Aa
mandamus
I am in prison and have numerous questions I am hoping someone can provide me with the answers to:
1. The forns index for determining fibrosis/cirrhosis is= 7.811 3.131 x In platelet + .781 x In GGT + 3.647 x In Age .014 x cholesterol. I comprehend the equations that have the plus and multiplication symbols, but I do not understand what the gap between 7.811 and 3.131 and In Age and .014 represents. Since I have to come up with "one" number what do the blanks represent?
2. Although my ALT and AST have never been "significantly" elevated, except during the few times I drank over the years, I still have developed significant fibrosis. My doctors keep on bringing up "Oh your liver enzymes are not very high" which, they are interpreting you are doing well. However, since it was determined in 2009 that I was stage 3 grade 3 (metavir scale), I don't hold a lot of faith in my liver enzymes. Moreover, I read in the AASLD's guidelines that some percentage of individuals who have normal ALT levels have sustained significant fibrosis. Anybody got anymore on that?
3. I also had hep B. It is resolved, however, I read somewhere that persons who have had hep B and get hep C that their disease progresses faster than otherwise. Any information on that?
4. My ferritin levels were, approx. a year ago 455. I know that 300 is the upper level of normal. My doctor was going to send me to a phlebotomist (spelled wrong maybe) but Bureau of Prison doctors in Central Headquarters shot it down. I have no idea if I have hemachromatosis (probably spelled wrong) but I don't think so. However, should it be treated and why?
5. I failed treatment with interferon and ribavirin. I also developed anemia and was close to going under 500 on my ANC. When the protease inhibitors came out I was put on Incivek, interferon and ribavirin. Although I was taking duel combination for 3 months before I started feeling bad; after my first shot of interferon it felt like I was hit by a bus. I concluded that I was having a drug to drug reaction between the effexor and interferon (EXTREME nausea). My doctor refused to listen to me and said "It's not the effexor" and I said, "it is the effexor". I discontinued the effexor. 95% of the nausea went away. However, I started getting seriously depressed. Rather than prescribing an antidepressant I could tolerate with interferon, they ended up discontinuing my meds. Needless to say I went off.
6. Now, the last doctor I saw said that he believes that the treatment would kill me because in 3-4 weeks my platelet count dropped from 225,000 to107,000 and significant drop in my white blood cell count (I don't know the numbers). My opinion is that I need to see a specialist. I don't know if there isn't some way that the platelet count and white blood count can't be rectified while on treatment. Moreover, since my doctor is not a specialist and the bureau of prisons does not employ a specialist (neither a hepatologist nor infectious disease specialist) I want to see one but they don't want to approve it. I am seeking some input on this. It's not that I necessarily question my doctors here, but they have provided me false information in the past and I don't know. It's not like I can go out and see one on my own, but I am thinking about filing a "mandamus" with the federal court in Washington, DC and asking them to order the doctors in Central Headquarters of the BOP to direct that I am seen by a specialist. Anyone have any information on filing such a mandamus?
7. I know there is a super protein on the horizon that wipes out Ebola hepatitis, and all viruses. What else is coming out on the hep c and what kind of time frames are we looking at.
I actually have more questions but these are the most pressing ones. Thanks!!!!
1. The forns index for determining fibrosis/cirrhosis is= 7.811 3.131 x In platelet + .781 x In GGT + 3.647 x In Age .014 x cholesterol. I comprehend the equations that have the plus and multiplication symbols, but I do not understand what the gap between 7.811 and 3.131 and In Age and .014 represents. Since I have to come up with "one" number what do the blanks represent?
2. Although my ALT and AST have never been "significantly" elevated, except during the few times I drank over the years, I still have developed significant fibrosis. My doctors keep on bringing up "Oh your liver enzymes are not very high" which, they are interpreting you are doing well. However, since it was determined in 2009 that I was stage 3 grade 3 (metavir scale), I don't hold a lot of faith in my liver enzymes. Moreover, I read in the AASLD's guidelines that some percentage of individuals who have normal ALT levels have sustained significant fibrosis. Anybody got anymore on that?
3. I also had hep B. It is resolved, however, I read somewhere that persons who have had hep B and get hep C that their disease progresses faster than otherwise. Any information on that?
4. My ferritin levels were, approx. a year ago 455. I know that 300 is the upper level of normal. My doctor was going to send me to a phlebotomist (spelled wrong maybe) but Bureau of Prison doctors in Central Headquarters shot it down. I have no idea if I have hemachromatosis (probably spelled wrong) but I don't think so. However, should it be treated and why?
5. I failed treatment with interferon and ribavirin. I also developed anemia and was close to going under 500 on my ANC. When the protease inhibitors came out I was put on Incivek, interferon and ribavirin. Although I was taking duel combination for 3 months before I started feeling bad; after my first shot of interferon it felt like I was hit by a bus. I concluded that I was having a drug to drug reaction between the effexor and interferon (EXTREME nausea). My doctor refused to listen to me and said "It's not the effexor" and I said, "it is the effexor". I discontinued the effexor. 95% of the nausea went away. However, I started getting seriously depressed. Rather than prescribing an antidepressant I could tolerate with interferon, they ended up discontinuing my meds. Needless to say I went off.
