Aa
How long should i go on when im free of the virus?
I have been on a treatment of interferon and ribavirin for half a year.
The virus does not show in my blood anymore.
I do however had a very hard time with the treatment and i feel
like im at the end of my strength.
This was of course the result i hoped and worked for
but now i got the advice from my doctor to go on
with the treatment for another half year.
This would better my chances that the virus will not come back.
According to my doctor the chances that the virus will come back when i stop the treatment now
are 40 % and when i go on for half a year it would be 5 %.
I would really like to know more about this subject.
For instance what would 3 months of extra treatment do for my chances...
Can i find statistics somewhere that back up the claim of
my doctor??
During my treatment i ended up 4 times in the hospital
with different complications.
Heart problems,skin problems,an inflamed jaw..etc...
Mentally im also at my end.The interferon has turned me in to
a grumpy ******* who sometimes cry's over nothing
and at an other moment feels nothing at all.
I have totally had it with the treatment and i need to have some extra info
to go on.
I feel like my body hardly can take any more of this.
What is wisdom in these circumstances???
The virus does not show in my blood anymore.
I do however had a very hard time with the treatment and i feel
like im at the end of my strength.
This was of course the result i hoped and worked for
but now i got the advice from my doctor to go on
with the treatment for another half year.
This would better my chances that the virus will not come back.
According to my doctor the chances that the virus will come back when i stop the treatment now
are 40 % and when i go on for half a year it would be 5 %.
I would really like to know more about this subject.
For instance what would 3 months of extra treatment do for my chances...
Can i find statistics somewhere that back up the claim of
my doctor??
During my treatment i ended up 4 times in the hospital
with different complications.
Heart problems,skin problems,an inflamed jaw..etc...
Mentally im also at my end.The interferon has turned me in to
a grumpy ******* who sometimes cry's over nothing
and at an other moment feels nothing at all.
I have totally had it with the treatment and i need to have some extra info
to go on.
I feel like my body hardly can take any more of this.
What is wisdom in these circumstances???
Best Answer
Well I'm hoping some if the other members will jump in on this one with some encouragement of some kind for you. I'm no doctor, but from my own experiences I can't offer any encouragement with either continuing or discontinuing your current tx. I had HCV genotype 1a since 1984. I treated three times. The first was in early experiments with interferon, and it was used alone. I didn't respond at all and it was discontinued after three months. In 2004 I was diagnosed stage 4 (cirrhosis) and was desperate to treat again. In 2005 was put on interferon and ribavirin. I responded, but not as much as hoped for. I didn't achieve UND in the time required by protocol but I pleaded with my doctor to let me keep trying. I finally did achieve UND a bit later and I stayed on tx and stayed UND through 15 months of tx. I hoped I was cured, but the virus returned at high levels only 6 weeks later. My last tx was triple tx with Incivek starting in October 2011 and going 48 weeks, ending Sept 2012. This March, 2013, I was told I achieved SVR, so it finally paid off. Sadly however, this story doesn't bode well for you. I'll try to do a little research to see if I can find the statistical odds for you, and hope they are more encouraging than my anecdotal odds, but it may take me a little time. In the meantime I can say if it was me I'd probably continue tx in spite of low odds, but that's more my nature than actual logic speaking. I would definitely encourage you to talk to your doctor about antidepressants if you are to continue tx. They can definitely improve your quality of life if you find one that is right for you. Zoloft has worked well for me. I'll be back with more as soon as I can.
You are getting great advice about your doctor. You really deserve better than what this doctor is giving you. I really understand your fears about changing, as I have had those same fears when I've had to change, and its really hard to put them aside, but that's what you must do. No one else is going to make your health as high a priority, especially if you don't do it yourself. Mike is also right about your ribavirin dose. I weigh quite a bit less than you do and I was on 1000 mg per day, 600 in the morning and 400 in the evening. Good luck with finding a new doctor!
