Glad to hear your liver is doing well. Good luck moving forward.
James
hope87 said
Aug 6, 2011
From my understanding of what he said, was that when there is little inflammation the drugs don't work as well.
BJ said
Aug 6, 2011
Gidday Hope,
I'm sorry I missed you when you've been back on recerntly. Well a lot of water has passed under that proverbial bridgensince then, you got that appointment at the University and have been through the tests again. Well the biopsy is usually one of the last tests they do and although there is no cirrohsis, that's certainly no reason not to treat. Is it because you can't get the drugs that you aren't treating now, because if that's the case the fact that there is inflammation should be enough, and treating when your liver is in the best available condition means the best chance of success.
The fact that you are young in my books is all the more reason to treat. I know you are a clean living person and won't be damaging your liver like some of us did back when we were younger, so you should be in good hands. I'll hope and pray for you that things remain OK until you are next tested, and perhaps drugs become available for you to rid yourself of this virus before it does any real damage. Gpd bless.
Cheers,
Brendan.
hope87 said
Aug 5, 2011
Doc finally called me, little inflammation, no cirhossis. Go back in Dec for routine blood work. No treatment as of right now! Thank you all for your thoughts and your prayers!!! They were all very much appreciated!!!
Hep Me said
Jul 12, 2011
Glad to hear your biopsy went well Hope. Learn to play that waiting game well because it can also come in handy down the road. Please keep us up on the results. Take care, Randy
Minerva said
Jul 12, 2011
Hi Hope.
Hope you are feeling a bit better now.
All the best with your results and let us know how you get on.
Hugs
Heather xxx
James10500 said
Jul 11, 2011
Glad it went well ! Hoping your results are good.
Good luck,
James
Greg said
Jul 11, 2011
Hey Hope,
Glad the procedure went ok that's great, fingers crossed for you that everything is ok.
In our thoughts and Prayers, Greg and Cate
hope87 said
Jul 11, 2011
The biopsy went so smoothly, WAY better than I expected. I am experiencing a little pain (it was done about 11 hours ago) but I can handle that. Can't wait to find out the results. I felt the numbing shot and nothing after that :) Definitely had good doctors today. Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers! Now the waiting game begins....
Moocow said
Jun 20, 2011
Tell them to give you some decent medications before that biopsy, so you tolerate it comfortably!!!!
hope87 said
Jun 20, 2011
Thanks ya'll!
James10500 said
Jun 19, 2011
Good luck with the biopsy !
James
Greg said
Jun 19, 2011
Hey Hope,
Wishing you all the best with the biopsy.
Cheers,
Greg
PJ said
Jun 19, 2011
Hi hope,
Hope your treatment gets underway soon and best of luck to you!!
pj
hope87 said
Jun 19, 2011
I am scheduled to go in for a biopsy in 3 weeks!
hope87 said
May 20, 2011
Thanks for the info. I have already printed out the applications for the assistance programs, now just gotta wait for my doc to prescribe me the treatment and get him to fill out his part!!! :)
ty said
May 19, 2011
Hi Hope and welcome back,
I do hope you can get on one of those studies, it is very expensive to do the treatment for Hep C without insurance.
I read in your profile that you have high iron as well. There is some sort of link between HCV and excess iron, but I'm not clear on what it is. When they were doing bloodwork before I started tx for my Hep C they found that I had Hemochromotosis, a genetic condition where my blood keeps too much iron. They wanted me to fix the iron problem before I started treatment.
I was having many of the same health problems as you are and when they took out the iron, many of them cleared up for me. While I had to go to a blood doctor for the diagnosis, the treatment for taking out the iron is free at the local blood donation center. It's just like what you went to for donating, but I use a short form and rather than donating my blood, they destroy it instead.
It's part of a national progam for keeping the blood supply safe so there is no cost for the phlibotomy itself. (and they give you free cookies and juice!) I've always told people that having too much iron in my blood is the easiest health problem I've ever had to solve and when they take the half-liter of blood out periodically, I feel much better every time.
