treatment

[LORENZO2]

hi all, i have hep c geno1a, at stage 2 fibrosis. going on treatment next week with teleprevir. i ready that it takes 10 yrs or more to go from one stage to another if u live a healthy lifestyle. any truth to that. also i read someone here had stage1 grade 0. does anyone know what grade 0 means. i havent heard of that before. scared here  tks larry

[Bill1954]

Hi Hadassah,

It sounds like we have very similar stats. I was stage 3/4 and treated successfully; I’m now SVR (sustained viral response. If you only did one injection and then hightailed it, no wonder; the first injection is by far the worst for many of us.

Welcome to the discussion group. You should consider posting this as a new question by scrolling to the top of this page, and clicking on the green “post a question’ button near the top. This is an old thread, and many folks won’t see you here.

Good luck and take care—

Bill

[Hadassah777]

Hi I'm new on here, I'm probably going on treatment within the next couple of weeks. I got a biopsy last month and it showed that I have bridging fibrosis stage 3/4 and grade 2. I have had this since 1991 well thats when I was diagnoised, so I'm looking at almost 20 years, I'm 51 and tryed the Pegasys last year did one treatment got so sick I tucked tail and ran!! I have began to have symptoms like being tired alot and my memory and concentration is really beginning to  scare me, so I figure if I'm gonna do it ,it is now are never. I have genotype 1a and of coarse they say it is the worse type but if I understand right that is the main kind here in America and I have a couple of friends who have had great results...Any one have any encourageing info? If so please let me know I 'm really trying to psych myself up and be ready to do this but I really am scared cuz I remember how bad I felt before!!!

[Isobella]

For a list of supplements that many of us follow, check out gauf's profile.  

The reason not to take milk thistle during tx is because it helps the liver clear toxins.  These toxins (tx) we want to keep as long a possible!  

But please, do the research.  Gather the information.  Follow the advice of the best hepatologist you can find.  

Oh, yeah-and ask questions.  Lots of great information from lots of warriors here!

[HectorSF]

Viral load and liver damage have no corallolation. So even if you could reduce viral load it is of no benefit. Unless you can elimate the virus completely it won't make any difference in treatment.

Also for those who claim to have reduced their viral load...How did they measure their viral load? Was it done by the same labs. Labs have different protocols and standards. The most common test (PCR) used to measure viral load is only able to measure virus within a sensitivity of plus or minus 1 half-log unit. If the virus appears to be changing by approximately 5-fold, (1,000,000 to 200,000) it may just be because of this inherent variability not an actual change. Thus, changes in assay must be greater than 10-fold in order to be clinically meaningful.

Hector

[HectorSF]

The time it takes for the liver to progress through the stages of fibrosis varies in each individual. As the patient gets older and has had the virus longer the process speeds up. There are studies now being conducted looking at genetic factors that influence liver damage and its rate. Stage 2 is a good time to treat, as your liver is relatively healthy.

The Metavir scoring system for patients with hepatitis C when evaluating liver biopsies. The scoring uses both a grade and a stage system. The grade tells you about the activity
or amount of swelling and irritation (inflammation). The stage tells you the amount of fibrosis or scarring.
The grade is usually scored from “0-4.” An “0” is no activity, a “2” is moderate activity, and “3” or “4” are severe activity. The amount of inflammation is important because it may lead to eventual scarring or damage.
0 = no inflammation
1-4 = minimal inflammation
5-8 = mild inflammation
9-12 = moderate inflammation
13-18 = marked inflammation

The fibrosis score is also assigned a number from 0-4:
0 = no scarring
1 = minimal scarring
2 = scarring has occurred and is inside the areas of the liver including blood vessels
3 = bridging fibrosis (the fibrosis is spreading and connecting to other areas that contain fibrosis)
4 = cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver

Best of luck.
Hector

[LORENZO2]

tks all,  and mary do u know what type of chinese medicine he is taking for future ref. also my dr. told me to stop taking milk thistle, maybe so it doesnt interfere with the study???  is anyone else here taking any herbs. if so which ones?  tks larry

[Isobella]

There are others here that are going to be starting that same trial.  Keep looking around, you will find them.  It always helps to have others you can commiserate with that are going thru the same thing.  

Wish you the best!

Isobella

[Mary4now]

I dont know if there is any rhyme or reason to the grade of damage.   I think I've had my hepc 1 for 30 years, and my hepatologist said I could have been coming to him for a transplant if I'd had it that long.  I am a stage 1 grade 1, and then some peops say the damage escalates for no appartant time or reason. I have asked a similar question to the specialist who posts here and waiting for an answer, just a matter of time.  Apparantly age is a factor too.  
I also just met someone whos VL increased on treatment and he couldn't complete it due to sides... then he was in China and they did some chinese medicine (alot & frequently) and his VL went down.... he said in china hep B & C are very prevalent and they look at it differently there...

[rita863]

thanks Mouse i never new that!

peace
rita

[FloridaMouse]

"Grade" refers to the amount of liver inflammation whereas "Stage" refers to the amount actual damage.

Mouse

[rita863]

i dont know about how long it takes to go from one stage to another.  but i am also Geno 1a stage 2  fibrosis.  I am in week 24 of TX and UND at week 12.

good luck on TX

peace
rita