ANOTHER question

[Rockedbyrequiem]

I swear, every time I feel optimistic about my situation, something rains on my freakin parade. Here's the deal: Week 15/48, geno 1a, viral load started at around 6,000,000 and was negative at week 6. Could have even been week 4. So my doctor keeps tellin me this is a great response and I should be very optimistic. Then, when I saw him the other day, he wrote an order for bloodwork. Well after my visit was over, I noticed he wrote a freakin Hep C quantitative order! What the hell?? Does the virus ever come back DURING treatment when your body responds so well? Im all nervous again now. I was really happy about the idea that at the very worst, my liver would have some time to repair itself. Now I dont know whats goin on!

Thanks guys

[pjhep80]

also doesnt necesarily have to be a transfusion... if they gave you blood in a hospital for any reason prior to 1993 or so before they started testing for it

oh and CONGRATS on your rapid viral response that is exactly what to hope for with SOC ... dont worry about them continuing to test they have to all the way thru treatment and up to six months beyond to make sure you dont relapse...

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Im pretty sure I never had a blood transfusion. And Im also pretty sure my mom was never infected with HCV. I guess I could ask her if it's even remotely a possibility, but I doubt it. I agree, it doesnt seem to make sense that I was stage 2 after only a year and a half. Im gonna tell myself I was infected by a tattoo sometime in the last 6 years. Like I said, I drank and used drugs heavily up until the tail end of 2006, so that could be why I am stage 2.

***I'll gladly trade you. Young and UND during first 3rd of treatment, you should be turning cartwheels (or trying to).***

Well, thank you for trying to make me feel a little better. I dont necessarily feel lucky, but I always tell myself theres tons of people out there who have it a lot worse than me. Be it Hep C, or anything else like HIV, cancer, etc. I am trying to be optimistic, and I realize it could be a lot worse.

[scratchinghead]

I'll gladly trade you. Young and UND during first 3rd of treatment, you should be turning cartwheels (or trying to).

[joannatsf]

Don't worry about it!

There appears to be no significant correlation between HCV RNA levels and ALT values or histological activity in patients untreated by anti-viral therapies (Interferon). Viral load varies between infected individuals but is not a useful prognostic indicator nor does it measure the severity of virus-induced liver disease.

[pjhep80]

does your mom have it or did you have any blood transfusion as a baby?

im also ex-heroin addict, 1980-84, i didnt find out about the hep until like 5 years ago and i was drinking right up until then im stage 2/grade 2 it is very strange for you to be stage 2 and only having it for a few years

as for your gf, ask her the same, maybe she got it from her mom or a transfusion as a child...

[Isobella]

I think it drives alot of us nuts trying to figure out when we were first infected.  Some know for sure and others never will never know.  

Doesn't help that this disease doesn't have much rhyme or reason for progression.  

I think I have had it for almost 30 years.  And I have always enjoyed alcohol.  Stage 1 grade 0...go figure.  Starting vl 919,000.

Bottom line-for me anyway....don't care so much when I got it as compared to when I got rid of it.  My SVR date will be much more important than my infection date.  

You're not on your way to being dead in your 20's...you have a very good chance of beating this thing with the response you have had.  You're gonna have a long clean healthy life and die at age 103.... in your sleep.... with a smile on your face =)

Hang in there.

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Wow, thank you so much everyone. I kinda figured it was really rare especially with someone who went from a VL of 6,000,000 to Neg in less than 6 weeks. From what Ive gathered, most people have a much lower VL. Still, it's a bit unnerving. Since one of you mentioned I could have had it longer, I will shar with you guys the scenarios and would love your opinions. Its something thats Ive always been bothered with, not knowing.

Scenario 1: I got my first tattoo at 17, and got several more over the next few years. I know it is extremely rare to be infected by a tattoo. BUT, it makes more sense in that I AM stage 2 already, and my gf was exposed somehow. If I only had it for a little over a year, it would be much less likely that my gf was exposed somehow. We still cant figure out how she was exposed. The important thing is she immediately fought it off. PLUS, if I was infected years earlier, the liver damage would make sense as I was still drinking and using drugs. Whereas if I was infected in 06, I really only drank alcohol once or twice after that, and didnt use drugs.

Scenario 2: May 06, Im a heroin addict. I injected only for a short time before I got clean. AND, I used brand new needles fresh from a package every time but ONCE.The guy assured me over and over that it was clean, and it looked clean, so I used it. But that only happened one time. So, while its more likely I would have gotten it from a needle, how likely is it I had stage 2 liver damage after a year and a half, being clean almost totally? And how would my gf have been exposed? Especially since we only had sex a few times? And passing it that way is very unlikely anyway.

I pray the first scenario is the truth. It would ease my mind a bit, knowing Im not on my way to being dead in my 20s, ya know? Well, any comments would be appreciated.

