I was recently diagnosed with hep c. I had a biopsy. Genotype is 1. 740,000is viral load. Biopsy came back stage 2-3. I have early fibrosis. I talked to the nurse today because I don't see the doctor until July and I couldn't wait that long for results. I am so nervous about this. Trying to do research on treatment. I would like to hear if anyone has similar test results and did you or didn't you treat? Also, how drastically did it change your life? Thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate it.

Hey, im right there with you on the recent part. Now i havent got my results back yet so i dont know where im at on that, but i do know that honestly researching will scare you more..or thats what it did to me, cause i had questions on what i read and no one to ask. I did just go to my class though, and it helped some. Made it more real for me i guess. I really dont think mine could be very far advanced cause i know i didnt have it in 05 and i found in 07. and my doc is still putting me thru treatment. I think its better just to do it and get it over with and no worry about it any longer. but thats my opinion. and sorry i just caught myself rambling lol..but i dont think this will help much but its still nice to have people to talk to. And as for life changing i only see it as that for the duration of the treatment. cause in the big picture its only a year. and thats a small piece compaired to the whole thing. And getting rid of the virus is so worth whatever the treatment will do for that yr. hope everything goes in your favor...

Raven301

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, I have been doing so much research on the internet, that I have myself scared to death about treatment. The doctor wanted to put me on treatment without having a biopsy, but I asked for the biopsy. I am leaning towards the treatment because I just want to be rid of this virus. The thing is...I'm afraid of losing my job if I can't handle the treatment. This is what worries me because I have too many bills. Maybe we could keep in touch while we are going through this and help each other with our thoughts. Take care and I will pray that everything comes back good for you. ~gloria~

I can understand that too...I got lucky enough to be a stay at home mom. But i do remember doing it all on my own with my daughter when she was little...So i would have second guessed it too. But even if the virus isnt that far along...It eventually will be, so either way i think youd have to go thru the treatment. And im am a big hipocrit for saying this but it is all about mind power over it. If you get out there and keep doing your everyday schedule, it might not be as bad. And i am much better at telling others this than following it myself. lol. Like i said before i am not happy about this at the moment. but i think its just cause we have to re-enlist now for another 4 yrs just so i can have my treatment. but its better than letting this beat me for sure. and also i would love to keep in touch but i must warn you i am really honest when it comes to how i feel. So if during this i am having an awful day i will be as honest about it as if telling you the sky was blue lol...So if your more into the fluffy white cloud perspective im probly not the best person to help lol but i hope thats not the case...so ttyl and ill let you know as soon as i get my results back which should be this week. and we find out if we get to go to north carolina too so fingers crossed lol

Hello, I Found Out I Had Hep C In 06 When I Had My 1st Full Physical In My Life. It Came Back I Had The Hep. I Did Use Iv Drugs 35 Yrs Ago, So I Think That Is When I Got It, But When Does Not Matter Now. In 06 I Was Diagnosed With Hep C, Geno Type 1, Viral Load 2.5 Million. At That Time The Dr Wanted Me To Try The Interferon's, But I Said No Because, One Of The Side Effects That Poison Has On You And Two Because It Is Only A 50/50 Shot It Is Going To Work. Last Oct 07 My Load Was 7.7 Million. I Have Been Eating The Right Foods And Taking Supplements For Your Liver. This Past April 08 My Blood Work Came Back With My Viral Load Went Down To 1.4 Million Go Figure. You Have To Change Your Diet And Take Certain Supplements That Help Your Liver Function. The Dr's Are To Quick To Put You On The Poison Because That Is All They Know. They Say You Will Die With Hep Not From It. Hope That Helps, Stay Positive!!
Joe

Hello Glo,

I was diagnosed with hep C genotype 2B and a viral load of 3.2M a couple of years ago and since that time I have successfully treated for the virus. I have now been clear of the monster for 18 months and the chances of it returning for me are now about a million to one.

Whether one treats for the virus using the standard combination therapy is a decision that must be made by the individual. In my opinion if the liver biopsy shows fibrosis then I would take the chance. They say that there is only a 50/50 chance of successfully treating genotype 1A but they also say that even if the treatment doesn't work for a person that it does stop the actual damage to the liver during the treatment process.

It is true that the doctors currently have no other method of treating the virus medically at the current time although there is a lot of research going on right now to try to create new methods of beating the virus without the massive amount of side effects that combo therapy can produce.

For this reason, many have decided to wait for those new drugs to become available. When I was first diagnosed, I too went to the internet to look for information. It is a very scary search at best but the thing to remember is that a lot of what you read may not happen to you.

I had to weigh a lot of things when I made my decision to treat. One of the key factors was the fact that everything was in place to allow me to treat in the first place and so I had to think, "Should I take the chance now while I can or should I wait?"

I decided to take the chance and for me it payed off. I have to be honest. I just couldn't bear the idea that if I didn't at least try then I was gambling on my very future. I wanted to see my grand children grow up and I still wanted be healthy enough to have fun with them. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about this virus that was actively destroying my liver even if I felt no symptoms.

It is possible to work while undergoing treatments but it isn't always easy. Still, if you take care of the needs of your body during treatments then the side effects are not fun but they are manageable. I am a drywall finisher so I would have to say that my job is very physical. There were days when I would get dizzy or just run out of energy.

Over time, I learned that most of my side effects were directly related to a need of my body. For instance, when I got headaches and muscle aches my body was telling me that I wasn't drinking enough fluids. And another thing to remember is that the side effects are different for everyone. Some of the lucky ones never really feel side effects at all. And others feel some of them but never is the treatment experience exactly the same for everyone. Until one tries, they never really know what will happen.

Don't let the internet scare you to much. The disease and what it does is very scary but the thing to remember is that the disease is a fairly slow moving disease. You have some time to make your choices.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide!!

Chuck

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to write to me with such valuable info. I didn't mention this, but in the year 2000, I had cervical cancer. Today I got my report from my yearly test, and my pap test came back abnormal. I really don't know how much more of this I can take. Thanks again for your responses. God bless.

I am a newbie to this board...
I got to figure it out

You should at least try the "cure" Interferon. I did it for 6 months and did not succeed and I was sick as a dog, could not work. But it brought down my ALT and AST levels which is worse on your live than the viral loads.
Interferon works best with lower viral loads. Mine were like yours and continued to climb once treatments began...you can always quit at anytime. A have known folks with no side effects and are now cured from this stigmatic discease. Much luck with your venture.
LuMarie

Hi Joe...
What supplements do you take for your liver? Also, could you share some of your diet tips? Thanks so much.
gloria