This forum was started in 2007, Josh, and I joined in 2010.  We`ve seen many changes over the years, with treatment options improving beyond all our expectations, especially in recent times since Sovaldi was given FDA approval in the U.S. as well as the second generation protease inhibitor Olysio.  Yes, we`re very lucky to have so many knowledgeable and helpful members here!

By the way, we have a `search` box at the top of the page, right in the middle, in case you want to look for anything in particular.  Just type in a key word or two and a list of previous threads on the subject will come up.

Have a good weekend, and keep in touch! 

Thanks :) will keep yall updated thank you all for your advice I will implement it .. will see what the gastro says on tuesday .. 

Thanks again guys for responding have a good saturday :)      If  I think of a worthy question to pose that hasnt been covered on this vastly Intelligent website

I read more of the threads everyday i come here ... how longs this place been in operation ???     anyway blah blah blah :)   thanks again

Hi Josh, welcome!

I`ve merged both of your first threads here into one post for you and deleted your last one where you repeated them...doing it this way makes it easier to read and follow. 

All good questions although it`s difficult for us to reply without knowing which treatment option you`ll be doing yet.  The side effects do vary from person to person and depending on which drugs you`ll be taking, as well as other factors for example age, stage of liver health, and fitness before tx (treatment).  Your job sounds very physical but on the other hand you`re still young and I imagine quite fit and that should help a lot.  There are better options available for people in the U.S. now than the first generation protease inhibitors you mention, boceprevir or telaprevir, which have more or less been superseded by more effective drug combos, and with more coming along in the pipeline. 

To answer your question about anaemia which can happen when the Hgb level drops below a certain point then your doctor will have strategies for managing that, should it occur.  Although with the new DAA drug combos with shorter durations the side effects are often quite minimal.

When you start your tx you`ll need to check with your doctor about any vitamins and supplements you`re taking and the general advice is to leave them out for the duration, especially herbal supplements and any multi vitamin compounds which include iron.

Do let us know what option you decide after discussing it with your gastroenterologist on the 8th, and in the meantime aim for a healthy diet based on fresh food and try to avoid heavily processed foods which are high in salt, sugar and fats.  Keep yourself well hydrated but avoid all alcohol at all costs!

You`ll know a lot more after your appointment with your doctor and after a biopsy and we`ll be able to take it from there. 

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes! 

(By the way, I`ve removed your email address...it`s not advisable to post your personal contact details here on an open public forum.  Other members can reply to you here, send you a Personal Message or write on your Whiteboard.)

-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Saturday 5th of July 2014 10:18:38 AM

Any toxic med is going to make u feel like crap. u have to get sick to get well is my motto.. just do what ur doc says.. no supplements. I was taking milk thistle & I had to stop.. nothing but the meds & some tylelnol etc. Doc will tell u exactly what to do.. don't fear. just get well..

Hi Josh,

Which treatment are you referring to? There are multiple treatment combinations for different genotypes and side effects of different drugs affect everyone differently. If you can add some facts about your diagnosis in your signature line, it will help others to provide you with the best info possible. Please include Genotype and any labs or liver function tests you wish to share, co-infections, viral load, etc...

Best, 

Rob

   I would like to know how bad this treatment makes you feel on scale of 1-10 1 being hardly know its there 10 being profound physical and mental pain and or sadness ... basicly 10 being really bad anything above a 7 or 8 sounds barely tolerable....

#2 umm is there anyway to couteract the red blood cell low count while on treatment I hear taking Iron screws up the interferon so thats out the question.... ....

#3 gerneraly I'd just like to know like what you guys have down while on treatment how you felt .... whether you could handle it or if you had to be taken off due to Reds or side affects....

everything I read suggest the interferon combo will be hellish but possibly copeable..... 

#4 are there any diets that are say better then others  ya haha im 135 lbs i need to maintain wait if possible... but i also wana know if I should avoid salt or sht food??? 

should i seek out fruits and vegetables more ... Im gona try to procure Raw turmeric and juice it or throw in a blender I hear it dissrupts the virus to sum degree...kappa B blocker....

there is also sum chineese herb called SBEL-1 good luck getting the actual herbs name on that but hear it also is super duper .... failed to mention i have cocnut oil too amongst my myriad of vitamins...

#5 any interactions think you guys told me you proably will not be able to take vitamins while on TX due to interference or is theres sum that can persay aid in the combo therapy or no not really....

closing statement untill my next post .....I think you guys are highly knowledgable ..I think this sites pretty awesome Hepatitus central is another good 1 btw..... 