There are various reasons for too much iron in the blood, but all are treated the same way. (OK, there is also a medicine, but it's thousands of dollars and has numeous side effects. I've never heard of anyone using it.) They take blood out and when it remakes itself it dilutes the iron in it. My blood at it's highest was 1550, although I've heard of people with numbers in the 4000-5000 range.
When you are treated for Hep C and you get your iron into the normal range, you may find that you are feeling your young healthy self again. Good luck with those phone numbers that James gave and with your new doctor. I hope this info helps. You are in my thoughts, ty
Moocow said
May 19, 2011
Hi there, Hope- so good to see you again, but not necessarily under these circumstances.
Good you went to another doctor!!! Seems that last one was a do nothing idiot! I'm sure if you treat, you will clear and fortunately, because of your age- you WILL bounce back more rapidly than some of us old fogies!!!
Keep in touch and let us know how things are going for you!!!
James10500 said
May 19, 2011
Hope you may have these #'s but I'll post them anyway.
Pegassist (Roche Pegasys system): 1-877-734-2797
Commitment to Care (Schering- Plough PEG-Intron system): 1-800-521-7157
And Victrelis.com will be up next week.
Trials of course are cost free, and some pay you. I have a friend in a Gilead trial now it pays $100.00 a week. Check clinicaltrials.gov
hope87 said
May 19, 2011
THanks ya'll. I don't have any health insurance.... :( So I am trying to get the assistance and get the meds free.
James10500 said
May 19, 2011
Glad you found a new doc. What's up with your health insurance ? I spoke to the folks at Merck the other day and Victrelis (old name Boceprevir ) started shipping Monday. www.Victrelis.com will be open to the public next week for any questions you may have.
Good luck,
James
Greg said
May 18, 2011
G'Day Hope,
Welcome back to the forum and with great news as well, that's wonderful that you have found a sympathetic doctor who will treat you and hopefully with the new drug combo, we have had a lot of new people on here of late who have started with the new trials and they all are so positive which is great to see.
You have a major advanatge on your side and that is your age, and your faith. There is a lot of support here on the forum so if you have any questions just ask, there is always someone here to answer them or point you in the right direction. The first few weeks are a bit rough but you'll be ok and you'll be finished in no time. Good luck with the ultrasound, wishing you all the best on your journey to beating this virus.
Good luck, Greg
-- Edited by Greg on Thursday 19th of May 2011 03:12:43 AM
hope87 said
May 18, 2011
Today was my first appointment at the University Medical Center. I am SO thankful. As I mentioned before (I know I haven't posted in a while) the doctor I had didn't want to do anything for me just because I was "too young". So I saw my new doctor today and had about 10 vials of blood taken so he could do his own tests since I haven't had any since 2009. Then I go back next Wednesday for my liver ultrasound and June 15th to discuss what all my results are and the possibility of treatment! Yay! And I may be put on the new drug they approved last Friday!!! Keep praying for me! I will need to check into havin the pharmaceutical company help supply it for me!!!!
Hope ,
Wishing you all the vey best.
In my Prayers,
Greg
James
Gidday Hope,
I'm sorry I missed you when you've been back on recerntly. Well a lot of water has passed under that proverbial bridgensince then, you got that appointment at the University and have been through the tests again. Well the biopsy is usually one of the last tests they do and although there is no cirrohsis, that's certainly no reason not to treat. Is it because you can't get the drugs that you aren't treating now, because if that's the case the fact that there is inflammation should be enough, and treating when your liver is in the best available condition means the best chance of success.
The fact that you are young in my books is all the more reason to treat. I know you are a clean living person and won't be damaging your liver like some of us did back when we were younger, so you should be in good hands. I'll hope and pray for you that things remain OK until you are next tested, and perhaps drugs become available for you to rid yourself of this virus before it does any real damage. Gpd bless.
Cheers,
Brendan.
Take care,
Randy
Hi Hope.
Hope you are feeling a bit better now.
