worried viral Load

[steper]

I have been watching my hep c since 1990 all my tests on MRI's - stomis ct scans etc. are all clean. I 'm 53 years old. I feel they have really tested alot. My symtom are min but I due have fatege and lack of appitite with nausa. all come and go.
I take 60 mil of methadone and have been clean for since 1985. so I feel postive but since the other tests we good I havent done the biopsy.
Here's the clich   my viral load slowly went up over the years from 5 million to now 11 million. and i'm
told the type of Hep C that I have is the one that has a 25% cure rate from treatment. I think he said that 4 or types mine was the worst. since I afaid of the side effects of treatment because of past depression and drug use. we thought
the odds of treatment was poor. so I'm just tring to stay healthy work 6 hr days etc.
I worried if I'm doing that right stuff and if info is correct?

[steper]

annie ,
thanks for the info it sounds about right, I felt the same way and think it is about time that I take a looks. Hope you have a happy holiday.

[annieCinMD]

Take a look at this: http://www.janis7hepc.com/Viral_Loads.htm#hepatitis%20c%20viral%20load%20is%20about

This site has tons of good HCV information.

[annieCinMD]

You should have a biopsy. It sounds like you may well be one of those who are largely asymptomatic but have the virus. I am in that category. Viral load doesn't really mean a whole lot other than a low one does tend to give a better chance of a successful treatment. I just did a google search on this literally minutes ago because I just came off a failed treatment. I would like to see my VL stay in the low range. It always was but my baseline pre tx shot up to over 2 million (considered high). My search turned up 800,000 as the cut off number. Seriously, do get  a biopsy just to rule out liver damage because there are people who are asymptomatic but their disease has progressed to the point that they had to treat. You most likely can continue your clean and healthy lifestyle and be just fine, but the biopsy will be the indicator of whether you are OK without trying treatment. My treatment was brutal and I won't do it again unless I have to but I will biopsy again as soon as the doctor will do another one. You must be a geno 1, and, yes, that is the worst. I am too, as are 72% of people in the US. New drugs are improving the odds, but still a crapshoot to some degree. Good luck to you and go get that biopsy!