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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SusaB 11/25/2009

I went yesterday to Shands to turn in my meds ...doc had told me she was going to have to stop tm due to eye problems. But after talking with her and my nurse for an hour or so, the decided to cut my interferon back to .5, let her know at once if I had any more problems, come back in 2 wks, another visit to the eye dr in a month and then depending on what he says I will either stay on tm or be taken off.

The dr also told me that even if I was taken off now I would still have a 50/50 chance of beating this, I'm on wk 12 has any one else been told this? I'm geno type 1b and cleared at wk 2.
Hugs, Susa

deleted_user 11/25/2009

WOW Susa....I just read MCSLO journal and they are having the same problems????????? (see journal at bottom of Main page)

So beary sorry to hear this:(

deleted_user 11/25/2009

i would prefer the reduced meds. dont waste a chance to smoke the virus. my vision is still improvig 3 yrs post tx. good luck to you susa ..

SusaB 11/25/2009

I forgot to add my dr said there will be a new drug coming out in 2011.

deleted_user 11/25/2009

yea susa the " new drug" causes digestive problems ive been warned. itll probably make ya shit n go blind both.

SusaB 11/25/2009

lets hope your not right :)

deleted_user 11/25/2009

i never am so we can relax again. :)>

deleted_user 11/25/2009

You might want to talk with Msclo and see if your eye probs are the same. Sorry hun

deleted_user 11/25/2009

I was taking almost 2x the Interferon dose I was supposed to be taking for about 15 weeks into my treatment. During that time my eyesight was deteriorating fast. As soon as I reduced to my correct dose (.4 instead of .7) the impact on my eyes started reversing too. At least in my case, there was a direct relationship.

deleted_user 11/25/2009

Capn, Hubby's Dr. said new treatment was more effective but did have worse side effects for most patients. He claimed it was more skin problems though.

deleted_user 11/25/2009

Since you cleared so early you still have a great chance of clearing the virus even with reduced meds, good luck!

deleted_user 11/25/2009

lynn, my va nurse warned about nausea. i could probably deal with that as my stomach is generally very stable. she warned me about the mental effects of infergen beforehand also n she flat ass knew what she was talking about on that issue. next time i tx i want quaaludes, thorazine, elephant darts , n it wouldnt kill them to git me some hash.

mcslo 11/26/2009

My doctors are still trying to decide what to do. I do my shot tomorrow night and i kind of need them to say something .I think I'm with trying to do some tx. I'm with cap - we need to try and smoke this thing while we have a good chance. I did read a few interesting articles. This one said 24% of patients with standard or pegylated alpha-interferon had some sort of retinal hemorrhage yet lesions remained asymptomatic and disappeared in all patients. That means 1/4 0f us have it but most don't know. Maybe the saying "ignorance is bliss" is correct.

http://www.jhep-elsevier.com/article/S0168-8278(05)00517-9/abstract

Barb99999999 11/26/2009

I do know you can have eye problems, mine went away you could have more serious eye problems such as detached retina. But the doctor will keek an eye on it. Thats great you cleared at two weeks. Sounds like you will beat it.I also have 1b

SusaB 11/26/2009

Thanks guys for all the replies!!!!

Every one have a great Thanksgiving!

Hugs Susa

deleted_user 11/26/2009

Susa, congrats on clearing!
Sorry to hear about you eye problem, should resolve with dosage reduction and with time.
I'm also 1b, VL prior to tx 8,140,000. I just had my 1st VL check Monday after wk 12 of tx...so I'll keep you posted.
Best wishes for a wonderful thanksgiving.

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