Aa
telaprevir
GI shot me down very quickly when I went in today armed with all my new info. Says telaprevir is to be taken with the other meds. Wants to treat me regardless of low stats and no liver damage; not to wait for new drugs. Says to treat it now before I get sick.
I agree that if a Hepa told her she must treat with min.damage that "is absurd"
I don"t believe when it comes to "any medical procedure" that any DR. should be telling patients they have to treat right away. they should be explaing all the aspects of whatever disease ,all the aspects of treatment ,sucess failure, potential harm etc.
However I still go back to my point that in the end it is a personal decision, that must be given lots of thought !
I don"t believe when it comes to "any medical procedure" that any DR. should be telling patients they have to treat right away. they should be explaing all the aspects of whatever disease ,all the aspects of treatment ,sucess failure, potential harm etc.
However I still go back to my point that in the end it is a personal decision, that must be given lots of thought !
My heptalogist is involved with research. He's part of a well known group and they are recommending waiting for the new meds to anyone without signs of liver damage.
If it were me, I'd at least get a second opinion.
Some people go through their lives with hcv and no damage. Why take toxic drugs if you aren't having problems? Just to please a doctor?
If it were me, I'd at least get a second opinion.
Some people go through their lives with hcv and no damage. Why take toxic drugs if you aren't having problems? Just to please a doctor?
You are entitled to your opinion. Of course this is a personal decision that someone has to "take their time" and decide if the time is right. Point is any up to date doctor, especially Hepatologist's will advise a patient like Chugen to wait. Not tell them to treat right away. That is absurd !
I really would prefer to wait. GI is aggressive! Hepatologist too far away. My daughter is getting married in a few months, son entering college, alot of changes coming up. By entering counseling, I could get support to postpone the inevitable. Thank you so much for your comments.
"He insists that I go to shrink. Must I"?
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I gotta agree with FlGuy on this issue! Even tho I agree that you should see a shrink I don't agree with pushy doctors at all when it comes to tx!! The decision to tx is something that needs to be assessed when you are firing on all cylinders so either way you look at it you really need to see a shrink. I suggest that you do what your doctor tells you but as far as tx goes that's something you need to talk over with your family and decide on your own. Also along with addressing your mental health, I suggest two things first, learn how to read your blood tests and learn what genotype you are. good luck!
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I gotta agree with FlGuy on this issue! Even tho I agree that you should see a shrink I don't agree with pushy doctors at all when it comes to tx!! The decision to tx is something that needs to be assessed when you are firing on all cylinders so either way you look at it you really need to see a shrink. I suggest that you do what your doctor tells you but as far as tx goes that's something you need to talk over with your family and decide on your own. Also along with addressing your mental health, I suggest two things first, learn how to read your blood tests and learn what genotype you are. good luck!
I have been to Murfreesboro, that's a beautiful area. Almost brought me home a cowboy only he was pre-millenial and I was post-millenial and that was the end of that, never the twain shall meet!
Your doc is entitled to his opinion. In the end, when you treat is your own decision. Don't let him scare you into treatment before you're ready. Understand what you're getting into and take your time to have your affairs and your mental state ready for it. It's a big committment. He's dead on the money in having you see a psychiatrist first as these drugs can cause a bit of havoc on a mental state and best to have the involvement of a psychiatrist. You're already struggling with some emotional issues that could be worsened when you start the treatment drugs. There is also something to be said for waiting for drugs that give you a much higher chance at a cure and a potentially shorter treatment duration. Having said that, when a person is ready mentally and their personal circumstances are in alignment for it, sometimes you're just ready when you're ready. Just take the time to sort all of that out for yourself without being scared into it.
Your doc is entitled to his opinion. In the end, when you treat is your own decision. Don't let him scare you into treatment before you're ready. Understand what you're getting into and take your time to have your affairs and your mental state ready for it. It's a big committment. He's dead on the money in having you see a psychiatrist first as these drugs can cause a bit of havoc on a mental state and best to have the involvement of a psychiatrist. You're already struggling with some emotional issues that could be worsened when you start the treatment drugs. There is also something to be said for waiting for drugs that give you a much higher chance at a cure and a potentially shorter treatment duration. Having said that, when a person is ready mentally and their personal circumstances are in alignment for it, sometimes you're just ready when you're ready. Just take the time to sort all of that out for yourself without being scared into it.
