My genotype

[Tyree2005]

I got more lab results.. My Genotype is 1b with hcv quantitation 847,000. SGOT 44, SGPT 54 and I was also positvie for Hept which is the first time the Heptitis A came back positive.  My Sonogram showed a fattie liver no masses I see the Hepatologist tomorrow. At which time I will be getting my appointment for the liver biopsy.  What do I need to ask tomorrow.  Everything that I have read states I should have got vac for the hept a when I was diagnosed with hept c.  I did not.  Can I still get the vac now?

[NYgirl]

And remember...I found recently I was blaming EVERYTHING on my disease...even thing that had NOTHING TO DO WITH IT I was like oh no another sx!

I got these bumps in the front of my tongue and it was so RAW I was like oh no this stupid disease~I hate it!  I better call my doctor! What will he say?!!!!!!

Then I remembered I have a CAVITY and I've been running my tongue along that stupid annoying jagged hole constantly........voila......it's not the HCV but the dumb cavity annoying me!

Now...if I'd come on here before I thought of that screaming oh no new side effect!!! You might have read it and thought wow that side effect is bizarre!  And meantime......it was just a regular old every day problem!

;)

[cuteus]

and...when you do read the comments in the message boards you visit, please keep in mind that those having the hardest time and need support more often will frequent the boards, those with easier sides do not feel the need. So you might not get a balanced picture on the boards, best to ask your GI practice, if it is a big one. Mine told me that they have pts who experienced nothing.  As for permanent effects, the jury has been out for a while and it still is. Many hep c related conditions go unnoticed and surface while on tx, maybe to remain for good. So what you read in the inserts even, could be the  result of that event and not really the meds. Of course some side effects have been documented in the regular lab rats and the human ones, but bear in mind that all meds and even herbs can cause unforeseen adverse events. Gee, food too! We have had members who came back yrs later to post their SVR status who had tons of sides and no remaining ones and you get the ones that do. Yes, a **** shoot. It is a choice of which path is the less scary to you and the one who will give you the most benefit in the long run.

[NYgirl]

You have such a soft way about posting...whenever I read something you've written it still helps ME.

I was determined to treat as well (better to try and rid myself NOW before anymore damage is done I thought!).  Please listen to what Friole has said - biopsy is crucial and knowing if your doc will prescribe Procrit or Epogen for anemia...is just to ME something that has saved my ability to remain on tx.

Without it I am not sure that I could have as I kept fainting and falling down and could barely stand let alone work or drive etc.......It was SO painful too I was shocked~!

The things that people are adament about in here - that you see everyone saying over and over are important...treat them as if they are saving your life because in fact they ARE.

These guys are the BEST and they have so much knowledge to share they REALLY are the one's I owe any success I have in tx to...not my doctor at all.

Debby

[2irish]

hi, shannon.  i am hoping snook does come on so you can talk to him.  i wish you could do treatment now while you are young & then forget about it and have kids.  i am on #8/48 and doing fine now but when i was 35 i didn't know i had hepc and i had my last baby.  that baby is almost 17 now & was born with hepc.  even though they said his chances were less than 2% that he would have it.  it would be so nice if it was out of your body before a baby goes in your body!  my opinion only.  good luck & just hope no one else has to find out their child has it, also.

[friole]

Please post your PCR's

[friole]

shana-- maybe Snook will come by - he also is 29 and treated and cured.  He did have significant liver damage tho.  Sounds like having children will be one of the major deciding factors for you.

So to do the math --- lets say you decide to treat now - that is 1 year on treatment and 6 months post that you CANNOT (absolutely) conceive - the meds are dangerous to the fetus.  So that puts you at 31 before you conceive, still young. Now let's say you decide to wait for better treatments to come along. That is fine if you plan to have your children right now (and there is minimal risk, maybe 3%, that the virus will be transferred to the baby).  However, what if you are not quite ready to have children now.  In that case you are facing the problem down the way.  Maybe the kinder treatments will not materialize down the way and then you may wish you had treated now.  There is no magic answer.  It takes lots of research and soul searching.  Should you decide not to treat now, a biopsy every 3 years is advisable.

Jennifer--- You sound like me - found out I had hep C in 1993 and decided to do something about it this year (at age 57).  I also am Geno 1a, I had a beginning vl of 1.52 million IU and was at 40 IU at week 12. Since you are going into this determined to treat, there is a pretty good chance the GI will not want to biopsy.  Please insist on one as it may make a difference later in determining course of action.  Since the interferon can make your white blood count go way down and the Ribavirin can do the same with the red blood counts it is very important to know how the doctor will deal with this.  If he will not prescribe the blood growth meds to help, find another doc.  Please  

We were all very scared at diagnosis and before treatment.  Please understand that the anxiety disappears after treatment begins.  Altho everyone does not clear, I must say that the results posted on this forum are promising. I track all of those who started in June and July when I did and I think about 80% were clear at 12 weeks.  And another thing, interferon is the only cure.  Herbs may help, but only interferon, at the present time, cures

friole