viral load

[staci490]

Hi, everyone, I just got back my genotype it' 1A with a viral load of 3,18410. What does that mean and is it really bad and and I gonna have to be on tx for a long time? And is it worth it? Thanks you guys

[loey6]

My viral load is only 275,000. i have virtually no symptoms, liver enzymes only slightly elevated, positive for hep c tho. dr said would not likely recommend treatment before blood test results. but now recommends harvoni--based on viral load, as far as i can tell. but this doesn't make sense to me. isn't my level rather low? anyone else experience this? they have an agency that will pay if insurance refuses. is this a big reason possibly?!

[Livelife777]

Staci.   I was in your same shoes almost 2 years ago.  The fact that you've never been treated for this virus bodes well in your favor.
You will likely take Meds for 12 weeks, have few if any side effects, and walk away cured.  Get treated and move on with your life. There has never been a better time in the history of this disease,  to become cured.
You will be OK.
.....Kim

[mac790]

Hi- The viral load, usually expressed as " HCV Quantitization PCR RNA" is simply the actual number of viral copies they detected when the test was run. In the early stage of HCV infection, it is not uncommon to see viral loads in the millions. All three of your liver enzyme test results will be off the charts high as well- ALT, AST, ALK-PHOS. Not to stress--all normal parts of the disease process. If you are recently infected and are not deathly ill with the chronic phase of the infection--this varies: Some never know they have HCV until a random blood screening shows it,  or maybe one time you felt like you took an unusally long time to shake what felt like  a bad cold, or as with me, you had a swollen liver, skin & eyes turned totally jaundiced, the worst flu I ever had x 10, extreme lethargy, etc... If you have eluded the chronic illness phase, it comes down to economics, and the degree of fibrosis ( cirrhosis) in your liver. If your insurance covers it, or you qualify for extremely discounted meds, or are financilally well off and can spare over $110,000, I would get treated ASAP. If $$ is a concern, and you show no signs of the disease and have no liver damage yet, you may consider waiting until the meds become more plentiful and less expensive. Perhaps you can get lucky as I did and find a clinical trial in Phase III for a new med along the lines of those currently available by Gilead (Harvoni,Sovaldi, Osylio). I fear It will take at least five years of public pressure and market competition for the makers of these 95%+ cure rate meds to  lower their prices, if then. So, IMO the choice comes down to economics and the degree of liver damage. I would not expect that 6 figure cost for a 12 week medication regimen cost to drop anytime soon however.   mac

[Ekkiemom]

BTW there is a website with all of the latest info you might need
HepCEducate.org. Take a look it's really informative
Best to you
Deb

[Ekkiemom]

Welcome friend!
Hi staci.....I agree with everyone who has posted.  I'm also 1a and pre-Tx viral load was 31.5mil. Had the beast over 30+yrs. since I treated with the old Tx first time, my Hepa treated me with Sov/RIBA. My VL was 11.5mil @ 2nd SOT and within 21 days I was 17!  4 wks UND!!
Truthfully you will be fine, you may have some SFX, but it's sooo doable!  All of these stronge targeted meds have side effects. We are all different and you may breeze thru ur Tx no worse for wear.
As most of us say..keep hydrated it just makes some of the SFX even less annoying :).

Pls treat and enjoy a healthier future .
Peace
Deb

[Rbeth]

Hi again~

I just wanted to reiterate that this is not a hard treatment(Harvoni) and a good choice for you, so ask your hepa about treating you w/Harvoni.

Please treat... Please keep posting and again, welcome! R

[Rbeth]

Hi Staci~ Welcome to this forum!
Well, exactly as can do said... It's a good time to be 1a and treat!

I'm Gt 1a with a pre treatment(Tx) viral load of 9,500,000, also Tx naive( never treated before). I finished 12 weeks of Harvoni last week and got my EOT(end of treatment) lab results today. Virus is not detected. I'm thankful & now in 12 weeks it will be checked again. So, go for it, please treat!! You will do well.

Blessings,
Randy
Btw, can do was my first welcome as well.. I think he brings good luck. ;-)

[can-do-man]

Treatment has came along way. Being your a genotype 1a and never treated your more then likely looking at 12 weeks with no interferon and a cure rate in the 90% range with very little side effects. Welcome here and try not to worry... Wishing you the best.