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From your post, it sounds as if there's no way you'll try the treatment. The 3 part treatment has a better than 70% chance of ridding you of Hep C. Your Hep C won't go away on its own, so it's likely that at some point your liver will begin to scar (cirrhosis)If you have cirrhosis, it's time to think about a transplant. Take that into account.

Connie/David:

There's so much I don't know about this HCV 1a.

Connie: Wow, you had a liver biopsy done today and made it through just fine, and are even posting on the forum, congratulations for making it through with little to no discomfort, and thanks for letting me know it wasn't "horrific" as I've been reading elsewhere. Going to delete those negative HCV sites from my bookmarks & focus on getting well.

David: The progression is worth stopping, guess I didn't want to realize that it would progress to what you stated. Even if the chances weren't as low as I've been reading, it's not worth just giving up. What you wrote, "70% chance of viral clearance with the new triple-drug treatment" seems somehow more worth any side effects than the 50% or less SVR I've been seeing all over the inet (old news). Plus, I've been talking to my Dad & he would really be happy if I didn't just let this virus get the better of me.

An itchy facial rash and pigmentation issues have accompanied my liver disease, and has left some nasty scarring and dis-coloring issues. I was told that I could be a candidate for plastic surgery to rid my face of this stuff, after treatment for my chronic liver disease. There's just so much going on, I feel so sick, that maybe I'm just feeling sorry for myself. Easy for me to just say "f it, I'm already this sick, why bother."

But ya, I'm going to stop reading stuff on the inet & bring a valid list of questions to my Hep appointment, along with my family for support/and some "extra ears." I totally trust my new hep's partner (the Gastro), and will simply listen to them and do what they say before going off on a "poor me, f this" tangent. Just so tired of being so sick.

Thanks for correcting the information that I had. I will go back to my "survival mode" and plan to kick this HCV out of my system by doing what I'm told, as I have been thus far & plan on from now on.

I'm not usually like this confused, guess I'm honestly still a bit shocked about what's got me so darn sick. Who would have guessed that a long weekend of partying back before I was even a teenager would get me here. Kind of embarrassing to be honest. That old adage comes to mind, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" 'eh. It didn't dawn on me that I'd have to put up such a fight to have a quality life come 2013 until well, just today. I was ready to just let nature take its course. stupid, huh?

Well gee, now I'm crying. Time to pay attention to my friends and family, and to you guys with the experience, and most importantly to my physicians.

Thanks again for posting in reply. Take care.

Multiple Myeloma may be worth investigating. I'm sick but you certainly trump me.

The doc may be waiting to see if you will be approved for treatment before doing biopsy. I am almost certain that you will have a biopsy prior to treatment. I know what you mean about not wanting to feel sicker than you already are--that's why I didn't pursue treatment, but look what happened: Cirrhosis and liver cancer (twice), necessitating a transplant. So it's worth going through it to (hopefully) avoid those HCV repercussions. The drinking/drugging questions are to help ascertain damage to your liver and also present and future risks.

They are holding off on my treatment for now, due to recent transplant. I'm just as glad, since I want to recover more. Different people have different reactions to all drugs. But I have heard that the 3-drug treatment is pretty rough.

Please continue to keep us updated.

Hugs,
Connie

First of all, you need to be very honest and open with your doctors about any past drinking/drugging. If you have hep C, they are going to suspect drug use, at least, as that's the most common way to contract it (sharing needles.)

I am now going to Mayo once a week for labs. Next month, I will have scans and followups with doctors, etc. Treatment will start when they say I need to. Post-transplant, everything goes through them. I am retired, so I don't have to worry about working, thank goodness. I was very exhausted with the hep C and for the last 10 yrs. that I worked, I only worked P/T. Towards the end, that was a struggle, as I'd also had bilateral hip replacements. Between the pain and the fatigue, I applied for disability. It took me 2 yrs. to get approved.

