When will new treatment be available?

[soldieradvocate]

Patient just diagnosed with Hep C Genotype 1. Has joint aches, body aches, extreme fatigue, insomnia, depression, feels like feet are swollen and painful. Doctor said these symptoms aren't from diagnosis and dismissed his complaints. He doesn't know what to believe. He is having ultrasound on liver next week. He is trying to decide if he should wait for the new treatment or do traditional. Is there any news about when the new treatment will be available? He is so discouraged and doesn't know what he is going to be able to manage. Is his likely to continue to feel badly? What can he do for symptoms?

[Dee1956]

Hi I am really sorry, I could not see the forest for the trees :)

If his biopsy is normal, I would wait for the new drugs.  I have heard the time is shorter and the side effects not as harsh.

Here is a very long thread about the newer tx.  I hope some of this may help

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Starting-Sofosbuvir-GS-5885/show/1875802

[Dee1956]

Congratulations! Very happy for you. Sorry just saw your post.
I know how hard tx is and wanted to congratulate you
Dee

[Dee1956]

Hello, you have received excellent advice from every one.  As you can see everyone cares very much and wants to help.

The first thing he needs to do is to have a biopsy.  He can't really decide what to do until he knows how much damage he has.

When I was diagnosed, my blood work did not indicate how damaged my liver was.
So...I went from advice of "take your time, it moves slow" to "Oh my, you must treat asap"

Maybe you could print this out to give you your friend, or just take the important parts to give him.

You are a very good friend.  I wish I had someone like you when I was diagnosed.
I felt very alone and isolated.  In reality I was, no one I knew understood  anything about hep c til Natalie Cole was diagnosed they had not heard of it.  Even then it was a lot of misinformation.  Don't even get me started on Pamela Anderson :)


Take care
Hang in there

[dontworry_behappy1]

Your Welcome!  Worked for me too.

[Juliettegirl1980]

Thank you for this post.

[pooh55811]

"I actually think we agree on many points."
-----------------------------------------------------

Sorry, but I do not agree with you on much of anything. You are quite wrong on that point. You can draw conclusions for yourself, but please have the courtesy to refrain from drawing conclusions for me.