Just looking around and your name came up here.  I'm sure you got your start as paramedic in WV in 1974. Glad to hear that you are clear of the virus, although this post is several years out of date. Good thoughts coming your way. Linda

I've had 3 biopsies. The first was a 3 my last two were a 2, it's because my first time on treatment my liver began to heal.

However, even when I was a 3, I never ever had my ast and alt show high, nor ever. You can't always judge by ast, and alt, or even viral count. Only a biopsy can show the true amount of damage. Because my bloods had never ben off, they were shocked when my biopsy was a 3.

And I have heard on other forums, of someone helping someone else out when their shipment didn't come on time.

Rather than flush it, give it to your hepotologist, they can see that a person who needs it gets it.

I talked to mine last week, and am donating my procrit to him to help his patients that can't afford it. He was extremely grateful that I was willing to do so. He said many times, he has given the shot to someone that needed it, and they are expensive! Many times he gives them the shot there and then, and then their insurance refuses to pay for it, and he is unable to give them anymore, and my meds could mean the difference of someone staying on treatment or not.

So sorry but I have to disagree about flushing it. My hep said to donate it to his office.

HEP C is such an evasive disease I would like to know that after 4 to 5 years since I was treated that I am still clear. When I was being treated I got viral load tests at 2 wks, 4 wks, 6 wks, 12 wks and then every 12 wks until treatment was completed. I was then tested every 6 months for the next 2 years coming up clear every time. I would have never known I had HEP C if the fire department I worked for did not say that I was on an at risk call that was very bloody and other medics on the same call had come up positive. As mentioned before nobody wore gloves or masks back then. Yes the liver biopsy was done as a pre test to see if I could be treated. If I remember right it is on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being no damage or very light and 5 being your ready to get on a waiting list for a liver transplant. Then each of those levels are a plus or minus. I was a 3 minus and was still able to be treated. My treatment was 48 weeks. I still have to watch the type of drugs I take and the affect they have on the liver. Pain meds cannot have any aspirin, aacetaminophen etc. I stopped drinking alcohol other than an occasional beer. The biopsy I had was real quick and I would not of known they took if they did not say, Ok your done. It is just like a large gauge needle that pops in and out in split second. You wait long enough to know they have enough. Anyway thanks for the reply and information.

Good Luck to all, may your VL tests be negative

Jim

Thanks and I guess your negative also now? I guess things change as I did have the liver biopsy before the TX started and if I remember right it was a 3. I was like a Geno 1A and my treatment was for 11 months or 48 weeks.

Having been a EMT/paramedic since 1972, we would just jumped in on many very bloody accidents, shooting, suicides and it never entered our mind that there was a risk. I could of easily got HIV/Aides which was a death sentence anytime pre 1990. The only thing that was checked at the time is the ER would test for tuberculosis and if a patient we transported was positive we would need to  get tested to see if it was transmitted. Who knows what kind of risk we may be taking now and are unaware until many years later we look back and think, Wow that was crazy. I a fireman also and wearing breathing devices while in a structure was optional and many of the older fireman would not wear a breathing device. In the 60's while in high school drinking and driving was just normal, nobody even thought twice about. Enough of the stories. I will take the left over meds to an emergency room and let them dispose of them properly.

Jim or Miniestate

Hi Mini and welcome

As other members have pointed out, we don't allow people to offer these drugs on the forum. I realise it was a nice gesture on your part, but these meds should never be taken without proper supervision.

Congratulations on clearing the virus!

Love Steff xx

Hi again Mini.

If your alt and ast are normalized, I don't know what a biopsy would tell you.  I'll bet your doc wouldn't want to do an invasive procedure like that. 

It is used pre tx to determine if there is cirrhosis, which can change the length of treatment, for early responders, from 24 to 48 weeks (for 3-drug tx, geno 1, )

Also, the liver can heal some, especially the grade (level of inflammation) vesus the stage (amount of scarring).

My gastro had me taking an interesting drug before I even started TX , for collitis, called sulfasalazine.  Well, interestingly enough, it has been shown in some (small) studies to actually help remove liver scar tissue:

http://www.indetails.com/297/fatty-liver-disease-treatment/

Lastly, you could retest for v/l, but odds are so good, they dont usually do it (although when I get to that point, I bet I'll want to get one too ;)  Plus, your general liver function test would most likely show elevated alt/ast.

And again, congrats on clearing.

Brad

Geno 1a, und @ wks 4 and 8. Awaiting wk 12 results)

I will flush it, I would certainly asked questions about having seen a doctor and what not, I have been through it all and would be able to tell if they were under a doctors order.  My house burned down 9/13/2009 and I moved back in last November and I am still coming acroos stuff I have not looked at yet and found all these that were left at the end of my treatment. I know it cost a foutune with the insurance paying the bulk. I guess it was $3000 a month for meds, and another $1000 a month for doc visits, Liver Biopsy I am sure was at least 2 or 3 K. I guess in the end $50 to $60 K

I am lucky that it worked as I have talked  to more than a few that ent through all the sickness, depression, feeling weak and weight loss and got nothing in return for it all.  It's been about 5 years now and I guess I should get checked again. Will the liver damage improve after the HEP C is showing negative? I was wondering if another liver biopsy would be good to get. I am planning on going back to the the doc to get another colon oscopsy since I just turned 60 and had one at 50. He is the doc that did the HEP C tratment here in Broward County, Davie Florida on Sherdian Street. he had a Nurse Practioner that specialized in HEP C treatment. They were A++

Thanks

Jim

While it would be nice if we could pass things like this on to others, the risk is too great. But a good thought.

LOL, while I know "just flush this stuff" is only an expression. Please don't flush it, rather dispose of it in a safe manner. The best is to dissolve it in an old ketchup bottle and get it into a waste system that incinerates, rather then uses a landfill.   

Hey, nice thought on your part, but terribly wrong on many levels.  Illegal, plus nobody should take this kind of medication without doctor supervision.  Glad you're thinking of others, but just flush the stuff.

Oh, congrats on clearing this crap!

Best,

Brad 

I got HEP C sometime between 1982 and 1984 working as a Paramedic in Florida. When I started as an EMT in 1974 or so in W VA. We did not even use a protective barrier for mouth to mouth resuscitation. Gloves, mask did not arrive until late 80's or early 90's. The fire department contacted me in 1999 to say that 2 other members of crew were positive for HEP C and I should get tested, I did and was positive. I sought treatment about 2005 as I was not insured earlier. I went through the interferon, CoPegus + the blood strengthening shots. So I did the Interferon about 4 PM on Fridays so I would over the worst sickness by work on Monday, I took another shot on Saturday for I think to boost red blood cells and another shot on Sunday (I forget what it was for). After 11 months I came up negative totally non existent. I re test every 6 months for 2 more years always negative. When I got the liver biopsy at the start I believe I was a 3, and have not gone for another one of those. So HERE is the question or offer, I have about 100 or more of the CoPegus pills left and if anyone needs them due to not having insurance or whatever, you are welcome to them. Good luck to all of you, it is a tough treatment, I pulled my car over many times or walking across a parking lot I would get sick hurl. I went from 195 to 200 lbs to about 145 to 150 LBS. But that is better than waiting for a liver transplant that may never come.