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Any advice on Interferon....AGAIN??

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Posted 4/29/2011 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Hep C about 12 years ago. 10 yrs ago I did 6 mo.s of just of the interferon and it kicked my proverbial butt something awful. I had to quit, even tho' I'm a genotype 1b; it took too much out of me and I had a 2 and 3 yr old to care of, by myself and had to go back to work (no help, not even a car!). I never did feel better, kept waiting for that day but it never came.

Of course, it didn't cure me, and now, 10 years later, my viral lode is so high I have to go back to a specialist. I can't imagine what he'll do-- I've been told you can only try the interferon once and if it doesn't work you're out of luck?? If that is true, what recourse would someone like me have? My regular doc. said my count is in the "millions upon millions upon millions" and that damage to my liver has probably already started. Anyone else familiar with a similar situation?? I'm a little scared, both if they can and can't do the interferon again!

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,
Warm hugs for all,

Susi
Posted 4/29/2011 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Susi.

You can treat again many, many people have treated for Hep c more than once. What you need to know though is your level of liver damage. so ask you new doc for a biopsy. Viral load does not correlate with liver damage ie: you can have a high load with little damage or a low load with cirrohsis. I would not worry at this stage about your viral load (when you treat is when you worry about viral load). You need to have a biopsy to check the level of damage to your lever and you will then be able to make decisions regarding retreatment. If you have moderate damage you could wait for the new PI's which may be avaliable within the year in the US. If you have severe liver damage you and your doctor may decide to treat sooner.
Posted 4/29/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)

ReadDeeply/Susi, welcome to the forum!

Actually, the new treatment should be available next month...straight from my hep doc's mouth this morning.  But it does have the interferon in it.  Another option is transplant.  When the hep C returns, you would be treated for it.  However, I do agree with HepMom that you should have a biopsy to know for sure how much damage your liver has.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 5/2/2011 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Connie & HepMom,

Thank you for the info and advice-- esp. regarding the viral lode-- I feel quite a bit better and not in such a panic. I don't know why but I hadn't thought of a biopsy. Makes sense, and I will ask my new Doc about it! Hope all is well for you,
thanks again,
Susi
Posted 5/2/2011 3:32 AM (GMT 0)

Susie, there is also a new test called a Fibroscan that can look for cirrhosis.  It's not invasive.  So you might want to ask about that instead of a biopsy.

Hugs,

Connie

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