Discontinue

[kikkat]

I have Geno 3 and have been taking Inerferon & riba for 3 months now and I am ready to scream.  I took a 6wk leave of absence from work, have to go back the 3rd of August. Yesterday was the worst day I have ever had, I am sick of the way I feel and the way I treat people. I want to quit taking the medication altogether my question is what would happen if I did ... would it be harmful?  After the first 4 weeks my viral load was <7, when I started it was 120,000,000. Please help me !!!

[IMstacie]

Although you feel like cr@p, sometimes working will keep your mind off of it and help pass the time quicker.  Talk to your manager/supervisor/hr and ask them if it will be a problem to miss a day here and there.  Don't stop now, it will soon be behind you.

[FlGuy]

To discontinue or to go on is a personal decision.  The treatment is difficult for some. Besides, if you quit and relapse what's the worst that can happen?

[Marcia2202]

I am also a geno 3a. I did not clear at 4 weeks, as you did, and had to prolong treatment to 32 weeks. I was totally debilitated, but I made it. Don't give up, you can do it!!!!

Just come here and vent, but stick to it. You will be so glad you forced yourself to do it, once you are done.

Best of luck and I wish you loads of strength.

Marcia

[aquarius121]

I too am a geno3a and have gone through tx 48wk then relasped. I am at 5wk 2nd tx and know how you feel its not easy but dont give up your in a great place to clear virus talk to your dr. get what you need for your sides and keep going you can do it.

[epiphiny]

Please don't give up!  You've made it this far and the first 3 months are the hardest as your body adjusts to the meds.  Talking to your Med team about getting an antidepressant is a neccessity, I couldn't have done tx without them.  

Also, are your bloods being well monitored, how are your hb levels, wbc, platelets etc?  There are rescue drugs for nearly every side effect.

Most importantly, keep coming to forum and asking questions, no question is too big or too small, we've all been there and we've made it through.

Pleae don't give up.

Epi :)

[comeagain]

I did 24 weeks relapsed then did 48 weeks and made it SVR.
I believe  if I had done 36 weeks first time that would have been enough.

Now I had to do 72 alltogether and it was tuff.
I was geno 3 but I didn´t got RVR like you did so 24 weeks will probably do the trick for you, hang in there man!!

ca

[newleaf09]

I'd hate the waste all that previous misery if I faced the chance of being forced to do it all over again.  The SSRI antidepressants work well for irritability.  I only needed a half dose to keep the mean stuff from popping out of my mouth.  Was completely weaned back off of them 6 weeks after TX.  No one ever had any clue that I was on them; they just let me keep being "me".  Tired, pale, chemo me but regular me.

[CoWriter]

There are studies that show that for some genotype 3's (if they started with a low viral load and cleared the virus by Week 4), sixteen weeks of treatment may be enough.  However, relapse rate is higher.

Even though you cleared the virus by Week 4, you started with a HIGH viral load.  So a shortened treatment wouldn't be a good option for you.  If you quit now, the virus will most likely come back.  

You already did the thoughest part.....you cleared the virus.  Since you cleared by Week 4, your chances of staying clear (if you finish the full 24 weeks) are excellent.  Now it's just a matter of doing whatever it takes to get to the finish line.  

I don't mean bite the bullet....I'm a firm believer in treating side effects.  The severe irritability can be helped by anti-depressants.  Talk to your doctor about whatever side effects you're having.  Also ask him if he can put you on disability for the next three months.  Remind those that you haven't treated well that it's the medications making you act like that.  Make sure they understand that this won't last forever and that right now you need their understanding because what you're doing is not easy.  

If you post about your other side effects, people will tell you what worked for them.  Three more months and the nightmare will be over.  You can do it.

Wishing you all the best,

Co
P.S.  BTW, your viral load couldn't have been 120 million.  There are no viral load tests that can measure that high.  But even if it was one million it's still considered "high".

[HCA]

If you stopped now you would most probably relapse and be back where you started.
You only have 12 weeks to go.
Be happy!!!!!!!!!!!