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Post Info TOPIC: Hello, new here...
Canuck


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RE: Hello, new here...
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Glad to see you here Jamaica (and Annat), welcome to you both, you have found a safe place here, lots of good info, advice, feedback, support and "offered up opinions" will be found here. Glad to know you have already started Annat, and that you are now pursuing your start Jamaica. You will find more and more relief as you get further along.

Jamaica, as far as "choosing" a provider for your treatment? Just like some of the other folk here have already mentioned to you, your "baseline data" is needed for your treatment plan, so yes, your first task will be seeing a family doc/GP just to get/keep the ball rolling. A GP can provide advice, referrals to specialists, and/or provide some of the basic assessments needed. Some folk do start out via a GP, who may refer you to a doc who "specializes" in hep c treatment (a GI specialist, hepatologist, sometimes internists), and you may end up, throughout your assessments (and/or treatment), being seen by both, "shared" between your GP and a specialist.

It all depends on your "logistics", and what is best for you. If you live in a large city center, more "specialist" docs may be more readily available to you as your mainstay treatment provider, with your GP being in conjunction and backup. If you live rural, some find it more convenient to use their local GP as their mainstay doc, and end up only visiting a far away specialist that the GP may refer you to, at some key points, with the bulk of the visits being with your mainstay GP. It all depends on how far away you live from specialists who may have amassed lots of reassuring experience in having treated many people, who may have easier access to things like fibroscans, ultrasounds, and easier access to trial drugs if these were to ever be considered for you.

But first things first, look for the doc(s) you think best, to finish gaining your initial assessments, GT, fibroscan, etc., needed prior to treatment.

I was very happy with my end decision to have my treatment performed (almost exclusively) by a very busy, experienced out-of-town hep specialist\facility, even tho it entailed travelling 4-5 hours (one way), and staying over at a motel each appointment. Me and my hep specialist keep my local GP informed, and my GP assists, helps as he can, and follows me and my progress. I just decided to MAKE my out-of-town travelling scenario work for me, but this might be a real obstacle for some. The place I go to is VERY busy, and is not always an easy or comfortable place to spend so much time in, but I have absolutely NO regrets - for me, it did end up being my IDEAL choice.

Ask around, find out what "kind of docs" are available to you, where the fibroscans are, and where the most hep c pts. are being treated.

Hope that helps. Stay calm, stay focused, one step at a time, you'll get it figured out, you are on the right road. smile C.



__________________

HCV/HBV 1973. HBV resolved. HCV undiagnosed to 2015. 64 y.o. F. Canada.

GT3a, Fibroscan F3/12 kPa - F4/12.6 kPa, VL log 7.01 (10,182,417), steatosis, high iron load.

SOF/VEL with/without GS-9857 trial - NCT02639338.

SOT March 10 - EOT May 5, 2016 - SOF/VEL/VOX 8 week trial.

 

(SEE UPDATES IN BIO)
Annat


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Hello! nice to meet you!

 

I'm new too



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Geno 3a hcv log viral load 6.9iu/ml, hcv viral load 7930000 iu/ml as of 20/1/2016 Started treatment April on sovaldi and dakiinza
wmlj1960


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 Hi Jamaica, and welcome from me as well. I understand about being "scared" when trying to decide what course to take, but that will start to subside as you find out more about your options. You've come to the right place for help and support so stick around and we'll get you headed on the right track to being HCV free. We also have several members here, including myself, that are on a path to staying clean and sober so we have 2 things in common already. After we get you fixed up with the right treatment we'll have something else in common: Having conquered the HCV dragon. So make yourself at home and ask anything you like. We're glad you're here. smile



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60 yo, geno 1a, Dx 1994 HCV-HIV co-inf, Dx 2013 decompensated cirrhosis
Tx #1 - 24wks Sov+Riba /SOT 7-24-2014/UND@EOT/DETECTED@EOT+16 wks
Tx #2 - 24wks Harvoni /SOT 7-25-2015/UND@EOT,+12,+24,+52 = SVR

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Tig


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Hi Jamaica,

I'd like to welcome you here as well. You have found a group of people that truly care about you. We're here to help educate you and support you whether you start treatment right away or not. It is a good idea to find out where you stand and as the others have mentioned, getting a liver specialist that knows about this disease and the new treatments is important. The treatments now are so much quicker and easier than ever before, not to mention very effective. You'll do fine.

Here's a link to some information that should help start the education process. If you have any questions, need advice or just want to shoot the breeze, let us know. We're all a tight knit group and you're already one of the family! We'll provide you with additional information on the forum and how it works fairly often, so expect to hear from several people along the way. Be sure to use our search function at the top, it will provide links to discussions we've had here and can answer a lot of questions. Look around and know that there has never been a better time ever to treat this and get it behind you. Success is yours.... count on it!