I was still typing,and hit send by mistake ....Also I would add that ,somewhat in the same vain as your comment about Drs. pushing treatment to people that have min.damage I too believe is wrong.
That is not at all what happened in my case, two top notch Hepa's discussed it with me at great length ,and never once painted a rosy picture!
All the Best. WILL
That is not at all what happened in my case, two top notch Hepa's discussed it with me at great length ,and never once painted a rosy picture!
All the Best. WILL
As I said to Hector ,I appreciate the fact, for many it would be in their better interest to wait. what I meant was for everyone,much thought must go into their decision,age, degree of damage,were they are as far as personal circumstance,can you enter a study,economics etc.etc. In my own case after doing as much research as possible and being able to enter a study at one of the most renowned liver clinics in North America,I felt it was time " for me" to now give it a shot.Only time will tell if that was a correct decision on my part.
I still stand by my thoughts that it should never be"a no brainer" for anyone.!
Also
I still stand by my thoughts that it should never be"a no brainer" for anyone.!
Also
will,
still stand by my comment. it is a" no brainer". Like Hector said all up to date Hepatologists are advising patients with minimal damage to wait. After all we are only talking less then a year to wait!
trinity,
agree with you. my point was more about a doctor that would try and push someone into treating when there is no damage, and to top it off the patient has some mental problems that should be addressed first.
still stand by my comment. it is a" no brainer". Like Hector said all up to date Hepatologists are advising patients with minimal damage to wait. After all we are only talking less then a year to wait!
trinity,
agree with you. my point was more about a doctor that would try and push someone into treating when there is no damage, and to top it off the patient has some mental problems that should be addressed first.
I appreciate that, I do know that liver damage is not going to increase in a year just because I am over 50.
However for me personally it was I felt (after much thought) the right time to tx.
Many factors came into play,one very important one being I had a chance to get in a study with a 80% chance of taking a PI
My comment that I disagreed that it was a no brainer was just referencing to Chugen that I would never consider the decision a no brainer without a lot of thought.
However for me personally it was I felt (after much thought) the right time to tx.
Many factors came into play,one very important one being I had a chance to get in a study with a 80% chance of taking a PI
My comment that I disagreed that it was a no brainer was just referencing to Chugen that I would never consider the decision a no brainer without a lot of thought.
If you have minimal liver damage. Stage 1 or 2? Just because you are over 50 doesn't mean your fibrosis is going to increase in a year. Fibrosis doesn't work like that. It takes decades to progress. As long as you are not advanced stage 3 you have plenty of time to try treatment.
To increase the chances from about 43% to 75% is a huge difference. You are almost twice as likely to achieve SVR with the new meds. Or you can treat for 48 weeks with a greater chance of relapsing.
I agree with copyman it is pretty much a no brainier. If fact many top hepatologist have been telling their patients to wait to treat unless they have stage 4 cirrhosis.
As you say though...only you can make that final call for yourself.
hectorsf
To increase the chances from about 43% to 75% is a huge difference. You are almost twice as likely to achieve SVR with the new meds. Or you can treat for 48 weeks with a greater chance of relapsing.
I agree with copyman it is pretty much a no brainier. If fact many top hepatologist have been telling their patients to wait to treat unless they have stage 4 cirrhosis.
As you say though...only you can make that final call for yourself.
hectorsf
Copyman, you can't discount the fact that some people just want to go for it regardless because it is an opportune time in their life or the thought of living with the virus is just unacceptable. Granted the odds for geno 1 are way higher with the PI's but each person must make a decision based on what they feel is right. Chugen doesn't have any liver damage and that's a big plus. If it were me I would wait but that's me. I totally disagree with her doctor's statement about treat before she gets sick. That's rubbish!
Chugen, you were very despondent in several of your previous posts. Treatment only intensifies the rage and it is an excellent idea to speak with a professional about your emotional state. You may be a good candidate for starting an antidepressant prior to attempting any hcv treatment.
Trinity
Chugen, you were very despondent in several of your previous posts. Treatment only intensifies the rage and it is an excellent idea to speak with a professional about your emotional state. You may be a good candidate for starting an antidepressant prior to attempting any hcv treatment.
Trinity
Memorable indeed!
As far as if you should do treatment or not. Much like yourself I currently have minimal liver damage,however I am also over 50 and as Trinity says the disease,for whatever reason seems in most peole to speed up at that age. So you have to weigh your options,go for it now while your liver is still relatively healthy or wait for the new drugs when they come out. Personally it was a very difficult decision for myself and only you can make that final call for youself.
