week 21

has anyone had there alt ast ggt numbers keep going up on tx, dr had me get a vl test monday to see if virus is copying, i went from 11million to 1010 at week 12, can virus come back on tx?

[Tony-z]

Congratulations on making it to week 21 I can remember when you started and it doesn't seem like 21 weeks ago........

                    Great Job Gene

                        TonyZ

[genedog]

1b grade 2 stage 3

[genedog]

first time on tx, dr said 48 weeks is as far as he lets anyone go

[scruffy]

Gene, I went 48 and relapsed(1a). I may not re-treat. I would suggest you consider seriously extending to 72weeks if you can stand it. If you don't attain svr now you may not be up to tx'ing again. I'll bet money Rev backs me up on this. Frank

[scruffy]

On the other hand I don't know how tx is affecting you or how bad your liver is. Take all into consideration. Frank

[genedog]

tx so far  no sx

[rearfang]

Sorry to jump on here, but I didn't want to waste valuable space. I'm STILL waiting for the genotype results (2 weeks today). I know my vl is 647,000. My ultrasound came back "normal", my liver enzymes "mildly elevated" (no numbers yet, this was what the nurse gave me by phone.) Back to dr. on Thurs., hope he'll schedule a bx then. SOOO sick of waiting already and I haven't even joined the game yet.

LvdByGod: I was waiting to answer your question when I had some news about my type, but I didn't want to ignore your questions any longer. I teach High School art. I mainly teach drawing and painting, which are, coincidentally, my own personal areas of interest. I do portraits (pencil and, more recently, colored pencil) as well as watercolor landscapes. Unfortunately, I haven't done much since Dec., when I learned about the HCV. Depression and anxiety have never been conducive to my creativity! What about you? What's your medium?

[scruffy]

Gene, I missed that grade2, stage3 info. That makes it all the more important to kick ass now especially if sides are not a problem. Your Doc needs to get agressive or You may need to get a new Doc. I'm sounding pushy, but it's important. Best to you,Frank

[DoubleDose]

From a former 1-B, who went 14 months on the first tx, and promptly relapsed AFTER being undetected for the last 5 months......please go the 'extra mile'.

I did a second round, using Peg-Intron at just about two-times the standard dosage, plus full riba (1,200 mg), and I went 18 months.  The outcome was SVR.

I also was a slow responder on my 2nd tx, even with the outrageously high dosage.  I got undetected at week 19.  I DID have a 2.7 log decrease at week 12, which is good for SVR (using the extended protocol), but LOW odds of SVR if you stop at 48 weeks.  You need to be FULLY undetected at week 12 to stand a fairly good chance of SVR going only the standard 48 weeks (Type 1 only).

You DID have a 4 LOG drop at week 12 (are you sure you were at 11 million copies at the start, not 1.1 million????).
You SHOULD now become undetected shortly after week 12, and well before week 26.  Still, since week 12 still showed viral load, the latest recommendations would involve either 72 weeks of total tx, or with some doctors, going 52 weeks AFTER the first undetected test result.  (very similar protocols anyway)

You do NOT want to have to repeat this tx, now is your GOLDEN opportunity!!!!  If your doctor is either stubborn, uninformed, or inexperienced in dealing with Type 1, slow responders, then FIND A NEW ONE!!!!  This is YOUR life he is dealing with.  Have him read the recent research studies, and review the SVR studies for late responder Type 1's, who go only 48 weeks.  The results are NOT encouraging.  On the other hand, 72 weeks seems to be doing the trick for a very high % of tx'ers who become undetected between weeks 12 and 24.

I wish you the best.  Other comments:  Do not dose reduce, either on interferon or ribavirin, unless absolutely medically necessary.  If your red cells go down below safe levels, make sure to use Procrit, rather than reduce Riba. Give yourself the best odds.  Don't fall prey to wishful thinking!

Best of luck...hang in there, you WILL succeed!!!!

DoubleDose

[genedog]

thanks to all of you for the great info, yes i had a 4log drop