Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

426 Members
21,304 Posts
0 Online
Gastrointestinal System
/ Hepatitis C Support Group

first time posting

vabuttafly
vabuttafly
hi everyone, I recently came across this support group. I am 35 year old female and have just been diagnosed with hep c, genotype 2b. I have no idea how I got it. I have no idea how long Ive had it. I do not live a high risk lifestyle so I was stumped and shocked when I was told about this. Anyway, I have an appt with my gastro tomorrow to talk about tx. When he told me over the phone that my hep was confirmed he said the treatment was Ribavirin and Interferon. After much research I am against treatment with Interferon. Frankly, it scares the crap out of me. I know they recently approved Sovaldi and Im hoping my dr is willing to prescribe this. Does anyone know if all dr's are able to prescribe this now? Im really nervous about this appt tomorrow. Im hoping the sovaldi is an option. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
packedsand
packedsand
Welcome - you will learn a lot here about HCV, (I did). Sovaldi is now on the market and is being prescribed. Check with your medical insurance to see if they will cover the cost of it. I was dx'd las year and am due to start Sovaldi and Ribavarin this weekend perhaps.

Best wishes and welcome.

PS
MLTTexas
MLTTexas
Welcome to our group. Please stay in touch with us as to how things are going. We care. Marilyn
vabuttafly
vabuttafly
I have actually been feeling fatigued and generally blah for the past two years since Ive had my first child. i figured it was just from being so busy and being a mom. I also tend to get nauseous a lot and have IBS. I am prone to getting anxiety and depressed. I am on celexa and that helps manage it. I now truly believe these symptoms are from the hep c. It was like a light bulb went off after i was diagnosed. I knew this was not all in my head. Im nervous about treatment. Thank you for the quick responses. This has been a scary time.
oOoREBoOo
oOoREBoOo
Make a list of any concerns you have so you can address them with your doctor. Like the newer treatments for your geno type.

Good luck and welcome.
MrOSO
MrOSO
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I think you are smart to look at other alternatives than Interferon. For some it's not too bad, but it can be brutal for others, everybody reacts a bit different.

I found it useful to write down a list of questions beforehand, it's easy to get sidetracked in the doctor's office. And keep copies of all your paperwork, including labs.

Don't be afraid to ask your doc about Sovaldi, and if he doesn't know, then seek another opinion.

Good luck,
Bob
erniecoolcat
erniecoolcat
Hi and welcome. Many knowledgeable people here. I agree with MrOSO about non-interferon questioning and the Sovaldi comment.
catmagic
catmagic
Welcome buttafly. You have good reason to fear what we sometimes call InterFEARon. As a Geno 2, yes Sovaldi and Riba are FDA approved for you - and you def. should ask your doctor about it. If he is not willing to prescribe it, my suggestion is to find another doctor who will. Actually .... the fact that your current doc. told you that what is now the OLD SOC (standard of care) for Geno 2's was what your treatment would be - jeez, what the heck? Where's he been lately? If he thinks that - then, by all means, try to find another doctor.
TulsaGal
TulsaGal
Welcome to the group. You are wise to question interferon. If you suspect that your doc is not as knowledgable about the new drugs as they should be, then find a new doc.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Welcome Va...

I think riba/interferon are becoming obsolete. GT 2 is considered one of the easiest to treat. New treatments have been approved and many more will soon be.

Find yourself a doctor well versed in HCV...you will be OK.
vabuttafly
vabuttafly
Thanks for the responses. He recommended to Riba, Inter before the Sovaldi was approved last month. I hope he encourages Sovaldi before I even have to ask him. Mewithoutc how long have you been on tx? How have your side effects been? I will probably be asking a ton of questions! Thanks for everyone's input! I will let you all know how the appt goes.
deleted_user
deleted_user
va- if your doctor recommends riba/interferon I would seriously suggest getting a second opinion. I believe most knowledgable doctors would not.
barbbey
barbbey
Welcome to the group.... and I echo everyone else in that you should seek the newer treatments.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Welcome vabuttafly. Let us know how your doc appointment goes.

Many people never know how they got HCV or how long they have had it. The main thing is to find out your current physical status (your doc will do a lot of blood work, etc). Most people do not have to rush into treatment.

If one is unfortunate enough to have HCV, now is a really "good" time to find out that one has it because of the new treatment options on the horizon. I did treatment for 48 weeks with ribavirin and interferon in 2008/2009 and I can personally tell you that you are much better off waiting for Sovaldi with ribavirin.

Whatever you do; don't rush into anything...learn all you can about HCV before you make any decisions.
deleted_user
deleted_user
welcome to DS buttafly.

I hope you take everything that was said in this thread seriously. People here have more experience & do more research than most of the drs. I had hcv about 35 years before doing triple therapy for 48 weeks - of hell.

We all wish you only the best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm sure you're in shock and so much info to try and absorb. This one is important too:
There is another test which helps predict success of Tx. The ILb-28 genotype. If your doc doesn't do this test, then he/she is way behind. Its best to have a doc that specializes in Tx. Hep C and stays up on the newest Tx's.
I would not do the old Tx's. There are new Tx's and more just around the corner. If that's all your Doc offers, look for a better doc!!!
You'll find a lot of good info here. Many ppl who are much better than I at providing Links for you to read.
Welcome!