HepC. And starting treatment you MUST be dedicated  and be ready for the long haul. Do you work? Do you have support from anybody on this??

Have you educated yourself  on this disease at all.?
So much has to be taken into consideration. So much.

You have minimal damage-you do have the option to wait and watch.
Are you under a hepatologist supervision?

I wish you good luck

[moahunter]

You could wait and end up dying due to a condition your doctor is worried about. If you are having doubts, seems to me you should get a second opinon. This board is fine for information and such, but there are no doctors on here who actually know you and your specific conditions. So all advice should be taken with a grain of salt.

In my own opinion, it is worth trying at least 4 weeks of treatment just to see how you react (you may not get many symptoms and may be lucky enough to be RVR), but others feel differently.

[jmjm530]

Nency: my doctor insist on starting Tx
----------------------------------------------------
Have they given you a reason why they "insist" you start treating? If not, you might ask. Or if you're uncomfortable with their reason -- then do as "Gauf" suggests and get another opinion. Preferably from a liver specialist (hepatologist). They can usually be found at your larger, teaching hospitals.

Hep C is a serious affair and so is treatment. It's important that you are both comfortable in your decision and your medical team. So taking a little time now to make sure is a very reasonable approach.

My personal opinion is that no doctor should *insist* that anyone but some with very advanced liver disease (it appears you don't have that) treat. What they should do is present you with the pro's and con's, and then let you make up your own decision.

Not saying you should or shouldn't treat, just saying you should get comfortable with your decision before starting.

-- Jim

[gauf]

Fom what I see, you could be a good candidate for the new drugs available in the next 2-3 years. Is your doc a Hepotologist? If not, I would get another opinion from one. Don't rush in yet, the meds will keep in the refrigerator. Post as much info here as you can and you will get good advice. Relax! You are ok.