Back from 48 week viral load test

[HARRYBEADS]

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I had my 48 week test and thought it was the most important one but they said they expect me to clear this one also. The big one is 6 months prior and they still give a 50-60 % chance of clearing that one.
I asked what test is the most accurate and was told that the realtime pcr is the one and it is accurate down to less than 50. Thats the result of my last test on week 24.

As for side effects and waiting on feeling better they suggested not to expect much for three months, and if at the six month test the complications still persist they will deal with them then.

I asked about the possibility of feeling better than prior to treatment and they said my baseline is all I should expect back. I felt like **** then thats why I treated, so I guess it's better to feel crappy your whole life than not to feel at all.

Wishing everyone the best in treatment

Harry

[IAmTheWalrus]

I don't think the more sensitive tests are necessarily more expensive. Two of them, at least, are TMA type tests. This procedure is reported to be cheaper and faster than the PCR tests. This should result in lest cost to the patient, but I don't know that for sure.

Anyone else know?

Brent

[HARRYBEADS]

  Before treatment it was a struggle to get the work day done. I would have severe joint pain in my legs mostly the knees and feet, and my muscles would ache like I had finished a 26 mile marathon,this came on slowly over 10 years till I could not continue workin. Head aches that would last for days, mentally I felt slow .
There were bouts of nausea, fatigue, irritability,nite sweats, forgetfulness, legs swelling, visaul changes-tunnel vision, numb warm lower legs at night.
Now although only a short time of the meds my legs don't get numb at night.

Don't get me wrong I'm pro treatment ASADiagnosed, and they said the least to expect.

I expect to be 18 again by this summer.

Harry

[working dog]

i would like to know how you felt prior to tx...i haven't gone through tx yet and always thought after tx i would feel better then before tx...i have seen a lot of folks here tx before they have a lot of sx.. sounds like your doing great...good luck...billy

[Forseegood]

congrats, that stat they give you on when you should feel better is just a stat of course, I've heard of people on here feeling better way sooner then that, seems like it's a really individual thing...great pic btw! happy sailing....

[pitter]

Congadulations Harry Beads.
pitter

[ponyshel]

I would agree with jim on this. I have the heptimax drawn by quest labs..so far 24 weeks was 0.7 undectected and then my 6 month was 0.7 also...my dr. advised good to say pretty sure will clear and be svr. I wish you the best of luck :) shelly

[HARRYBEADS]

Great to hear my odds are better than expected, can't wait for a celebratory New Castle Brown at six months.
It seems that things are done different here in Canada, the hosp. that is treating me has one of the best reps in Canada and said that the realtime pcr is the best they have. They also only test at 12 weeks 24 and 48 weeks and then the six months after.
A more accurate test is all I deserve after this 48 weeks of torture eh. Do we get some sort of trophy or maybe a stuffed dragon head once SVR is achieved.

Thanks Harry

[Trish77]

These tests you're mentioning....they'd use other tests during tx as the lower VL detection wouldn't be required until further along, is that so?  I would imagine that the more accurate the test, the higher the cost to administer/interpret it?

[Lady Lauri]

Congratulations Harry! My reasoning :} on after tx is this......
I felt rough before tx also and I've been told, here and there, that as my body was in fight mode for over 30 years, I should feel better after tx, recuping. Of course amount of liver damage applies I'm sure. But it does make sense!
Agree with jmjm, get the 4 week and 3mths. HAPPY DONE WITH TX HARRY!

jmjm, your so smaaaart :}  I was going to suggest the better test also, which I learned from you and here!    I"M getting so smaaaart, lol!

LL

[jmjm530]

Nothing really wrong with the advice you were given, however you should know that if you test viral load 4 weeks after ending treatment, an UND result will correlate around 90% with SVR.

Also, unless you are stage 4, a recent study suggests that a 3-month post treatment test correlates 100% with SVR.

So really no need to wait six months to find out if you are SVR, unless you don't mind waiting.

Also, while a PCR down to 50 IU/ml is probably all you need at six months post treatment -- personally, I'd use a more sensitive test, especially if you are going to test earlier than six months.

Three tests that go down to 5 IU/ml (or lower) are: (1) "Heptimax" by Quest Diagnostics; (2) "HCV RNA TMA QUALTIATIVE" by Quest Diagnostics; and (3) LabCorp's "HCV NGI ultraqual" LC#140609  (Make sure you use the test number when ordering this test).

-- Jim

[IAmTheWalrus]

Sounds like good news. Keeping fingers crossed for you. Love your posts.

Brent