Aa
Viral Breakthrough at 64 weeks
I'm absolutely devastated. Too numb to cry or to think. My husband has been undetectable since week 13 (geno 1, stage 4), but we just got a copy of his 64 week PCR in the mail, and the virus is back. Not a big jump: 18 copies, but detectable just the same. Sort of feels like someone yanked the ground out from underneath me -- but that must be nothing compared to what my husband must be feeling.
It's hard to think of what the game plan should be now. Is the consensus these days for or against maintenance therapy (keeping VL low/und to preserve liver function)? Should we be expecting a call from the docs that he should stop? Trying to focus on moving forward and feeling a little lost. Thanks for reading and any input.
~eureka
It's hard to think of what the game plan should be now. Is the consensus these days for or against maintenance therapy (keeping VL low/und to preserve liver function)? Should we be expecting a call from the docs that he should stop? Trying to focus on moving forward and feeling a little lost. Thanks for reading and any input.
~eureka
HR mentioned more than once that TMA's could get contaminated (from even a tech who happened to be HVC Pos if I remember correctly). You can see his patience waning on the subject:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/hepatitisresearcher/show/368386
"Yes, extremely important in this context. Thats why i have pointed 3 times already at the false positivity problem of theTMA and described the incredible cumbersome means to avoid false positives using the supersensitive PCR test (below 2 iU) at Labcorp/NGI."
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/hepatitisresearcher/show/368386
"Yes, extremely important in this context. Thats why i have pointed 3 times already at the false positivity problem of theTMA and described the incredible cumbersome means to avoid false positives using the supersensitive PCR test (below 2 iU) at Labcorp/NGI."
I have just read this whole thread, and sorry I couldn't chime in sooner. I also had a false positive, four weeks after finishing tx, and I was devastated. But the folks here on the forum reassured me, I got the retest done after the weekend, and that result was UND. Boy, it was so scary! I was already planning to re-treat ASAP, just rushing forward in my mind, when in the end it was a false positive!
I'm glad your husband's test was UND this time, I really understand how that feels, and glad to know you're on the other side of it.
Lapis
I'm glad your husband's test was UND this time, I really understand how that feels, and glad to know you're on the other side of it.
Lapis
Sorry husband not husbands because your not an old time mormon are you.
But that was only the men who could have several wasn´t it ?
But that was only the men who could have several wasn´t it ?
What a relief Eureka can´t imagen the stress you and your husbands has been going through, give him the best from me.
Jan.
Jan.
I am so happy for you both!
The fact that a TMA blip can occur (if indeed that is what this was) is interesting - I was previously unaware of this occurrence. This bodes well for all of us currently doing SOC extended treatment.
You deserve this - keep up the great work!
My very best to you.
The fact that a TMA blip can occur (if indeed that is what this was) is interesting - I was previously unaware of this occurrence. This bodes well for all of us currently doing SOC extended treatment.
You deserve this - keep up the great work!
My very best to you.
very, very good news!
(and you might want to give Nurse a pointer to that study lest she terminate someone else's tx prematurely)
(and you might want to give Nurse a pointer to that study lest she terminate someone else's tx prematurely)
Doing a Snoopy happy dance here!!!! :) This is AWESOME news, Eureka...and now I can exhale. :) I'm so very pleased for both of you...to infinity and beyond!!!
*big hugs*
Trish
*big hugs*
Trish
And the marathon continues… thankfully, I imagine. Here’s to hoping that blip was something funky with the test dynamics, and not your husband’s immune surveillance. And good luck with the doctor’s appointment too; I trust you’ll let us know the outcome of that in a couple of weeks. Best to both of you—
Bill
Bill
The is WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRULY WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Elaine
TRULY WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Elaine
Finally got the call this afternoon: HUBBY'S HEPTAMAX IS <5 UND AGAIN !!!
(I usually don't like to shout here, but couldn't help myself on this one!)
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride. And it's NOT game over!
I almost can't believe it... finally stopped pinching myself (and him) long enough to get my hands to the keyboard and let all you wonderful people know, and to say how grateful I am to all of you.
Thank you ALL so VERY much for keeping my hopes up, and the support, and the wisdom... just everything.
Just a footnote:
Because he's still UND, doc visit is postponed for a couple of weeks until after his quarterly CT-scan. I found it *interesting* that his nurse responded that she herself has never encountered a similar situation (i.e. TMA-'blips'), and if he had tested positive for VL, maintenance therapy would be out of the question -- but in light of UND, the question still remains to be discussed with the doc.
Big hugs to everyone :)
~eureka
(I usually don't like to shout here, but couldn't help myself on this one!)
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride. And it's NOT game over!
I almost can't believe it... finally stopped pinching myself (and him) long enough to get my hands to the keyboard and let all you wonderful people know, and to say how grateful I am to all of you.
Thank you ALL so VERY much for keeping my hopes up, and the support, and the wisdom... just everything.
Just a footnote:
Because he's still UND, doc visit is postponed for a couple of weeks until after his quarterly CT-scan. I found it *interesting* that his nurse responded that she herself has never encountered a similar situation (i.e. TMA-'blips'), and if he had tested positive for VL, maintenance therapy would be out of the question -- but in light of UND, the question still remains to be discussed with the doc.
Big hugs to everyone :)
~eureka
if his enzmes were normal, that would make lab erroe even more likely....when the virus returns the Alt's normally shoot way up...mine went up ten fold...
if his were still normal, then the PCR was almost assuredly in error...
still waiting to hear....hope hope hope.
if his were still normal, then the PCR was almost assuredly in error...
still waiting to hear....hope hope hope.
Let me add my well wishing and positive thoughts also Eureka. I'm in the camp of lab error/contamination, especially with you so far into tx. I can't remember anyone here having a breakthrough in the later weeks of tx.
So best of luck, Pro
So best of luck, Pro
i can't wait to hear your good news - negative negative negative negative!!!!!!!!!!!! Gosh it's going to seem as long for us in here almost as for you! Sending all of my best thoughts prayers and wishes to you!!!!!!!! ♣ I know that is a club but to me it's a lucky charm ;)
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