I'm happy for the both of you to hear the results. I still have to wait for my 12 week results and I can only hope after 3 kicks at the can that it scored this time.
alisaf said
Nov 25, 2013
I'm 4yrs post treatment and remain neg. Had Hep c geno 3 for possibly 20-30 yrs. I have various serious health stuff. Heart, lung, vascular, autoimmune pxs. You name it. I believe it's all from prior hep c. My docs are idiots. Or maybe denial. No one likes hep c.
Minerva said
Mar 22, 2011
Hi there,
Wishing you a warm welcome to the Forum.
Congrats on your SVR and all the best with the other health issues. Hope that things improve for you soon.
Let us know how you get on. Hugs Heather xxx
MandeAndi said
Mar 17, 2011
Hi and congratulations to your husband (and you):
I am 8 years SVR following 48 weeks of interferon/ribavarin in 2002-03. I saw my doctor yesterday and asked him similar questions. His response is that SVR is SVR and I can consider myself cured unless I engage in risky behavior. My liver function studies are better than ever. So if he says I'm cured - then I say I'm cured.
That doesn't mean there aren't "issues". Until this year, I havent even gotten a cold. My body was an inhospitable place for viruses to hang out. BUT- after eight years, all that virus suppression is gone. Since January, I have had one virus after another to the point that I now have to see an infectious disease specialist to find out what's up. I've had low-grade fever since January and am sicker than I've been since treatment. At least then I knew why I was sick.
Prior to treatment, I did get a Viremia every couple years or so, testing positive for HSV-1, CMV, Epstein Barr and HCV. The HCV is gone and hopefully, the others have not reappeared stronger than ever after being suppressed.
Regardless, the disease that was killing me is gone and I'm ready to fight this with the same determination.
MandeAndi
newill said
Jun 21, 2010
Thank you both. We had asked for the test that goes down to >5, but that one is really expensive and the doc hadn't heard of it. It makes me feel better to read your words. I suppose if it's not gotten higher than >43 then it's still gone. I am very happy about it. I wish you the best in your battle against this dragon. Cheers, Niki
medusa said
Jun 17, 2010
Hi Niki, Thanks for your encouragement, and a big CONGRATULATIONS for your husband. I agree with Brendan, that if I am still 'undetectable' by any test, after 4 years, I'll be happy enough with that. Just thought I would let you know the name of the test routinely used here in mainland Europe, which measures down to <15, or less (if they use more blood). It is called: RT-PCR temps réel TaqMan Roche. Love Annie xxxxx
BJ said
Jun 16, 2010
Gidday Niki,
I'm a pathobiologist and worked in labs until I got sick, and depending on which country you live, the PCR tests conducted to check one's status post tx is of the order > 30-43.
The Cobas system is of this standard and is very accurate. Essentially the PCR will miss anything under say 10 - 15 but otherwise would give an unstable answer if anything above that was present. The "clear" result you get essentially says it cannot detect the virus, or what we call undetectable (UND).
Given it's been 4 yrs since your hubby finished tx, that'd be good enough for me, and I mean ME personally, if it was my test. So congratulations guys, you clobbered the bastard
You have every right to be excited, being clear after 4 years means it's bye bye
If you are the worrying type and won't rest until you're sure etc; repeat the same test. If by any chance your hubby had a viral load less than 43 that was missed it would get picked if the same test was conducted say a month or two later.
Personally I think you'd probably feel the same way if you used the heptamax system anyway. After 4 years, if your hubby still had the virus, it'd easily get picked by a PCR with a sensitivity of 43
Congratulations Niki, give your hubby a big hug from all of us, you guys have kicked that virus' butt right out of here
Cheers,
Brendan
newill said
Jun 15, 2010
Hi, I'm new at this site, but would like y'alls opinion. Used to belong to Janis & Friends, but couldn't get there today.
My hubby went through the long treatment 4 years ago for the stubborn type C. He was undetectable at the 6 month post treatment. We finally got insurance that had no pre-existing clause so we did the test for the 2nd time after treatment 4 years later. We asked if he could get the Heptamax which tests down to > 5, but the doctor said she hadn't heard of it. They used the COBAS (R) AmpliPrep / COBAS (R) TaqMan (R) HCV Test Kit. This says > 43 iu/ml is clear. Does anyone know how accurate it is? We are very excited that it is still clear, but I worry too much.
Thank you all for your help. For those on treatment, hang in there and do your meds on time and everyday. It's important to be consistant. That's what we learned. It was the most brutal thing either of had to go through (it's not easy being the caretaker).
I'm happy for the both of you to hear the results. I still have to wait for my 12 week results and I can only hope after 3 kicks at the can that it scored this time.
Wishing you a warm welcome to the Forum.
Congrats on your SVR and all the best with the other health issues. Hope that things improve for you soon.
Let us know how you get on.
Hugs
Heather
xxx
Cheers,
Niki
Love Annie xxxxx
Gidday Niki,
I'm a pathobiologist and worked in labs until I got sick, and depending on which country you live, the PCR tests conducted to check one's status post tx is of the order > 30-43.
The Cobas system is of this standard and is very accurate. Essentially the PCR will miss anything under say 10 - 15 but otherwise would give an unstable answer if anything above that was present. The "clear" result you get essentially says it cannot detect the virus, or what we call undetectable (UND).
Given it's been 4 yrs since your hubby finished tx, that'd be good enough for me, and I mean ME personally, if it was my test. So congratulations guys, you clobbered the bastard
You have every right to be excited, being clear after 4 years means it's bye bye
If you are the worrying type and won't rest until you're sure etc; repeat the same test. If by any chance your hubby had a viral load less than 43 that was missed it would get picked if the same test was conducted say a month or two later.
Personally I think you'd probably feel the same way if you used the heptamax system anyway. After 4 years, if your hubby still had the virus, it'd easily get picked by a PCR with a sensitivity of 43
Congratulations Niki, give your hubby a big hug from all of us, you guys have kicked that virus' butt right out of here
Cheers,
Brendan
I'm new at this site, but would like y'alls opinion. Used to belong to Janis & Friends, but couldn't get there today.
My hubby went through the long treatment 4 years ago for the stubborn type C. He was undetectable at the 6 month post treatment. We finally got insurance that had no pre-existing clause so we did the test for the 2nd time after treatment 4 years later. We asked if he could get the Heptamax which tests down to > 5, but the doctor said she hadn't heard of it. They used the COBAS (R) AmpliPrep / COBAS (R) TaqMan (R) HCV Test Kit. This says > 43 iu/ml is clear. Does anyone know how accurate it is? We are very excited that it is still clear, but I worry too much.
Thank you all for your help. For those on treatment, hang in there and do your meds on time and everyday. It's important to be consistant. That's what we learned. It was the most brutal thing either of had to go through (it's not easy being the caretaker).
Niki