I will be ok whether im cured or not ... I feel happy knowing I have a chance to maybe get cured or see if I react ie virus goes down or not.... I hear horrible sht about how these treatment make people feel im hoping I can still go to work which consists of cleaning spraying surfaces..vaccuming and mopping ... for 3 hours then maintenance is like 8 hours long lota weedeating landscaping stuff......   um I dont know anything yet See the gastro on tuesday the 8th.... so hoipe fully shell get me a biopsy cause i want 1 :) and hopefully she can give me a timetable of projected start of treatment and availabilty of which types of protease inhibitors my insurance will allow me to get im hopin for sovaldi or simpervir but boceprevir or teleprevir will be just fine .......

litterally new sht is being worked everyday by Merck JandJ Gillead... you name more state of the are  and i hear Interferon free things are comin down the pipe... 

status seems good i get alot of sleep i sleep like 5am 2pm but i can manage on 4 hours as well but i like rest :) bp is like 120 over whatever its low.... 

um urine is all good everything seems ok for now :) trivia fact about me i have every episode of Star trek the next generation... married with children and have a few cool DVDS  movies and wwe and ufc stuff..... cough piratebay cough  yar .... anyway I appreciate you guys and if you want or need anything just say so and i shall make it so.....I will check for replys later... THANKS AGAIN and happy 4th of July .......

Hi Josh,

Welcome from me too! Glad you've decided to seek treatment, you'll definitely feel better for it. As Malcolm mentioned, continued drinking isn't a good idea for anyone with, or "cured" of HCV. Keeping your liver in pristine health is one way to keep the virus at bay. Keep in mind that the use of any supplement is contraindicated during treatment, so plan to take a break from them while you're on medication. You also want to let your doctor know what you're taking now because these supplements change the lab values of your blood tests and will leave you with inaccurate results. That's very important!

Whether you will be able to "work out" during treatment will be determined by the protocol chosen. Anemia with the Interferon/Riba and protease inhibitors can be profound. I was able to perform only mild activity on treatment. There will be several things to consider, but you'll be able to determine more once you actually know what you'll be on and for how long. 

Keep us in the loop and good luck moving ahead! Best of luck...

Tig

Hi Josh,

Welcome. So you're Geno 1, with a VL of 5.33M. Hope you can get some treatment and your doctor will give you the best options.

I've deleted your Email and Phone number as we don't use those on the Forum. We use a PM (Personal Message) or Whiteboard for communication.

I'm sure you know if you manage to clear the virus, drinking will only do further damage to your liver. Make sure you're honest with your doc about that, and ask about all the supplements you take.. All the best.

  Lets see I was going to write a large diatribe of how this all came to be but Ill post on that later 

5'10 135lbs 9-15-83  genotype 1 since 2002 or 2003  wont get in too deep about drugs or alcohol yet but it is vast .....stop drinking month ago .... yes i knew 

see gastro on tuesday 1st time ive had insurance to attempt to slay the dragon ... win or lose Ill more then likely drink to sum degree after this is done .... may smoke weed again sum day 

got access to all of this ...  i shall stop everything but cigarets for a year if i get on tX my teeth are **** gotta get those ripd out and fixed .... i am very optomistic about all of this hep C and teeth..

i am very easy to get along with single... very intellectual very up to date on news and innovation in many fields like sports ,and wrestling wwe ,ufc , I jogg here and there Im gona try when i get put on that **** to jog and workout .... hopefully my red blood cells dont nose dive or Ill be dismayd .... however new Txs are coming all the time ..... I think you people are great ..you fight the good fight....  anyway enough minutia for now theyll be more later here i present to you my latest pre treatment blood lab test sheet thingama jigger stats...... as of 6-3-14

well on second thought Fk that iLL just take a picture and send it here in like a day or two the only important **** on here is AST 69 13-39 ALT 114 7-52                          t T t

HCV 5330000 iu/ml          HCV 6.73 Log iu/ml    ammonia plasma  43 11-35  neutrophils 37.8 39-80 lymphocytes 49 24-44   Id like to get a biopsy i will broach the subject on tuesday 

then id like pegalpha1a with ribavirin with a protease inhibitor preferbably sovaldi or simprevir but iLL settle for boceprevir or teleprevir .....  I hear treatment is pretty hellish but will see im gona try to jog and workout if possible ... and work my job as janitor and i do maintenance for the state when called upon .... i hear treatment can really make you not feel good at all but i shall try to ignore it  best i can when that bridge is met.... you may if you wish to share knowledge text call or email me at ................... again fabulous site I am very impressed ... 

yes i take vitamins like chaga ,sumtimes zeolite ,turmeric,fish oil D3 ..garlic pill and raw garlic... um milk thistle .astragulus ... adaptogen sumthin or other ..... um rhodiola  ? magneesium.... multi vitamin.....black seed oil.... saw palmeto....holy basil...folic acid..b12...acetyl carnitine with alpha lipoic acid...N Acetyl Cytesine and ultra coQ10 ... i hear turmeric drank as a juice is good....

i split these vitamins and take all of them every other day like 8 this day then 8 of those the next day ... proably a bunch of useless **** but i like to think they work ...my great grandma is 90 and she takes vitamins..... hmmm anyway im done babling for now  I shall return with more ramblings insight and questions I shall keep you updated of my preogress .....

  be optomistic and happy much as possible stress is the enemy do things you enjoy watch shows play games go for walks talk to your dogs or cats or kids or wife or husband or  partner ..............

anyway thanks again and hello :) happy 4th July be safe safeguard your pets on this loud night