Aa
Viral-Breakthrough
Has anyone ever had this happen while on tx? I started tx 9 months ago, vl was steady decline. I started at 636,000 (type 1a). At month 7 it was 2. It 8th month went back up to 245. Now dr says I havve to do another year!!!!! any advice?
I don't think you can say that HCV is "like Herpes" or other usually benign viruses we live with. Not at all. To do so is like saying a hang nail is similar to a heart attack. HCV is a far more dangerous can of worms than Herpes. Herpes is not always benign, it too can kill in the rare instance.
Being Hep C positive puts you at much higher risk for other illnesses, diabetes and leukemia and other cancers for starters. Let's not forget some viruses CAUSE cancer!
HCV positive status puts us at higher risk for insulin resistance problems, thyroid problems, blood disorders, gallbladder issues, joint issues, the list is long of the risks of being HCV positive regardless of your level of liver damage. Im talking about the damage to your whole health. HCV is NOT a liver disease, it is a blood disease, an immune system disease. It likes our livers but it is not limited to the liver in the damage it can cause. Look how many people with HCV have diabetes just on this board! Being HCV positive is a risk to your health, period. A far greater risk than taking the treatment in my view. Plus we do not as yet know just how many other health problems it can be a precursor for. All of these issues should be pointed out when encouraging people to wait or postpone treatment hoping for better things to come. Vx is not a foregone conclusion, and the severe rash problem is a problem I hope doesn't compromise it's approval. I hope they can do something about that issue like shorten the VX dosage length.It did seem to happen after day 50 or so.
Certain facts we do know, one, that clearing the virus becomes more difficult when fibrosis is present and we know that once fibrosis starts up, it has high potential to progress at a faster rate. Those reasons are very good reasons to treat BEFORE you have any liver damage if you are lucky enough to discover you have this virus. How I wish I had known I had this virus as I am sure many here do too. Waiting until your liver damage reaches a critical point,say, stage 3, seems super risky to me when compared to an as yet undamaged liver.
The fact that doctors told patients it was benign in the past, don't worry about it, you will die of something else, etc. just gives false hope and helped many deny their illness. That is why that huge campaign went on with the guy with the banged up face, that was aimed at people who KNOW they have the virus to do something and look into treating their disease. Back in the day doctors did not realize the full consequences of being HCV positive, now more is known, now people are being encouraged to look into treatment, now many doctors encourage all to treat. All geno 2 and 3 are encouraged to treat because their chance of clearing is relatively high. Over the years they have learned this is a far more serious disease than was thought. It is the number ONE reason for liver transplant in our country. That says a lot to me.
It shouldn't be treated like it is on par with Herpes.
Look how many here were told not to worry about it at one point and then down the road had to treat due to advancing liver fibrosis, in many cases substantially advanced. The risks of simply being positive are not clearly explained to patients upon diagnosis nor are all the consequences fully understood yet.
If people are going to worry about unknown risk, like possible "long term" problems from Interferon, then they should hold them up to the same light as the KNOWN risks of being HCV positive.
This treatment is not THAT new, plenty of people, thousands upon thousands have treated and have no "long term" problems. 30,000 people treated just last year. blaming treatment for any and all health issues after the fact seems a popular activity. but the bulk of the treating population is also middle aged and could have lots of health issues begin to show up like the rest of the population does. Even antibiotics can cause "long term" issues for some, all meds carry some risk and a small percentage of people will be burdened with issues with any medication or drug treatment unfortunately. Interferon is not risk free but it's benefits far outweigh the possible downside to me.
The risks of being HCV positive are not yet fully understood and what we do understand so far looks dire indeed. Our immune systems have to fight hard to keep up against a virus that produces trillions of babies A DAY. It makes sense that with a burden like that on our immune systems, other things can go wrong while the immune attention is on HCV fighting it off constantly.
To wait until damage is already in progress and to disregard the risk of simply being HCV positive seems super risky to me yet doctors don't even MENTION the risks of being HCV positive to patients, even the established ones. If doctors were to say "well, you can wait for better treatments but I should warn you you are at a much higher risk for Diabetes and Leukemia" people would think twice about waiting I can assure you!