6. Now, the last doctor I saw said that he believes that the treatment would kill me because in 3-4 weeks my platelet count dropped from 225,000 to107,000 and significant drop in my white blood cell count (I don't know the numbers). My opinion is that I need to see a specialist. I don't know if there isn't some way that the platelet count and white blood count can't be rectified while on treatment. Moreover, since my doctor is not a specialist and the bureau of prisons does not employ a specialist (neither a hepatologist nor infectious disease specialist) I want to see one but they don't want to approve it. I am seeking some input on this. It's not that I necessarily question my doctors here, but they have provided me false information in the past and I don't know. It's not like I can go out and see one on my own, but I am thinking about filing a "mandamus" with the federal court in Washington, DC and asking them to order the doctors in Central Headquarters of the BOP to direct that I am seen by a specialist. Anyone have any information on filing such a mandamus?
7. I know there is a super protein on the horizon that wipes out Ebola hepatitis, and all viruses. What else is coming out on the hep c and what kind of time frames are we looking at.
I actually have more questions but these are the most pressing ones. Thanks!!!!
Not only has it been out there but is quite clear...
The important part........." and for sofosbuvir in combination with RBV and pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) for treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1, 4, 5 and 6 HCV infection."
----------------------------------------------------------
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--April 8, 2013--BUSINESS WIRE--Gilead Sciences today announced that the company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of sofosbuvir, a once-daily oral nucleotide analogue for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The data submitted in this NDA support the use of sofosbuvir and ribavirin (RBV) as an all-oral therapy for patients with genotype 2 and 3 HCV infection, and for sofosbuvir in combination with RBV and pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) for treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1, 4, 5 and 6 HCV infection.
Read more at http://www.drugs.com/nda/sofosbuvir_130409.html#F6mg1MjfVL0khd3A.99
The important part........." and for sofosbuvir in combination with RBV and pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) for treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1, 4, 5 and 6 HCV infection."
----------------------------------------------------------
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--April 8, 2013--BUSINESS WIRE--Gilead Sciences today announced that the company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of sofosbuvir, a once-daily oral nucleotide analogue for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The data submitted in this NDA support the use of sofosbuvir and ribavirin (RBV) as an all-oral therapy for patients with genotype 2 and 3 HCV infection, and for sofosbuvir in combination with RBV and pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) for treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1, 4, 5 and 6 HCV infection.
Read more at http://www.drugs.com/nda/sofosbuvir_130409.html#F6mg1MjfVL0khd3A.99
WHY is Sofosbuvir only being used for Tx Naive, and I think I missed the
link to that imfo~that sounds disappointing for geno 1's indeed.
link to that imfo~that sounds disappointing for geno 1's indeed.
Hey there, this is from Keith, I just gotta say, I do love the stuffins out of cutting and pasting.
Actually Can-do I didn't take it as bashing either. Just for an FYI, I had received from my father the AASLD's clinical practice guidelines and their most recent up-date, for that time period, for treatment, management, etc. for hep C. I knew that the SOP for dual treatment was 24 weeks. Put yourself in my position. If I tell my doctor to take me off treatment, then if I ask for future treatment, I could have been hit with, "denied for refusing prior treatment". I mentioned it to him. He called someone at some hospital somewhere and they decided that since my viral load had gotten so far down (around 5,000) to keep me on.
I don't think I realized that the sofosbuvir (spelled wrong) was only for patients that have never been treated before. I can handle the interferon and ribavirin. I didn't start getting anemic or have low ANC counts until later on in the treatment. Now whether or not, for example, sofosbuvir excerbates anemia or low anc counts I don't know, but it does't appear I could get it anyway if the treatment naive is set in stone. Thanks for all the information. Keith
Actually Can-do I didn't take it as bashing either. Just for an FYI, I had received from my father the AASLD's clinical practice guidelines and their most recent up-date, for that time period, for treatment, management, etc. for hep C. I knew that the SOP for dual treatment was 24 weeks. Put yourself in my position. If I tell my doctor to take me off treatment, then if I ask for future treatment, I could have been hit with, "denied for refusing prior treatment". I mentioned it to him. He called someone at some hospital somewhere and they decided that since my viral load had gotten so far down (around 5,000) to keep me on.
I don't think I realized that the sofosbuvir (spelled wrong) was only for patients that have never been treated before. I can handle the interferon and ribavirin. I didn't start getting anemic or have low ANC counts until later on in the treatment. Now whether or not, for example, sofosbuvir excerbates anemia or low anc counts I don't know, but it does't appear I could get it anyway if the treatment naive is set in stone. Thanks for all the information. Keith
Hello mzkity, how are you doing? I missed you and hoped nothing was wrong. Good to see your mzkity name. You know how I do love cats, take care and thanks again for everything, t
That for giving me another link to check out. I copied the page and sent it to him. Thanks for doing this for him, t
Good Morning to All
I just copied everyone's posts and I'm very sure when he reads them his thinking will go into overdrive. I agree with Idyllic, I am very frustrated with the whole system. God knows I appreciate all of you folks who have spent time reading everything he's said and responded with kindness. I know it can be a lot when you have your own problems. So again, let me thank you all so much. As soon as I hear from him I know he'll be disappointed about the new drugs. One thing I can say about him is, he'll never give up and that's what he'll need to beat this.
I just copied everyone's posts and I'm very sure when he reads them his thinking will go into overdrive. I agree with Idyllic, I am very frustrated with the whole system. God knows I appreciate all of you folks who have spent time reading everything he's said and responded with kindness. I know it can be a lot when you have your own problems. So again, let me thank you all so much. As soon as I hear from him I know he'll be disappointed about the new drugs. One thing I can say about him is, he'll never give up and that's what he'll need to beat this.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
