worried about my doc

I have posted here with concern's about my doc's info,to refresh,I have had this for about 30 years, so has a frind of mine with the same doc, my friend went to her with viral load 800.000,she told him she would not treat anyone with much over that count, and that he should be alcohol free at least 6 months before biopsy, well I then went to her, and my vl/was 13,700.000,
and I told her was only a couple of month's alcohol free,but she ordered biopsy for the next week,and start tx after that,well thought about it and called back about the 6 month's thing,so she postponed my biopsy, well next week is my 6 month's and scheduled biopsy, well went to pickup blood-work order's, to be done before biopsy,I ask if a viral count was on the listed on the blood work, she said no, I told her  that might be important, since last test was when I was drinking, I was informed she would check with the doc, question is am I being over paranoid, or is this doc not really up to speed on thing's?
By the way all the new post's lately about the post tx permanant
side affect's make's a newbe like me nervous about treating,
I consider my myself able to handle some pain and sickness, but
if I am going to be permantly brain fogged and tired, and most of all have my testacles shrink, am wondering if i should just take what come's without treatment,well I would appreciate any input you have thank's...

[hepat50]

The choices are yours.  It is always best to have a physician that you feel comfortable with and is willing to work with you and your concerns.  If you do not like the way your treatment is being handled, get a copy of your records and move on.

Until you actually begin a treatment regimen, worrying about and debating possible side effects is an exercise in fear and futility.  No two individuals react in the same manner to the protocols--and there is no way possible to determine in advance how your system will react.  Using the doom-and-gloom predictions and claims of a relatively small handful of others who post in forums to defer or avoid treatment is a very poor choice indeed.

You may wish to re-examine the "take what comes" concept and do a little further research on the all too real eventual consequences of such a decision.  When it comes down to making a choice between my testicles shrinking (a laughable fear) or living through the symptomatology of cirrhosis and shaving 20 years off my life expectancy; a liver transplant and all the things that come with that--my choice was treatment.  All the rest I can live with...

[livindabest]

   I agree completely  with choice, I asked doc. about chance of extreme physical sides, she has treated a few, out of her many  patients. Psychological problems is a big reason some stop tx.  But # 1 at the V.A. Hospital in Hawaii  for ending is :(drum roll please)  Not  making scheduled Appointments/Labs !! The forums are here to help and discuss ideas so , what (I hope) is a vocal minority of all the heppers on tx.  the ones w/ extreme tx. & post tx. sx. are here venting and trying to find solutions to serious tx sx .Thats what forums are for. and many like me just enjoy the people  and discussions on here ..The ones with little or no sides are working  and playing as always as they geterdone.    Good luck !
                                                R.
    
  

[pigeonca]

I like your name - a great movie!

The recent postings about testicles shrinking etc. are spam.  Don't take them seriously.  Yes, treatment has sides and some of them may linger, but the vast majority of people find themselves eventually returning to their normal selves.  I made my decision to treat based on my biopsy results and my age.  As a stage 2, grade 2, if I were in my 40s or younger I might have waited, but at 63 I figured I might as well get it over with.  It's a difficult decision to make.  Good luck and good health.

[hepat50]

Take livindabest's comments to heart.  The vast majority of those under or that have had treatment are not in the forums.  I have scanned this board since beginning my protocols in February.  Yes, there were side effects--all manageable and none more a nuisance than chronic weakness and fatigue.  Today, the results of my viral load test came back.  At the beginning of treatment, 836,000 IU/ml with liver enzymes at astonishing levels.  Type 1a.  Results after six months?  Less than 10 IU/ml, which means that the virus is undetectable in the very best of quantitative tests.

There is no "cure" for hep c.  At the end of the day the best we can hope for is a sustained viral remission [SVR] that lasts the remainder of our "natural" lives.  Complimentary (alternative and nutritional) medicine may be used as a practical adjunct to treatment--it's use should not be disregarded or accepted as a single-modality treatment for this disease.

Such potentiating supplements as NAC and Milk Thistle have been clinically demonstrated to add support to hepatitis patients under treatment.  They can significantly lower high enzyme profiles.  They can also exacerbate side effects of the interferon/ribavarin combination.  I chose the risk.  But those who post in these forums decrying the use of the pharmaceutical combinations in favor of some other modality--using scare tactics to instill fear and distrust--are little more than dangerous thugs, possibly condemning hep c sufferers to an untimely and miserable death.

Use whatever tools are at your disposal, and have hope above all.  For many of us, bad decisions led to our disease--only good decisions about our general health, nutrition, and treatment will lead us away from it.