Last shot this Friday, decided to end tx in 24 weeks

[scruples]

Dear All

After a long discussion with my two docs, finally i have decided to end my tx at 24 weeks and pray to God for SVR.
I was geno 3, dx in 2002, tx in 2008 , VL at start of tx 272,200 iu/ml, U/s & Biopsy showed no significant demage to liver, was on standard interferone ( Non-peg) thrice a week + 1200 mg riba daily ( weight was 82kg at start of tx).

problem started when my doc disserviced me by not checking PCR at week 4 and 12 , my first qualitative PCR done at week 16 which shows UND. I had very manageable infact very low sx throughout the tx untill week 18-19, after that situation becoming really bad, now in week 23 & 24 after shot i feel like i am hit by a truck, i fell so COLD that i cant even sleep at nights , hair loss almost 40-50%, constant cramps etc, nails somewhat feeling yellow ( for the first time in life, never had before or during tx).

After disusiing with many people on this forum, now i with consultation of my doc ( who always insisted on 24 week tx) decided to end my tx this friday. Pls tell me what my current condition predict??? is my disease returning ????  

Any suggestions are welcomed

[granitekonig]

btw, love your avatar. I'm going to draw that for my daughter

[granitekonig]

how much riba were you taking?

[Marcia2202]

I'm so happy for you that you are almost done. I still remember when you joined the forum and had the big green apple as your profile picture.

I also believe that you have a major chance of making it. If I remember correctly, at a certain time you mentioned that the doctor said that they do have quite a high success rate in Pakistan. Being Asian, you have another factor going for you. I would also suggest a PCR at 4 weeks post, if you can afford it. It will give you a very good indication and it will ease your mind, instead of having to wait longer.

I wish you all the best and pray for your SVR.

[jmjm530]

This study suggests in overall SVR of 65% with standard interferon injected three times per week plus ribavirin . I believe I've seen as high as 80%. Given your low pretreatment viral load, I'd say 80% is a reasonable figure. Many here, would love to have odds like that.  I see absolutely no reason to treat any longer than 24 weeks, regardless of the fact that you had no four or  12 week test. Try to remain positive, you have every reason to be.
http://www.natap.org/2001/sum01/pegInterferon.html

[Jacob43]

Please try to put your mind at ease.  You cannot change the fact that your dr did not test you early.  More than likely you cleared.  Ask for a post 4 wk pcr.  What I've been reading, the virus shows up pretty rapidly after tx.

Now concerning your jaundice... my wife and I are expecting our first child (we've recently learned she's pregnant), and we have been reading everything about children/babies/birth etc.  I came across something regarding why babies are sometimes born jaundice and have to be placed under lamps for short periods)... it has to do with red blood cells.  Blood flow through the liver - and the liver breaks down old inefficient (AND DEAD RED BLOOD CELLS)... This tx causes a huge reduction of red blood cells - thus the anemia and sometimes the necessity of procrit etc. A condition such as tx leads to a very rapid destruction of red blood cells, creating too much bilirubin for even a healthy liver to handle thus your jaundice in nails, skin.  My wife's a nurse and she mentioned to me that even removing colored fingernail polish ... can cause yellowing of nails. One reason she keeps her nails natural with just a clear coating  I don't know if you use dark colored polished.  That's something else to consider.  More than likely it is from the destruction of red blood cells from tx.  I imagine some members treating may chime in and say, yeah, there is a yellow cast to my palms or soles of feet or even the whites of eyes.

So...that said, I don't think jaundice would necessarily point to relapse.  I imagine you will be on here in a few weeks with good news.

Jacob

[desrt]

I seem to remember a figure of aprox. 25-30% SVR for the brief time that non-PEG + riba was SOC - but I think that was for all genotypes. Without a 4 week or 12 PCR, it's all guesswork, but I'd bet you have the same chance for SVR as a geno 1 on PEG - i.e. about 50-50.
Were you the one who was comparing the price of PEG IFN to non-PEG in your countrry? If so, I'm interested in ho many times more expensive the pegylated is.