peg sides vs copeg sides for galen

[katch20]

Still contemplating tx.  My dr. says a new drug will replace the ribavirin in a couple/few years, and that should help w/ the anemia, etc.  But what about the sides of interferon?  Is that the drug related to hair loss and mental problems?  What makes people mean on treatment?  I've got kids and don't want to be mean to them, yet I have a shortish fuse to begin with.  Which drug affects the thyroid?  I don't have any weight to lose, does everyone lose weight?  hair?  Is it worth waiting?  My doctor won't bx because I am genotype 3 and he said any damage will be reversed.  But other postings are contrary.  What is right?

[LvdByGod]

I AM 3A ALSO AND MY GI DID NOT WANT TO DO A BIOPSY EITHER BUT I INSISTED AND RECIEVED ONE AND HE WAS VISUALLY SHOCKED AT THE EXTENT OF MY LIVER DAMAGE AND NOW I KNOW HOW SERIOUS IT IS. I WOULD INSIST ON THE LIVER BIOPSY. IT'S YOUR LIFE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT CONDITION YOUR IN. THE BIOPSY IS THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW. SWITCH GI'S IF YOU HAVE TO. SANDI

[Galen]

Sorry, I just saw your post to me.  I've not been reading up everything like I was.  As was said above, the only way to know if tx is necessary at this time is to have a biopsy.  There is not much evidence that damage is reversable with tx and with type 3 you have a better than average shot of beating the dragon (85%) with only 24 weeks of tx.  Beleive me, I could do 24 standing a lot more easily than the 48 I did.  IMHO, I would get the opinion of a second doctor.  Any intelligent and professional doctor would welcome a second opinion.

[oldhippiechick67]

Glad the hole in your vision only lasted a few secs. The fact that you have a 58 vl at wk 12 is great. Hope you dont have any more episodes, best of luck and better health to ya!  OHC

Katch, glad you understand the importance of the biopsy.  It is a very small amt of liver tissue they take out, and my radiologist dr. was very generous with the "happy medicine" and I had a rather pleasant experience.  Best to you, hope your insurance and dr. get the job done!  OHC

[oldhippiechick67]

Is the hole still there?  If so, or even if its not, go see an eye DOCTOR, not one of those who fits ya for glasses, an opthomologist, treats diseases of the eye.  He/she can check to see if there is retinal detachment and other serious problems.  Nausea at the same time as the vision problem could be other things.  Could be heart or stroke...or migrane, there are so many things, and I am NOT a Doctor, so if you are very serious about finishing tx, talk to your hep doc and see what else he can suggest.  Are you undetectable at this time?  Some folks have quit tx early because of sides and remain undetectable.   If it was nausea that came and went like the flu, or like a common side of tx, well maybe no biggie.  But you need to have follow up with the eye dr first thing I would think...just my opinion.  And better communication with the hep Dr. maybe you can restart shots after eye dr exam.  Best to ya!  OHC

[OkieJim]

My personal experience was the DR. wanted the BX done to see what damage I had. Before the BX was done he said I had an option of waiting to do TX. When the results came back with beginning cirrossis(sp) he said "You should seriously think about TX." He told me that if I chose not to do TX my lifespan would be shorter than if I tried TX and cleared. I chose to do TX and now I'm OK with it. It's not been that bad for me other than not having the energy I used to have.

[raheem]

Why wait? In the future there may or may not be a better tx, frankly there probably will be at some point.  However, until then, you will become older, you may develop other health problems (unrelated to HCV), your liver will become more diseased, you may infect someone else with HCV, you may lose health insurance etc.  Not everyone gets the side effects of tx.  I say try it and see how it goes, if it becomes unmanagable, then stop.  There are drugs available now (anti depressants, procrit, neupogen) to mitigate the side effects.  Naturally it's up to you, just my humble opinion.

[SoFla]

Hi Everyone,

I took my 41st shot the other day and saw a hole in my vision and much nausha...

Told my doctor and now he wants to take me off treatment with only 8 shots left...

Any help desperately needed.


Sofla....

[britgirl]

Quite honestly, your hair should not be a major consideration right now. I lost half of mine and it never came back, but I really don't care too much since I got rid of the virus.