I was going to Shands Jacksonville at the time and they were doing blood work every 6 mos. and an ultrasound once a year. In 2005, it showed a huge liver tumor that took up the entire right lobe and had metastasized to the inferior vena cava (large vessel that comes off the liver.) They said there was nothing they could do. A death sentence. Fortunately, I had just been approved for SSD and received Medicare, so I went to Mayo. They literally saved my life. And here they've done it again with a transplant.

So you see, you can suddenly be diagnosed with HCC or "crash." I had no symptoms at all. It's very important to have regular blood work done and ultrasounds or CT scans, as well. Since then, I do what Mayo orders for me. I may not like it and complain about it, but I do it. My life depends upon it.

Just eat a very healthful diet, free of red meat, and double up on the fresh fruits and veggies--and positively no alcohol. That will go a long way towards preserving your health.

Hugs,
Connie

Re: Doctors & trust ~

I have been treated like garbage since I became single a decade ago by licensed doctors even though I had fantastic health insurance. I will spare details, it's been a bad 10 years medically speaking. During this particular episode of being seriously ill, I give credit to my fiance` for helping me to figure out what to do. It took me an entire month of being in complete misery, dismay & literal shock at the way I was treated before I could physically get out of bed, and figure out what to do next. I *knew* that I was very sick & that it wasn't going to resolve on its own. Finally, I remembered the only somewhat local hospital that I've ever known to give superior care to many a loved one through cure or palliative care. My fiance` insisted that I do it right: Get a new primary care physician, and let her know everything. I did. And I've some fantastic news to share!

Re: Outstanding good news ~

Friday at 2:55 p.m., I was granted psychiatric clearance for the triple drug HCV 1a 48-week treatment regimen. I've been praying for that since Thanksgiving & was granted so much more! There are now four doctors, some are even professors, that are now fully aware of my history with drugs, alcohol and the physical abuse that filled my life for decades. This is quite profound for me - I was taken back at the level of care that sheer honesty & pure prayer brought into my life. Mostly I was ecstatic that I will get better, back in my comp sci degree program or back to my last job at the college part time while I endure treatment with the help of these four people who are treating me like a "queen" for lack of better wording. I feel so blessed and have found that not all humanity in this world is lost.

So, I discuss getting my biopsy set up to stage the HCV 0-4 pre-treatment (I'm requesting it if for some reason they won't automatically do that, as I want to know my SVR stats before committing to 48 weeks).

Lots more good news to share, but it's time to go veg-out in front of the tv with the dog & soon-to-be husband.

I hope that all of you following this post are doing well, and if not, are able to get the support you need.

~peace out~

<3 LG=lifeisgood <3

Connie, Maybe it is the Viral Load they are looking for?  Carol

hmmm, I thought that SVR had to do with grading the HCV 1a from 0-4, hence the biopsy to stage pre-treatment. they do that, right? stage the disease before they start the expensive treatment, right?

Hey there folks, hope this post finds you all well.

Having a liver biopsy next week, need some kidney work done (haha) for a stone removal & eval of a cyst. After all that, I will begin the 3-drug, 48-week treatment for hcv 1a.

I feel like s*|t. Like I have the flu all of the time. Tired isn't the word & the tenderness of my swollen liver sux. My mood and 'tude are fantastic though!

Lots of prayers have been blatently answered and I'm positive that I will get through treatment just fine. In my spare time, I've been scripting in prep for my core courses for my comp sci degree. Am tossing around the idea of putting a dent into obtaining said degree during the treatment. Refocus is golden. smile :)

Hoping that you all are doing well. Am mostly posting to see how y'all fine folks, who helped support me when I was newly diagnosed, have been doing twith your own hcv? Anything new going on?

<3 LG=lifeisgood <3

Shadowcptn/Liz, I am locking this thread as you started a new one regarding the 3-drug treatment which you will be doing.

All of us with HCV 1a and 1b are very interested in your course of treatment and how you are doing.

Hugs,
Connie