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Hep-C is back again in just 7 months... :(

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Posted 4/3/2012 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm a new member. Recently joined and making my first post. I'm 30 years old (80 KG weight) and love to play soccer...

Last year (early 2011) Hep-C detected in my blood (genotype: 3a & 31350 IU/mL). Symptoms started with fatigue, tiredness, nausea etc. I started interferon/ribavirin in Feb 2011 for 24 weeks and get the virus cleared within 12 weeks. Treatment ended in July 2011 with so many side affects including fatigue, hair fall, weakness, loss of weight, nausea, slight abdominal pain etc... With the time all symptoms went away and I was feeling lucky that I have defeated this deadly disease. But last week (after 7 months of treatment) during my regular blood test, HCV is back again. I'm so much frustrated and tensed. I am praying that this turns out to be some sort of anomoly and the virus has not really become active again. I'm looking some handsome advices on this situation. What do I need to do now? I have appointment with my doctor next week but scared of another six months interferon treatment. Advices are more than welcome...

Regards,
Ejaz
Posted 4/3/2012 8:14 AM (GMT 0)
Muhammad... first thing is you've found the right place... the moderator will be here... later... with more explicit information...I know that there is more than one type of treatments available... hopefully that is true for your genotype... yes... you just went through something that many people won't even attempt... and the thought of going through it again... is scary... when you weigh... your options... it seems that the fact that there may be a treatment is better than "no treatment" available which seriously limits your options... I would say research the treatments available... and speak with the people here... and don't let fear be the deciding factor... we'll be here.. Sandia
Posted 4/3/2012 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, Muhammad, and welcome to the forum. Will you have a biopsy done to determine if the virus is active? I can appreciate how disappointed you are. When you mentioned 24 wks., I was thinking you were on the new 3-drug treatment, but that is only for types 1a and 1b. Unfortunately, I don't know much about type 3 treatment. I think you are only the 2nd member we've had with type 3.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/3/2012 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Connie, he is Geno 3 so the standard treatment is 24 weeks. If he retreats with interferon & riba (the only treatment at this time for geno 3) he will treat for 48 weeks.
Posted 4/3/2012 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hepmom, thanks for catching that. I thought that standard treatment of 48 wks. is the norm for all genotypes, including type 3.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/3/2012 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Genotype 2 & 3 is 24 weeks.
Posted 4/4/2012 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I know that 2 and 3 are easier to treat than 1a and 1b...but apparently not in this case.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/4/2012 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Connie, HepMom is right. Standard treatment for Type3 is 24 weeks but as HepMom said, the re-treatment is for 48 weeks. I couldn't able to forget those 24 weeks... those are still in front of my eyes... Now I'm worried about taking it again 48 weeks :(

is there any other proven treatment exist? What is the probability of getting rid of virus if I re-take it 48 weeks? What if it still doesn't go away?

I had PCR Qualitative last week and result is "Hep C is detected". Next I'm gonna get the viral load via PCR Quantitative. Do I still need biopsy because virus is already active in blood? and what else do you suggest?

Regards,
Ejaz
Posted 4/4/2012 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Now both HBV AND HCV viruses are detected?? A biopsy would show the extent of the damage to your liver: HCC, cirrhosis, staging of cirrhosis. There is another good site online that offers more info on hep B, but I can't seem to access it for a link tonight. The URL is www.hepatitiscentral.org. (Disclaimer: I have no vested interest in that site.)

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/4/2012 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
You only need a biopsy to check for damage to your liver (fibrosis etc), you do not need it to tell you if your hep C is active the blood tests do that. I would find out the state of my liver and base my re-treatment decision on that. If you have minimal damage you can wait until new treatments for geno 3 are ready (they are in trials at the moment).

Connie, I don't think he has Hep B as well just the C. :)
Posted 4/4/2012 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I apologize. I think I confused Muhammad with another member who has hep B. I am in some terrible pain right now and have no pain meds that are equal to the task...so am very distracted. I probably shouldn't even be posting right now.

Hepmom, I agree with your statement of basing further treatment on biopsy results as to how damaged his liver is. It's good to know that there are trials underway for new treatments for HCV, genotype 3.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/5/2012 8:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hepmom- thanks for responding and share such a valuable information to me. I wanna know about the new genotype 3 treatment, as you said in last post? is it an improved form of interferon/ribavirin? How soon will it be available? Would you please share some details?

is there any special diet plan which should I follow or special preventions? your advice...
Posted 4/5/2012 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
Here is a link to some info http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/psi7977_svr_hcv_1667_21405.shtml
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