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.
I have been on hepc tx for 4 weeks. Very trying, physically and especially mentally. Often thought i could not tolerate 5 more months of this. I have both genotype 1a and 3a. Plus HIV, my ARNP said because of all my other medical issues my tx will be more difficult. My first blood work after 4 weeks is non detectable. Made my horrible side affects worth it. Anyone on tx and considering stopping I would recommend to not make decision when in an acute medical issue. Sleep on it and possibly come up with ways to deal with side affects. Easier said than done. I have some steps to help with depression. Still trying to find ways to deal with physical. Is side affects worth it. At this point Yes. Would like feedback on dealing with physical issues on meds.
EXCELLENT advice, sleep on it, talk about it, talk with your care team.
HCV will continue to wreak havoc with the body so long as it is a freeloading unwelcome virus. Getting rid of the virus can prevent many other health issues from developing.
When the labs are bad and it looks like the treatment is compromising health, then between the patient & medical team other options may be considered, adjusting dosage or terminating treatment..
Stay as strong as you can, just for today.
I was at stage 4 cirhossis stage 2 varices and just had gone on the transplant list ..I felt dreadful all the time anyway .. treatment was no worse .. I actually startd to feel a little better a few days at a time ... Great advice .. one day at a time!
I am almost % weeks post TX.... I cleared at 4 weeks and although the riba was bad I felt better slowly .. Now all my liver enzyme levels are within normal for the first time in many, many years and I feel like a new person ... Still have a lot of damage from 40 yrs of HCV but
In my opinion
SO worth it Hang in one day at a time ...
I can most definitely relate to your quandary. I did 12 months of triple therapy a few years back (Incivek, Interferon, and Ribavirin). The side effects were beyond horrible, most days I simply wanted to die. I think I still have side effects from the treatment, but I no longer have the virus.
Was it worth it? That's a tough question. HCV is a tricky disease. For a lot of people that have it, and it is mostly a silent disease. But for others, it can be deadly. Liver failure is not a fun way to die, and the onset can be sudden and dramatic.
In the end, the choice is yours. I can tell you from experience that time seems to slow down when you're treating. It's like a warm spring day when you are 12 years old, and you want so badly for school to be over so you can go outside and play. You look at the clock, and it's 2:00, you are almost free! After what seems like three hours, you glance at the clock again, and it reads 2:20.
But eventually this will pass. Others have done it, and so can you. I found it helpful to get outside as often as I could, even though it was hard and all I wanted to do was sit inside and feel sorry for myself. Drink water, your body needs a ton of it while you are treating. Eat as healthy as you can. I took meds for depression for a few months, but they come with their own side effects, so I stopped.
Good luck.
Bob
I know I actually wanted my Doc to take me off the treatment, BUT I am so glad that he kept me on it as I am Hep C FREE!!!
While you are in treatment, it seems like it will never end, but it does.
24 weeks is really a short time when you are talking about the rest of your life.
If you know how much better we all are feeling, then it would boost your levels and hopes.
God Bless you and help you finish to the end!!
You will be Hep C FREE - It feels so good...
I dont know the worthiness of this meds side effects as it dose not guarantee to work for all HCV, but why dont you try to enhance and protect your liver function at the same time?
I read a clinical study before and it proved HCV patients who took patented liver supplement with western med (there were few types of med) felt much less side effects and received great results after 2 weeks.
Cant remember the name of this suppliment but if you wish to continue your current treatment with bad side effects, maybe you can work on protect liver too.
God Bless