Pre treatment jitters we all understand. That is extremely normal. Let your Doctor make the recommendation and if he or she knows their stuff it will be based on Geno Type and FScore.
Once you are told what they consider the right approach run it by us again along with as much information you can lay your hands on. Geno Type, FScore and VL would be the drivers.
Again, welcome to the family and we are here to help!
JimmyK
Canuck said
Feb 9, 2017
Hi snoopia,
Welcome here.
Don't be too jittery, I know approaching treatment is unnerving, facing the unknown. Use us for back-up, it may feel like a long road ahead of you now, but ask many of us, once you start, you will see, that it really is not long before you are able to look back and feel really good about what you entered into and accomplished for yourself and your long term health!
It is a happy day to know you will soon be cured, and better yet when you are! A very good thing to look forward to.
Nice your doc is looking out for you. He knows you are far better off to be rid of this virus you have been packing, and the sooner the better.
I see in your bio you "think" you are a GT2 - find out for sure.
My guess is your doc likely already has some regime choices in mind for you, it all depends on what he thinks IS the most effective for you AND also what your insurance is willing to give you - insurance and docs can have dif ideas from one another. He may already have a pretty good idea what he would really want and what drugs your insurance co may be willing to approve.
Be sure to ask your doc how effective Epclusa might be for you, as opposed to other drug regimes, and which (in ideal circumstances) he thinks are the most effective drug choices he would wish for you, and, of his chosen regimes which he thinks would have the least sides for you. The new DAA's have waay less sides, and are of so much shorter durations, are more effective and easier to tolerate than the old drug regimes.
I would suggest you ask for and keep copies (a record) of all your labs/results/tests (past, and new ones).
Share what you are comfortable in doing so with us, then we can better answer, if you have queries that we can help you with.
Have you and your doc finished all of your "pre-treatment work-up", current labs, Hep A/B testing, imaging like an ultrasound, have you had a fibroscan? I am just trying to figure out how close you might be to actually starting treatment. Sometimes insurance approvals can take some time, and the "preferred first-choice regime" that you and your doc may wish for, "might" take multiple requests by your doc, sometimes the "wanted" choice can be approved right away, but not always (just so you are aware of the possibilities). You say your liver is in good condition ... which is great ... no better time to cure your HCV than before much damage occurs. Has your doc given you a past or recent "F score" (level of fibrosis/cirrhosis)?
I am glad you are prepping for treatment! C.
snoopia said
Feb 8, 2017
I'm preparing, much to my chagrin, to start treatment. My liver and enzymes are great (and have always been since my diagnosis 15 years ago), but my new GI suggested treatment. Apparently great enzymes does not mean my liver is not affected. My viral loads have always been around 25M. I can't even tell you what specific treatment combo I'll be offered, hence my post. Should I have choices, is there a "better" or preferable treatment combination? I'd appreciate any feedback so that when I meet with the "powers that be", I could point them in some direction.
Hi and welcome!
Pre treatment jitters we all understand. That is extremely normal. Let your Doctor make the recommendation and if he or she knows their stuff it will be based on Geno Type and FScore.
Once you are told what they consider the right approach run it by us again along with as much information you can lay your hands on. Geno Type, FScore and VL would be the drivers.
Again, welcome to the family and we are here to help!
JimmyK
Hi snoopia,
Welcome here.
Don't be too jittery, I know approaching treatment is unnerving, facing the unknown. Use us for back-up, it may feel like a long road ahead of you now, but ask many of us, once you start, you will see, that it really is not long before you are able to look back and feel really good about what you entered into and accomplished for yourself and your long term health!
It is a happy day to know you will soon be cured, and better yet when you are! A very good thing to look forward to.
Nice your doc is looking out for you. He knows you are far better off to be rid of this virus you have been packing, and the sooner the better.
I see in your bio you "think" you are a GT2 - find out for sure.
My guess is your doc likely already has some regime choices in mind for you, it all depends on what he thinks IS the most effective for you AND also what your insurance is willing to give you - insurance and docs can have dif ideas from one another. He may already have a pretty good idea what he would really want and what drugs your insurance co may be willing to approve.
Be sure to ask your doc how effective Epclusa might be for you, as opposed to other drug regimes, and which (in ideal circumstances) he thinks are the most effective drug choices he would wish for you, and, of his chosen regimes which he thinks would have the least sides for you. The new DAA's have waay less sides, and are of so much shorter durations, are more effective and easier to tolerate than the old drug regimes.
I would suggest you ask for and keep copies (a record) of all your labs/results/tests (past, and new ones).
Share what you are comfortable in doing so with us, then we can better answer, if you have queries that we can help you with.
Have you and your doc finished all of your "pre-treatment work-up", current labs, Hep A/B testing, imaging like an ultrasound, have you had a fibroscan? I am just trying to figure out how close you might be to actually starting treatment. Sometimes insurance approvals can take some time, and the "preferred first-choice regime" that you and your doc may wish for, "might" take multiple requests by your doc, sometimes the "wanted" choice can be approved right away, but not always (just so you are aware of the possibilities). You say your liver is in good condition ... which is great ... no better time to cure your HCV than before much damage occurs. Has your doc given you a past or recent "F score" (level of fibrosis/cirrhosis)?
I am glad you are prepping for treatment!
C.