With no damage and a fast clearing of the virus, you can consider shorter tx length and mitigate your time on meds and clear the virus, that is the best scenario but if you wait until the fibrosis ball is already rolling down the slippery slope, your chances of tx being successful diminish, but then you are in a fight for your life due to having waited while the virus had it's way with your liver. Sure some are lucky and don't develop consequences in their liver from HCV, but how many develop Diabetes or other problems?
Hepatitis C is NEVER A MILD DISEASE. That was the header statement on the Vertex webcast. I agree with that 100%. It certainly shouldn't be compared to Herpes, which IS benign for the vast majority. Even Herpes can cause larger problems and isn't benign to everyone, I have a friend that was blinded in one eye and had to have a corneal treansplant due to Herpes.
If you know you have this disease, research all you can on what they know so far about the consequences of being HCV positive on your overall life/health picture before you decide to "wait" on drugs that are not even through trials yet and weigh those risks against the temporary use of Interferon. Before you fall for the "you will probably die of something else" line be sure and look into "extra hepatic illnesses" that HCV is causal for. Cuteus mentioned this the first few days I came to this site and I took her advice and did my research. (thank you Cuteus) and boy was that an eye opener. Consider the possibility you very well could die of an HCV related cause and not HCV itself.
Being Hep C positive puts you at much higher risk for other illnesses, diabetes and leukemia and other cancers for starters. Let's not forget some viruses CAUSE cancer!
HCV positive status puts us at higher risk for insulin resistance problems, thyroid problems, blood disorders, gallbladder issues, joint issues, the list is long of the risks of being HCV positive regardless of your level of liver damage. Im talking about the damage to your whole health. HCV is NOT a liver disease, it is a blood disease, an immune system disease. It likes our livers but it is not limited to the liver in the damage it can cause. Look how many people with HCV have diabetes just on this board! Being HCV positive is a risk to your health, period. A far greater risk than taking the treatment in my view. Plus we do not as yet know just how many other health problems it can be a precursor for. All of these issues should be pointed out when encouraging people to wait or postpone treatment hoping for better things to come. Vx is not a foregone conclusion, and the severe rash problem is a problem I hope doesn't compromise it's approval. I hope they can do something about that issue like shorten the VX dosage length.It did seem to happen after day 50 or so.
Certain facts we do know, one, that clearing the virus becomes more difficult when fibrosis is present and we know that once fibrosis starts up, it has high potential to progress at a faster rate. Those reasons are very good reasons to treat BEFORE you have any liver damage if you are lucky enough to discover you have this virus. How I wish I had known I had this virus as I am sure many here do too. Waiting until your liver damage reaches a critical point,say, stage 3, seems super risky to me when compared to an as yet undamaged liver.
The fact that doctors told patients it was benign in the past, don't worry about it, you will die of something else, etc. just gives false hope and helped many deny their illness. That is why that huge campaign went on with the guy with the banged up face, that was aimed at people who KNOW they have the virus to do something and look into treating their disease. Back in the day doctors did not realize the full consequences of being HCV positive, now more is known, now people are being encouraged to look into treatment, now many doctors encourage all to treat. All geno 2 and 3 are encouraged to treat because their chance of clearing is relatively high. Over the years they have learned this is a far more serious disease than was thought. It is the number ONE reason for liver transplant in our country. That says a lot to me.
It shouldn't be treated like it is on par with Herpes.
Look how many here were told not to worry about it at one point and then down the road had to treat due to advancing liver fibrosis, in many cases substantially advanced. The risks of simply being positive are not clearly explained to patients upon diagnosis nor are all the consequences fully understood yet.
If people are going to worry about unknown risk, like possible "long term" problems from Interferon, then they should hold them up to the same light as the KNOWN risks of being HCV positive.
