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.
I've been to the two of the top liver/hep c specialists in the Texas this past week. Both told me there are no current trials for relapsed gen 3a's at this time. Dr. Galati in Houston seemed pretty enthusiastic about the protease inhibitors and was certain they would be FDA approved within the year. We actually made an appointment for Nov of next year. Neither doctor advised re-treating for a longer period (I went 24 weeks) despite some recent studies to the contrary. They both seemed pretty sold on the idea that relapse was inevitable using the same drugs regardless of duration of treatment.
If any of you all here of something please let me know.
God bless,
Rob
If any of you all here of something please let me know.
God bless,
Rob
Lets just see whats coming along in next two years. there will be something for us. most we can do now is take care of ourselves & trust God.
You are fortunate they are upfront with you about your chances. Would you want to go through 48 weeks & have it not work?
Once in a rare moment I become fearful of next stage liver deterioration. Luckily, it passes quickly.
Read the Vitamin D post that is an article out of the Hep C Conference in Boston this month. Vit D is been found to be helpful for Hep C --- and not just for those on TX.
Stick with us Rob.
WNM23
Dr. Lee is supposed to be one of the top Liver Docs too but I couldn't get in to see him although I was very impressed w/Dr. Malet.
One of the things that impressed me is that Dr. Malet responds to emails about treatment and HepC. I can't find his email address right this second but it's probably online at the med schools website.
I suggest you also write to him and see what he says although it will probably be the same as you've already been told. I also thought that geno 3 was the easiest one to "cure" but that just goes to show you how individual this virus is....
I'm geno 1 and have tried treatment 3 different times, only successfully completing the first one...48 weeks on the old Interferon and the experimental ribavarin.
I wish I had waiting to treat...I've had the HepC since transfusions in 1988. It's hard to just sit and wait...but sometimes I think it's best. Treatment can do more harm than good in some cases...I found that true for me.
Just keep up with the research...they are learning more everyday!
Best of luck on your retreatment, when you start. You have lots of company in the relapse dept; I also relapsed but am a 1A. I am also on the "wait for the protease inhibitors" bandwagon.
There are some sites that have a wealth of info on up and coming info and you can do some searches and find a few that will email you regularly. One I get is the following:
http://www.clinicaloptions.com/
Check out that site and see what comes of use as data for your situation.
Again, I wish you well for future treatment
http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/
comboguide.htm