4 Wk. PCR Results ! ????????

[kickboxingmom]

I got my 4 wk. PCR results ! I just got home and don't want to look up and figure out.Dropping o's etc.Thank you for looking ! Thank You !       My start viral load was       772575     5.89 H
HEPTIMAX   (R)   HCV   RNA        Out of range 122000   H       < 5  IU/mL          
HEPTIMAX   (R)   HCV   RNA        Out of range 5.09       H       < 0.70  log  IU/mL
By the way my HGB went from  9.8 from the 3rd. to 11 today ! I can breath better !
Thank you before hand.
Tammy

[jmjm530]

not to be a wiseguy, but the of any backup that such a purchase not viable? LOL

But more seriously, doctors often retreat with the different peg if at first peg did not work. Have they studied this? I have no idea. The idea of switching pegs, is merely an extension of this concept in I first heard about it from Dr. C's website, not that I agree with all of its concepts, but this one did seem to make sense in cases where there was lack of response. I see no downside, only upside. With kick box, since she's right on the one log cusp, I think you could argue either way.

[zazza]

To be certain that you are responding to the meds you have to have a one log drop. This is because a viral load test result can vary half a log up or down. So you have to allow for half a log variance for each of the two tests you are comparing.

Say the first test was showing half a log higher than the actual viral load, and the second test half a log lower, then, if one was a null responder, it would look like you had had a one log drop when in reality your viral load stood still. This variance in the tests is why more than a one log drop is required to be certain there has been a response to the meds.

On the other hand, if the first test shows half a log lower than the actual viral load, and the second test half a log higher, then it would look as if you had had a one log lower response to the drugs than the real drop.

I have seen people with poor results at week 4 reach better than expected results at week 12. So one never knows unless one does that journey oneself what the result will be. And, as I said before, information is always good, so going to week 12 is never in vain since you find out more about your response to the meds and can use this if you will have to tx again.

I am not in favor of switching pegs. Jim, do you have any backup for such an approach?

[kickboxingmom]

That itself says alot.Thank you so much for all you say and do for me.You guys are great.
Tammy

[kickboxingmom]

I sent you a message.I will talk to my Drs. tomorrow and see what I can do.
I am on Peg-Intron.6th. injection tomorrow.I was to take 0.4 mcg and pushed dial up to 0.5.Have done full dose from beginning.No not a problem here with diabeties.I have not been tested.
Tammy          

[zazza]

This is how my hgb looked during the first half of my tx:

Baseline: 15.2
Week 1: 14.1
Week 2: 11.1
Week 4: 10.9
Week 9: 10.5
Week 12: 11.5
Week 15: 10.1
Week 20: 11.1
Week 24: 10.7
Week 28: 10.0
Week 32: 10.7
Week 36: 10.1

My hgb stayed between 9.4 at the lowest and 10.6 at the highest for the rest of my 72 weeks. So your hgb rise seems pretty normal to me. Your hgb will probably be lower again next CBC.

[jmjm530]

last thought. Have you ever had or been tested for insulin resistance? Newer studies suggest that insulin resistance can significantly impede treatment. If you are insulin resistant, there are drugs -- like metaforin sp? -- that you can take. If you haven't been tested, something to bring up with your doc ASAP. "Cowriter" is our resident insulin resistant expert, and I'm sure she'll be more than happy to share with you details and studies should this be an issue.