To treat or not to treat, that is the question!

[truredhead]

I am so unsure about whether to treat the hep c with the interferon. I already received my first 3 months medicine from Roche. I have been reading so much about the side effects that is scares the heck out of me. All my blood tests are good so far as levels except the viral load is very high. I am a 1A geno, I do not drink and have been on methadone for 15 yrs. I have fibro and irritable bowel syndrome which seems to be better in last few months.My biopsy showed F1-F2, I am not sure when I aquired it, could have been a tattoo or former IV use. Just found out I had it year and half ago. Should I wait or treat? I just need some feedback I guess. My viral load was 24 million and that is the only bad thing I see on the blood tests. I know we addicts always expect the worse, but some of those sides never go away and I hate any mental probs starting, Its a wonder I am not goofy now! I sure you can tell how great I am at making decisions!

[child24angel]

I can, I can actually apply my own experience
in the broad spectrum in the world of HCV.
I will,  I will stand for all who have perished because
of this dreaded disease, and of those that are still fighting.
For all that have achieved SVR......a huge Congratulations.  

Until you've seen a loved one pass day after day Trish,
then you can say you've acknowledged the smaller number.
It really doesn't seem so small.


ML
I beg to differ, it is called "The Silent Killer"..before I was
reading on the Internet, I was at the library..every book I picked
up....read..."The Silent Killer".....it is silent, if you're not
checked for HCV, or if you don't get monitored etc.
It's not so ridiculous if you end up with ESLD is it ?
or if you end up needing a liver ..fast,  is it? no.
Or if your not eligible for TP ?....silent is right.

[Trish77]

You said nothing contrary.  Was simply responding to your post and adding another layer to what you'd already said, indicating the influence of one's own experience.  The point being that you can't take your own experience in isolation and apply it to everyone across the board as if that will be everyone's experience.  It has to be taken in the broader context.  The unfortunate thing with statistics is that while the considerably larger number that don't die from liver disease is of great comfort to the majority of us, it's of little comfort to those who's loved ones actually fall into that small number and I acknowledge that as well.

[IAmTheWalrus]

I have been away for a few weeks and did not see your comment until now.

I don't disagree with anything you said there. I am not sure what, if anything, I said that was contrary. ???  

Just curious,
Brent :-)

[R Glass]

I hope my post didn’t come across derogatory because that was not my intent. I just wanted you to make sure that postponing tx would not come back to haunt you. I postponed my starting date a couple of times myself because some things came up I wanted to do before starting. My meds were not ordered yet and as much problems I had with my insurance, they would have probably used it as an excuse. Good luck on what ever you decide and we will be here for you, R Glass.

[jusjames]

good luck with your choice

[Rockerforlife]

As they say in the land down Under,"no worries"

"Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who".