Hep C Discussion Forum

I should receive it on Friday. I take something for thyroid and a statin. The pharmacy said I should talk to my Dr. about reducing the statin from 40 to 20 MGs. Myralax for GI issues has worked well. I take about a 1/2 dose a day.

Carbs cause a lot of problems for some people. You get too heavy and you get sedentary as a result. I try to be more consistent about eating right. I just discovered Steel Cut Oatmeal which is way better than regular oatmeal. I love bread but it's just not good unless you work out like crazy.

I got some help with the resume so it's done. Might as well get serious about the job hunt now.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

That’s excellent! Be sure to check out the discussions here with our other Zep Heads. It’s a great treatment and you’ll do great. The pharmacy will contact you fairly quickly once the process is set in motion. Good luck, we’ll be here to cheer you on!

Hi Steve,

Hey nice, you are getting closer to starting now. Good for some more bloodwork to be done tomorrow.

Thanks for posting some of the labs from the 18th.

The HCV RNA PCR is indeed your viral load (VL) - how much virus they can measure in your blood at that point in time when it was drawn - your result is shown here in two ways. VL measurements can be expressed either way, by "log" (your VL log = 6.37 exactly), and a "log" of 6.37 is exactly the same thing (converted) to another scale they can use, which is that other number on your page (2,343,782 IU per ml) - they are exactly the same thing, just expressed by two dif. methods of measurement. 

VL's can and do flucuate as do ALT's and other bloods, pre-treatment. That was something I did not realize prior to treatment, that my VL's could have been flucuating up and down over the years (over the decades in my case really!).

Don't fret about how high or low your VL is to start with, the important bit to know that you and your doc are going to see to it, right shortly, that that VL is going to be knocked right down to zilch, cured and never to be seen again!   : )

If you are over about 6 million count (near 6.8 log) that might have a bearing on what drug regime you receive, or for how long, and being that you are over 2 million but under 6 million, it is toss up as to what regime they may choose for you - there are other parameters they will consider as well to chose a regime and length that is best for you - level of cirrhosis, and perhaps resistence testing (if resistence testing is done). So we will see what you end up with, Zep or Harvoni and whether the Harvoni might be a shorter course.

Did they discuss immunization for hep A and hep B with you? That should have been covered by now - let me know, if you know. If you are not sure, ask them if they have finished assessing your hep A and B status. This should be done before you start hep C treatment.

For all of the other bloods you listed you have already deduced which are elevated, and most all of these just support the existence of your level of fibrosis/inflammation that your liver is experiencing (ALT and Alpha2Mac). Without knowing anything more about you "fibrotest" or othe rlabs or perhaps imagings, the result of your "fibrotest" wold seem to plave you solidly within the fibrosis score of F3, as you wrote.

Keep us posted, fire away if you have questions, someone 'round here will always try to help in anyway we can. C.

Canuck wrote:

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Hey Steve,

Progress! It's good news when you know your treatment start is near/imminent. A welcome relief to know you can soon get started on this road to rid yourself of this virus.

Do you have a tentative start date yet?

I know you saw the hep doc Aug 18 of course, but have you been back again?

Has anything been said about you platelets? And I am still wondering where you are at with your hep A and B immunity - have any of your docs checked on your immunity or need for immunization (or re-immunization). You shoud have been checked for that by now, or will be, ask for it, if they have not.

Have you had an abd. ultrasound, or a fibroscan? You might inquire after those too.

I am glad you will start soon, and are looking forward to it. Best thing you can do for yourself and your health. You will be rid of this HCV in no time! C.

 

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 Saw the doc on the 18th and the following week. I have to go for another lab tomorrow for insurance purposes.

I 'm still getting a handle on readouts and what it all means.

HVC RNA PCR, Quant.  2343782

Not sure if that's viral load.

LO HCV RNA PCR, QT   6.37

No clue what that means

ALT  48

It's a little high

C02  19

A little low

HEMATOCRIT  51.0

A touch high

Fibro test score;  F3  0.65

That's not good. Could be worse.

Alpha-2-Macroglobulin  310

That's high. I don't know what that is.

_______________

OK I see the platelet count now. It must have gone up. It's 158. 140-400 is normal range.

Hey Steven,

You should be thrilled with Zepatier! The C-Edge trials ended with 99% of genotype 1B patients achieving SVR12, after 12 weeks of treatment. Not too shabby, eh?

Canuck wrote:

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Hey Steve, 

Nice to hear more from you again.

Man, you sure have had your fair share of gastro-problems. I agree, that stay in the hospital for the partial bowel obstruction was a serious thing! Not to detract from the importance of any of the other nasty gastro-things you got going on or have had!

What kind of hernia? Inguinal, umbilical or ... whereabouts is it? Will it require surgery at some point, did it have anything to do with your obstruction?

