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

Many HCV Dr.s Warehousing Patients

ImKramer
ImKramer
Many Physicians who Treat HCV Have Begun Warehousing and Preparing HCV Patients for the Next Generation of Interferon-Free Treatments to Become Available, According to a Recent BioTrends Report:
http://bio-trends.com/News-and-Events/Press-Releases/hepatitis-C-111512
hepcme
hepcme
Patients like me have been self warehousing for a long time
SandyDo
SandyDo
Same here...self-warehoused myself right into cirrhosis.

Good post, Kramer...I'm so happy that there's good news all around us lately.
hepcme
hepcme
wat are the choices? 40% chance to clear with a year of hell and a lifetime of impairments and be homeless in the process because of inability to hold down a job? glad i still have the presence of mind to figure that one out.
kcaseytn
kcaseytn
If a patient is stage 1 or 2 - wait would be my advice - along with a stern warning and discussion on taking care of ones self. I believe a Combe of DAA's are the very best chance - with or without interferon - and they are so close to approval - good post
hepcme
hepcme
now the big question 1a w TT?
deleted_user
deleted_user
SandyDo that's what I was afraid of. Waiting and developing cirrhosis.
deleted_user
deleted_user
NEW GUY HERE.. AND VERY WORRIED! I FOUND OUT 6mos AGO I HAVE HEP C. AND 4 WEEKS AGO I DID MY FIRST BIOPSY. I JUST GOT THE RESULTS BACK. STAGE2 GRADE 3. I'VE READ EVERYTHING I CAN FIND ON HEP C. DO I NEED TO TREAT NOW OR WAIT FOR BETTER DRUGS TO COME OUT. CONFUSED. AFRAID. WORRY. I'M LOSING MY MIND...
ImKramer
ImKramer
Same here Mike that's why I did SOC in 2010 but turns it out Interferon based treatments are a not successful for me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Welcome to the group Brian. What did your doctor say?
ImKramer
ImKramer
Hello BrianFLA. Sorry about your bad news but you will find many many good folks here in the same boat as you, some not as far along as you but many others that wish they were Stage 3 again.
We are all getting by, getting on with our lives. Some are on 24/48 weeks of Interferon therapy, others are on trials not relying on Interferon and others like me are waiting until the new drugs get to market end of next year.
You really need to consult with your Dr. Your fear is totally reasonable but will not serve you at all. Read up, talk to your Dr.
There are very very good cures right around the corner.
If you take care of your health I doubt very much you will end up stage 4 before the new drugs are here.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I wonder if incivek was around then out comes would be different.
ImKramer
ImKramer
Not for me. Triple therapy helps relapsers but not very effective for nonresponders. Interferon is not the right key for my DNA lock. I suspect those failing triple are nonresponders like I am.
hepcme
hepcme
I have been reading some are relapsing years after treatment
deleted_user
deleted_user
Well lets hope the new treatments get here fast.
catmagic
catmagic
Yeah, SandyDo, I was warehoused since 2002 - delayed treatment BY physicians because they felt I'd go nuts on Interferon (ya think, lol?), and also because I started out as a nice Stage 0. Stage ZERO. "Oh, it will take a loongggggg time for you to get to Stage 4." Sure. Wrong. Well, maybe 10 years is a long time since I'm not exactly the fountain of youth.

So along comes the PI's - but Interferon still part of the package, and yepper hepper, I'm still on the shelf in the warehouse ~ now with cirrhosis. But, I BELIEVE the Interferon-free tx will be available in the next 14 - 16 months.