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longld


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have some questions...
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Interesting paper on Liver Biopsies and backs up Cinnamon Girl's / Tig's views - biopsies carry risks and are not always required.

https://www.aasld.org/practiceguidelines/Documents/Bookmarked%20Practice%20Guidelines/Liver%20Biopsy.pdf

 



-- Edited by longld on Thursday 30th of January 2014 05:04:20 AM

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62 Yrs Old, CHC Geno 3, Cirrhosis, Kidney Transplant (13 yrs), On Sovaldi/Riba Treatment (24 week) since Feb 01,2014

Viral Load 7M on 1/8/2014,  UND at EOT 7/18/2014
Larry2384


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I got hep c gen 2b in 1974 and had a viral load of 1.6 million. This Saturday will complete 7 weeks of my 12 week treatment program of sovaldi and ribavirin. I haven't had any significant complications or issues to speak of except my skin has been a little itchy the past 3-4 days. Although I have had hep c for 40 years, my liver biopsy showed that I was 0-1 which means the liver damage was limited to inflammation only. I attribute the minimal damage may be due to my sobriety the past 20 years.

The best advice I can give you is to embrace sobriety if this has been a previous issue and seek support from the best church you can find. God can turn your life around if you open your heart to him and his power is not limited to healing alone.

I agree that your chance for success is extremely good and perhaps even better if you can avoid alcohol and drugs.

Best wishes!



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Larry2384

 

Gen 2b naive, age 57, contracted HCV in 1974, started 90 day regimen of Sovaldi + Ribavirin on Dec 14th. <15 undetectable after 5 weeks

 

 
Cinnamon Girl


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Hi Ryan, welcome to the forum from me too!

The best way to get your liver function back to normal and clear the virus is to follow your treatment plan carefully and don`t miss any doses.  You`re lucky to have genotype 2 which means you will only need to do 12 weeks of treatment (tx), and you should respond very well to the Sovaldi + Ribavirin combo.

An ultrasound or MRI scan won`t be able to give you an accurate reading of your fibrosis level, but as you`re already starting treatment then I wouldn`t worry too much about not having a biopsy.  Just concentrate on doing your tx day by day, and the 12 weeks will soon go by.  You shouldn`t expect to have too many side effects, apart from the usual ones associated with Ribavirin, which include nausea, itchiness and fatigue, although not everyone has those. 

Well done for getting sober, that`s a huge achievement and a big step in the right directions for getting your liver health back on course. 

Best of luck!  smile

PS - I`ve removed your dupicate post in the `Nutrition and Complimentary Medicine` section. 



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
rbenny


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i went through my blood tests, my ast alt were high but have no come down within acceptable levels.



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ryan benscoter
Tig


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Hello Ryan,

Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found us. There are a lot of good people and great information here. What you can't track down using the search function above, just ask a question and we'll do our best to get it answered for you.

If you have the results of your tests and lab work, we can provide you with more informed opinions. Feel free to list them if you'd like. Use the On Treatment thread to start a new conversation with that info.

While I can't determine the reason your doctor made the decisions made, I can provide an opinion. The reason for no biopsy is possibly due to enough information being provided by the MRI, Ultrasound, length of infection and your low viral count. A viral load below 100,000 is quite low. That and your LFT's would indicate little actual liver damage. So that, along with the high cost involved may have been part of his/her decision. 

Genotype 2 is one of the easiest forms of HCV to cure and the medications you're on, Sovaldi and Ribavirin are among the best available. I believe your chance of success is quite high. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying right now. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and they should give you the answers you seek. I think your treatment sounds like it's going well. Keep us informed as you move forward. Good luck!

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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rbenny


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I was diagnosed in jan, 2013...  geno 2.  seems like may be some liver damage so possible i had for a long time.  had mri, ultrasound, colonoscopy.  as of jan 6 began 400 mil sovaldi, and 1200 mg ribavarion daily... viral load around 90,000, not sure if doctor is doing all testing needed.  no biopsy done, says early stage fibrosis and some fat stored in liver.  was on drugs for  years and seems like doctor uses that as an excuse to just let me die.  need advice on how to get liver function back to normal and make sure this treatment kills the virus.  i live in a homeless shelter and surrounded by sick people. am sober now,



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ryan benscoter
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