To decide whether you can wait for treatment, you need to know how much liver damage you have. I'm afraid a blood test ( probably FibroSure or FibroTest) isn't very reliable. You need a liver biopsy or Fibroscan to get an accurate picture. These are the only tests accepted by the Drug Companies in assessing patients for Trials. This is more important than viral load or liver function tests. Good luck.
Loopy Lisa said
May 8, 2013
Hi Nurschic,
I am also 1 million in viral count, and had all the blood tests and scan. Despite this my doctor insisted I have a biospsy as the deciding factor to treat or wait for new DDAs. There are cases of people that have normal test results and still have fibroses. Good luck with your decision, personally I am warehousing until next year. x
nurschic said
May 8, 2013
I have never had a liver biopsy. a long time ago did have some blood work completed that my doctor said showed liver damage just like a biopsy. I forget the name of the test. hoping that the blood work that I got done on Monday has that same test in it. My genotype is 1a.
i have just over a week to my dr appt to review labs and do treatment teaching. I'm nervous yet getting excited about the end results.
mallani said
May 8, 2013
Hi Ranelle,
The Viral Load can vary greatly. Yours is moderate. As JoAnne said, a liver biopsy is the best way to check how much liver damage you have. That is more important than the VL level.
Do you know your Genotype? That may make a difference in any treatment decision. Get as much information as you can. Good luck.
JoAnneh said
May 8, 2013
Have you had a liver biospy? It gives an accurate evaluation Of the condition of your liver. That's the gauge I used in determining To do treatment. VL doesn't tell enough. Are your enzymes above normal? Biospy gives facts! Best wishes to you and glad you found The forum. It's great bunch of people going Thru same thing....
marktrux said
May 8, 2013
With the current RX's, a lower VL does appear to clear quicker but that dosen't indicate weather SVR will be acheived. Many members have gone UND in 4 weeks only to have the virus return once treatment ended. As for weather to treat now or to wait, that's a question only you can answer. There are some really good Rxs now on the market, for the most part they are "ugly" drugs, but pretty effective. If you can wait a few years, there look to be some very promising drugs in testing now that may have minimal sides. Best of luck to ya.
nurschic said
May 8, 2013
I was wondering, does someone that has a fairly low VL (in the 1mil) do better on treatment? My dr keeps saying that I could wait on treatment if I want, but why wait if if my chances are better?
Hi again Ranelle,
To decide whether you can wait for treatment, you need to know how much liver damage you have. I'm afraid a blood test ( probably FibroSure or FibroTest) isn't very reliable. You need a liver biopsy or Fibroscan to get an accurate picture. These are the only tests accepted by the Drug Companies in assessing patients for Trials. This is more important than viral load or liver function tests. Good luck.
Hi Nurschic,
I am also 1 million in viral count, and had all the blood tests and scan. Despite this my doctor insisted I have a biospsy as the deciding factor to treat or wait for new DDAs. There are cases of people that have normal test results and still have fibroses. Good luck with your decision, personally I am warehousing until next year. x
I have never had a liver biopsy. a long time ago did have some blood work completed that my doctor said showed liver damage just like a biopsy. I forget the name of the test. hoping that the blood work that I got done on Monday has that same test in it. My genotype is 1a.
i have just over a week to my dr appt to review labs and do treatment teaching. I'm nervous yet getting excited about the end results.
Hi Ranelle,
The Viral Load can vary greatly. Yours is moderate. As JoAnne said, a liver biopsy is the best way to check how much liver damage you have. That is more important than the VL level.
Do you know your Genotype? That may make a difference in any treatment decision. Get as much information as you can. Good luck.
It gives an accurate evaluation
Of the condition of your liver.
That's the gauge I used in determining
To do treatment. VL doesn't tell enough.
Are your enzymes above normal?
Biospy gives facts!
Best wishes to you and glad you found
The forum. It's great bunch of people going
Thru same thing....
With the current RX's, a lower VL does appear to clear quicker but that dosen't indicate weather SVR will be acheived. Many members have gone UND in 4 weeks only to have the virus return once treatment ended. As for weather to treat now or to wait, that's a question only you can answer. There are some really good Rxs now on the market, for the most part they are "ugly" drugs, but pretty effective. If you can wait a few years, there look to be some very promising drugs in testing now that may have minimal sides. Best of luck to ya.
I was wondering, does someone that has a fairly low VL (in the 1mil) do better on treatment? My dr keeps saying that I could wait on treatment if I want, but why wait if if my chances are better?