This treatment is not THAT new, plenty of people, thousands upon thousands have treated and have no "long term" problems. 30,000 people treated just last year. blaming treatment for any and all health issues after the fact seems a popular activity. but the bulk of the treating population is also middle aged and could have lots of health issues begin to show up like the rest of the population does. Even antibiotics can cause "long term" issues for some, all meds carry some risk and a small percentage of people will be burdened with issues with any medication or drug treatment unfortunately. Interferon is not risk free but it's benefits far outweigh the possible downside to me.
The risks of being HCV positive are not yet fully understood and what we do understand so far looks dire indeed. Our immune systems have to fight hard to keep up against a virus that produces trillions of babies A DAY. It makes sense that with a burden like that on our immune systems, other things can go wrong while the immune attention is on HCV fighting it off constantly.
To wait until damage is already in progress and to disregard the risk of simply being HCV positive seems super risky to me yet doctors don't even MENTION the risks of being HCV positive to patients, even the established ones. If doctors were to say "well, you can wait for better treatments but I should warn you you are at a much higher risk for Diabetes and Leukemia" people would think twice about waiting I can assure you!
With no damage and a fast clearing of the virus, you can consider shorter tx length and mitigate your time on meds and clear the virus, that is the best scenario but if you wait until the fibrosis ball is already rolling down the slippery slope, your chances of tx being successful diminish, but then you are in a fight for your life due to having waited while the virus had it's way with your liver. Sure some are lucky and don't develop consequences in their liver from HCV, but how many develop Diabetes or other problems?
Hepatitis C is NEVER A MILD DISEASE. That was the header statement on the Vertex webcast. I agree with that 100%. It certainly shouldn't be compared to Herpes, which IS benign for the vast majority. Even Herpes can cause larger problems and isn't benign to everyone, I have a friend that was blinded in one eye and had to have a corneal treansplant due to Herpes.
If you know you have this disease, research all you can on what they know so far about the consequences of being HCV positive on your overall life/health picture before you decide to "wait" on drugs that are not even through trials yet and weigh those risks against the temporary use of Interferon. Before you fall for the "you will probably die of something else" line be sure and look into "extra hepatic illnesses" that HCV is causal for. Cuteus mentioned this the first few days I came to this site and I took her advice and did my research. (thank you Cuteus) and boy was that an eye opener. Consider the possibility you very well could die of an HCV related cause and not HCV itself.
So you're a PITA too! ha! yeah I think they all get so used to everyone being anxious that they probably don't think too much of it.
Yes,the NP is GREAT! I love her. She really knows her stuff, as you know. I would imagine Dr.D does travel alot, but the times I have been there, he is usually around.Fridays he seems to be there.
I was surprised, I thought he was a little guy for some reason, but he is kinda tall it seems.
Well I hope we all get a big SVR when this is all over. I pray you do Mark. You have really put your time in and I really pray that you achieve SVR this round.
Good talking to you!
see ya later!
Yes,the NP is GREAT! I love her. She really knows her stuff, as you know. I would imagine Dr.D does travel alot, but the times I have been there, he is usually around.Fridays he seems to be there.
I was surprised, I thought he was a little guy for some reason, but he is kinda tall it seems.
Well I hope we all get a big SVR when this is all over. I pray you do Mark. You have really put your time in and I really pray that you achieve SVR this round.
Good talking to you!
see ya later!
I too see Dr. D's NP more frequently than I see Dr. D himself. One reason is that he is often out of town, and I go monthly for an office visit. The other reason is that I usually request to see her for many of the reasons you mentioned: she is tremendously experienced, very patient, very warm and usually spends more time with me than does Dr. D. Any major things that come up she emails him immediately for his input if he is away. If he's there, he stops in and makes sure he knows what's going on.
I wouldn't say she runs his practice, but almost. I have great faith in her! Ultimately, he makes the treatment decision.
Like you, I freak out if the lab results are delayed, call and email too often, and generally make a PITA of myself. I think they are quite used to it from us, and no matter how much of a PITA you think you are, it's your illness and your life and you are paying for their services, and as they have both said to me when I apologized for being such a pain, You should see some of our OTHER patients!
