Aa
viral load
Finally found out im 12mil. viral load, stage2, type1 hep c. Going to start treatment july 9th. INCIVEK, Peginterferon Alfa+, Ribavirin. Triple therapy. The question?... My dr. said my numbers are not important to me! Just him, I THINK HE'S WRONG!!! He also told me the tax payers are paying for this! Am i in trouble with this doc??? I'm gonna feel crappy enough.
Best Answer
Yes, I agree with uncledudeness too. If he is already that uncooperative and combative, (and judgemental), he will only get worse. Your life may depend on him making the right decisions. Are you willing to trust him to make the correct decisions with an attitude like he has.
That doc may not think the VL numbers (and probably other numbers) are important for you, but it is your life at stake here. If he is not willing to work with you, then I think a new doc is in order.
In addition, you should really get paper copies of all of your lab results during treatment, not just the viral loads, but also all of the other lab results so you can see what is going on and you can post here if necessary.
I was newly diagnosed last summer and knew next to nothing about Hep C at that time. I ended up with a team that I am not happy with. I have had many problems with them. If I had it to do over, I would get an expert with whom I was comfortable. I would make sure he/she included me in the treatment planning and decision making processes. I thought I could stick it out until I finish in 13 weeks but now my Hgb dropped and I am going to see a new doc June 4 because the old one just is not up to par.
That doc may not think the VL numbers (and probably other numbers) are important for you, but it is your life at stake here. If he is not willing to work with you, then I think a new doc is in order.
In addition, you should really get paper copies of all of your lab results during treatment, not just the viral loads, but also all of the other lab results so you can see what is going on and you can post here if necessary.
I was newly diagnosed last summer and knew next to nothing about Hep C at that time. I ended up with a team that I am not happy with. I have had many problems with them. If I had it to do over, I would get an expert with whom I was comfortable. I would make sure he/she included me in the treatment planning and decision making processes. I thought I could stick it out until I finish in 13 weeks but now my Hgb dropped and I am going to see a new doc June 4 because the old one just is not up to par.
I agree with uncledudeness, my Dr. is so non-existant in my care. I was so naive when I started treatment, but wished I would have found a different doc a long time ago.
His comment about your VL was extreamly rude. I understand what he was trying to say, but it probably could have been said 1000 different ways and all of them would have been better then what he said!
the VL is really only important to see how you are reacting to treatment. You need to have a certain amount of VL drop at 4 weeks and 12 weeks i think, for the triple treatment. it is a response driven treatment. So it is important to you, but the numbers don't say anything about how much liver damage you have or anything else related to the virus, just how you are responding to treatment.
Maybe next time you could explain to him that you understand what the VL numbers are used for, and yes, this information is important to you, that all the information about your treatment is important to you and you will be following it closely.
I might ask him what the tax payer comment was all about too, ask him if you need to be nervous about the type of patient care and treatment you will be receiving...cause news crews just eat that type of story up every day!
the VL is really only important to see how you are reacting to treatment. You need to have a certain amount of VL drop at 4 weeks and 12 weeks i think, for the triple treatment. it is a response driven treatment. So it is important to you, but the numbers don't say anything about how much liver damage you have or anything else related to the virus, just how you are responding to treatment.
Maybe next time you could explain to him that you understand what the VL numbers are used for, and yes, this information is important to you, that all the information about your treatment is important to you and you will be following it closely.
I might ask him what the tax payer comment was all about too, ask him if you need to be nervous about the type of patient care and treatment you will be receiving...cause news crews just eat that type of story up every day!
it really sux that we can't edit our posts...i'm an adult and i know how to spel reely....i doo....
it should say " here is what I would do"....because i originally said "here is what you should do"....but i thought that was a little too pretentious of me...
oh and 7-FIRE HIM and then smile.
it should say " here is what I would do"....because i originally said "here is what you should do"....but i thought that was a little too pretentious of me...
oh and 7-FIRE HIM and then smile.
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1-ask as many questions here as you possibly could.
2-gain as much knowledge from the great members here.
3-tell your doctor that he needs to go back to med school and take the classes that he missed involving patient/doctor communications.
4-FIRE HIM and get a doctor that involves you in your treatment and cure.
5-tell him that the important thing is that you are going to be treated and that it doesn't matter how you get cured.
6-FIRE HIM.....oh, did i say that already....
don't worry about treatment side effects. some people have minimal sides....you can and will do it....good luck