hcv genotype 1a viral load 13000

[vcusell]

going to be starting interferon. what can i expect? will i still be able to work? will also be on incivik and bocepirvir

[ceanothus]

There are a lot of different things each person needs to balance out in deciding when to start treatment. I just finished triple treatment recently and I'm glad I did, but mostly because I didn't have any time left for waiting - I'd already had cirrhosis for 8 years and it wasn't likely to give me that much more time. On the other hand, I do think if someone has zero or minimal liver damage then this is a helluva hard treatment to undergo when you could wait a couple of years and get a much easier one. Still, that's just one part of the equation, and it does need to be balanced against all those other issues like money, kids, other health issues, etc.

[vcusell]

I found out that I will be taking the interferon, ribavirin and incivick.  I have read what alot of you have said about treatment and waiting.  I know my viral load was only 13000 and I probably could wait for better treatment plans but honestly I just want to start as soon as possible now and do treatment now.  My husband and I have been trying to have kids since march 2011, I have suffered 3 miscarriages all between march 2011-feb 2012 and I know while doing treatment for this hcv I CANNOT get pregnant during and 6 months after treatment.  So I decided to do this now while I have no children and were in a good spot financially incase I feel I need to take some time off work. Thank you all for your responses. I'm hoping to get to know some of you alot better.  Im sure once I start treatment I will be on this forum alot more. Goodluck and thanks to all!

[Idyllic]

I am inclined to agree with the others since you are young and do not know your stage of fibrosis. If anything I would want to know that before treating. Some doctors try to reassure patients with the lopsided reasoning that you don't need to know since you are treating anyway when it should be the other way around.

I am just thinking what is the rush. Not really knowing your entire circumstances it just kind of sounds as if you have not been told much about Hepatitis C and all of your treatment options. It sounds like you have been given little info and only one treatment option.  

All I am saying is I would not like you to begin learning and reading about treatment while you are treating and then half way through realise that you actually could have waited or treated with different meds or that you had more options then were apparent at the outset.

[orphanedhawk]

If you have no liver damage you would be well advised to wait to do treatment as there are much better options, new meds in clinical trial stage, that should be available within a few years.

What you should do, whether you decide to do the current treatment or not, is learn more about the virus. Educate yourself so you can make an informed decision.
The virus is slow moving so there is no rush to jump into treatment.

Try looking at websites specializing in hep C such as:
www.hepcadvocate.org
www.hepcchallenge.org

[rambleon40]

PS - another link to where yu by the article:

http://gut.bmj.com/content/61/12/1647.long

[rambleon40]

at 27 with only a couple of years w/ Hep C, why do triple therapy?

There are a lot of posters here who are more pro-treatment than I am who might say the same thing, I think.

Why not wait a bit?  Eat well, exercise, take care of yourself.  Wait for a better treatment. Triple therapy is tough tough.

A very recent journal article detailing the state of care with triple therapy would likely prove far more valuable to you than the $35 it will cost to get from the publisher -  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22936671

I respectfully urge you to get it and read it until you understand what it is saying.  

You are 27 and you perhaps automatically think doctors can always just fix you when needed. Oh, be careful.

[vcusell]

hey thank you everyone.  I'm not sure what ill be on, i go back feb 4th.  I dont know about any liver damage, im guessing i shouldnt have much I was an iv drug user for a short period of time and I know I caught the hep c sometime between Nov 2010 and March 2011. Ive been clean now 2 years in may but havent had any liver biopsies or anything like that, but now I know to ask my doctor about that. thanks again everyones responses have really helped me out! xoxo

[Advocate1955]

As others have said, you will be on Interferon (a shot), Ribavirin (a pill), and either Incivek (a pill) OR Boceprevir (also known as Victrellis, which is a pill).  Everyone responds differently to these meds.  There are some difficult side effects, but if you are prepared ahead of time, have some specific items purchased and available at home, and have a responsive doc or nurse practitioner to prescribe things to help with side effects, you will manage.  Let us know when you find out if it will be Incivek or Victrellis and then we can help you figure out which side effects are likely to occur.  With Interferon, you may experience cold/flu like symptoms about 6 hours after your shot.  With Ribavirin, you may experience some nausea, but if you take your Riba with food, that will lessen.  With both Interferon and Riba, you may experience some fatigue.  Incivek and Victrellis each cause some slightly different side effects, so we will help you with understanding that when you know which it is.
Advocate1955

[Dee1956]

Hello, as the above posters have said everyone is different.
You will get a better answer if you can say which drug you will be on in addition to the interferon and the ribivarin.
If I were you I would do some searches to see what others experienced.  Have you had a biopsy? Do you know the level of damage to your liver?
Good luck to you

[Idyllic]

Greetings. It is important you check your meds or your records and ascertain whether you are going to be treating with

Incivek (Telaprevir)
or
victrelis (Boceprevir)

They are two completely different protease inhibitors and not taken together. One takes one (in conjunction with Ribavirin & Interferon) or the other with the same two meds.

Incivek and Victrelis have very different dosing regimens and side effect profiles so you might receive more useful insight if you can clarify this. Plus knowing which med will help you keep an eye out for certain things to look for without waiting until they escalate into something not easily managed.
__________
In the mean time many people work full -time while on triple therapy. I think it depends on the nature of what you for living before anyone can assure you work will be no problem. I would also mention that it helps to have some type of 'Plan B' if you can. By that I mean an understanding employer or people who can cover for you or better yet: benefits that entitle you to time off without losing your job. Help or support in other areas is nice since sometimes it is not possible to function at 100%. There are many posts related to this topic as well as what to expect. Be sure to post with more info when you have the chance.

Best of luck♫

[ActingBrandNew]

Its really hard to tell you what to expect from the Interferon. I'm sure your Dr told you about a fever and possible flu like symptoms after you inject. Having said that, I know many people who didn't experience that. Everybody reacts to the medication differently. I wish I had a solid answer for you but you may not react the way I did. I had the fevers and bone aches in the beginning. Those went away but now I have a rash and joint pain. Again, I know tons of people who did not react the way I have to don't assume you will based on what I'm telling you.

I'm not sure about the incivik and bocepirvir as I'm not on those. I'm sure someone else will chime in on that.

In terms of being able to work while on treatment, again everyone is different. I cant but many others do. I posted a link on your other question where people talk about working in your field while on treatment. I hope it was helpful.