Mark
I wouldn't say she runs his practice, but almost. I have great faith in her! Ultimately, he makes the treatment decision.
Like you, I freak out if the lab results are delayed, call and email too often, and generally make a PITA of myself. I think they are quite used to it from us, and no matter how much of a PITA you think you are, it's your illness and your life and you are paying for their services, and as they have both said to me when I apologized for being such a pain, You should see some of our OTHER patients!
Mark
Wyntre has my email. if you have a way to get to her thru someone and get my email, do so. I will email wntre and tell her it is okay if she hears from you to give you mine.
That's awful about the little boy! It puts our lives in perspective doesn't it? I have to deal with the pain of trying to get this stuff dealt with, extention etc. Still not so happy with our response and admonishment, are you?
Yeah thats horrible about the mix up with your pcr and now have to extend all due to that maybe. I have no right to complain about being mad about the lab loosing a 6 hr test. What you went thru is so much worse! ugh!
Yeah i know, i 'probably will' go the 24. I know then at least I did all I possibly could have and if it came back it would be easier to deal with (still hard tho), then wondering if it came bakc cuz i shortened the course.
My friends little boy 7 yrs old just had his foot and part of his leg cut off due to cancer of the bone,(a few months back) so I feel guilty when i feel bad about having hep. Nothing is worse then seeing a child go thru that. But thank God he is doing good now.
Thanks for your prayers. i hope to have some good news to share next week. fingers crossed.
Yeah i know, i 'probably will' go the 24. I know then at least I did all I possibly could have and if it came back it would be easier to deal with (still hard tho), then wondering if it came bakc cuz i shortened the course.
My friends little boy 7 yrs old just had his foot and part of his leg cut off due to cancer of the bone,(a few months back) so I feel guilty when i feel bad about having hep. Nothing is worse then seeing a child go thru that. But thank God he is doing good now.
Thanks for your prayers. i hope to have some good news to share next week. fingers crossed.
Still waiting on the 4 week pcr. did it the day of the 5th shot, so it was just last week. But I called NP and she said she got back info that it was sent now for TMA which would mean its below 50,(as you know). I didn't realize that that would add 'days' onto getting results.
I of course was freaking out thinking OMG the VL went up and she is waiting until she has time in her schedule to 'break the news gently' or something. Then my next thought was maybe the lab lost my blood. because btw Quest lost a 6 hr test that I sat thru. Imagine that! Sat there for 6 grueling hours, no water, food,no tv, nothing, stared at my finger nails, then my shoes for 6 hrs,lol talked to myself too lol. Only to find, THEY LOST THE TEST!!!!!!!! ahhhhhh!!!! Shoot me, that's how I felt. I wanted someone to shoot me!!. Its no wonder Quest has lost the contract to Horizon. The girl told me its not something that 'rarely happens' either. It happens alot! if it was just a liver panel, no biggy. I would have gone back to get it again, but the 6 hr test, I said 'hey if I have low blood sugar or something, I will not find out cuz I will NEVER SIT THRU A TEST LIKE THAT UNLESS i can personally hand my blood over to the lab tech and watch him work on it. Well ya know that won't happen, so no more glucose tolerance test for me. This was just before hep dx.
yeah so hopefully next week I hear the new I'm UND. its a pain in the neck decision about the short course. but no sx, yes that makes it easy to complete 24, but the riba and interferon is really bad stuff to be running thru us. Granted ,thank God that it kills the virus, but long term stuff is scary. The effects of the riba on our good cells I don't think is the greatest, ya know. Granted the hep can cause cancer, but so can alot of the drugs we are using to treat the hep. Its all a gamble and decisions are not clear to me yet.
So much confusion we all go thru with all these differnt opinions from all these differnt doctors. Nothing is cut and dry with this disease which makes it hard for us all, ya know?
see ya later!
