Anyone Got A "Typical" Viral Load Drop Graph?

[RobertBeWell]

I sat down with the research doctor today at my study visit, because I wanted to discuss with him his feelings on whether or not I should continue on. Though he couldn't come right out and say it, he absolutely didn't disagree when I told him that based on my results, I was not getting the study drug.

Anyhow... he told me that as time goes on, and the viral load drops, the remaining virus are "harder" to kill, because they are "tougher". In other words, in patients that respond to treatment, they usually expect to see large viral drops initially, followed by progressively smaller and smaller drops until UND.

I was a bit skeptical, but I didn't let on because I didn't want to insult the man, as he's pretty respected in his field as a researcher.

How can one virion be any harder to kill than another.

Anyone got a link to a graph of a "typical" viral load drop in a "good response" scenario?

Thanks

RBW

[Bali05]

just another thought....
Would`nt we see a lot more breakthroughs if the resistant mutation theory
were true ? Instead once UND with SOC breakthroughs are very rare just about
1-3%.

[Bali05]

Spot on !
The only thing I find 100% with HepC is that nothing is 100%.
I predosed Alinia & Riba, high dose Riba , have perfect Vit D , B12 , take SAM-e , drink above 3 cups of coffee , good BMI , no isulin resistants, excersise , healthy low GI diet , no indication of advanced liver damage and yet  I see people with my geno (4) who have a very similar response that I have but don`t do any of these things.
Definately makes me wonder sometimes......

b

[aaCharley]

Regarding the doctor's comment of "We don't know":

There is certainly a lot of truth to that.  The comments in this thread about what people think they know, with certainty, are just speculations.

It is possible that the reason for the difficulty in getting to the last little viron is that some are located in difficult to treat locations in the body.  Several other diseases are of that type.

Another possible explanation for the supposed "mutations" is that they were always there, just in very low counts in relation to the total viral population.  Nothing mutated, but they just were not identified in the first place.  Considering that there have been an increasing number of versions of the HCV being identified, I could speculate that this may well be the case.  Something similar is happening in the farming sdience as the weed killers are used.  Suppose they work on 99.99% of the particular weed.  After 15 years or so it becomes evident that the weed is still in the crop field and the prevelant version is resistant.  It is possible it is not a mutation, just a slightly different version that was in the original population.  Recognizing the state of science regarding the testing and identification in the first place, that seems a good probability for me.  

Good luck with your treatments.

[James10500]

If you are having no side effects, and you had a two log drop why would you even consider stopping tx.  Your Doc who has treated thousands of patients is telling you not to quit,that you are doing well.

Think about all those that get taken off of treatment,and want to continue.
Ironic.

[nygirl7]

And unfortunately we could always get it again somehow (which is why I am so paranoid).

The no guarantee thing is a hardship for everyone :(

[mikesimon]

You're right Robert. It is persistent and there are no guarantees.
Really though, I haven't come across many guarantees that I could count on - except for Hammacher Schlemmer perhaps.... and maybe a few others.

Mike