PCR / 4 weeks, still detected!

Dear all, I have just received my PCR results after the fourth injection (the sample was taken on the day of the fifth injection), I am Genotype 4, my pre-tx PCR-RNA was 4,405,000 IU. Now, the report says 17,851 IU.
I hoped for UNDE!
Am I a Slow responder? Should I expect UNDE after the 12 weeks!
Any comments and support
Hassan

[jmjm530]

You're doing OK, so congratulations. That's better than a two-log drop. If possible, try and get your viral load tested every week or two, until you are UND. Best to use the most senstive tests available -- down to 50 IU/ml, or even better down to 5 or 10 IU/ml. I'm assuming you're on weight-based ribavirin and full-Peg. Has your hemoglobin dropped much since you started treating? If not, sometimes an increase in ribavirin helps things along. Something to discuss with your doctor if pertinent.

-- Jim

[albany]

Not sure if the differences i notice are cuz i am Tx / living in Canada.  MY doc said that tthe 4 wk VL tests are not predictive of TX outcome, but that the 12 weeks are ( i am on 48 wk TX).  I know i was detected at wk 4- not sure of HOW MUCH- think they might be holding out on me, trying to say they did not do VL, but i think they did (had to go on a monday- so they would have the 'turning' time or something prior to freezing / sending to gov't???)
getting pretty fed uo with lotsa stuff- missing these forums, but too tired to write / elaborate / cuz too much is going on and i am too confused.  still glad foru is here though- makes it wasier even if all i can usually do is read / get more confused
albany

[IAmTheWalrus]

Think your VL looks pretty good. We'd all like to be super responders, but you already have the VL drop considered necessary to continue tx at 12 weeks. If you are UND at 12 weeks, that is pretty good predictor of SVR. Hang in there.It took me 12 weeks to get the 2 log drop.

Best of luck
Walrus

[HassanHelmy]

Jim, the dose I take is 180 mg pegasys and 1000 mg riba, I am 140 pounds, my hemoglobin droped from 15.8 pre-tx, 14.8 after two weeks and now 12.2 after 4 weeks! I will talk to my doc about the riba dose, although according to this drop in hemo, he will not change the 1000 mg. What is your point of view about doing another PCR every one or two weeks? I planned for a 8 weeks PCR, will wait for your comment to discuss with mu doc, thanks again
Hassan

[HassanHelmy]

I hope you will hang there, from my readings UNDE at week 12 is an important criteria of SVR, but UNDE at week 4 (RVR) is also very important indication of SVR, let us be optimistic and hope for a happy end
Hassan

[nygirl7]

The doctor won't prescribe Procrit or Epogen until you get to be under / about 10 on your hemo.  Unfortunately you just have to wait and suffer...as unfair as that is to us.  But you just do NOT want to dose reduce any of your medications.  It is one of the most IMPORTANT things we do on treatment...make sure we stay at the optimum amount possible.

At week 3 I dropped from 15+ to 9...a  full six point drop in ten days. I did NOT dose reduce. I listened to the gang in here and hung on, took my Epogen and just sweat it out.  It wasn't fun but my odds of SVR weren't really too great - yet 10 months later and I am SVR and loving it!

I can't imagine a doctor giving a PCR any more than possibly once a month- but you should be getting a CBC at least every two weeks.

[divya1082]

i ve been trying toask question abt my hep b surface antigen is reactive?please help me ! i too scared?how long i will be survive?i dont want die the worst thing is i even cant tell anybody that i m hep b positive. i dont how had tha happen? i never had sex with anybody except my husband .
.....................i dont know...........what to do ...i m so restless, i ve anxiety too.

                   i ve asked before but no body didnt reply..............ploease reply me guies.
i want to know how long i can survive.? and i want have baby.........can i?

[HassanHelmy]

Thanks, I certainly will keep the dose as it is, even on my own risk, Jim suggested that I increase the riba dose to enhance the antiviral effect of the tx, but he wanted to make sure about my hemo! My doctor told me that hemo 12.2 is not bad, she told me that down to 10 is not very bad! I start to be optimistic and start to forget some of my suffering from tx, hoping for UNDE soon! When you become UNDE? will you stop at 48 weeks?

[jmjm530]

Hassan:Jim suggested that I increase the riba dose to enhance the antiviral effect of the tx, but he wanted to make sure about my hemo!
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This is what I actually said, above:

"Has your hemoglobin dropped much since you started treating? If not, sometimes an increase in ribavirin helps things along. Something to discuss with your doctor if pertinent."

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It's important that you discuss this with your doctor and only make dose changes with their consent and supervision. That said, I would bring the subject up, and contrary to what "NYGirl" says, -- Procrit (epo) is often prescribed when hemoglobin is above 10. In fact, I got my first Procrit shot when my hemoglobin was in the mid 11s-- and many here have reported similar. The *rate* of hemoglobin drop and symptons are often as important -- or even more important -- than the actual number.

All the best,

-- Jim