[SoFla]

Hello and thanks for respoding,

This hole in my vision only happened one time, but it lasted for a few seconds which gave me a bit of a square.

I only have 8 more shots left out of th 48wks, and with all we've been through, just can't fathom stopping now. This is why we want to gather as much info from those who have had symilar symptoms.

My doctor based his decision to take me off strictly due to 2 patients form a doctor he knows, who have both gone totlaly blind with the same warning signs. One person never got his site back, where the other took 4 surgeries to repair some of his vision.

Since this only happened 1 time, (keeping fingers crossed) we
just don't want to stop unless there is no other way.  I've been
clear since week 12   1.1million down to 58, and I just want to
keep the odds in our favor for keeping this virus and it, treatment a permanantly
and vague



Is the hole still there? If so, or even if its not, go see an eye DOCTOR, not one of those who fits ya for glasses, an opthomologist, treats diseases of the eye. He/she can check to see if there is retinal detachment and other serious problems. Nausea at the same time as the vision problem could be other things. Could be heart or stroke...or migrane, there are so many things, and I am NOT a Doctor, so if you are very serious about finishing tx, talk to your hep doc and see what else he can suggest. Are you undetectable at this time? Some folks have quit tx early because of sides and remain undetectable. If it was nausea that came and went like the flu, or like a common side of tx, well maybe no biggie. But you need to have follow up with the eye dr first thing I would think...just my opinion. And better communication with the hep Dr. maybe you can restart shots after eye dr exam. Best to ya! OHC

[katch20]

Thanks all for the responses... long day, just getting back online.  I actually want a bx--seems insane to want to have my liver pierced... but i do.  I am almost 39, genotype 3, and could have contracted when I was a teen, snorting coke or as a college student getting tattood.  Who knows.  I wish I did.  I do want to start tx though soon.  this is eating my brain, heart and soul.  thanks all again.

[jonihs]

I did have liver failure w/no previous symptoms that made me think anything could be seriously wrong. The symptoms I did have I associated w/ age and drinking. ( I drank heavily) That is when I was dx. w/ hepc, when my liver failed. I believe if I had been dx. before that and had a biopsy, I would not have gotten that bad, but who knows if I would have stopped drinking. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that you have no idea how much damage has already been done, if any. I believe that there are extra precautions that Dr.s take during treatment if damage is extensive. Mine is going to. But w/out bx., how would he know in your case?   My best to you. I would insist on bx. and then tx. You have great odds, but even those go down a little if you have an unhealthy liver.   Joni

[quak]

What's your genotype/liver bx???  I just finished Pegasys/Ribv for 48 weeks and took care of four young children.  It wasn't easy but I did go on antidep so I wouldn't bite my husband/kids faces off.  It's okay I did loose a lot of weight/hair but it does all come back.

Take care, Lori

[GreatBird]

I think a person needs to know the condition of their liver before they can decide whether to treat now or wait, regardless of the genotype. So...I'd bend that doctor's arm and get a biopsy if I were you.

[oldhippiechick67]

how old are you?  the younger the better your chances of beating this disease.  Yes, Interferon Pegasys/PegIntron all have the possibility of causing hair loss and mental problems and a lot of other things.  We dont all lose hair.  We dont all lose weight, some gain even.  Yes,  ribavirin can make you mean (the antidepressants seem to help with that, or anti-anxiety meds.  The interferon I think can affect the thyroid, not many but some do, and need to take thyroid meds.  I dont like that your doctor wont do a biopsy because of "it will reverse the damage"  b.s, if you have cirrhosis it doesnt reverse that, it cant reverse all damage.  They say it can reverse some fibrosis but not always.  There was an article I read where 48% get reversal of some of their fibrosis, 26% get no change and 14% get worse.  THats approx percentages, but you get the gen'l idea.  So I would insist on biopsy to see what the damage is if any...and that way you can decide to wait on better tx in the next few years.  Since you dont have any symptoms, hopefully your liver is in good shape, but that isnt always the case.  I believe a couple ladies here had liver failure and had to be in the ICU, and they didnt have any symptoms prior to that ...is that right??  New Sojourn and jonihs are the ones I am thinking of.  MajNeni had to be in ICU too.  Its just my opinion, so wait and see what others have to say.  Good luck to you! OHC