I of course was freaking out thinking OMG the VL went up and she is waiting until she has time in her schedule to 'break the news gently' or something. Then my next thought was maybe the lab lost my blood. because btw Quest lost a 6 hr test that I sat thru. Imagine that! Sat there for 6 grueling hours, no water, food,no tv, nothing, stared at my finger nails, then my shoes for 6 hrs,lol talked to myself too lol. Only to find, THEY LOST THE TEST!!!!!!!! ahhhhhh!!!! Shoot me, that's how I felt. I wanted someone to shoot me!!. Its no wonder Quest has lost the contract to Horizon. The girl told me its not something that 'rarely happens' either. It happens alot! if it was just a liver panel, no biggy. I would have gone back to get it again, but the 6 hr test, I said 'hey if I have low blood sugar or something, I will not find out cuz I will NEVER SIT THRU A TEST LIKE THAT UNLESS i can personally hand my blood over to the lab tech and watch him work on it. Well ya know that won't happen, so no more glucose tolerance test for me. This was just before hep dx.
yeah so hopefully next week I hear the new I'm UND. its a pain in the neck decision about the short course. but no sx, yes that makes it easy to complete 24, but the riba and interferon is really bad stuff to be running thru us. Granted ,thank God that it kills the virus, but long term stuff is scary. The effects of the riba on our good cells I don't think is the greatest, ya know. Granted the hep can cause cancer, but so can alot of the drugs we are using to treat the hep. Its all a gamble and decisions are not clear to me yet.
So much confusion we all go thru with all these differnt opinions from all these differnt doctors. Nothing is cut and dry with this disease which makes it hard for us all, ya know?
see ya later!
I'm sure they'll tell you to do 24, especially since you have few sides on treatment. Most doctors, even the good ones, tend to minimize the long lasting effects of interferon. This has been discussed again and again here.
Outta here to help a neighbor with some renovation,
-- Jim
Outta here to help a neighbor with some renovation,
-- Jim
you guys sound like me, "a special patient" as my doc #3 said. Usually my the time we are done in the office, the dr. is looking at MY binder, not his own notes. Last time he started underling stuff. So Myown you haven't gotten your 4 week pcr back yet? I understand all the shorter course stuff, but it would scare me. How many studies are there on this? Since I think I heard you say you aren't having too hard of a time, why not go the whole way? This is all speculation, if you aren't sure what the PCR is yet.
It's the 'idea' or the knowing I guess. I have trouble knowing its there, better if I didn't know. You compared the male versus female thoughts of virus one time and I believe you were right. It bothers woman more than men to live with the virus.
Big decision, I have to mention this the next appointment.
thanks
Big decision, I have to mention this the next appointment.
thanks
MO: I don't know what would bother me more, long term sx or having the disease come back. But I lean towards having the disease come back to bothering me more.
------------------------
I've never shared this logic, especially if someone has little or no liver damage. Has the virus crippled you physically in the past or is it just the *idea* of having a virus in your body that bothers you? We have plenty of viruses in our body, many harmless like herpes if checked by our immune system. So you'd rather have some potentially unknown side effects for life than a virus that might not do any harm or that certainly could be cured another day with another drug. We're all entitled to our opinions but you might want to read these threads before making a final decision:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41434.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41439.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41446.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41492.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41498.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41506.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41513.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41515.html
Be well,
-- Jim
------------------------
I've never shared this logic, especially if someone has little or no liver damage. Has the virus crippled you physically in the past or is it just the *idea* of having a virus in your body that bothers you? We have plenty of viruses in our body, many harmless like herpes if checked by our immune system. So you'd rather have some potentially unknown side effects for life than a virus that might not do any harm or that certainly could be cured another day with another drug. We're all entitled to our opinions but you might want to read these threads before making a final decision:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41434.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41439.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41446.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41492.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41498.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41506.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41513.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41515.html
Be well,
-- Jim
PITA lol yeah I guess you can say I probably have that title too. although the NP won't say that, she's nice about it and says 'sounds like your on pins and needles waiting for results. I said no "i'm freaking out waiting for results.'lol
I never bought into that saying 'no news is good news.' That saying works the opposite with some people such as myself. I'm somewhat a control freak, unfortunately, and have to know whats going on all around me, especially with something as important as this.