Good you are under the care of a GI guy now - I hope he gets to the bottom of everything! (No pun intended). Have you and your doc deduced what the main reason(s) were for why you became partially obstructed? Do you suffer from chronic constipation?

Good you had the endo/and colonscopy done and had the polyps nipped out.

Has your GI now layed out a plan for you, for all these gastric issues? - has he counselled you well on diet, fibre, water intake, lax use, to best suit all the maladies you have been experiencing.

I'll say! (it can be complicated)!

Complicated it can be in getting these gut things nice and controlled, and complicated the process we go thru before we can start our HCV therapy! Also complicated is your medical system down there (to me anyway)! - I have never figured out the medical system down there in the States, it's dif up here in Canada, there always seems to be a way to get a hold of records and labs, from anywhere up here within Canada, IF records exist. Not saying it is always easy to do so up here mind you, but I have never heard of hospitals declining to provide you your info if requested by you or your docs! That's so strange to me. But believe me, our medical system up here, otherwise, also has no shortage of strangeness or complications!

So, with your low platelets, and the doc talking about cirrhosis, it will be interesting to know what they see via your endoscopy, and what an abd. ultrasound and/or what other abd. imagings you may have had done, show in you.

Let us know what your GI says about your endo/or any imagings you have had done. I hope your GI also gives you a fibro-scan and an abd. ultrasound too, if you have not had those.

Hope they keep "working you up" quickly, and when ready, you get a well-timed start on your HCV cure.

Keep us posted. Fire away if you have questions. Someone here will always try to help. C.

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 The gastro is partly my own doing. I finally started exercising regularly and cut way down on carbs. Being overweight doesn't help even if it's just 20 lbs. The partial blockage was probably going on for a couple years. The only solution is 'bowel rest' and changing your habits.

I'm seeing the specialist on Friday so I'll see what's up with the low platelet count.

It's can be a little complicated.

I was going to the VA for a number of years but I don't go there anymore. Now I'm on Medicaid as of this year and living in a new state. Medicaid has no regard for VA medical records but that's OK. I have gastritis as of a couple years ago. Throwing up, etc.. That seems to be under control with taking a laxative everyday and change of diet, etc..

I was in the hospital about 7 weeks ago with a partial bowel blockage. Blood work for hep C was done about a week after that. Then again last week. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a few days after my stay in the hospital. My regular doctor recommended a gastro specialist and that's who I saw last week. The hospital told me to have the colon/endo from someone else.......
Competition for business!

The doc last week asked why I decided to go with him. I said my regular doc recommended him and he was much closer. The hospital won't share info with my regular doc or him. After the colon/endo they tell you right away if you're OK. Meaning nothing very major. Other than gastritis, a hernia, some polyps which they removed, I guess I'm OK.

A bowel blockage is serious, even a partial one. I was on IV and nothing to eat or drink for 3 days. I started exercising right after the hospital stay and I'm finally trying a low-carb diet. I'm hoping to lose 20 lbs.

Wish I had know about laxatives sooner. Generic Miralax works well.

Canuck, I'll ask for copies of blood tests, etc..

Either treatment will be appropriate for you. Depending on your viral load and history of prior treatment, you may be able to do 8 or 12 weeks of Harvoni. Zepatier is going to be 12. This is if you are a compensated cirrhotic. Decompensated cirrhotics and prior treatment failures change some of the protocol.

Please fill out your signature line with your history, test results, etc. It makes responding easier with some some background info. 

When will you hear back? Let us know!

Hi Steve!!! Welcome to the best forum you could ask for. The support and knowledge you'll receive here is a blessing from God.

Thanks to everyone. I'm seeing the specialist on August 18. Hoping for the best!

I remind myself to drink plenty of water and take vitamin C. Try to eat well.

Hi Steve .  1b responds well to Therapy . If your gonna have hep c 1b is the one to have! You may get away with only 8 weeks of treatment . The treatments of today are fairly easy as compared to those of the past.  Keep us informed,we're here to help.Look into setting up a signature line at the bottom of your post,I know you dont have all the numbers yet, but as they come in let us know-it helps us to offer advice based on your numbers. Were glad your here!   RC

Hi Steve, 

Glad to see you here. This is a good place to come for info, to ask questions, and/or just for company. I hope you get to find out soon, when you get to start treatment.

Have you completed all the preliminaries? Have all your assesment thngs been done - recent bloodwork? - do you know your viral load or liver funtion test results? Have your Hep A/B immunizations been reviewed to see that they are adequate? Have you had an abdominal ultrasound and fibroscan done? Do you know what your Fscore is?

Anything you would like to share or ask is welcome here.

How soon is soon do you think?

I am glad you say you are hoping for the best - nowadays, with these new DAA's, you have EVERY reason to EXPECT the best.  C.

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