I think my biopsy was between 1-2, my viral load was quite a bit lower than yours, and I have decided to wait on treatment;  but I would agree with those who say it's a personal decision best discussed with your Dr. 

I figure, I have had this disease for probably close to 30 years, so would my body (and level of suffering) be worsen by waiting until what is expected to be here in 2014 is available or by enduring the drugs currently available.   

Maybe I am being a wuss with this thought, but I really hate the idea that I would more than likely make myself sick by going through treatment when I'm not sick now. 

http://expertscolumn.hubpages.com/hub/Interferon-Free-Treatment-for-Hepatitis-C

Hi there i waited 2 years before starting treatment, and i wish id just started as soon as i found out i had the virus! living with it & worrying about starting was far harder mentally than the treatment its self. i thankfully did clear the virus.

good luck whatever you decide

xxx

Hi there Wendi, I`d just like to add a few words too...I can see the attraction of waiting for new drugs to be available but on the other hand from a psychological viewpoint there`s a lot to be said for getting on with tx as soon as you can.  Many of us have found that once we`ve taken that first shot we get a great sense of relief that at last we`re doing something positive to combat the virus rather than having the constant worry about how much damage it`s causing.   As Malcolm pointed out, the sx do vary in intensity from person to person and many people are able to carry on with their usual daily activities throughout their tx, taking more rest in the evenings and at weekends.

We all have our own opinions on this but at the end of the day you need to learn as much as you can and weigh up all aspects of your options, together with the advice from your doctor.

Best of luck, keep in touch!    Jill xx

Hi Wendi, Krowdog has summed it up nicely. You've obviously had a biopsy to have your inflammation Grade, and fibrosis Stage. There's not a lot of difference between Geno 1a and 1b. If anything, the 1b's are doing slightly better on the current triple Rx, and are doing much better with the newer DAA's. The SVR rate for a young female with F2 should be higher than 70%. (with current triple Rx). Depending on your early response, the rate could be as high as 90%. Deciding whether to have Rx can only be decided between you and your doctor. Get as much info as you can, and realize that side effects from current drugs is very variable. In general, young people like yourself have fewer side effects, so if I was you, I would have Rx now.

Hi Wendy, welcome to the forum.

I was asking the EXACT same question a year and a half ago.  I (was) geno 1a, which has about the same cure rate as your 1b.  Like you, I was also a 2/2 on my liver score.

I went ahead and treated.  I got lucky, and cleared the virus.  But I still have some residual interferon side effects, mostly sore joints even 8 months post tx..  This is improving slowly, and I expect it will resolve.  It is not debilitating, just a real pain, especially in the morning.

*However*, these newer drugs had not been developed, or at least weren't spoken of.  Had I known what I know now, I would probably have waited the two or so years for this new class of inhibitors to get approval. But I would have kept a very close eye on my liver.  I would have treated immediately if my liver was progressing into stage 3.  I would have had that checked often.

One possible reason to treat now would be the status of your medical insurance.  These drugs are VERY expensive, so if your future medical insurance is in question, that would be a big incentive to treat now.

Oh, and the stage after 2, stage 3, is not considered cirrhosis, that is stage 4.

Take your time and continue to study, as you have been.  Things are changing daily on the hep c front, and with enough knowledge, hopefully your  choice will become obvious.

Best of luck to you,

Brad

i agree i had almost no fibrosis but stil i went for treatment...i must say that i was very scared,and the first 12 weeks are hard duo to telepravir...but after those 12 weeks its going much better, less sx and stil UND to boost my motivation...in my case i had to do it i could not live with the tought of having this desease,and limitations and not having a beer at vriday night after work!! hahahahahahaha

Just to add  my

Triple TX with Incivek cure rate officially is 79 pct.

As Guru Malcolm said, -  young female with 1B, F2, would be probably even better ...

On one side you face likely 24 (maybe 48) weeks of toxic TX with SX, but a great chance of full eradication of the virus.

On the other, at least 2 more years (until new better meds may be available) of uncertainty, living with a daily concern of whats going on with your liver and whether there is more damage being done.  

-- Edited by Bouba on Friday 14th of December 2012 10:43:19 AM

Hi...I introduced myself a little over a month ago just after diagnosis. I have a lot more information now, and I'm looking for advice. I believe that I must've contracted Hep C 24 years ago when I had a blood transfusion at the age of 12. I have genotype 1b, stage 2/grade 2 biopsy, elevated liver enzymes, viral load of 2,114,750. 

I'm just wondering if it's really worth putting myself through treatment. It sounds awful and I'm completely terrified. From what I can tell, genotype 1b is the least likely to respond to treatment especially if I've had it for so long. I just hate to make myself sick with triple therapy for only a 70% of SVR. Advice???

No advice from me but I'll tell you what I did. I did triple tx w/Incivek last fall. I did 7977 this year starting in the spring. There is no comparison between the two tx. I had virtually no sx on 7977. On triple tx there were many. That's my exp. If it was me, being at Stage 2, I would wait for the 7977 if I was healthy besides the hep c. Good luck. ( I guess I did give advice, sorry )

Stage 2,  is fibrosis, the next stage is cirrosis. I may be wrong( not too sure about g1b) you have to ask your Dr. I would treat ASAP.