I really pra

[Debbie223]

I had my viral load checked at least 3-4 times during tx (6 months, 1st time) I think that it is pretty normal.

[Isobella]

Congratulations on your great response to tx.  

Congratulations also on finding a good doc that is following you closely.

I agree with Great Bird....be reassured, not worried.

I am in a trial and I get one done every 4 weeks. Makes me feel really good to know I am still UND at week 30.

Good luck to you.....SVR wishes for us all =)

[Trinity4]

It's all part of the treatment process R.  I just had a PCR done after 48 wks to see if there is any chance of a breakthrough so that I can continue on with extended treatment.
I know it's hard not to worry but it is what it is.  Worrying doesn't change the outcome.
Actually, I haven't given it a second thought until now.  If I'm postive as one of our members so elequently stated  "game over".  No guarantees with treatment but you are an early responder, tolerating treatment and are getting the normal blood test assocaited with treatment so remain hopeful, roll with it and try to make the most out of everyday.  I think this part of the Serenity Prayer sums it up perfectly:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference

As all have said, you're doing great.....hang in there.

Trinity

[portann]

Most docs will at least test at week twelve and week forty-eight and should test at week four. Was your doc simply running the 12 week PCR, which is standard and done just before your thirteenth injection?

Viral breakthrough is rare. I don't know why it occurs but one possibility is that the patient stops taking the meds as required.

As far as your progression to Stage Two,  you may have contracted HCV much earlier than you think. Some of us assume we know exactly when we caught it  but I'm not so sure of that. You may have had it since birth or been exposed to it at a dentist's office but never been tested until recently.

You're doing really great, so hang in there.

[meakea]

You should absolutely be glad that your doc is requesting these tests along the way.  Don't worry because of it...be comforted -- seriously.  Some of us have docs that don't do as many blood tests (some only do the VL at 12 week, 24 weeks and end of treatment).  Let them test, test, test...in the end you'll be VERY glad they did.

My doc is one of those that doesn't test VL until week 12 but I had a snafu with my shots that made him want to test me at week 4.  Because of the 4 week test, I was able to learn that I was UND at week 4!  If I hadn't had the shot snafu, I wouldn't have known that.  It gave me a huge mental boost.   At the same time, if I were to learn that I had a viral breakthrough during my treatment I would certainly want to know that so I wasn't putting myself through a treatment that wasn't working.  It's all good what your doc is doing.

[GreatBird]

Here's the thing, when someone tests UNDETECTABLE we keep treating and that's because even though they can't find it, it doesn't mean the virus is really and truly gone. So, that's why after a clearance at 4 weeks a person will continue to treat until 24 or 48 weeks (depending on genotype).

During that time, it's very prudent to check to see if there is viral breakthrough. It isn't common, but it does happen, and if it does you really don't want to keep treating.

You should NOT worry. You should feel reassured. :)

[eureka254]

Both the virus and the treatment are pretty unpredictable, but for the most part, your doctor told you the important part: yours IS a great response, especially for genotype 1a.  As GB said, there are a small number of people who reach undetected and have viral breakthrough, but it's even more uncommon in early responders like yourself.  Many good hep docs are checking vl more often to ensure individualized treatment -- I think you can feel reassured that you have an attentive and up-to-date physician, rather than worry that something is going wrong.  

Keep positive,
~eureka

[epiphiny]

Lol, I wrote "d i n g - d o n g" and it censored me!  That's too funny!

[epiphiny]

Ok, I thought I was talking to RockeR!  Ding ****!

Anyway the same still stands, but I don't know if you are on a trial

[epiphiny]

It can breakthrough, but it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY!  

You're on a trial, Rocker, and so you are being observed very closely and more stringently than if you were on standard SOC.  I have had VL tests all the way through treatment since going UND.  At first they were monthly, now they are every two months, except for some strange reason I have to have one at week 44, and again EOT.  Then no other until 3 months and 6 months post.  

The first few were a bit scary as the idea of a breakthrough is one you don't like to consider but believe me, having them regularly is great.  It has really made me believe that I am actually UND and there is nothing like seeing that reconfirmed on paper time after time.

Frequent VL testing is only to your advantage.  

[Rockedbyrequiem]

Well that really *****. Just the thought of being virus free, for the time being at the very least, made me feel a lot better. Thats pretty much down the toilet. Now I can get back to worrying every minute of every day.

Oh and just a little background about my situation:
The most likely scenario regarding my infection was May 06. By October 07, I was grade 1 stage 2. And I am presently 23 years old. So I dont even really have the slight comfort of a slowly progressing infection. I NEED this to work!

[GreatBird]

It's called "viral breakthrough" and it happens sometimes (rarely?) during treatment. It's good that your doctor is watching for that.

And it is a great response and you should be optimistic!