Your VL is actually pretty low. Are you thinking about doing tx in the future?

Being infected for many years, even with low viral count and minimal fibrosis, ask you Dr. about an AFP blood test (tumour marker) to monitor for potential liver cancer.

You should probably see a specialist...preferably a hepatologist although a gastro would still know more than an internist. I let my internist follow me for years and when I finally started to go down hill, I went fast. He felt really bad that he had not refered me sooner.

Same here. Was dx'd in 98. Felt great most of the time. Just a little fatigue. After my gastro retired just let GP keep a check on liver enzymes. What I didn't know was I was developing Cryoglobulemia, a blood disease brought on by Hep. About 3-4 years ago started feeling bad. Neuropathy in feet, joint pain. Kept getting sent to Rheumy docs because I'd test RA positive. But further test revealed I didn't have RA. I didn't want to beleive that all this had anything to do w/ hep. Finally got really bad. Can do very little, barely walk, in terrible pain always, left foot totally numb, lots more stuff. Was sent to Hep doc. Its ALL hep related. Mainly from the Cryoglobulemia. Google it. Liver still not in too bad of shape, Stage 2 Grade 2 but if I'm going to have a chance for any quality of life, gotta have tx. There's a new genetic test that helps predict chance of succesful tx. I'm lucky, I do have the cc (good gene). In other words, get checked for Cryoglobulemia regularly. When it hits, it hits hard!! Not everyone, in fact very few get it.

Excellent advice. This helps us all!

If you are treatment naive I would think you odds won't be better than when new antivirals are available. At least consider it. I don't know your situation but there are milions of people who would love to start treatment but can't get it. When it works you can't beat the results. When it does't it can still improve the condtion of your liver and decrease odds of liver Ca. It is a personal decision that has alot to do with odds and probabilities. It may be a tough fight but your chance of sucess has never been better. Take Care.

Check out an il28b - that will suppy you with useful info; and as pershu has indicated, it is probably wise to see a hepatologist, now, sooner, rather than later. I can see no reason to postpone tx if effective therapy is available to you. The il28b will predict how effective soc will be. Who knows? You may be a "CC" , and be able to clear it up...bing- bang- boom! I'm rootin' for ya!

Sounds like you are doin pretty good. Mosrite is right about getting an AFP level. If all your other labs were normal - don't worry. One of the labs that starts to change when liver disease is advanced is your platelet count (starts to decrease) and PT (clotting times lengthen) - of course, both these things happen as a side effect of the treatment, too.

Thanks everyone for the input and excellent advice. I may decide to start treatment when that new drug comes out that lessens duration. If a drug has a side effect, it hits me ten times worse. I will definitely check on the AFP and Cryoglobulemia next visit.
Thanks Again.
My Best Wishes ALWAYS,
Ray