Thanks everyone for the info and support.  It's definitely encouraging to hear that others on a reduced dose still managed to go UND.

Gidday Erin,

I had my dose reduced @ week 4, I've been on 1/2 dose most of my tx, which was also extended to 72 weeks because of big problems I've had with interferon.  It didn't reduce ANY sx, and while it took right up to week 24 to go UND, I have remained so since.

I am currently in week 71 of that 72 week odyssey and will undergo my eot PCR next week and have an appointment to review that a week later, so I guess you can see if it still in UND for me, while you are still doing it.

I hope I am and also hope it converts to SVR at the 6 month post-tx check, and while it would be terrific if both occur the reality of it all is I have cleaned up my liver to the point it looks like I never had HepC, and that is what I have achieved after all this.

It does make it worth it, and if the virus comes back I can at least hope to keep the vl down low with good diet and lifestyle while I wait for a new tx to rock up that i'm more suited to. 

Don't winge and complain about it if you can't beat the virus like lots of other people, not everyone can, but at least as long as you are getting some interferon into you, you are effectively on a holiday from the virus, and that's worth it's weight in gold.

Hopefully things settle down to the point you can stay on tx, that's your next aim, and if that occurs, you can stay on tx if your vl reduces by at least 2 load by week 12.  You've then got until week 24 to go UND. if that happens you can stay on tx until the end, however long they decide your tx will be.

I had big problems even with the reduction, so it's no picnic, but they did give me the option of stopping at week 48 or any other time along this 72 week trip.  I chose not to and gambled that I'd stay UND and I did.  It's all up to you, you can winge and quit or you can take up the challenge to keep the virus at bay until something better rocks up.

Good luck with all that Erin, it's not an easy trip, but HepC had started to eat into my life and I was going down hill pretty fast at the age of 51, at the time, so I chose to keep going.  If I hadn't I could well by now be bed-ridden for the rest of my life, while waiting for a liver transfer operation, so I'm glad I chose to keep going.

Advances in HepC research these days are pretty outstanding and yje possibility of something better rocking up is always there.  Keep positive and keep hoping, and what ever you do, just make sure you KEEP FIGHTING !!.

Cheers,

Brendan.

Hi Erin & welcome!

I too had probs with my bloods red & white.
My neutrophils were the main cause of worry so I was admitted to hospital. Also I had a chest infection. I stayed in overnight & they went back up again naturally.They were down to 0.8 then went up to 1.8 & I was allowed home.

It was my g.p. who was concerned but my hepatic nurse was not as she says it is very common side effect. Also I think I am the 1st patient my g..p. has met to be on this
treatment. Whereas my nurse specializes in this field.

Be thinking of you
Luv Lesleyx

Hi erin
         They reduced my inteferon dose too but i was still UND at end of treatment , So don't give up hope!
i'de already written a dialogue and tried to post it but i want awry and got lost in cyber space so i'll keep this short.
Go to bed with a andwhen ever possible!
unless you got something better to do! lol
All the best
love and hugs
eddie x
 thats what its all about!!!!
be strong!and
get into the icons too beats the drudge
Oh be gentle when youplease.

Hi All!  I have another question.  My doctor called today with the results of my 2 week blood work and said that it does not look like I am tolerating the treatment well. My white blood cells specifically are very low (1.8).  She is reducing my interferon dose and having me skip this next injection which I am really worried about! I tried to argue, but she told me that it was too dangerous to continue on this dose.