i am a 50 yr. old male who just found out i have hep c. i did use needles back in the early 70's and heard that hep c can sleep for a long while. i went for a complete physical and they found my liver enzymes were kind of hi. normal range is 20-40 mine was at 70. i tested pos for hep c. he did viral load count which was 2.5 million and normal is 600. does anybody know about that stuff? he took more blood to run a cancer test and said i should have a liver biopsy so he referred me to a liver specialist has anyone had that done and how did it go? i have no insurance so i can only do so much. any input will be greatly appreciated. thanks and have a wonderful week everyone!
Joe

I do not understand that "... and normal is 600"
Normal viral load is zero.
But anyway: you have probably the HCV for rather long time, and that means that liver biopsy is a good idea. Only liver biopsy gives an information, how much are your liver damaged.

If the biopsy results are very bad, than you should start interferon treatment.
If the biopsy results are NOT bad, it will be more your decision if to treat or not. Treatment is long, costly, with many side effects. And: treatmet works only in about 50% cases.

I suggest you to gather informations on the hepatitis, so that you know all pro and contra - if to treat or not.

Good luck!
Petr

What petr said was correct except for a couple of facts. I do believe the response rate is higher for different genotypes, and you didn't say what genotype you have. Also, there are also some contraindications for treatment whether or not your disease has progressed. Certain health issues would definitely come into play as to whether or not you are a candidate for treatment. Just stay on top of everything, make yourself a folder and get copies of everything.

Good Luck!

Diann

thanks everyone..i go for the biopsy next friday so hopefully it will be pretty good...my bad news is i am self employed and have no health insurance...bummer.. :confused:

I had a biopsy done a little over amonth ago and i was so freaked out. first they put something in my IV which made me feel real good, if you know what i mean, once that kicked in i didn't care what they were about to do to me. Then they gave a local anesthetic in the right side of my neck and went in through a small insecion where they went down and into my liver via my juggular. The whole prcedure lasted about 35 minutes and all i remeber is talking about the NFL draft and the NCAA final four to the nurses and surgen. I got the results fairly quickly and notice that my heptologist relied on the biopsy more than blood work or anything else.

Jarsh,

My first biopsy was without any anesthesia except local at the site of the biopsy which wwas done on my right side. Only after did my doc give me pain medication, one shot meparidine.

The liver biopsy is very important as a diagnostic tool. Almost all of my blood tests come back the same but liver biopsies will show actual damage caused by progression of the disease.

Though I hate biopsies it give me and my doc a lot of information.