got biopsie results

[pitter]

hi everyone.
i don't have the genotype # yet...but my dr. told me that, the damage was "quite benign," then he said there was "very little damage to my liver" so i pressed for more explanation, and he said the damage was a 0-1 level...he didn't explain much more to me than that..and suggested me coming in to discuss treatment...well, from what i have read here...i don't want to do treatment.and may not need to at this stage.
if i HAD to treat it- i guess i would.
Can anyone help me out here with some wisdom on this?
i am 52...i already have illness and pain with rheumetoid arthritis,(mild)so i don't need more from tx for sure.
(FYI, i think i may have gotten "IT" around 10 or so yrs. ago
either thru dental work at a dirty dental office that i stopped going to of course, or, i was a hairdresser and i did cut someones hair who had it and he was very sick,i cut my finger while i was cutting his hair, ??? just FYI..)
well anyway, i would appreciate anyones thoughts and ideas of what i should do now...
i asked for all of my test results to be sent to me..
thank you, and i hope everyone finds some peace ful moments!
pitter

[friole]

Hey, hope you don't think I am one of those who think you are trying to convince others not to treat.  I think you are a person of reason.  You think out loud and we all benefit by it.  There is much to be said about your decisions not to treat, and much more to be said about your health consiousness and nutrition.  It is a pleasure to be around you and occasionally on your wave length!
kaathy

[Forseegood]

first, nice to see you...youre on the back 9 of all of this yerself, and so glad to hear it...well, following your own logic (i think) if the insurance co's could see that they are going to be cutting treatment times in half (or maybe even far less, especially with all these peeps extending) I should think that would be incentive enough, if they are looking to save money (although they are so bone-headed about funding preventative measures, but I've been reading that that will be changing that soon enough also, for most diseases, something that would save them tons of money)... I've often said, that if you remember the last trials of current SOC...before they were officially "on the market" those trials were huge....on their last legs...I knew loads of people who were on those...Feds, insurance co's, are looking at an explosion of new patients with this...hit those long yardage drives Fldude...

[friole]

Both of you have great results.  I don't know why.  I suspect genetics have a lot to do with it.  Cathi - I am 1-1 after probably 35 years of infection - so similar to you.  I think I lean more with Ina in that treatment should be done while you are healthy - not after the liver has deteriorated.  I look at the inflammation to scarring as a flow.  Once it starts it will continue.

Here are some slides that show what hepatitis C looks like:

http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/LIVEHTML/LIVERIDX.html

Whereas I do think one should treat while healthy and before severe damage, I recognize that many choose not to.  Right now I am waiting too - for  the new meds to hit the market or for a trial - but only because I have relapsed after treatment.

It is such a personal decision.  Once you have made it, don't try to second guess yourself. Do have your enzymes checked maybe twice a year, and get a biopsy every 3 years (that was my hepatologist's recommendation).

good luck,
frijole

[GrandmaA]

I'm so happy for your GREAT biopsy results. I wish I had those results. You have plenty of time to make a decision. JmJm gives excellent advice and so do many others here.

Cathi, thanks for your good wishes on my retirement. Feels great even if I still have 15 weeks of tx left.

[jmjm530]

Wanted to add that it's good you're sharing your well-credentialed liver specialist's watch n' wait approach at least toward your treatment.

My opinion is that most come to this discussion group after their doctor tells them to treat, and therefore my guess is that this discussion group is underepresented by those that were told they had little or no liver damage and were told by their doctors not to currently treat. Of course this is just speculation, but it certainly was the case with me, having HCV for close to 40 years but arriving here at this discussion group around a week into treatment.

Anyway, thanks for telling your story as watch n' wait is sometimes an unpopular recommendation in a place where so many have or are treating.

All the best,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

One doc said not more than once a year. Another said every 3 months. I suppose context is also important as you are haven't treated yet. HR's recommendation sounds very reasonable, like every 6-12 months I would assume. I've had two scans -- six months into treatment and around 6 months post treatment. I feel no rush to have another and will probably wait until someone local in my area gets a scan device. If I was not treating I'd probably make a trip to be scanned every 6-12 months but probably every 12 months just because I wouldn't want to obscess on HCV but that's a personal take. HCV played almost no part in my life prior to treatment. Other than some minimal medical monitoring, never gave it a thought. It was treatment that totally took over my life and to a certain extent the effects still linger, both physically and pychologically. Sometimes I have "flashbacks" to the treatment experience if that makes any sense. Has definitely left an imprint. Hope this helps.

-- Jim