Good luck with your decision..Will
As far as if you should do treatment or not. Much like yourself I currently have minimal liver damage,however I am also over 50 and as Trinity says the disease,for whatever reason seems in most peole to speed up at that age. So you have to weigh your options,go for it now while your liver is still relatively healthy or wait for the new drugs when they come out. Personally it was a very difficult decision for myself and only you can make that final call for youself.
Good luck with your decision..Will
They don't mess up memory nearly as bad as they cause depression and brain fog.
I started with a GI and changed to a Hepatologist because the GI didn't seem to realize all the sides that I could get and the fact that I would need to be monitored closely at first. Example: the GI said I'd get blood work every 4 weeks from the beginning and my hepatologist had me get blood work every week for the first 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks for the next month, then once a month till my WBCs dropped too low. The GI also talked about reducing dosage if I got too anemic and the hepatologist said he'd give me Procrit instead of reducing dosage.
That's my experience anyhow.
Diane
I started with a GI and changed to a Hepatologist because the GI didn't seem to realize all the sides that I could get and the fact that I would need to be monitored closely at first. Example: the GI said I'd get blood work every 4 weeks from the beginning and my hepatologist had me get blood work every week for the first 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks for the next month, then once a month till my WBCs dropped too low. The GI also talked about reducing dosage if I got too anemic and the hepatologist said he'd give me Procrit instead of reducing dosage.
That's my experience anyhow.
Diane
Find a new doctor. Any doctor that would insist to treat now is not up to date. With the new drugs right around the corner it just don't make sense. Tell the doctor you are waiting for the new drugs. End of story!
He is correct about the new drugs will be used with the current drugs but with the possibility of only 24 weeks instead of 48 ! Plus the chance of cure is increased to 75% instead of 40%. It is a no brainer.....
He is correct about the new drugs will be used with the current drugs but with the possibility of only 24 weeks instead of 48 ! Plus the chance of cure is increased to 75% instead of 40%. It is a no brainer.....
Just click on a member's name and you can see all their posts. Even if I didn't click on your name you are memorable.
As to the shrink. Based on some of your recent comments, that would be a good idea - especially if you are considering treatment.
Considering you have no liver damage you may do very well treating now with the current standard of care. I don't know what genotype you are but if are a geno 2 or 3 a 24 weeks course of pegylated interferon and ribavirin gives you around an 80 percent chance of SVR. If you are genotype 1 you have a little less than 50 percent chance of SVR.
It's been established that liver disease tends to progress faster after the age of 50 but with no liver damage currently is is doubtful you would become sick before the protease inhibitors are released next year. However, if you are a genotype 3 Telaprevir would not be effective.
What it comes down to is if you don't want to live with virus any longer and you feel like at this point in your life circumstances are such that you can treat then you should do so but you do have time to wait with better odds of eradicating the virus regardless of what your doctor is saying.
All things should be considered before before attempting antiviral treatment. It is a tough road and requires strict adherence and much determination.
Good Luck,
Trinity
It's been established that liver disease tends to progress faster after the age of 50 but with no liver damage currently is is doubtful you would become sick before the protease inhibitors are released next year. However, if you are a genotype 3 Telaprevir would not be effective.
What it comes down to is if you don't want to live with virus any longer and you feel like at this point in your life circumstances are such that you can treat then you should do so but you do have time to wait with better odds of eradicating the virus regardless of what your doctor is saying.
All things should be considered before before attempting antiviral treatment. It is a tough road and requires strict adherence and much determination.
Good Luck,
Trinity
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then the medical issues; how advanced is your disease, your age, other health issues, your genotype.
after thinking about these areas; you must decide if u can afford to wait a year or so. if your disease is in early stage as u say i dont think a year would make a big difference. i am 64 and treatment is no harder for me than the young pups altho i know my svr chances are a bit lower. i would take the next 6 mos to year and get all your ducks in a row; a good therapist to deal with guilt issues and to get u ready to treat. get in shape by eating well and exercising. get your support system in place. all of these things can make your treatment easier. i like to see it as training for a marathon. u must be prepared! if you are lucky the pi meds may be ready when you are and u will be in good shape for a 6 mos treatment. hope this helps, babs