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.

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Has anyone every experienced this?

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi! I'm new here, but this seems like a friendly group to ask:

I obtained a zero viral load by week 7 and kept it for the next several months (I get lots of blood draws because I developed anemia from the treatment so they checked my load, too).

Right before my 24th week of treatment, I had bloodwork and when I went to my specialist for the results, I was told that my viral load elevated to 9,100 (it started out at 2,370,000).

I'm on Pegasys/Co-Pegasys and was to take that for 48 weeks (1,000 units of the ribaviran a day). My specialist plans to increase my riba dose until the viral load is zero again (not sure how much, but I could have swore I heard him mumble something like up to 1,600 a day) and pumping me with more Procrit so that my anemia doesn't become a problem again. He also is planning on extending my treatment to 72 weeks. If it goes to zero, he will then put me back on my regular dose. I'm female and currently weigh 115 pounds (just in case that matters about the dosage).

My questions:
1.Has anyone here been an early responder like I was, only to have the virus inch up and then go back down to zero during treatment?
2.Has anyone here been given alternative treatments like I have described above in order to eradicate their Hep C?

I guess I'm looking for a "reality check" as I want to make the best possible decisions about my treatment changes.

Thank you!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I did 48 weeks of treatment and due to a low platelet count, my riba was decreased for a little while until my platelet count went back up. I don't understand why your doctor was already talking about 72 weeks when you were only half way thru the original 48 wks. of tx. I showed no viral load at 12 weeks of tx and haven't showed a viral load since. While I was on treatment, I had to have blood labs on a weekly basis. I also think anemia is pretty common while on treatment. I was a member of an online support group specifically for Hep C patients and many of the others online had the same situation you do. Most of them did eradicate the HCV by the end of their treatment. My original viral load was slightly over 8,000,000 and I took 1200 mgs of ribavarin a day.
deleted_user
deleted_user
from what i have been told, is that the treatment depends on your geno type. I am genotype 1. the hardest to treat. ( 50% )
my viral load was 1 million, after 3 months went down to 1,000. I was excited and happy. at 6 months viral load was not detected, I was really excited and happy,( I thought i was one of the 50%. and then at 9 months my viral load went up to 4,000. I was devastated. I am finishing up the 48 week treatment. My next lab work will be at the end of this month. I hope it's non detectable. My doctor suggest that i wait approx. 4-5 years for other new and better treatments. Just a few questions, my white blood cells are very low 2.0
how low did yours get.
thanks
deleted_user
deleted_user
GREETINGS,
I HAVE HEARD OF EXTENDING THE TREATMENT LONGER , NOW I TOOK INTERFERON AND RIBA AND PROCRIT MY FIRST GO ROUND AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD , THEN COME 48 WEEKS AND AFTER LST SHOT THEN WENT BACK WITHIN 3 MONTHS , WELL I GOT A PHONE CALL WITH BAD NEWS SAYING , IT'S BACK, GOTTA GO BACK ON TX, FOR NON-REPSONDER- WHICH CONSIST OF - INFERGEN AND RIBAVARIN, AND NOW PROCRIT AGAIN, SO FOR ME ITS 10 SHOTS A WEEK, WHEN I BEGAN TX FOR THE FIRST TIME JULY2006 I WEIGHED 132, BY THE TIME I COMPLETED 48 WEEKS , OR SHALL I SAY TAKE LAST SHOT JUL06 MY WEIGHT WAS 99,,, NOW FROM AUG TIL I STARTED TX FOR NON RESPONDERS MY WEIGHT WAS 114, NOW THIS MORNING IT'S 110, IT BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH, AND I KNOW WE LOSE OUR APPETITE , BUT WE HAVE TO EAT , NOT SAYING FULL COURSE MEALS BUT IF ITS JUST NIBBLING ON SOMETHING , MOST OF THE DAY , DO IT , THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE FEELING OF BEING WEAK, FEELING SO WEAK THAT IT HURTS TO WALK, BEEN THERE DONE ALL OF IT , EVEN THOUGH i HAD TO STOP WORKING, I CAN SAY I FEEL BETTER NOW THAN I EVER AT THE START OF TX , EVEN WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS I KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEM, WHEN YOU KNOW HOW AND GIVEN INFO, YOU DECIDE EITHER YOU GONNA FOLLOW TO FEEL SOME WHAT BETTER OR YOU GONNA FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF AND JUST LAY AROUND, THAT'S THE BAD CHOICE ANYONE CAN MAKE,, NO I DIDNT WANNA GO BACK ON TREATMENT, BUT I WANT TO LIVE REGARDLESS OF HOW BAD THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOURSELF IN A GOOD STATE OF MIND, BUT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE THAT YOU ARE GONNA BE THE WINNER OF THIS , NO MATTER HOW BAD OF A TIME IT TAKES YOU THROUGH ,,,
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