Confused....Please Help

[peaches45]

Hi, I am geno type 1, grade 1, stage 2.  I have had hep c for about 21 years and i found out that i have it back in Nov. 2010. I was waiting for the new drug to come out to treat, but now that they have i am not sure what to do. when i first found out that i have hep c i was scared cause i didnt know much about it so i thought i wanted to treat asap. and i still do but i don't want to do the treatment so soon if i dont have to . I heard that later we might not have to use the interferon with it and i am scared of all the bad side effects. I am 45 and will be 46 in July so that is one of my concerns about not doing treatment now, my doc told me that when your are older that it is harder on you. I am confused on where to tr now or wait. can someone give me your opinion please??????
thank you, becki

[peaches45]

Hector, Thank you for the info. I am going to a different doctor on the 15th so I am going to ask him to do the IL28B  test. I want to get a second opinion cause I was not to comfortble with my gastro and this new one seems to have more exp with hep c.
thanks, becki

[HectorSF]

Becki, It really is a judgement call on your part. Risk vs reward. You can wait a few years for new meds to be available should you choose to according to your biopsy.

I understand your fear of the side effects of IFN and Riba but not everyone has very bad side effects. When liver disease gets more advanced (stages 3 &4) it is more likely that issues with various blood counts will become and issue.

An idea for you....
In the mean time you can have the IL28B test performed. It will give you a good idea of what your chances of SVR are and maybe your chance of doing shortened treatment.

I would also recommend a biopsy in a few years if you don't treat soon. Once you have advanced fibrosis it can affect your chances of SRV. Also being over 50 decreases the chances of SVR. Meanwhile don't take anything that can cause your liver disease to progress more quickly, alcohol, high dosages of Nsaids, etc.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Hector