All the best with your results and let us know how you get on.
Hugs
Heather xxx
Good luck,
James
Hey Hope,
Glad the procedure went ok that's great, fingers crossed for you that everything is ok.
In our thoughts and Prayers,
Greg and Cate
Tell them to give you some decent medications before that biopsy, so you tolerate it comfortably!!!!
James
Hey Hope,
Wishing you all the best with the biopsy.
Cheers,
Greg
Hope your treatment gets underway soon and best of luck to you!!
pj
Hi Hope and welcome back,
I do hope you can get on one of those studies, it is very expensive to do the treatment for Hep C without insurance.
I read in your profile that you have high iron as well. There is some sort of link between HCV and excess iron, but I'm not clear on what it is. When they were doing bloodwork before I started tx for my Hep C they found that I had Hemochromotosis, a genetic condition where my blood keeps too much iron. They wanted me to fix the iron problem before I started treatment.
I was having many of the same health problems as you are and when they took out the iron, many of them cleared up for me. While I had to go to a blood doctor for the diagnosis, the treatment for taking out the iron is free at the local blood donation center. It's just like what you went to for donating, but I use a short form and rather than donating my blood, they destroy it instead.
It's part of a national progam for keeping the blood supply safe so there is no cost for the phlibotomy itself. (and they give you free cookies and juice!) I've always told people that having too much iron in my blood is the easiest health problem I've ever had to solve and when they take the half-liter of blood out periodically, I feel much better every time.
There are various reasons for too much iron in the blood, but all are treated the same way. (OK, there is also a medicine, but it's thousands of dollars and has numeous side effects. I've never heard of anyone using it.) They take blood out and when it remakes itself it dilutes the iron in it. My blood at it's highest was 1550, although I've heard of people with numbers in the 4000-5000 range.
When you are treated for Hep C and you get your iron into the normal range, you may find that you are feeling your young healthy self again. Good luck with those phone numbers that James gave and with your new doctor. I hope this info helps. You are in my thoughts, ty
Hi there, Hope- so good to see you again, but not necessarily under these circumstances.
Good you went to another doctor!!! Seems that last one was a do nothing idiot! I'm sure if you treat, you will clear and fortunately, because of your age- you WILL bounce back more rapidly than some of us old fogies!!!
Keep in touch and let us know how things are going for you!!!
Pegassist (Roche Pegasys system): 1-877-734-2797
Commitment to Care (Schering- Plough PEG-Intron system): 1-800-521-7157
And Victrelis.com will be up next week.
Trials of course are cost free, and some pay you. I have a friend in a Gilead trial now it pays $100.00 a week.
Check clinicaltrials.gov
I don't have any health insurance.... :( So I am trying to get the assistance and get the meds free.
Good luck,
James
G'Day Hope,
Welcome back to the forum and with great news as well, that's wonderful that you have found a sympathetic doctor who will treat you and hopefully with the new drug combo, we have had a lot of new people on here of late who have started with the new trials and they all are so positive which is great to see.
You have a major advanatge on your side and that is your age, and your faith. There is a lot of support here on the forum so if you have any questions just ask, there is always someone here to answer them or point you in the right direction. The first few weeks are a bit rough but you'll be ok and you'll be finished in no time. Good luck with the ultrasound, wishing you all the best on your journey to beating this virus.
Good luck,
Greg
-- Edited by Greg on Thursday 19th of May 2011 03:12:43 AM
Today was my first appointment at the University Medical Center. I am SO thankful. As I mentioned before (I know I haven't posted in a while) the doctor I had didn't want to do anything for me just because I was "too young". So I saw my new doctor today and had about 10 vials of blood taken so he could do his own tests since I haven't had any since 2009. Then I go back next Wednesday for my liver ultrasound and June 15th to discuss what all my results are and the possibility of treatment! Yay! And I may be put on the new drug they approved last Friday!!! Keep praying for me! I will need to check into havin the pharmaceutical company help supply it for me!!!!