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genotype 1a

Hi i have just come back from hospital and have been told i have geno type 1a with a viral load of 85000 i am soooo scared  they say i will get a letter next week for a biopsy and then i will start rib and interf. i am shell shocked the worse genotype typical grrrrrr please can someone tell me if i will be able to work and most of all will i lose my locks i have a great husband i am so scared i am going to push him away
i have littlen info on genotype 1a any help i will be very appreiciative
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed over 20 years ago.  I have 1A with over a million viral load.  My daughter is 12 yrs old and I breast fed her for 6 months.  I read endlessly while pregnant and the virus doesn't pass through breast milk. She was tested as an infant and again after she was one year old.   She does not have Hep C.  Good luck to you and your baby!
Helpful - 0
1669790 tn?1333662595
Alora, I would suggest you repost your question by starting a new thread instead of tagging onto a very old one.  You will likely get a much better response.  There are several very knowledgable folks here that might be able to relay their own experience or point you to articles published so you can read futher.  

Welcome to the forum.  Considering your young age and next trts, the rate of success is much higher now.  
Helpful - 0
1730527 tn?1310691537
I found out that I was Hepatitis C positive last week. today i went back in to the doctors and they said that i am genotype 1a and that my viral load is 1.2 million. I am only 24 years old and i am very scared cause i also am 36 weeks pregnant with my first child a little boy. i go to see the specialist on the 26 of july. my son is due on august 2nd. i really want to breastfeed him because i feel that it is the best thing that i can do for my baby. i know that there is only a 5% chance that Wyatt (my son) can get it but there is also that 95% chance that he will not. i am hoping and praying for that 95%. yes i am worried about me but i am worried more about my son. It is my own fault that i have this disease because i was not careful and did not protect myself when i should have but it is not my son's fault in any way. is there anyone out there who can relate to me and what im going through right now?

-Alora Jean
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"they say i will get a letter next week for a biopsy and then i will start rib and interf. "

The only logical reason for a biopsy in this setting is for its usefulness in determining the need for treatment.  If you are willing to just go along with what "they" say and treat regardless of biopsy outcome, then there is no logical reason for a biopsy. Remember Lisa -"they" don't make the medical decisions---you do. Their job is to provide you with a clear picture of your present state of health, and present you with all of the options and the reasoning behind EACH.. They should give you with all of the information necessary to make an informed choice.

I urge you to learn more before about HCV before deciding on the best course for you to take. Do not be rushed. There is no reason for you to hurry in any decisions you make concerning HCV.

Regards,
Mr Liver
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I lost about half my hair. It started falling out about week 12 and it stopped falling out about week 37.
There's a hat place online where you can buy caps, hats, scarves and wigs. There must be someone who remembers the website. The caps are small than the scarves. I had to send one back, too small. However, Rosemary shampoo was recommended for damaged hair and to help it grow back. My hair was always my crowning glory and I had to forget about it during tx.

Good luck to you. You have come to the right place for help, understanding and support. This is the best forum for hepatitis C.  
Helpful - 0
104652 tn?1196600308
hi Lisa...
i post here..but its my boyfriend who has HepC ..
he is also genotype 1...but grade iv.cirrhosis and has been on treatment for years!
at least 2 1/2..and thank god he has had no crises and i believe he is virus free for now.
the docs do mention at times taking him off the meds...but havent as of yet.
he did have long thick hair and it did thin some.
he also gets very tired, skin rashes, some indigestion issues, and some moodswings as well.
he works part time for now, some days he just doesnt have the energy to do it.
hey....you work for BT...is that British Telecom?
i had a friend there years ago...he worked in human resources in London.
Gary George.
Do you know him?
was a good friend and we lost touch years ago.
anyway...hang in there...you will do ok..even though its very traumatic ...
the people here are very helpful , smart and informative on just about everything !
so,, keep posting..
you wont feel alone with this.
and if your hubby needs it..he can post too.
love !
darcar
Helpful - 0
253566 tn?1219679699
Reading watch dogs post made me think about Milk Thistle. I dont know what others on this forum think of MT but my docs said most patients were on it and it didnt do any harm.

