yes it could drop, your probably watching what you eat or drink,etc. If you drop that quick immagine how fast tx will work,barb

i just had this talk with my gi doc , yes it is normal for it took decrease then increase , thats why we feel worse tthan better sometimes ,but your doing great ya just started tx and your body is fighting hepc , this is great news for you !

Hard to say what is normal for sure when it comes to viral loads. Yeah, it isn't anything abnormal for viral loads to fluctuate. A lot of research shows that it is good to start tx when viral load is down. Which seems like what worked out for you , so that is a good thing. I would also consider it a good thing that your viral load is low. Some research shows the lower the viral load , the better shot of clearing the virus. But that isn't always the case. A lot of times people with high viral loads clear the virus no problem, and sometimes folks with low viral loads don't clear. But going on statistics, your probably in good shape. Especially since your a type 3. That's in your favor also, and should increase your chances in combination with your low viral load.

Most Docs will check your viral load at 4 weeks. This is a good point to see if you are clear, or having a decrease in your log.
But every Doctor will check your viral load at 12 weeks. Studies show that if you haven't decreases your viral load ( or if it remains the same or increases) than you have less than 1% chance of clearing the virus.
I figured I would at least give it a shot up to the 12 week point, especially since I'm a type 2 ( another easier to treat geno). One never knows to you try. My Doctor says an early indicator that you are responding is a significant decrease in your liver enzymes. In two weeks my AST dropped 100% and my ALT drooped 120%, and both are back in the normal range for the first time in 2 years. God Bless,Good luck with tx, and keep us posted!

My viral load did exactly the same thing. I had heard that the lower your viral load was the better your chances w/ tx. I was worried about starting when I had such a high viral load, but my next test came back with a much lower viral load, all pre tx. It amazes me the extreme fluctuation, makes you wander about the test, wether they are right or not.

Yep Tin, I wonder the same thing.

Like I said, if I was someone considering tx again, I wouldn't pay too much attention at viral load (PRE tx!). I'd give it a shot either way, at least to that 12 week point. You never know, you could one of those folks that just totally starts whipping the hell out of this virus.

exactly, makes you wonder about the tests. I am having a very difficult time trusting the doctors in all of this. Of course, a simple call from his medical assistant to say "that's normal, don't worry" would really go along way.
I have labs scheduled every two weeks for the duration of treatment.

Rob

It seem to me your imune system and God is putting up a good fight. We all have the
antibody in us.They can kill the virus.
TX just help us fight it off. Hope you have
a GI Doc that can explain it in lay men terms

Very true Gregg....

Just think how long your poor liver has been going back and forth with this virus. It makes me feel good to know that I'm evening up the odds, and taking some of that stress of my liver. God willing and we clear this virus, it will all be worth it.

I have to wonder if your lab results are correct Moussa.

after googling viral load fluctuations I found this out...

Changes of a magnitude of threefold (0.5 log) or greater in HCV RNA levels were not observed in untreated patients.

check out this site
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8811641

Did you change your diet since October? Any added supplements like Milk Thistle? Any different medications or less medications? Viral load numbers really don't mean anything except to see if treatment is working. The fact that you have a much lower viral load just before starting treatment is a very good thing.

SR - thanks for that very imformative link.

KM - no meds at all, nor milk thistle. Slight change in diet, nothing major.

I am leaning towards a typo...but which one?

Rob

you are right scaredrabbit 0.5 log would be a
1,390,000 drop not a 2M .It looks like a typo
on lab paper work.It should be 2,790,000
someone left a 0 off

Rob, stay on the horn until you get an answer!!! I can't take the suspense any longer!!!!!!!!

Think of it this way Rob. If the typo is the other way .You have about a 70% chance at a cure not a 50%. But your Doc had to have more than a viral load to get the inserance Co. to ok TX, a biopsy or liver enzymes being hight and climbing. To show you are in downward slide. That why I went 2,790,000

My viral load went from 200,000, to 6,000 before I even started my treatment. I don't know why. And in my third mo. of treatment, it went down to below 10. I'm in my seventh mo. of treatment now, so I hope i'm undetectable. Don't feel bad, I can never get ahold of my doc. I got my meds late once cause he didn't read my labs on time. They never answer there phone, you leave a message and they call back whenever they feel like it.