There are so many studies done concerning hep.But I wish they would do a study on how EVERY PERSON that comes into contact with the patient has a DIRECT EFFECT on this persons illness.
Doctors and nurses deal with illness all the time, but for most of us this is our first time and it can be very scary, to say the least. I think sometimes they forget this, not in a bad way, but they forget that there are millions of worries going through our minds about this and even something as little as waiting for lab results can cause anxiety. The disease messes with our mind, but sometimes our own lack of control of our thoughts are worse than what the disease can do to our mind.
I just read in the other forum bug asking you about the short course. That is something I would like to do to, but I am really afraid to take the chance. I don't know what would bother me more, long term sx or having the disease come back. But I lean towards having the disease come back to bothering me more. But its definitely something for me to talk to them about. Dr. A said he would be happy if I completed 16 weeks if sx were rough. I really have to think this out. I'll probably flag bug later and find out exactly what her doc said. Now thats a BIG decision to make 16 vesus 24.
see ya!
I never bought into that saying 'no news is good news.' That saying works the opposite with some people such as myself. I'm somewhat a control freak, unfortunately, and have to know whats going on all around me, especially with something as important as this.
There are so many studies done concerning hep.But I wish they would do a study on how EVERY PERSON that comes into contact with the patient has a DIRECT EFFECT on this persons illness.
Doctors and nurses deal with illness all the time, but for most of us this is our first time and it can be very scary, to say the least. I think sometimes they forget this, not in a bad way, but they forget that there are millions of worries going through our minds about this and even something as little as waiting for lab results can cause anxiety. The disease messes with our mind, but sometimes our own lack of control of our thoughts are worse than what the disease can do to our mind.
I just read in the other forum bug asking you about the short course. That is something I would like to do to, but I am really afraid to take the chance. I don't know what would bother me more, long term sx or having the disease come back. But I lean towards having the disease come back to bothering me more. But its definitely something for me to talk to them about. Dr. A said he would be happy if I completed 16 weeks if sx were rough. I really have to think this out. I'll probably flag bug later and find out exactly what her doc said. Now thats a BIG decision to make 16 vesus 24.
see ya!
Believe me I know about these dr's and labs! i am still really angry about that 10 week test that contradicts itself! I wouldn't have to extend (possibly) if I knew the real # on the PCR. I wish I had known earlier...Mondy morning quarterbacking just won't help though. I know the meds are awful. I am surprised I have made it 43 weeks so far, without to many lasting sides. They seem to come and go. GERD being the worst at the moment...
I would hate to see you have to retreat. I think I would still go the 24, it does go by quickly esp. w/o many sx. Let's pray for that UND PCR! MY TMA took a little longer, but not much more than a week. I am waiting for a PCR now. Next one will be a TMA, at 48 weeks.
I would hate to see you have to retreat. I think I would still go the 24, it does go by quickly esp. w/o many sx. Let's pray for that UND PCR! MY TMA took a little longer, but not much more than a week. I am waiting for a PCR now. Next one will be a TMA, at 48 weeks.
Also, if in the unlikely event you are somewhere between 5 and 50 IU/ml, still nothing to be concerned about because you will likely be non-detectible by week five -- I assume they are doing weekly viral loads until you are non-detectible?
So, looking good, whatever the TMA brings.
-- Jim
So, looking good, whatever the TMA brings.
-- Jim
Here's the skinny. She's probably right but you should have insisted on the week 5 test for reasons stated. But that's water under the damn, so let's move on. If for some reason -- and I highly doubt this -- you are still detectible on your week 4 test, then you must INSIST on a week 6 Heptimax to be taken the day before your seventh shot, but I don't suppose I really needed to tell you that.
Truthfully, in the hypothetical where you are detectible at week 4 and undetectible at either week 5 or 6 based on a week 6 Heptimax, it really doesn't matter whether you became non-detectible at week 5 or 6.