I cannot navigate the web on this PC and read all that is written above the 'Post a comment box' but From what I have been able to piece together based on this post
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-to-treat-a-rash-while-on-tripple-treatment/show/1852867#post_8570617
You started triple with Incivek on Monday November 26 and stopped the Incivek around November 30 because of the rash.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-to-treat-a-rash-while-on-tripple-treatment/show/1852867#post_8570617
In this post you said you became UND on Monday which was May 24
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-long-should-i-go-on-when-im-free-of-the-virus/show/1953778#post_9152800
If ("if") these dates are close then give or take a day or two it means you have been on treatment for around 205 days (aprox 29 weeks) and have und for about three weeks now. Said another way you did not become und until 25 weeks rounded down or day 179.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-to-treat-a-rash-while-on-tripple-treatment/show/1852867#post_8570617
You started triple with Incivek on Monday November 26 and stopped the Incivek around November 30 because of the rash.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-to-treat-a-rash-while-on-tripple-treatment/show/1852867#post_8570617
In this post you said you became UND on Monday which was May 24
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/How-long-should-i-go-on-when-im-free-of-the-virus/show/1953778#post_9152800
If ("if") these dates are close then give or take a day or two it means you have been on treatment for around 205 days (aprox 29 weeks) and have und for about three weeks now. Said another way you did not become und until 25 weeks rounded down or day 179.
Yes, the meds can affect your mental state but that doesn't mean you're not right to be concerned with the care you've been receiving. It sure doesn't look right to me.
Good luck,
Mike
Good luck,
Mike
Thanks for your reaction,Mike.
I think the conclusion becomes inevitable.....i have got an uninterested and bad doctor.Which doesn't rhyme with the arrogance that seems to be her main character trademark.
But what bothers me most of all,is she does not seem to be interested in her profession.And in this case that is just dangerous to me.
Gonna find out how to do this...
I do not have a lot of money,i have got a basic insurance,and in Holland it is like it is everywhere.......If you got money you can choose what ever you want but if you dont you either roll with the punches or get smart.
I really need to stand up for my self.
point is,this treatment also changes you mentally.
Sometimes i find it hard to judge if im under influence of mood-swings due to the interferon use, or if im just right.
But which ever way i look at it......I NEED TO FIND AN OTHER DOCTOR!
thanks for listening!!
I think the conclusion becomes inevitable.....i have got an uninterested and bad doctor.Which doesn't rhyme with the arrogance that seems to be her main character trademark.
But what bothers me most of all,is she does not seem to be interested in her profession.And in this case that is just dangerous to me.
Gonna find out how to do this...
I do not have a lot of money,i have got a basic insurance,and in Holland it is like it is everywhere.......If you got money you can choose what ever you want but if you dont you either roll with the punches or get smart.
I really need to stand up for my self.
point is,this treatment also changes you mentally.
Sometimes i find it hard to judge if im under influence of mood-swings due to the interferon use, or if im just right.
But which ever way i look at it......I NEED TO FIND AN OTHER DOCTOR!
thanks for listening!!
If I am reading it right you're taking 800 mg ribavirin per day.
That might be a factor as to why you became undetectable so late in treatment. 800 mg ribavirin per day does seem a bit low to me.
Without knowing the specifics of your situation, in general a male weighing 90 kilograms should be taking not less than 1000 mg ribavirin per day and many doctors would recommend 1200 mg per day.
If I'm understanding you right and if you have no contraindicating issues this might further suggest that you might do better with another doctor.
Good luck,
Mike
That might be a factor as to why you became undetectable so late in treatment. 800 mg ribavirin per day does seem a bit low to me.
Without knowing the specifics of your situation, in general a male weighing 90 kilograms should be taking not less than 1000 mg ribavirin per day and many doctors would recommend 1200 mg per day.
If I'm understanding you right and if you have no contraindicating issues this might further suggest that you might do better with another doctor.
Good luck,
Mike
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