continued treatment

[butter4]

Was told at 4 weeks of triple treatment my viral load zero. Again at 12 weeks. Was told 2 weeks ago that in 6 weeks I would be done with treatment. Last week at Dr. appt. was told that I was to go another 24 weeks of treatment with interferon and ribavirin, because some new info shows that people with stage 3-4 fibrosis stand a much better chance of remaining clear. Has anyone else had this happen? I'll tell you it was like getting hit with a brick. I was so looking forward to feeling normal again.

[willbb]

Possibly if the Neup is having adverse effects(as it seems to in many) you could discuss with your doctor cutting back on the shot to possibly only once per week?
There is a certain amount of controversy in the medical community .on whether Nuep is a required drug with low ANC,as many studies show for HCV treatment patients the chance of infection is very low .
Some doctors .it seems prescribe  Nuepogen freely though ,as a safeguard ,however if causing you that much discomfort ,at least worth a talk with him on his feeling of it"s necessity ,or possibly a reduced dose.

Understandably  to be told you should do 48 weeks vs. the 24 you thought is a blow..however in the end to give yourself the best shot (no pun int) at ridding yourself of this for the rest of your life...hopfully that thought lessens the blow somewhat..
Best to you..
Will

[butter4]

Thanks for the feedback. It is just a major let down to have to keep this up. I am also getting injections of Nupitgen 2x a week to stimulate white blood cells. Makes you feel like you have arthritis and growing pains all at the same time. Oh well. We march on.

[pooh55811]

I had a VL at 4 weeks which was <43 but was still detectable. My case manager ordered another VL at 8 weeks to see if I was undetectable yet. I had a nother at 12 weeks and another at 16 weeks. I will have another at 20 weeks. I am not sure she would have ordered the VL at 8 weeks if I had been undetectable at 4 weeks, but she seems to be doing them every 4 weeks so maybe she would have.

[willbb]

Congratulations on your eRVR. It is recommended that chirrotics  do 48 weeks as it "may" benefit SVR outcome. This was in the original labeling.
Best to you...
Will

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/ucm256328.htm

Treatment-naïve patients with cirrhosis who have undetectable HCV-RNA at weeks 4 and 12 of INCIVEK combination treatment may benefit from an additional 36 weeks of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin (48 weeks total)

[donnieraye]

Wow, my GI said she will be stopping all TX if I dont clear at 4 weeks.  I was dissapointed at the 4 week. thing.  How did you get to test at 6 weeks?

Donnie

[hondapatches]

what week are you on? I was told 48 weeks of treatment. I am on my 22 week now. I am 3-4 stage. I have been clear since week 6. They said if I would have cleared at week 4 I would have only been 24 treatments. But since I was clear at week 6 I have to do 48 week..Its a bummer..Hang in there..God Bless