Aa
Hep C genotype 3
Hi, I was diagnosed with hep c 6 weeks ago...went to GI Doc who did an ultrasound of liver and lots of blood work...he said my liver enzymes were normal, iron normal, ultrasound looked good. The lab work I have shows hepatitis c quantitation 190,000. HCV log10 5.279. Genotype 3. He didnt seem to think i needed a biopsy at this time. He gave me all the side effects of treatment. Scared my husband alot. My next appt. is after the holidays in Jan.2007. should i ask for a biopsy before starting tx? My Dr. didnt seem like I needed to. My thought was to start tx in June after school is out. I'll have the summer off. Any thoughts on necessity of biopsy? Thanks and God bless.
From a former 3a'er congrats on almost finishing tx.
Just wanted to tell you that this post is from 2006. Jools has treated and has been SVR for quite some time.
Marcia
(G3a, treated 8 months, as of last week SVR)
Just wanted to tell you that this post is from 2006. Jools has treated and has been SVR for quite some time.
Marcia
(G3a, treated 8 months, as of last week SVR)
I am also a 3a. I had a biopsy and am lucky to be stage 0/1 depending on the scoring system used. Likley I have had it 33 years and my viral load was 7.5 million.
I have been very active in learning all I can, in forming my decision to go ahead and treat.
You look young and are female- which are good indicators of success. If your weight is approprate or you are thin, even better. If you have low levels of liver damage- even better. Knowing you liver condition can help you and your docotr make decisions during tretment if need be.I advise to get the biopsy. It's no biig deal
I also agree with another poster- be sure your docotr has you on weight based ribaviran. Even though I went to a major research hospital, my doctor was going to do the minimal 800. I insisted on weight ased as the research supports better outcomes for 3A's on weight based and he did so. The higher dose gave me the anemia but will also be a major fator is I achieve SVR.
I am a school psychologist. I started my meds about 2 weeks before school was out. I had read that anemia if it set in usually occured at week 4 to 6 and could take a month or so to address approprately with meds. That is exactly what happened for me. I was tired and breathless in July but perked back up in August.
I will take shot 22 this week. It has been doable. I was clear at week 4. Be sure your docotr does a 4 week test. It is VERY important to know. RVR- means undetectable in your blood at 4 weeks- is highly associated with SVR. If not clear at 4 weeks it tells you and your docotr to consider longer treatment so you can clear.
Good luck. Look up your family medical leave policy at work. I did but i have never needed it.It helps to be aware of your benefits however. I have not told anyone at work and although a few have mentioioned i look tired, no one knows what is really going on with me.
clearing for 3 a's can be tricky. Too often the number have been mixed in reseach with the 2's- who clear much easier.
Gail
I have been very active in learning all I can, in forming my decision to go ahead and treat.
You look young and are female- which are good indicators of success. If your weight is approprate or you are thin, even better. If you have low levels of liver damage- even better. Knowing you liver condition can help you and your docotr make decisions during tretment if need be.I advise to get the biopsy. It's no biig deal
I also agree with another poster- be sure your docotr has you on weight based ribaviran. Even though I went to a major research hospital, my doctor was going to do the minimal 800. I insisted on weight ased as the research supports better outcomes for 3A's on weight based and he did so. The higher dose gave me the anemia but will also be a major fator is I achieve SVR.
I am a school psychologist. I started my meds about 2 weeks before school was out. I had read that anemia if it set in usually occured at week 4 to 6 and could take a month or so to address approprately with meds. That is exactly what happened for me. I was tired and breathless in July but perked back up in August.
I will take shot 22 this week. It has been doable. I was clear at week 4. Be sure your docotr does a 4 week test. It is VERY important to know. RVR- means undetectable in your blood at 4 weeks- is highly associated with SVR. If not clear at 4 weeks it tells you and your docotr to consider longer treatment so you can clear.
Good luck. Look up your family medical leave policy at work. I did but i have never needed it.It helps to be aware of your benefits however. I have not told anyone at work and although a few have mentioioned i look tired, no one knows what is really going on with me.
clearing for 3 a's can be tricky. Too often the number have been mixed in reseach with the 2's- who clear much easier.
Gail
Hi i am dignosed with hep-c genotype 3 at age 29. doctor has advised injections of Veraferon PEG 80 mg / week for 6 months.
Do i also need to go for biopsy before starting the treatment?????
piyush
Do i also need to go for biopsy before starting the treatment?????
piyush
Hi jools,
I am new to this forum too. If you'd like you can read a little about my history on my profile. I have had three liver biopsys with no problems from the biopsy. I am so glad that I got the last biopsy done. All of my liver counts were normal and my ultrasound was normal too. The only symptom I was having was an increasing viral load. Had I not gotten the biopsy, I would not have known my liver had any damage at all. God Bless!- Tanya
I am new to this forum too. If you'd like you can read a little about my history on my profile. I have had three liver biopsys with no problems from the biopsy. I am so glad that I got the last biopsy done. All of my liver counts were normal and my ultrasound was normal too. The only symptom I was having was an increasing viral load. Had I not gotten the biopsy, I would not have known my liver had any damage at all. God Bless!- Tanya
my husband was diagnosed with hep c 2 years ago genotype 3 doctor told him he needed treatment with meds he did have a ultrasound done they said there was scaring but they didn't recommend biopsy he still indecisive about treatment its been 2 years can any one help
I am (hopefully/was) a GT 3 too. Now 49, had it about 32ish years. I treated 24 weeks and had my last biopsy almost 5 years before TX. (starting viral load, 15.5 MILLION).
I agree with ET that Goof says. I was on weight based Riba and clear at 4 weeks. I think I could have treated for fewer weeks with the same result (I was clear 17 weeks post TX) but I was afraid to take the chance of stopping sooner.
Maybe Morgaina can answer this. But when I was on TX, I felt like I was mildly autistic (I'm not expert, mind you). I could only focus at one thing at a time (sometimes less than one thing...) and the rest of the world was a blur around me.
Good luck to you. Algie
I agree with ET that Goof says. I was on weight based Riba and clear at 4 weeks. I think I could have treated for fewer weeks with the same result (I was clear 17 weeks post TX) but I was afraid to take the chance of stopping sooner.
Maybe Morgaina can answer this. But when I was on TX, I felt like I was mildly autistic (I'm not expert, mind you). I could only focus at one thing at a time (sometimes less than one thing...) and the rest of the world was a blur around me.
Good luck to you. Algie
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