Healthline/HCV Basics



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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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Linuxter


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Hi Jamaica,

Welcome to the forum! We're glad you're here.

You see people use abbreviations a lot here, HERE is a list of commonly used ones in case you need them.

Yes, you'll need to start by finding a Primary Care Physician (PCP) who can refer you to a specialist as needed.

As already mentioned, the PCP can order a test for HCV RNA (HCV = Hepatitis C Virus) which will determine if the virus is still active.

The PCP can also order a GenoType (GT) test to determine the particular Type that you may have.

Then, if it is determined that the HCV is active, the PCP should send you to a specialist who can determine a course of treatment (Tx) and write a prescription for the meds to treat the HCV.

Also as noted, it's possible that you had HCV and your body's immune system fought it off, that's why you need the HCV RNA test.

You are among friends here, we all are either waiting on Tx, currently on Tx or have completed Tx. Lots of great people here and tons of great information. You came to the right place. We'll help ya figure it all out, takes some time but you'll get there and be on your way to a HCV-Free life!

 

Dave



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63yy,HCV,2b,F3-A1, Sof/Riba,12wks Tx   SOT: 1/20/16, HCV-RNA 9,816,581, ALT 56, Hb 14.6

4wk: HCV-RNA <15 Detected, ALT 15, AST 17, Hb 13.6 EOT: 4/12/16, ALT 18 , Hb 12.9176a2f85d05d9c965eafe199f2ba9ba5.jpg SVR Achieved 7/8/16

 
Gracie


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Great time for treatment options, most are over 90% success even with the hard to treat. Fibroscan is the best way to find out what stage your at. I asked my doc about biopsy and she said it wasn't recommended much anymore. The fibroscans are pretty accurate and getting better. Fibrosis stage and type of virus that you have (ie: 1 1a, b etc) will determine how long you have to treat and what type of treatment. Go see your GP and get referred to an hepologist or gastro doc who has experience with hep. You'll be fine, this stuff really works!



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  1. Gracie

1A. Previously treated non responder Rebetron in 2000 And Incevik in 2014 with a breakthrough at week 12. Fibroscan 15.5. VL 6,000,000. Finished 24 weeks harvoni on Dec. 19, 2015. SVR. Latest Fibroscan 8.8.
JimmyK


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Greetings and welcome!

A good place to start is of course the beginning. Many Doctors are not all that up on Hep C. Generally they may suspect something is up based on elevated levels during routine blood work and may test for the Hep C Antibody. The fact it comes back positive is not in and of itself sufficient to determine that you have the actual condition.

You need to do an RNA test for a viral load. If that comes back positive and detected then the size of the VL along with your GT would be the best place to begin contemplation of treatment.

Don't worry about your past, that is all it is, dust in the wind. Today and tomorrow are all that counts here.

Again, welcome Jamaica.

JimmyK



-- Edited by JimmyK on Saturday 16th of April 2016 12:26:08 PM

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Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
Barefeetheartbeat


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I haven't seen a Dr since I found out. I've been really in denial Lol. My insurance was just approved and I'm ready to start looking. I honestly don't even know where to start. Do I first find a gp?

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Jamaica
wendyo


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Welcome Jamaica. You have found a wealth of knowledge and support here. There are many options today for treatment. I too am in recovery and the first few years, yeah I get that! But there are so many treatment options today and I would love to see you get to feeling better for you and your kids. 

Not sure you have had the test to know your genotype or a biopsy......get with your doc and talk about that so a treatment plan can be made.

Others will be along here and give you more suggestions and support. Check out the forum as there is a ton of good stuff to be read. We learn and laugh together here. Glad you found us.

wendy



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Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
Barefeetheartbeat


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Hello everyone, I'm Jamaica. I'm new, obviously, as well as new to this kind of forum. I found out a couple of years ago that I have hep c. I was not surprised, however I've been kind of in denial about it ever since. I was pregnant with my youngest daughter and freshly clean and on a personal path to recovery and sobriety. I was working on putting my life back together after some crazy times and my health was put on the back burner. Ive grown alot and worked myself silly to get my life together for myself and my family and I've finally come to realize that I should not feel so awful and exhausted all of the time and that it is time to do something about it. I'm scared of so much but I'm not willing to continue feeling this way if I don't have to. I have tons of questions but I'm not sure where to begin. I've just started some essential oils and I take vitamin B12 religiously but any other tips are much appreciated!

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Jamaica
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