Hi again, Michael, thanks for the update, and I`m sorry to hear you still can`t start your treatment!
Your liver enzymes are certainly bouncing around a lot, and there could be many reasons for that. I do hope the next doctor you see at the University Hospital will be able to determine exactly what`s going on, and also get your blood sugar levels under control. This must all be so frustrating for you, and I feel for you have to cope with extreme exhaustion.
Take care and do keep us posted on how things develop. Best of luck!
mikeymo1000 said
Mar 7, 2014
well got my last month of meds today! went to docs wensday and got told cant start them yet again!
had two bloods test that were good but the one on tuesday was alt and ast extremely high! this is my second specialist and now they are saying its not the hepc and I need a appointment at unniversity hospital cause they cant figure it out. this is my 4th major bout with this since august 13. about 1 1/2 to 2 months apart and last a week or so long .extreme fautige ,crazy not under control blood sugar levels and chills only in my head! the last month or so Ive felt better than other between times and my levels showed that! so so frusterated!ohya its the enzymes they want to go down! they were at 137 and 256 4 weeks ago and 78 and 163 2weeks ago and 305 and 925 tuesday!Im sure the way I feel today they are much higher now though
Cinnamon Girl said
Jan 30, 2014
Hi again, Michael, you`re very welcome here, glad you found us!
Yes, it must be a stressful time for you waiting to start treatment after so long, especially as you already have the drugs. Very frustrating indeed I should think!
Congrats on being clean and sober for 26 years, that`s a real achievement and something to be proud of, very well done.
If you let us know when you have your correct lab results available we`ll gladly have a look at them.
Stay in touch, and good luck!
mikeymo1000 said
Jan 29, 2014
thanks for the input! I might of got the platlette mixed with red count or something! all I know is having meds and not being able to take them is stressful! my anxiety level is way out there!Just celebrated 26 years clean and sober this month,so I am happy just need to shake these inpending doom feelimgs! Normally full of energy and nothing stresses me! Ive been reading all your post for a couple months> So glad this sight is here! thank you!
Cinnamon Girl said
Jan 29, 2014
Hi Michael, welcome from me too!
As our friend Zlikster said, you are lucky to have genotype 2 as far as treatment duration is concerned with the Sovaldi/Riba combo, and your biopsy score of F3 indicates fairly advanced fibrosis but not cirrhosis.
Your platelets aren`t actually that low so I`m surprised your treatment has been delayed. In severe cases of thrombocytopenia (very low platelet levels) then you could be treated with either a blood transfusion or with a drug called `Promacta`. The `Procrit` that Tig mentioned is not used to increase platelets, by the way, it is only prescribed when someone`s Hb levels drop below a certain level (i.e. for anemia) as it works by stimulating the growth of red blood cells.
I also went down with an EBV infection in 1995 which triggered long-term M.E./CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It`s a common trigger for fatigue associated symptoms and can be extremely debilitating. Having Hep C itself can also cause fatigue, as well as other symptoms, so I can relate to your feelings of being sick and tired, although as Tig mentioned there`s a very good chance that your energy levels will improve if and when you are able to do your treatment.
Wishing you all the best of luck!
Tig said
Jan 29, 2014
Hi Michael,
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found us here and look forward to getting to know you. As Lee mentioned, your platelet count really isn't that low. I just finished triple treatment with the "Old" stuff, Peg/Riba/Victrelis and my platelets dropped to around 90 for about 5 months. Others have dropped significantly lower. It's manageable for sure. If the doctors get concerned about it, they generally will make some medication adjustments, prescribe Procrit to build them up or give you a blood transfusion. All common solutions. Unless there is another reason, I would question why that's enough reason to delay treatment. Your ALT/AST is definitely elevated and that's a sure indication of liver inflammation. HCV no doubt is the causing factor there. Your AFP is only slightly elevated and that can also result from your active HCV infection. As you know, the AFP is a tumor marker and they draw them to monitor for cancer. HCV patients have a higher incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, especially if cirrhosis is a factor. Have you been diagnosed with cirrhosis? I'm not sure what kind of issues your EBV might have on your treatment plan, has your doctor mentioned anything regarding that? It's a common viral ailment and is associated with the Herpes 4 virus. Were you treated with an anti viral med during those outbreaks? Many of us here have had issues with herpes outbreaks during treatment and something I've heard from many is that after treatment their herpes outbreaks improved or disappeared. Unplanned, but certainly welcome!
The good news in this instance is your genotype. GT 2 is one of the easiest to treat and the new DAA's, like Sovaldi with Riba have extremely high success rates. I would be encouraged! If you have any additional lab results, like biopsies, Fibroscans, CBC's, etc., posting them here will help us provide you with more informed opinions. The fatigue is common and once you're able to stop the HCV virus, your strength and health greatly improves. It's vital that you eat properly, concentrate on proper hydration, 2-3 liters of good filtered water daily is necessary, especially during treatment and most important is to get all the rest you can. That's something you simply have to find time for, or you'll suffer from exhaustion and that will cause problems of it's own. Good luck Mike! Keep in touch...