German studies have shown some liver improvements with it.

frank
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 40 years old,I had hep B ,can somebody explain what is :Genotype:B  or 1a or 1b 0r 2b
what type better??
Helpful - 0
190885 tn?1333025891
i'm 55  1a..vl.5.5 million..had biopsy this june and was stage 1 to 2 and grade 2...i was advised to wait for better treatments in a few years...the hard thing is i do have symtoms..today i fell asleep in a vally on a roof..i also fell asleep 2 years ago at the wheel and drove head on into another car...( that was before i knew what i had)...if your symtoms arn't too bad then a good diet might help..and after a biopsy the doctors will let you know if you should wait for hopefully better treatments..good luck...billy
Helpful - 0
253566 tn?1219679699
Good luck in your decision.

It sounds like you are being pushed into treatment. You wrote that you will get a letter about doing your biopsy and then start treatment.

I am 1a with very low viral count and I think my liver was a 1. I had been living with Hep C for about 20 years (probably) but the docs scared me into treatment and it lasted 60 weeks. I had no smptoms and was extremely healthy. Two years after treatment and my life is hell.

My new doc said he would have never prescribed treatment for my situation. He said that he would have kept careful studies of my liver and virus and waited.

Just my story for you to consider. I am hoping that your biopsy show no damage and you continue to live a long healthy life.

frank


Helpful - 0
166496 tn?1236182312
Oh, and about the hair thing........  I was terrified of that.  I also did not loose my hair.  I did however loose some of my body in my hair, hey but at least I still got it.  As you can see from my pic, I have a lot of it.  IT is shorter now but STILL THERE!
Helpful - 0
166496 tn?1236182312
I too have 1A and started with a very low VL.  I am 41 years old and have had this probably for about 20 years. I had biopsy this year and decided to treat after all this time. I found out I had HCV about 6 years ago thru routine bloodwork and had no symptoms.  I started treating 14 weeks ago. I have stage 2 -3 inflammation and stage 2 fibrosis of the liver.

My hepatologist is located at John Hopkins University in Baltimore MD.  

I was one of the few that was undectectable at 2, 4 and 12 weeks.  I only have to treat for 24 weeks, last shot is November 9th.

Listen, my doc said that I had so many positive things going for me as someone has said above, that helped with my undetection.  Young (yeah right), decent body weight (150), good health (do smoke though), low viral load, woman and caucasian.  Al of those factors are a help with treatment and are a positive thing!

I personally have not had too much difficulty with treatment, have not missed a day from work yet.  Well, played hooky one day shhhhhhhh!

A good support system is one of the keys.  Also a positive attitude, or at least that is what I have found.

You have come to the right place!

Shari
Helpful - 0
179355 tn?1207407251
Geno 1a VL 470,000. 54 yr old male. Treated for 48 weeks with 1200 daily riba and interferon. I was scared shiftless when I found out but after I got started, and especially after I found this site, everything kinda just fell in place. You're going to be alright. Valtod is right about the low VL so accept it, start planning for your journey, read every thing you can on Hep C, tough out the treatments, and pick up where you left off.  Believe me, you're going to learn so much about yourself throughout your treatment. It's not the end of the world and it's not the worse thing that can happen. It's just another test of faith and endurance in the grand scheme of life. You're in good hands here. Lots and lots of great advice! Good Luck!  And oh, welcome aboard!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i would just like to thank you all you are all very helpful and my husband will be joining this site for support as i think this will help him a lot
thank you all from the bottom of my heart xxxxxxxxxx
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm sorry to hear of your dx. It's always scary to hear those words. My hubby is also genptype !a and is currently on Interferon. He's also a post-transplant, making things a lot more difficult for us.
First off--read as much as you can and take a lot of that with a grain of salt!! You'll have many sit downs with your doc (I hope) and ask as many questions as possible.
Yes, this tx is tough, no one here will deny that. My hubby has pushed me away and that has been as hard or harder on me than anything else. I am here for him--but he wants to be a kind of caveman. Don't go that route--let your hubby support you in any way possible. Depression is so common--don't be afraid of taking an antidepressant--makes it easier on everyone, also helps with the pain. You might lose your hair, but it will grow back. You can probably still work--my hubby is actually on a business trip right now. It's hard, but all he has to do is go to work and come home & go to bed. I do everything else. So---you are going to have to get hubby on board. This tx is individual to each patient--so I guess, expect the worse, hope for the best and hang in there!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Stupid computer or stupid me, ha.  My husband is a genotype 1a also and has a VL of 650,000. He'll start treatment in Oct.  I know how you're feeling right now even tho it's my husband that has it but I feel what he feels I guess. That hot feeling that comes over you when they say you have Hep C.  All the blood rushes to your head and your ears clog up.  Everyone goes through it.  But, it'll get better as time goes by.  It's a process I think.  I'm worried for him as your husband will be worried for you. He'll be fine and if he loves you he'll help you get through this.  Come her often and these great people will get you through it too.  Hugs!!
Denise
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please try to calm down. I know it's difficult but try to look at some positive signs.

