Do you know your geno? Usually 24 wks for 2 or 3 and 48 wks for 1.
12 wks is the blood test to see if you are responding, if not they may choose to stp tx. Is CT clinical trial??? If so their time frames may be different. I am on wk 16, geno . The worst I have had so far have been headaches, rash and tired and weak. Your white and red blood counts are affected which makes you feel so run down. Water is very important and paying attention to what your body needs, if it says rest, do so. Please ask all the questions you have, help is here.

I"m a gen 2, on week 18, and for me it's not been so bad. Just very fatigued, is my complaint.
I think eating well, and staying well hydrated has helped me continue strong. BUt it is so different for everyone! Good luck to you!

Yes, what JK says, REST, and listen to your body! She is so right, and that's the best advice.
Good luck, and start adding friends, it helpsto have support here.

Hi, jkbearhug
My geno type is 1b and yes CT is clinical trail. Will I be able to work? I work as a teachers aide which means i'm up and down the halls all day - no resting until i get home. Susa

Gatorbuzz & ... another newer member go thru Shands.
Gator has completed tx, the other is in it now. Both are undetectable.
go see Gatorbuzz.

there are so many new meds being used in trials now that theres no telling what youll be on or how it will affect you. most people continue to work thru tx, many do not. im stage 3 fibrosis and was told recently that i could remain in this stage for 10 more years. liver disease moves slowly if you dont drink booze.

Yea they say 12 weeks is the best but some people are slow responders I didn't clear until week 15 and I'm 1a. You have to clear before 24 wks it just depends on the doctor and how high your vl is etc.

The nurse is right about how the sides will effect you everyone is different. But you will feel more tired and make sure you drink alot of water it will help with the dry skin too.

I just started treatment. Shot # 3 last night. I have been feeling tired and weak. I have a lot of rashes popping up. Other than that it hasn't been too bad. I drink all the water they tell me and I have to go to the bathroom constantly. I am a teacher and go back to school on Monday. I am not sure how it will work either. There is no rest during the day and if I get to the bathroom once during the day I am doing good. I understand your concern. I will have to be strategic when it comes to getting to the bathroom. :)

Hi Susa,
looks like we are starting about the same time. I am a geno2, lucky me.
I have been told not to take supplements with tx. Does anyone take vitamins, liv 52 while on treatment?

Susa
your nurse is right. It can be like having the
flu or it can be a nightmare from hell. Keeping
your spirit up will help. ether way it goes
Sound like you have 1a and you are in clinical test
with new drug. Phase III ?
string
The only supplements I was told not to take
were A,E,and D or any oil base supplements
A one a day vitamin was ok as long as it had no
Iron. Check with your doctor

string, i dont mess with any kind of manmade supplement cause that would be interfering with nature and nature is nothing short of miraculous. vitamins in my opinion could interfere with the body's natural cravin process. then you wouldnt eat what your body wants. just my lame opinion..

The clinical trail is only a phase 2 :( wish it was a phase 3 trail.

Every one has been so helpful and I am learning so much, maybe to much --- should I wait until the new drugs are out next year, if it doesn't show up clear when the trail thinks it should should I go back to the dr and continue the treatment- do they do that, so as you can see I have even more questions. But I'm goin for it!!!

Hi
I remember being in your shoes..I was a geno
1a which is the hardest to cure. Anyway in April will be 2 yrs since my last shot. It was hell for me..lot's of side effects. You are taking the first most important step for your recovery..that is joining this support system. And good for u for going for it. Being at stage 3 is no joke. At stage 4 there is no turning back.
Good luck
and tell your Dr everything..take notes so this way u will not forget.
Everyone is different.

I had hep C for 30 years or more, type 1A and had to have treatment for one year. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, but I would rather get rid of the dragon if I can.

My doctor told me that the more advanced the Hep C, the harder treatment is and side effects. You may breeze through it. I hated every minute of taking those pills and felt much better before treatment. I still have mixed feelings about it. I am glad to be virus free so far, but it's only been 2 weeks since I finished. I don't know the results of my final tests yet... and we all get tested 6 months post treatment.

I was miserable the whole time. I got a nasty, very itchy rash on my belly and it felt like bugs were crawling inside. It drove me nuts and anything I tried only sort of helped. I am in early 4th stage cirrhosis, and of course it's still there after treatment. It will take about 3 to 6 months post tx to heal my liver.

The worst side affect was the anemia. It felt like I was alergic to the riba and it drove my red cells really low. I had to have 6 transfusions since Christmas and I really hated that.... I formed antibodies against the blood they were giving me and the doc said I couldn't tolerate too many more transfusions. They couldn't give me eprix because it is too expensive and not funded by the government. Now that treatment is done I still feel the effects of anemia and still feel really gross.

I lost my hair, aged 10 years, lost 30 lbs, got scars from zits... but the weirdest thing was that my earring holes grew back after not wearing earrings for only one month.

If you are a non-responder they stop treatment because they figure there is no point after that because you will most likely not respond. I was at 15 b y 12th week from 2,000,000 VL. Those who don't respond usually try clinical trials. The reason you have to continue treatment for so long is that the virus can hide in the damaged part of the liver and you could get it back. They want to make sure it is gone. Different types of Hep C have different lengths of treatment. Mine was 48 weeks and I did 52. After that I said that's enough. My red cells were dropping again and I didn't want to have another transfusion.

I wish you the best in your battle. I know it's a long and hard journey. So keep in good spirits and help your friends and family to understand what you are going through. I know there is riba rage, but just remember it comes from the pills and you are not yourself during that time.

Good luck to you.
Sandi

I wonder if it's wise to wait. When I first saw the doctor I was late stage 3. After all the bullshit red tape that took a year and a half, my liver was at stage 4. If you have too much cirrhosis the doctors will not treat you because it is way too hard on the body. Your next option is a liver transplant. The list is very long and the virus will infect the new liver. They cannot give you treatment during this process because the antirejection drugs don't go good with tx.

I am not meaning to scare you, but this is the reality of Hep C.

Wow, Sheart, that is really depressing. Still, it is best to know the worst case scenerio JIC. Thanks :-)