Best, Tig
Zlikster said
Jan 29, 2014
You are very luck to have GT2, your chance of getting rid of HCV is the best from all genotypes! Sort out your blood pic first and after 12weeks you will get your liver back, don't worry ;) and then get that liver back to F0 :)
best
longld said
Jan 29, 2014
139 doesn't sound very low to me (just under normal range) - I have 82 and they are starting me on the same treatment. What is your Hemoglobin?
mikeymo1000 said
Jan 29, 2014
31 years and no major effects! then august 2013 1900 alt and 1300 ast alkaline 187 bilirubin1.7lipase133 13.55afp-tm. got a biopsy in nov -f3 got aprove for solv-ribapack 12 week got meds but cant start cause platettes are to low like 139.doctor says I also have recuurring ebstien bar that drive my numbers up!Ive had 1 1/2 week bouts with it 3 times since august Im so afraid for next time. I am g2.
Hi again, Michael, thanks for the update, and I`m sorry to hear you still can`t start your treatment!
Your liver enzymes are certainly bouncing around a lot, and there could be many reasons for that. I do hope the next doctor you see at the University Hospital will be able to determine exactly what`s going on, and also get your blood sugar levels under control. This must all be so frustrating for you, and I feel for you have to cope with extreme exhaustion.
Take care and do keep us posted on how things develop. Best of luck!
well got my last month of meds today! went to docs wensday and got told cant start them yet again!
Hi again, Michael, you`re very welcome here, glad you found us!
Yes, it must be a stressful time for you waiting to start treatment after so long, especially as you already have the drugs. Very frustrating indeed I should think!
Congrats on being clean and sober for 26 years, that`s a real achievement and something to be proud of, very well done.
If you let us know when you have your correct lab results available we`ll gladly have a look at them.
Stay in touch, and good luck!
thanks for the input! I might of got the platlette mixed with red count or something! all I know is having meds and not being able to take them is stressful! my anxiety level is way out there!Just celebrated 26 years clean and sober this month,so I am happy just need to shake these inpending doom feelimgs! Normally full of energy and nothing stresses me! Ive been reading all your post for a couple months> So glad this sight is here! thank you!
Hi Michael, welcome from me too!
As our friend Zlikster said, you are lucky to have genotype 2 as far as treatment duration is concerned with the Sovaldi/Riba combo, and your biopsy score of F3 indicates fairly advanced fibrosis but not cirrhosis.
Your platelets aren`t actually that low so I`m surprised your treatment has been delayed. In severe cases of thrombocytopenia (very low platelet levels) then you could be treated with either a blood transfusion or with a drug called `Promacta`. The `Procrit` that Tig mentioned is not used to increase platelets, by the way, it is only prescribed when someone`s Hb levels drop below a certain level (i.e. for anemia) as it works by stimulating the growth of red blood cells.
I also went down with an EBV infection in 1995 which triggered long-term M.E./CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It`s a common trigger for fatigue associated symptoms and can be extremely debilitating. Having Hep C itself can also cause fatigue, as well as other symptoms, so I can relate to your feelings of being sick and tired, although as Tig mentioned there`s a very good chance that your energy levels will improve if and when you are able to do your treatment.
Wishing you all the best of luck!
Hi Michael,
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found us here and look forward to getting to know you. As Lee mentioned, your platelet count really isn't that low. I just finished triple treatment with the "Old" stuff, Peg/Riba/Victrelis and my platelets dropped to around 90 for about 5 months. Others have dropped significantly lower. It's manageable for sure. If the doctors get concerned about it, they generally will make some medication adjustments, prescribe Procrit to build them up or give you a blood transfusion. All common solutions. Unless there is another reason, I would question why that's enough reason to delay treatment. Your ALT/AST is definitely elevated and that's a sure indication of liver inflammation. HCV no doubt is the causing factor there. Your AFP is only slightly elevated and that can also result from your active HCV infection. As you know, the AFP is a tumor marker and they draw them to monitor for cancer. HCV patients have a higher incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, especially if cirrhosis is a factor. Have you been diagnosed with cirrhosis? I'm not sure what kind of issues your EBV might have on your treatment plan, has your doctor mentioned anything regarding that? It's a common viral ailment and is associated with the Herpes 4 virus. Were you treated with an anti viral med during those outbreaks? Many of us here have had issues with herpes outbreaks during treatment and something I've heard from many is that after treatment their herpes outbreaks improved or disappeared. Unplanned, but certainly welcome!
The good news in this instance is your genotype. GT 2 is one of the easiest to treat and the new DAA's, like Sovaldi with Riba have extremely high success rates. I would be encouraged! If you have any additional lab results, like biopsies, Fibroscans, CBC's, etc., posting them here will help us provide you with more informed opinions. The fatigue is common and once you're able to stop the HCV virus, your strength and health greatly improves. It's vital that you eat properly, concentrate on proper hydration, 2-3 liters of good filtered water daily is necessary, especially during treatment and most important is to get all the rest you can. That's something you simply have to find time for, or you'll suffer from exhaustion and that will cause problems of it's own. Good luck Mike! Keep in touch...
Best, Tig
You are very luck to have GT2, your chance of getting rid of HCV is the best from all genotypes! Sort out your blood pic first and after 12weeks you will get your liver back, don't worry ;) and then get that liver back to F0 :)
best
31 years and no major effects! then august 2013 1900 alt and 1300 ast alkaline 187 bilirubin1.7lipase133 13.55afp-tm. got a biopsy in nov -f3 got aprove for solv-ribapack 12 week got meds but cant start cause platettes are to low like 139.doctor says I also have recuurring ebstien bar that drive my numbers up!Ive had 1 1/2 week bouts with it 3 times since august Im so afraid for next time. I am g2.