Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Great News

Left the doctors office today found out my last shot is Sept 30th 28 weeks instead of the 48 wahooo! Wanted to let everyone know who just started or just pushing to get through it dont stop now that I look back at the suffering in the first 10 weeks I am so so so glad I didnt quit like I wanted too!  
Remember just take a nap when the rough gets rough.
Hugs to All of You
30 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Thank you Dee and FEEL FREE on the status hehe..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Congrats
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Glad this got cleared up, I was under the impression from what was stated that you began on March 2.

This points out how important it is to keep accurate records. It's so easy to get confused, especially while doing tx.

When copies of my labs arrive, I highlight the date the blood was drawn,not when it was recorded,  to keep from getting confused.
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Lady very happy for you and your status idea is great!  I may steal it from you for a while, hope that is ok
Helpful - 0
1797925 tn?1341096204
Be sure and keep us posted...and wishing you all the best.  And I love that you posted the petition site for your status....great idea!  Have a good night!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok great thank you for taking all this time for me have a great night and know its appreciated from all of you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok I looked  and I think I see what is going on   If your start date was Mar 23rd then your 4 week PCR on April 20th was <43 DET.. and the the next one should have been done on May 18th just before you 9th shot,however it was done 5 days later on  May 23rd..and it showed UND.

So I believe you may have dodged the bullet on their doing the 8 week PCR late.and  can do the 28 weeks .

Why I say that is if you were DET.<43 at week 4 the chances of being UND at week 8 were very good(not absolute but very good)

Good luck

Will
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey go look in my photos I put the pictures there of my chart so much easier haha! I was supposed to start March 2nd but they couldnt get my insurance cleared for some reason so I never started until March 23rd- good I feel better now I wont panic!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes ..You told me above Mar 2nd..so I was going by that date when figuring

Week 9 PCR   hmmm..Makes  it hard to call on the length to treat..

Good luck..
Will
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"She told me one extra week isnt a bid deal so I hope she is right"

Maybe not a big deal for her but your the one treating, I really doubt she knows more then the researchers on this. I hope you get some real answers soon.... Good luck.
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
I think I see the problem/inconsistency.

In one of the posts above you wrote March 2rd as your start date. Perhaps you meant March 23rd, not March 2rd. That makes a big difference. We were counting from March 2nd, not March 23rd.

If I just counted correctly, then from March 23rd to April 20 would be 4 full weeks. Your 4 week PCR (April 20) was Detectable. May 18 would have been 8 full weeks. You posted on May 21 that your test from the week prior was Detectable. However, it appears that the 8 week test was never done. So you had one the following week, May 23rd, and it was Undetectable. So that puts you Undetectable at end of week 9.

You apparently have no 8 week test so I guess the doctor is going on your 9 week test and using it to gauge the treatment length.

I guess she figures that doing 28 weeks is long enough since you were UND at 9 weeks.

I am not sure what is done when there is no 8 week test. In your case I guess she is relying on the 9 week test. If that is the case, then she figures you would do the 28 weeks.

I am not expert enough to be able to tell you how much that week matters (week 9 test instead of week 8 test). Maybe someone else knows.

Best of luck.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Actually those dates I posted are the day they were posted on My Chart I give blood every Wednesday but I do know they didnt do my Viral load on 8th week because she told me my 9 week test they did it because the Lab messed up- I can give you the pass word to my chart you can go look at tell me then I can change it I have no problem having someone look at my numbers I would actually feel better!  She told me one extra week isnt a bid deal so I hope she is right now I go tomorrow and have blood drawn she ordered the regular CBC and Viral and other tests this time that she hasnt done in awhile.  She did say they have to watch my hemaglobin level that I am all over the place every week this last week was better 10.2 I am tired this week we will see.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Pooh she did a test at week 9 because the lab didnt do it the week before there is a Epic file they said there wasnt anything in the Epic fille and never did the Viral load-   Look at the dates I posted to Will that is correct what is there I went on my chart an looked at them I hope she isnt telling me this to make you happy because now I am really excited to get this over I stated on March 23rd so I guess my full first week would be the following Friday- now you have to get back to me because I was told today Sept 30th is my last shot and to finish what pills I have left at that time and If I am still neg 6 months after I finish I am considered by them done.
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
If you only have to do 28 weeks, that is great.

