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HELP Recently diagnosed...high viral count
3 weeks ago I had some blood work done and found out I am positive with Hep C. I just got the results today on my viral load and its 2,250,000 (copies?) I understand this is high. I'm also Genotype 1 (no a or b?)and already on medication for depression. My Dr feels I wouldn't respond to treatment well, being Genotype 1. I've decided I will have a biopsy done to see what kind of damage might be going on in the liver.
My question is: I need hope and something I can be doing to help myself. I'm at the point of trying Homiopathic (spelling?)products. I've been reading as much as I can about Hep C and I'm having the hardest time understanding what all the numbers mean! I hope my insurance has a good liver specialist. If anyone can try to help me understand the meaning of the numbers and what I want to be looking for in them, I'd appreciate it. Also, my local health food store owner suggested these products to help the Liver. Has anyone used these or heard about them? Milk Thistle, Articoke capsules, Lysine 1000mg 3x a day, Grapefruit Seed Extract 6 drops in 8oz water 3x a day, vitamin c 1000mg 3x a day and MSM 2000mg 2x a day. Thank You, Please respond
My question is: I need hope and something I can be doing to help myself. I'm at the point of trying Homiopathic (spelling?)products. I've been reading as much as I can about Hep C and I'm having the hardest time understanding what all the numbers mean! I hope my insurance has a good liver specialist. If anyone can try to help me understand the meaning of the numbers and what I want to be looking for in them, I'd appreciate it. Also, my local health food store owner suggested these products to help the Liver. Has anyone used these or heard about them? Milk Thistle, Articoke capsules, Lysine 1000mg 3x a day, Grapefruit Seed Extract 6 drops in 8oz water 3x a day, vitamin c 1000mg 3x a day and MSM 2000mg 2x a day. Thank You, Please respond
This is a site I really needed. It's got all the explanations I will probably need to know! I really appreciate this! I'm a control freak, well not really but, I do like to know whats going on when it pertains to my life ya know? And I was feeling pretty out of control with my own life not understanding what numbers and tests mean. Thanks again, Annette
Well, I can't believe a dr. that has known you all your life (or any dr.) would tell someone they don't think treatment would help. My viral load was wayyyyyyyyyyyy up there!!! I did riba/pegasys for 48 wks. Finished on Nov 6th. I was geno type 1a the hardest to treat. I was SVR thru out treatment. As for the herbs and alternative meds. I agree they don't kill the virus. This is a tough disease we are all fighting. Go ahead and start drinking lots of water and get on treatment ASAP!!! the sooner you do, the faster you can kill the nasty ole' DRAGON. BTW stay away from alcohol COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!! And stay w/ this forum...this Hep C family is the greatest. We will celebrate w/ you and we will cry w/ you. Prayers to you and all, Cindee
Once again, thank you for your info and insight. I will wait to see the Liver Specialist and feel him/her out. I will have the biopsy for sure...I need to know, so I can take the right steps to being here for my planned out LONG LIFE! :0)
Thanks for your SUPPORT
Thanks for your SUPPORT
Thank You, I'm feeling like there is HOPE, and I am a firm believer in being your own advocate...no one else can do it for you! This news of my Hep C was scary enough and then to hear the viral load numbers of 2 million plus was kinda overwhelming, not to speak of my own Dr. pretty much telling me there wasn't anything I could do about it....SUCKED!! If anyone could school me on what the numbers mean and what I wanna look for I'd appreciate it alot! I'm gonna get the lab results too, I see this can be valuable info. Thanks again, the new and improved Genotype 1 with a goal...To live and endure!
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Have you seen a specialist yet? A regular GP doesn't have the specialized knowledge you need right now. If it was a GI who discouraged you, try another one (preferrably one with alot of HCV experience). I'm a 1A on week 31 of 48 and so far, so good. I agree - get the biopsy so you know where you stand and then find a liver disease specialist who can tell you what your options are.
Here is a site to help explain the bloodwork and test results:
http://www.janis7hepc.com/labs.htm
Good Luck ~ there is alot of good information in the past posts here, so read up and ask questions.
ambush :)
Here is a site to help explain the bloodwork and test results:
http://www.janis7hepc.com/labs.htm
Good Luck ~ there is alot of good information in the past posts here, so read up and ask questions.
ambush :)
The goal of treatment is to put the brakes on the disease before it progresses to cirrhosis and if a person has cirrhosis to keep the original equipment, so to speak.
Ideally, treatment will eliminate the virus. Second best outcome is a person is a biological responder - your liver gets to normalize and start repairing damage despite not eliminating the virus.
Your doctor is being pessimistic. Hopefully your specialist is more upbeat.
Don't consume alcohol, smoke, or do cocaine. Homeopathic treatments suck in folks everyday - all I can say is do your research and don't put anything in your body that can hurt your liver.
Some docs believe that having depression or other mental disease is bad news going into treatment. This position has really been refuted.
God bless. -Michael
Ideally, treatment will eliminate the virus. Second best outcome is a person is a biological responder - your liver gets to normalize and start repairing damage despite not eliminating the virus.
Your doctor is being pessimistic. Hopefully your specialist is more upbeat.
Don't consume alcohol, smoke, or do cocaine. Homeopathic treatments suck in folks everyday - all I can say is do your research and don't put anything in your body that can hurt your liver.
Some docs believe that having depression or other mental disease is bad news going into treatment. This position has really been refuted.
God bless. -Michael
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