Your viral load is VERY low. Having VL < 600,000 UI/mL is a really positive predictive factor for the eventual success of your future treatment.

1a is not the worse genotype. 1b is.

If your 34 years old (as your nick suggests), you're very young compared to most people who go through treatment and this is another very positive predictive factor.

And if your biopsy shows minimal liver damage (as I think it will), your prospects for successful treatment without severe side effects will be very promising.

Finally, if your great husband is indeed great, you won't push him away. He'll support you through this ordeal. He'll learn that HCV is not really a sexually transmitted disease. Especially, sexual transmission from female to male is pretty much unheard of. So, he won't feel threatened by your condition.

Wish you luck and be strong!
Helpful - 0
212705 tn?1221620650
I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I, too am a 1a. Jus' so ya know...still have my hair at 24 wks of tx. I did cut it short before treating though... Don't worry about that. Many people do continue to work throughout treatment aka tx. You may need to take a day off here and there. So, if possible you should look into FMLA as a precaution and to protect your job. Do alot of research and if possible do that with your husband. Many "significant others" post on the Community side of this forum for support and info..that's just an idea. You are blessed to have found this site. The folks here have helped me enormously, I can't say enough about this forum! BTW, check out the archives...almost any question you may have has already been asked. The biopsy sounds scary but really it is not a big deal...it only takes a moment but then you gotta wait around in bed for a few hours, and the worst part of it is...the boredom! Bring a book! For encouragement, search for the letters SVR,(in the search box/upper right hand corner) which means Sustained Viral Response or in other words..Cure. There are many people here who are cured...and living life better than before tx!  Take care and keep in touch, Lisa.
Yvonne
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Avatar universal
I am 34 ,and symptoms are swollen stomach and fatigue you  wouldnt  belive i could sleep on a washing line lol I have a son age 8
they tried to do elasticity test on liver today but could not get a reading from this
they said my cholestral was high at 6 which is unusal with hep c
I work for bt as a supervisor i have a team of 20 people i am supposed to look after god help them lol
and maggie it is so scary good luck to you and to all on this wonderful site

I am still in the dark about this diease
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm in the same boat right now. I was diagnosed in 2001, but have never suffered symptoms. I stupidly didn't get a biopsy until a month ago. I am 26 years old and genotype 1a/ stage2. I've most likely had HCV since birth. My doctor also recomended treatment which I am very nervous and scared about. I'm glad I found this site though. A lot of nice people that help put your mind at ease a little.

When I found out that I would need treatment and that my liver was in worse shape than I thought I cried for a week. I'm trying to stay positive now though. The shock wears off. Keep me informed and I hope everything goes well for you!
Helpful - 0
186606 tn?1263510190
Can you give us a little more information, ie.. your age and whatever else you wish to share?
Do you have symptoms of Hep C now?

What kind of work do you do?
Some people lose some hair. Some don't.

Something that might help your husband is to become a member here....there are some family members that can provide him support as well.

But calm down. Your reaction is very common for someone newly diagnosed and we have all been there.....it is NOT as bad as it seems right now, dear.

Deb
Helpful - 0
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