Anybody have a miracle stuck in their back pocket?

[susan400]

I have been feeling sort of down because of the prospects for me clearing this virus are dwindling up.  Yes, I know, that I'm far from hopeless and that there's still time, and blah, blah, blah.   But, I've basically been told that I can't do any of the protease inhibitors.  I was thinking about trying to get into the Boceprevir trials, but I've been told, flat out, nobody will take me into a protease inhibitor trial because of my having been exposed to the Telaprevir in the Prove 3.  I'm like, 'Oh terrific, so I'm like scr*wed?'   Schering has told me this, the former trial nurse at my last study site has told me this.  Whenever I inquire about the possibility of any other non-responder trials, nobody has anything available to me.  I suppose that there is always hope that eventually there will be a polymerase non-responder trial, but whether or not that they will take me, is debatable.  Waiting for a couple of years for one of these new drugs to be FDA approved really doesn't help me much because I have no prescription drug insurance, so I wouldn't be able to pay for them.  So, I'm left with, do I just hope and pray that I progress none?  Since I've had bridging fibrosis for 7 years, is that even likely?  I am praying for a miracle because nothing I have tried has worked.  I'm not trying to make anybody feel bad, or to just be a negative old grouch, but I'm really feeling down about this.  I don't understand why I have been unable to clear!  

Susan400

[epiphiny]

Hey Susan,  I just noticed you live in Oz and I know that Pharmasset and Roche are running trials there and in NZ for the ploymerase inhibitor R7128.  I am not sure what stage they are at, or whether there are any that would be suitable for you, but it could be worth further investigation.  You could check out their website ***.pharmasset.com or check the clinical trials page.

I did a trial for it with them earlier this year and they were really helpful, and I have good results thus far.  Was a prev non-responder and went UND at week 4.  Still UND with another 19 weeks to go (48 in total).

Hope you can find something, all the best....

Epi.

[proud48]

I am so sorry the study will not work. You have been in my prayers and I will continue to pray for you. It is very hard not to be down. One thing you know is many people on this forum care for you. Stay hopeful and stay in touch. Many blessings to you and remember tx. meds are changing all the time. :)
proud48

[susan400]

Off of treatment it's been running around 105 to 111, but no higher.  On treatment it's been considerably lower at around 80 or 90, all fasting of course.  Since I'm not considered diabetic by my doctor, I really don't think that he'd put me on diabetic Type II sort of medicines.  I do already exercise almost to the point of obsessively.  I've been doing 2 miles a day on the treadmill and yesterday on Thanksgiving, I walked 3 miles in the morning before the big meal and another mile in the afternoon after the meal.  I don't really know that there's much more that I can do besides that.  I wish that there was some way that I could pre-dose with the diabetic meds and then, try to do SOC again, but getting a doctor that would be willing to do that for me is another problem.  They have pretty much giving me that standard line of  'we're not going to do anything until the new drugs are approved' or unless or until I could possibly be in a polymerase inhibitor trial.  I am totally listening to what your saying, but just don't know how I'd get it done in practice.  

Susan400

[CockSparrow]

You may want to check this out.

http://www.natap.org/2008/HCV/031008_01.htm

Glucose >100 mg/dl Reduces Interferon/RBV SVR
  
Effect of sustained virological response to treatment on the incidence of abnormal glucose values in chronic hepatitis C

As has been reported previously with respect to insulin resistance, abnormal glucose values (>100mg/dl) have been shown in our study to be associated with a lower rate of SVR to treatment.

The question of whether intervention using oral hypoglycaemic drugs, or diet and exercise, improves the response rate in this group of patients warrants further exploration...

Your glucose is above 100. See the connection.

CS

[CockSparrow]

Keep forgetting this site hates greater than signs.
Here is the missing bits

Glucose tolerance is classified into three categories based on the FPG:
• Normal:  FPG Less than 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl)
• IFG: FPG Greater than or =5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) but <7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)
• Diabetes: FPG Greater than mmol/l (126 mg/dl)

CS

[CockSparrow]

My blood sugar was slightly high, but not yet into a diabetic range.  My weight is normal.  

If your glucose is above 100 mg/dL which is only slightly high then it likely you are Insulin Resistant. If most of you Glucose levels have been around 100 then you are definately Insulin Resistant.

You dont have to be Diabetic to be Insulin Resistant.
Below is from the American Diabetes Association.
Its in regard to the risk of developing diabetes but you will get the idea

Glucose tolerance is classified into three categories based on the FPG:
• Normal:  FPG 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) but 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)

IFG is comparable to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which is defined as plasma glucose levels between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/l (140 and 200 mg/dl) 2 h after a 75-g OGTT.
Individuals with IFG or IGT are at substantial risk for developing type 2 diabetes (a 40% risk over the next 5 years) and cardiovascular disease.

If you get you insulin tested you can then calculate your HOMA-IR score

CS