Aa
4 week test?
Everyone seems to have 4 week results. My Doctor says that she will only do the 3 month test because results would not change the protocal and that a poor 4 week result could be demoralizing. Is this legit? Does knowing your response earlier that 4 weeks help in any way?
In general, the 4-week PCR is a win-win situation with no downside.
If you have little or no fibrosis, then the early PCR offers not only an indication of how rapidly you're responding but options to shorten treatment.
If you have significant fibrosis, and your medical team believes in agressive, individualized treatment, then the week 4 PCR offers you doctors an opportunity to up the dosage.
The hitch of course is that most doctors (mine does, Cecil does, many other well-known docs do) will not make tx altering decisions based on the 4-week.
That said, it still makes sense to me for your own tx database to help you make your own decisions. After all, many of us have changed doctors mid-stream or re-treated with another doc. The week 4 PCR is great info to bring across should you decide to switch to a doctor that will use the data.
The plan with my doc, probably at the extreme, was to double-dose the Peg until I cleared with weekly PCR's. Therefore, I had 6 PCR's until I cleared at week 6. After that, the group recommended montlly PCR's although I only take them every 2-3 months but do watch my ALT carefully between. Enzymes and CBC's are done monthly except lately because of both falling hemoglobin and ANC. So until they stabalize, the CBC is being done weekly.
-- Jim
If you have little or no fibrosis, then the early PCR offers not only an indication of how rapidly you're responding but options to shorten treatment.
If you have significant fibrosis, and your medical team believes in agressive, individualized treatment, then the week 4 PCR offers you doctors an opportunity to up the dosage.
The hitch of course is that most doctors (mine does, Cecil does, many other well-known docs do) will not make tx altering decisions based on the 4-week.
That said, it still makes sense to me for your own tx database to help you make your own decisions. After all, many of us have changed doctors mid-stream or re-treated with another doc. The week 4 PCR is great info to bring across should you decide to switch to a doctor that will use the data.
The plan with my doc, probably at the extreme, was to double-dose the Peg until I cleared with weekly PCR's. Therefore, I had 6 PCR's until I cleared at week 6. After that, the group recommended montlly PCR's although I only take them every 2-3 months but do watch my ALT carefully between. Enzymes and CBC's are done monthly except lately because of both falling hemoglobin and ANC. So until they stabalize, the CBC is being done weekly.
-- Jim
argh! the skin! I forgot to talk about the skin!
I always had dry skin, and started using U-lactin for it, years ago. The lactic acid+urea+glycerin+Eucerin combo gives my skin life and keeps it from scaling and drying. Try to get similar ingredients in a cream form for the hands. During tx, my skin got worse, it was splitting like tissue paper, in places it never did before in addittion to the usual places, like the finger tips by the nail. It bled, which is scary to remember that, because I did not know I had hep c for many of those yrs. At the end of tx, it was the one side that would have done me in, the "paper cut-like" splits. Someone here recommended skin repair and it worked wonders. It kept the skin from opening and bleeding. I use the one by Nexcare. I also used vaseline on my hands and limited the water touching them by wearing latex gloves for water chores. Use a good cream with urea and lactic acid and cover the hands with cotton gloves at night for a while. Things, like Desitin, protect the skin very well, I wish they made it without the "baby" smell, though.
ok, good luck on finding a good one to control that annoying effect.
I always had dry skin, and started using U-lactin for it, years ago. The lactic acid+urea+glycerin+Eucerin combo gives my skin life and keeps it from scaling and drying. Try to get similar ingredients in a cream form for the hands. During tx, my skin got worse, it was splitting like tissue paper, in places it never did before in addittion to the usual places, like the finger tips by the nail. It bled, which is scary to remember that, because I did not know I had hep c for many of those yrs. At the end of tx, it was the one side that would have done me in, the "paper cut-like" splits. Someone here recommended skin repair and it worked wonders. It kept the skin from opening and bleeding. I use the one by Nexcare. I also used vaseline on my hands and limited the water touching them by wearing latex gloves for water chores. Use a good cream with urea and lactic acid and cover the hands with cotton gloves at night for a while. Things, like Desitin, protect the skin very well, I wish they made it without the "baby" smell, though.
ok, good luck on finding a good one to control that annoying effect.
A laugh and comfort to start the day, life is good. My hands feel like they've been baked in sand and soon I'll be able to stand a dime up in the splits, (let's see 10 fingers x 10cents, maybe I can get a real small cup of coffee). But as long as my mind stays glued together....
Whenever parenting scares me I remember that despite all the cards stacked against her my 30yr old daughter has become a wonderful reponsible adult with very little quality guidance from myself or her mother. And now she has 10 and 4 year old girls to get through the teenage years. I may have it easy.
Have a fun day all. Enjoy every easy second or minute if you can. Good thoughts to all in need.
Whenever parenting scares me I remember that despite all the cards stacked against her my 30yr old daughter has become a wonderful reponsible adult with very little quality guidance from myself or her mother. And now she has 10 and 4 year old girls to get through the teenage years. I may have it easy.
Have a fun day all. Enjoy every easy second or minute if you can. Good thoughts to all in need.
OH my I missed that - I am so sorry. I can't even imagine the pain you are going through. I love my dog so much I can't even think about it.
My thoughts are with you during this time. I know how you must feel and it breaks my heart.
My thoughts are with you during this time. I know how you must feel and it breaks my heart.
I messaged Doctor Ben Cecil and asked if fatty liver would speed up the progression of fibrosis and this was his reply:
It should not be a major problem. Stage one fibrosis is very mild. Try to get back to you weight at age 21. That is likely your ideal weight. Ben Cecil, MD
When I was 21 I weighed 103 pounds, YIKES!!! I got some work to do for sure!!
*dip on the treadmill*
It should not be a major problem. Stage one fibrosis is very mild. Try to get back to you weight at age 21. That is likely your ideal weight. Ben Cecil, MD
When I was 21 I weighed 103 pounds, YIKES!!! I got some work to do for sure!!
*dip on the treadmill*
glad to hear about your test results...
*the dip*
*the dip*
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