Just diagnosed, seeking treatment

[NewandConfused]

I just stumbled across this board and have spent hours reading but it just seems to add to the confusion.  My husband was diagnosed with Hep C, Type 3. We are in the process of trying to get treatment but now so many questions have come up that I am beginning to be completely overwhelmed.  Originally we were prescribed Pegasys and 800mg ribavirin daily but our copay was like 600.00 per month.  After discussing this with the nurse today I was told that he could probalbly take Peg-Intron instead.  I kind of feel as if I am settling for less?  Is one better than the other?  Does one have less side effects? Can anyone shed any light on any of this in laymens terms for me?  I am wondering if perhaps we are not seeing the right dr. or one who has enough information because so much of what seems to have been discussed on theboards has never been revealed to us? We were just kind f told to start treatment come back in two weeks for tests and Dr. followup and we would go from there.  I am sorry I am sounding like such an idiot but I am just beyone confused and overwhelmed.  Also... should I be paying this $600.00 co-pay or should I continue to search for a better price or a program that might help?  If you have any questions or need any info to be able to help, please ask away....  somehow I just need to get to the bottom of this and start the road to healing and recovery!  Thank You so much for any input!

[comeagain]

here you go, sx means side effects
tx means treatment
UND means no detectebel virus in the bloodstream (undetectabel)
SVR means sustained virus respones = cured

[scratchinghead]

yes, I second or third the biopsy need.

And remember, you are paying the doctor to help you  get well, not vice versa.

(he may be a little confused because the money comes from the insurance company that you send a premium to. yeeha! get on the gravy train! )

[R Glass]

I am still at work so I just had time to scan over the posts. Someone may have already mentioned this and I missed it. I didn’t see if he had a Liver Biopsy done? HCV is a slow progressing virus. If he has minor liver damage you have plenty of time to figure out what to do. Don’t procrastinate but don’t rush in either.   R. Glass

[ksk3926]

I hope I am not repeating anyone else here. My best advice to you would be to:
GET A NEW DOCTOR!! Any doctor who says that there is nothing that can be done for the sides is either not very nice or not very knowledgeable.
You have to be able to count on and relate to your doctor, especially through this treatment. I went doctor shopping through many-a-specialist before I found the RIGHT doctor for me. I treated 1a for 48 weeks with pegasys and weight based riba and have been svr for almost two years now. I treated through USC which is a teaching hospital and they were up on all the latest news and I highly recommend a teaching hospital over the others. If I had treated with any of the other three specialists I had met, I would not have made it through treatment at all. My point is, don't worry so much about the medications, the priority is finding an excellent doctor, one who takes the time to explain all of this to you. Now take a deep breath and relax. Then go and interview docs!
Kathy

[comeagain]

I must say this if you get less peg it would be cheaper because pegasys is always 180 no matter what you weight is.

Your doc seem a little to keen on prescribing small doses ( just a feeling i got).
I wanna say as copyman just did, try to find a hepatologist get a second opinion.

ca

[comeagain]

Hi welcome to you and to your hubbe of course.

I´m a geno 3 about the same weight as your husband.
Did one tx 2006 on 800mg riba 100 peginterferon 24weeks, thats the old protocol was und week 12 and eot. relapsed though.

Now most treating docs at least i hope so, are using a new protocol with weight based riba and interferon  and also if not UND at 4 weeks extending treament to 36 or 48 weeks.
`
I´m on my sec tx now done 21 of 48weeks, now taking pegasys which is 180  and riba 1200
Sx this time about 10times less but the reason for that can be that my liver had a beneficial rest,althoughi didn´t obtained SVR I was UND for guite some time.

God bless you and your husband.

ca