But, I am a little confused. Your posts make it appear that you were still detectable at end of week 9.

Did you do a PCR at the end of week 4 and at the end of week 8? As Will said, the PCR at the end of week 8 (full 8 weeks of treatment), is the PCR that determines how long you treat.

If the dates you gave above are correct, it looks like your PCRs were drawn at the end of week 7, the end of week 9, and 2 days shy of the end of week 12. Did they not do a PCR at the end of week 8?

Detectable
"my first test HCV RNA by PCR 203,000 IU/mL A
INTERPRETATION:
Positive for HCV RNA by PCR. (*)
The Linear Range of this assay is 43 IU/mL to 69,000,000 IU/mL.
Reference Range: Negative for HCV RNA "

Detectable
"my second test was HCV RNA by PCR Detectable for HCV RNA by PCR, less than 43 IU/mL, not quantifiable. IU/mL
Reference Range: Negative for HCV RNA
The Linear Range of this assay is 43 IU/mL to 69,000,000 IU/mL."  4-20-2012
(Does this mean the test was done on April 20th because, if so, that is 7 full weeks of treatment, not 8.)

Week 9, Detectable
You posted this on May 21, 2012:
"Hi here are my test results from last week ....... I am on week 11 of treatment starting this week .....
HCV RNA by PCR Detectable for HCV RNA by PCR, less than 43 IU/mL, not quantifiable. IU/mL
Reference Range: Negative for HCV RNA
The Linear Range of this assay is 43 IU/mL to 69,000,000 IU/mL. "

That says you were detectable at week 9 unless you typed the results incorrectly.

Then above you said:
"my latest test May 23rd
Component Your Value Standard Range Units Flag
HCV RNA by PCR Negative for HCV RNA by PCR
May 23rd would be 2 days shy of 12 weeks of treatment.

It appears that the May 23rd test is the first negative PCR.

As Will said, according the the guidelines, to do 28 weeks you had to be Undetectable at the end of week 8.

If I were you, I would pin that doctor down and get every single PCR result and then map them out on the calendar and be absolutely sure that I had the PCR tests drawn when I was supposed to have them drawn (end of 4 weeks, end of 8 weeks, end of 12 weeks). If you did not have a end of week 8 PCR, then there is no PCR to determine length of treatment. And if you were, indeed, positive at end of week 9, then 48 weeks is recommended by the guidelines.

I hope that you typed the results incorrectly and that you were, indeed, negative at the end of week 8.
Helpful - 0
2061362 tn?1353279518
Way to go. That is such good news
Helpful - 0
190885 tn?1333025891
nice going fox!! thats what we like to hear!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The tests I listed are the only viral tests they did because the lab screwed up once and didnt draw the tests I do another one tomorrow morning that she ordered today with all kinds of differents tests I havent heard of before I will post them Saturday when I get them I trust people on here and want to double check all my numbers cant be to safe.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes the dreaded "fog"   :)

It will be easy to check their records and see what the 8 week PCR on or just before April 27th  is ..

Good luck LF

Will
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well.... if your first shot was on Mar.2nd .  then your 8 week PCR would have been just prior to your  9th shot on April 27th., and this is the test you would need to be UND. to qualify for "response guided therapy of 28 weeks.

Will
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was counting my syringes in stead of going by weeks then I got fog and who knows from there!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well that was my first shot I took it on March 2rd so I guess my first week would be the following Friday right?  Thats how I started miss counting.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have no clue all I know when I started was she wouldnt say if I was doing the year or the shorter treatment maybe because I was flipping out about doing this for a year and she didnt want to make any promises until blood results were in!  I just know I am happy to have it confirmed for sure... Yes I almost quit in the beginning if it wasnt for all of you I was so dizzy and sick they finally figured out I had Vertigo due to sinus problems!  Anyone who wants to give up DONT If I can do it anyone can!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What was your exact start date?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes..lets hope they are correct that you were UND. at week 8 ,as 28 weeks total would then be the regime ,however I recall you posting your numbers at week 10 saying it was a week ago's results and they said <43 Det.

Sometimes, and I hope this is not the case  nurses and unfortunately even some of he treating doctors are having trouble interpreting the often confusing lab report on PCR"s

Good dea to have them double check and if they are not absolutely certain they should clarify with the lab as this is very important.

Fingers crossed that it was not misinterpreted

Will..

Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.