Thankfully I was tested for all the known Hepatitis virus' when I became ill, all negative.

I fall near the end of the age range, but thankfully never injected drugs and blood transfusions I received were all after 2007.

Also received the series of injections to protect against Hep A&B.

Curious about one statement a doctor made in the first article. "And thanks to new drugs, he says, up to three-quarters of people who finish treatment completely clear the virus from their body".

I didn't think HepC virus could be removed once infected.

Just curious what your opinion is on that statement.

Thank you for the links, very informative.

I went through treatment in 1999 and again in 2001. I could not finish either time because of blood counts... first time was about 12 weeks and the second time lasted around 10 weeks. However, I did clear the virus. Every viral load test they have taken since then has been Zero!!! :)

I don't have to worry about the Hep C... but, I had already progressed to cirrhosis at that time so have had the complications that go along with that.

Hello Wilbur,

It is my understanding that once the Hep C virus has been contracted and treated it in many cases becomes undetectable. In some cases it will lay dormat for many years or even for the lifespan of the patient but unfortunately this is not the case for everyone.

There are many studies in prgress with hopes to completely clear the virus but only time can tell if the drug is actually effective.

Randy

rpoo - I had never heard about it becoming dormant before. I have an appt with my Doctor on Monday and this is a good question to ask him. They have not done a viral load on me in years because I kept coming back at Zero. However, this past year I have had many complications with my cirrhosis... I wonder if the Hep could be at it again!??!

Completed my hep c clinical trial in July. I Started the trial in April, by the 9th day I was undetected. The very first time I put the pills in my mouth my viral load went from 3 million to 4 thousand. It was an all oral treatment, no side effects. 100% of us were undetected. We were all geno 1A, the hardest to cure. I am still undetected. I go back for regular blood tests. As soon as the drug companies found out how fast we were cured they pulled the trial. There were two companies combining their medications, they got greedy and wanted all profits for themselves, so quit collaboration with each other.

Randy,

Thanks for the info. Haven't done a lot of research into HepC, but that's what is so nice about this forum. We can learn a lot from other people.

The following story has very little to do with HepC, mainly a warning to only have safe sex.

My only experience with HepC was when I first got ill and was hospitalized with cirrhosis a bit over five years ago, I shared a room with a guy who had a sinus infection but who also turned out to be positive for HepC. Why they put me in the same room with a shared bathroom, sink, etc. I'll never understand, but it's in the past and apparently the risks were pretty low.

He didn't know it, and his "one night stand" girlfriend came to visit when his doctor came to see him. He said he had nothing to hide and the girlfriend could stay while the doctor spoke with him. When the doctor mentioned he was positive for HepC I think the girl would have shot him if she had a gun. She was furious (although not exactly innocent, she could have said no or had him use a condom).

Anyhow, she stormed out of the room, never to be seen again. I know nothing about either of them, but hope they both are healthy.

The guy was actually very nice, dumber than a box of rocks, but I hope he learned from the situation.