VIRAL LOADS?

[AMAZED]

Hey guys,
       Just wanted to know pre-tx what your VLs were?  I know that they can, but right now mine is pretty high and I have heard that the lower it is pre-tx the better.  Is this right?  The reason mine is so high is because of other meds that I am on.  Anyway thanks in advance for sharing.

In Him,
Rick

[GrandmaA]

Hi,
Please feel better. You don't have to get dressed but it might make you feel better. Next year at this time we will all be celebrating SVR! It will be wonderful. I can hardly wait.

My son wants me to get a little dog for protection and company. I will think about it. I just got rid of the cat that shed on everything and everyone was allergic to him. What kind of little dog is nice? He mentioned a pug but they look funny. Their faces are pushed in. It doesn't appeal to him.

I had so much fun with my granddaughter and grandsons. What beautiful, healthy children.

I fell down on the cement on Sat. but just scraped my knee. It is healing nicely. I caught myself with both hands and they are fine, didn't even break the skin. I will get checked out at the chiropractor today. He has 3 patients on treatment now.

Hope the governor comes out of his surgery fine I don't like Bustmonte.

Have a great day.
Grandma A

[sfbaygirl]

You are so sweet! I watched the early show today and one of the topics was about positive attitude. Apparently it helps your immune system and your health overall! Looking at the glass as half full, instead of half empty can help us heal. If I didnt' laugh about all this tx stuff, I would most likely cry. Haven't done that too much amazingly.

After the Thanksgiving debacle, John is cooking dinner tonight (all ordered cooked) and paper plates. It was just too stressful to watch my china in pieces before. So I am having a stressfree day. I asked for a bathrobe for xmas and John bought me a cashmere bathrobe from Neiman's. It has to be dry cleaned and is white. Now that ought to bring lots of laughs as I wear it all day during tx!

[ladybug52]

I'm glad you saw my message. Now that I know it's no bed of roses, I realize how much you have to push yourself to have a good attitude and not let your spirits drop. You certainly had me fooled because you make jokes, have fun and stay cheerful. I have you to be my role model, thanks.
Have a very Merry Christmas! We will beat this in the New Year!
Hugs
Janice

[sfbaygirl]

Thanks Bug, you brought tears to my eyes. I really try to put that happy face on and make light of all this awful stuff. It is pretty funny when you think about it! Who could claim to have these problems? We will get though it before we know it. It isn't easy but it makes us stonger people.

[ladybug52]

For venting that was very light. I'm sorry you're a little down. Dressing before 5 is so overrated! You're right, your job is to get well. Whatever it takes. The little bit of tx I've had makes me more able to relate. Can't say I've been there done that like all of you who have fought this a long time, but I can empathize more strongly.
Linda you're a fighter and a survivor and your great sense of humor picks me up all the time. Put on that great sense of humor, who cares about anything else, and enjoy the time with your loved ones.
Hugs
Bug

[sfbaygirl]

My VL was over 4 million IU/ml, therefore about 10,000,000 copies. When I look at it in this light (copies) it seems a lot. 4 million IU/ml is considered high, I know that the IU, copies etc. drive some researchers crazy!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! I am a bit down this year as usual. It's after 5PM and I am not dressed. Not a good sign , except when I consider that this is my mission now for SVR. I am really not depressed much, but with the holidays and my not caring much it can be a situational depression. Sorry to vent....just thought I would throw that out there.

[goldyn]

I was 15,000,000 1a unde at 12 weeks almost 2 months post tx  now will take another pcr in 1month will let you know....

[jmjm530]

Don't know your other stats, but given your very low pre-tx viral load combined, with being non-detectible at week 4, makes you a candidate for the 24-week shorter course treatment for geno 1's. Several theads on this recently:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/44287.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/44265.html
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/44218.html

I can tell by your screen name and competitive/daring nature expressed over at the other site, that you probably are a calculated risk taker perhaps with more emphasis on the "risk"
part :)

Keep in mind that there are two risks involved when deciding how long and hard to treat -- the risk of relapse and the risk of both short and long-term effects of the treatment drugs themselves.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget the latter in the heat of battle -- and that is what treatment can be -- but the risk of the treatment drugs is very real and therefore sometimes shorter is better depending on your situation. Something to discuss with your doctor, especially if you don't have significant liver damage (stage 0-2).