Bottom line is, like your NP, I think you've got it at week 4, and the next time you run into a situation that doesn't resolve to your liking, just take it a step up to the doc. I'm sure he'll go along with anything reasonable.
All the best,
-- Jim
Truthfully, in the hypothetical where you are detectible at week 4 and undetectible at either week 5 or 6 based on a week 6 Heptimax, it really doesn't matter whether you became non-detectible at week 5 or 6.
Bottom line is, like your NP, I think you've got it at week 4, and the next time you run into a situation that doesn't resolve to your liking, just take it a step up to the doc. I'm sure he'll go along with anything reasonable.
All the best,
-- Jim
What that means is that you are definitely under 50 IU/ml which is what the PCR portion determines. That has already been completed if I read your NP correctly. Given that, it's highly unlikely that your TMA will be positive, but, yes, black and white is always best. You'll probably have the TMA back sometime next week.
I forgot but what were you previous viral load numbers?
-- Jim
I forgot but what were you previous viral load numbers?
-- Jim
I spoke to him a couple times with NP.Np seems to have her own book,so to speak.She seems to have alot of power there. He seems to appreciate her and rank her high. IF I didn't like her so much I would just insist on seeing him only, but I am VERY happy with her so it doesn't matter who I have.
My husband thinks she's great. She takes her time with you,is very encouraging and down to earth, but so is the doctor very down to earth.They are both just very very nice people.
He is always there, and will pop in the room to ask how you are doing even if you were scheduled with NP.
My shot is starting to make me tired. I guess I will be hitting the sack soon. I'll read some posts and then watch tv until I crash.
Have a good night!
My husband thinks she's great. She takes her time with you,is very encouraging and down to earth, but so is the doctor very down to earth.They are both just very very nice people.
He is always there, and will pop in the room to ask how you are doing even if you were scheduled with NP.
My shot is starting to make me tired. I guess I will be hitting the sack soon. I'll read some posts and then watch tv until I crash.
Have a good night!
Gotcha. Still don't underestimate your input in the office. Asking for an xtra test, etc, is no biggie to them. When I run into similar situations, I always say something like " You're probably 100 per cent right, but I'd still feel better if I had the xtra test". Actually, I had a tall stack of lab requistion forms at home so really never had to ask, but if I did, that's how I'd approach it :)
Be well,
-- Jim
Be well,
-- Jim
Regarding my requisition forms -- still not sure if my docs had supreme confidence in what I was doing, or if they were placating a very persistent PITA patient. LOL. I guess it doesn't matter cause got what I wanted :)
-- Jim
-- Jim
Yes, I just spoke to NP and she said just that,that they are doing TMA and so it takes extra days. She said not to worry she believes it will be UND. But of course I told her when i see it in black and white I will feel better. But I think it looks good, i hope. It took such a drastic plunge initially so hope that helps with final outcome. fingers crossed.
Just so you should know, if you're doing Heptimax, the longer you have to wait for results the better. That's because they run the less sensitive PCR first and only run the more sensitive TMA part if you're non-detectible on the PCR. The shortest time I've received a non-detectible via Heptimax is 5 days, however the majority of the time it took close to two weeks. So again, if you don't get the results to day, probably good news.
-- Jim
-- Jim
However it got there, Swhana's identical post was on both sides. Hopefully, she will see both of them and reply to at least one :) Maybe MH duplicated it although seems more likely they would move a question, not duplicate it. I've seen this before and what I think happens is that folks are confused so they post in both places. Or maybe they post in one place, then end up on the other forum -- don't see their post -- and post again. We know there are two forums with very similar names and identical looks but I'm sure it's VERY confusing for someone just arriving here. Also, this type of question legitimately seems to fit either forum description, as it's both support and a question regarding terminology. Maybe it's just a software bug but for those concerned, I'm sure MH would clarify if you email them. Isn't today the day for your week 4 results?
Best of luck.
-- Jim
Best of luck.
-- Jim
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
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Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
