What now?

[murariji]

Hi, I was born in UK but live in India now, 53 years old. Just finished a 6 month course of peginterferon and ribavirin for hep c genotype 3.
My count went from over 2.5 million down to 100 in three months, but after another 3 months it had crept up to 350. I live four hours travel from Kolkata where all the doctors are, and my doc recently relocated to Delhi. I am due another free viral load check after 12 months from the drug company.
Here comes the question....
Do I just sit tight and wait for the next RNA test, or should I trek into Kolkata, search out another Doctor and try to go for 'undetectable'.
Any advice much appreciated as I am a bit isolated out here in the sticks of West Bengal.

[murariji]

Yeah, I'm amazed at how widespread Hep C is and how much some people have been through trying to deal with it. My 6 month 'ordeal', which came close to unbearable at  times, seems insignificant with what others have had to cope with. Being alone definitely compounds the problems, I wish I had found this site 7 months ago. Misery loves company!
All the best, I hope you get it first time  round,
Murari.

[James10500]

I hear you I don't ever want to see another syringe of interferon or " blue bomb" in my life.  And hope I attain SVR so I don't.  Good luck at the Doc. I feel isolated too, and the forum helps tremendously with that.  

Best,

James

[murariji]

slam it again right away!!!
OMG. Not really an option financially, and I really don't want to go back to the tiredness, crankiness and generally not feeling well for a while. I'm just enjoying feeling normal again after 6 months.
I guess first thing is to get to a doctor and see what he suggests.
Thanks for  the link James,  as you say, type 3s don't seem to benefit as much as 1s.

[James10500]

URL again

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/easl/docs/0514_2010_b.html

[James10500]

Hi,

There are many people here who know far more than I.  But if it were me I would base my decision on the condition of my liver.  I'm not sure about  telaprevir and geno 3 from what I've read http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/easl/docs/0514_2010_b.html it doesn't do much for G3's.  It maybe best to slam it again right away, I read some where this leads to a better chance of SVR.

Best wishes,

James