Hi Jean and welcome. I think Mallani's advice on checking the state of your liver will help you make your decision. Current treatments are gruelling so if you can avoid this - why not. Re: the extra weight - my husband also was carrying extra weight when he started triple therapy (with Victrelis). However after 48 weeks of meds he lost a tonne of weight. I think most of it was wasted muscle mass though. He did get his SVR in January 2014, but as Malcolm said, losing some weight will help with clear the fat from the liver which can only be a good thing for you.
All the best. Caroline
Matt Chris said
Mar 8, 2014
Hello Jean
Welcome to the Forum from me as well, sounds like you might have time to pick and choose the best treatment for GT-1b. Read up on all the latest studies and different combos that are in Clinical trials and feel good about your choice.
Their are many other companies with good products as well, they all should investigated.
matt
mallani said
Mar 7, 2014
Hi Jean,
Welcome to the Forum. In the USA, new options are available so Interferon can be avoided. Sounds as if you are treatment naive ( no prior treatment), and really you need a biopsy or Fibroscan to assess the state of your liver. If you do not have significant fibrosis, you can afford to wait for the newer drug combos (later this year). Otherwise patients are doing well with Sovaldi and Olysio, as Tig mentioned. Hopefully you can avoid Interferon, as many of us have suffered from repeated courses of the stuff! If possible, drop the 20 lbs, to clear some fat from your liver and give your pancreas a rest. Good luck, and ask any questions you like. Cheers.
Tig said
Mar 7, 2014
Hello Jean,
I'd like to welcome you to the forum! You found a great bunch of friendly, caring people that are here to talk about anything. I'm glad you're here!
Many new treatments have been approved already! The newest Interferon free regimens were approved in December 2013. There are always new things in trials. You will see a lot of discussion here about the newest on the block, named Sovaldi and Olysio. Some use of Interferon is still prescribed but that depends on several factors that your doctor will discuss with you. There have been good results with Sovaldi and Ribavirin together, Sovaldi and Olysio together and all three together! The rates of success have never been better! The length of treatment in many cases has been reduced to 12 weeks depending on the individual patient. If you're eligible for the new medication and your doctor and insurance approve, I would do that in a heartbeat. The older treatments are longer and have more negative side effects. It sounds like your health is still good and 20 extra pounds mean nothing really. I lost 55 lbs. on that old treatment, and it was a rough weight loss program! I wouldn't worry about that at all.
I wish you the best of luck and invite you to stick around and get to know everyone. It's a great support group and we're here whenever you want to talk.
Tig
JeanInMaine said
Mar 7, 2014
I am a 63 year old woman. HCV Antibodies detected in 1992. Likely infected in 1976 blood transfusion. Now seem to have active disease. Viral load 2.5 million. Normal ultrasound. AST 77 ALT 74. Type 1B. Scheduling biopsy. Dr. recommending mix including Interferon. Oncologist friend says "avoid Interferon". I know that new interferon-free all oral treatments are coming (by end of this year?) that are very effective with 1B. Question do I start treatment now with potentially nasty side-effects and an 80% cure rate or wait for 99% effectiveness and few or no side effects? Sounds like people on this forum are not waiting? I have good insurance. I've given up alcohol (was a light drinker). What more can I do? 20 lbs overweight, does that matter?
Hi Jean and welcome. I think Mallani's advice on checking the state of your liver will help you make your decision. Current treatments are gruelling so if you can avoid this - why not. Re: the extra weight - my husband also was carrying extra weight when he started triple therapy (with Victrelis). However after 48 weeks of meds he lost a tonne of weight. I think most of it was wasted muscle mass though. He did get his SVR in January 2014, but as Malcolm said, losing some weight will help with clear the fat from the liver which can only be a good thing for you.
All the best. Caroline
Hello Jean
Welcome to the Forum from me as well, sounds like you might have time to pick and choose the best treatment for GT-1b. Read up on all the latest studies and different combos that are in Clinical trials and feel good about your choice.
Here's a link about Abbvie's GT-1b trial http://www.natap.org/2014/CROI/croi_01.htm
Their are many other companies with good products as well, they all should investigated.
matt
Hi Jean,
Welcome to the Forum. In the USA, new options are available so Interferon can be avoided. Sounds as if you are treatment naive ( no prior treatment), and really you need a biopsy or Fibroscan to assess the state of your liver. If you do not have significant fibrosis, you can afford to wait for the newer drug combos (later this year). Otherwise patients are doing well with Sovaldi and Olysio, as Tig mentioned. Hopefully you can avoid Interferon, as many of us have suffered from repeated courses of the stuff! If possible, drop the 20 lbs, to clear some fat from your liver and give your pancreas a rest. Good luck, and ask any questions you like. Cheers.
Hello Jean,
I'd like to welcome you to the forum! You found a great bunch of friendly, caring people that are here to talk about anything. I'm glad you're here!
Many new treatments have been approved already! The newest Interferon free regimens were approved in December 2013. There are always new things in trials. You will see a lot of discussion here about the newest on the block, named Sovaldi and Olysio. Some use of Interferon is still prescribed but that depends on several factors that your doctor will discuss with you. There have been good results with Sovaldi and Ribavirin together, Sovaldi and Olysio together and all three together! The rates of success have never been better! The length of treatment in many cases has been reduced to 12 weeks depending on the individual patient. If you're eligible for the new medication and your doctor and insurance approve, I would do that in a heartbeat. The older treatments are longer and have more negative side effects. It sounds like your health is still good and 20 extra pounds mean nothing really. I lost 55 lbs. on that old treatment, and it was a rough weight loss program! I wouldn't worry about that at all.
I wish you the best of luck and invite you to stick around and get to know everyone. It's a great support group and we're here whenever you want to talk.
Tig
I am a 63 year old woman. HCV Antibodies detected in 1992. Likely infected in 1976 blood transfusion. Now seem to have active disease. Viral load 2.5 million. Normal ultrasound. AST 77 ALT 74. Type 1B. Scheduling biopsy. Dr. recommending mix including Interferon. Oncologist friend says "avoid Interferon". I know that new interferon-free all oral treatments are coming (by end of this year?) that are very effective with 1B. Question do I start treatment now with potentially nasty side-effects and an 80% cure rate or wait for 99% effectiveness and few or no side effects? Sounds like people on this forum are not waiting? I have good insurance. I've given up alcohol (was a light drinker). What more can I do? 20 lbs overweight, does that matter?