All the best,

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

Mine on 6-22-2006 were  11,100,000. I have no idea what they are now. My dr won't order the 4 week hepatimax (sp?)Have you talked with your dr to see how often he orders testing of your viral load after you start tx? I should have. What's your viral load Rick? I am so glad you are taking off work a few weeks. Do you have good benefits with your job? I wonder about you all the time. I'm glad all your other bloodwork is doing so well. You are going to do great on this tx because you are good, compliant with your meds, and God loves you! BTW did you ever take the meds for weight gain? If so, did it work? You are always so concerned for others and I never ask questions that I should, when I can. Sure asking a lot tonite huh?
Hope to hear from you soon, Blessings on you during the Season and always
Janice

[Sweetie6852]

Mine was 15 million - geno 1a - UND at week 12 - on week 17 now.  Good luck.

[compulsive]

*s* ah yes - Hi Jum  

I gather your pretty competitive too with the marathons and triathelons ;-)  
Your story has been an inspiration to me through this tx...


My Doctor and I discussed both possibilities before I started - extending maybe if I was not clear at 12 weeks, and possibly only treating for 24 weeks if I was clear at 4 weeks.

While I really hate how hard this tx is being on me (and the possible long term consequences of treating for 48 weeks scare me like no stunt ever did), I am leaning towards the "safer" route as far as SVR odds go.  There was trauma (induced by surgery) that was not healing well (very, very slowly) when I started tx, and I am 49+, and a geno 1.

My doctor said the peg has helped my liver heal the damage, and while he would ok 24 weeks - he would prefer I did 48 so that I would have the best possible chance to clear the virus. He worries about the surgical trauma impeeding the virus elimination (no real stats on trauma vs chronic - except some transplant stats)

on the other hand - I've only had Hep C since the surgery 2 years ago, I was and will be again VERY fit, I am a non drinker, eat well and *lol* yes love to exercise strenuously.  Even if I don't clear after 24 weeks - I''ll have reversed damage (mostly) and could - as they say - live a quite good life for a very long time with this virus.

I've got 9 weeks to mull it over.....believe me it's been on my mind!!!

I am leaning towards betting on my prior fittness and my will, and my stuborness, to get me back up on my feet and competing again after 48 weeks of tx - for better odds of SVR...  of course *shee*  I guess I've got a little over 2 months to actually make up my mind...  If it gets any rougher (more bronchitis or worse) I am gonna shoot for the moon and quit at 24 - as the trauma seems to have healed mostly already.  I dithered about it in the beggining and have been waffling ever since.  Just quietly chewing it over while sitting in my chair, trying to sleep in bed, on my walks, while grocery shopping...and never saying a word to anyone... *lol*

[jmjm530]

Sounds like you're on top of things. If your doctor is worried about that surgical trauma, maybe monthly viral load testing might be in order which in any event is starting to become a trend with some doctors, including mine. Jensen, over at the Clinical Options site, talks about it some in his video, "Doc Eye for the Hep Guy".

All the best,

-- Jim

[LindyK]

Mt VL was 4,750,000.  As you can see VL's are all over the place pre-tx.  I am geno 3 and on week 5/24.

[compulsive]

Mine was very very low - only 5,000.



UND <50 week 4, UND <2 week 12, am taking shot 15 of 48 tomorrow.

[APKhaos]

Feb 06 20,600,000
Jun 06 27,500,000
Jul 06 28,400,000
Aug 06 UND
Dec 06 UND

All I'm saying is that it worked for me!

[Pdilly]

Mine was 360,000.  They do flucuate.   From what I understand the lower they are the better chance you have of responding to treatment.  I have been UND on my 4 week and 12 week PCR.

[chcnme]

Hi rick.  Yes - they can fluctuate.  My VL 3 years ago (after 30 years of infection, grade 3 / stage 2 on biopsy, geno 1a)  was 400,000  (very low).  Last year they had were 4 million on initial workup at the research clinic.  Doc said he is not concerned with 4 million or any VL number as far as gauging progression of my disease because it's not used to determine how "bad off" the hep c is or how much damage is being done to the liver.  He said people with hardly any damage can have very high VL's and people with a lot of damage can have low viral loads.  The only thing he said that interests him with respect to VL (high or low) is what it does throughout treatment.  He did say that starting out lower was better (better chance of SVR).  Mine at 4 million freaked me out, and he basically told me "relax - don't freak at 4 million - no big deal"  

OK, so I'm trying not to:)  

What meds are you talking about being on that are causing your VL to rise?  Just curious.  

Happy Holidays.

[Steelerbot]

I was 3.5 million pre Tx

[AMAZED]

What my thread meant to say was that I know that they can flucuate, and once again just was curious what you guys were?

In Him,
Rick