Hep C Discussion Forum

perry · Veteran Member

RE: Hep C 3a, HCV RNA PCR QNT 10,134,172-Seeing gastroenterologist on 3/3 to start treatment

MechanicMike · Veteran Member

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and useful information! I'm very grateful to you all. I'll talk with my doc about treatment options in a couple of weeks. Until then, I'm back to work, calorie counting and exercise. Again, I'm very grateful to have stumbled onto this site. I've picked up more information here in two days than I could ever muddled through myself. Warmest regards, Mike

mallani · Guru

Hi and welcome, Mike.

Don't be too freaked out by the HepC diagnosis. You're in the right country at the right time.

Back in 1992, viral load tests were pretty crude. There was only the old RIBA test, which gave a lot of false positives and negatives. So you may have had chronic HepC for a long time.

Geno 3's are more liable to fatty liver and cirrhosis. It would be worth asking your doctor for a liver fibrosis assessment, by biopsy or Fibroscan. It's good info to have going forward.

Don't worry about the VL. It goes up and down and really there is no correlation with symptoms, fibrosis and LFT's. Your enzyme levels are pretty typical.

At the moment, 24 weeks of Sovaldi/Riba is the SOC for Geno 3 in the USA. As Tig said, the new Gilead combo of Sovaldi/ GS-5816 should be available later this year- the SVR rate is significantly higher. Waiting for this may be an option.

Loose weight buddy as this contributes to fatty liver.

Best of luck. Cheers.

Groupergetter · Guru

Welcome Mike, I'm a half-fast :) mechanic out of necessity. I keep my and my families Honda's running. Haven't had to see too much outside help over the years. Be thankful you have no symptoms or related ailments. They can be a real pitb. Take the new diagnosis in stride. Many here have been diagnosed over 30 years. You'll be fine, hope you get started on tx before long. Be well sir

Liamc · Veteran Member

Hi Mike,

li am on week 14 of 24 Solvaldi and riba, am also a 3a. I have been undetectable since week 4 and all my blood work is now normal. It is all very doable ,the usual side effects but so far not overwhelming .You are in the right place here plenty of knowledge.

good luck

Matt Chris · Guru

Hello Mike

Welcome from me as well, you have found a good place.

Hopefully you have settled down and come to the realization that you have a lot of living left to be done and that many options now and in the future will be yours for a permanent cure.

Read and search the forum site, you will be amazed at the depth of knowledge and insight from our members.

matt

Tig · Admin

Hi Mike,

Here is another up and coming treatment option that will be pan genotypic (all genotypes). It's an interesting subject and perhaps a topic you can ask your doctor about. It's a new protocol, by Gilead (again) that includes Sovaldi and their investigational drug GS-5816. It has not been released however! it's still in trials. There are a number of treatment options in development and it's always good to know your options, present and future!

http://www.hepmag.com/articles/Sovaldi_5816_2501_25459.shtml

Tig

Tig · Admin

Hi Mike,

I want to welcome you to the forum too! Jill's right, we've got a good group here and are willing to help.

You posted in the right section. You'll be hearing from several people, I'm sure of that. We have members of every genotype and the 3's will be in touch once they see your post. Be sure to use our search function at the top. Use "Genotypes", among others and you'll see some discussion on the subject here. Like you, I also was a Google researcher and have amassed quite a library of bookmarks. If I can help you in any way, just let me know.

Learning you have this disease is worrisome in the beginning. But trust me, you have found out at a very promising time and the new treatments are nothing like they were just 1-2 years ago. So much of the nasty side effect comments you will read about treatment are mute points. It has improved light years ahead of some of the old stuff. Do your best to relax. The new protocols are fast and effective, so you're already ahead of the game!

Hang in there and don't over stress yourself. You'lol be fine, I have no doubt! Be sure to read our Forum Announcement section. Youll find a lot of helpful stuff there. If you have any other questions, let me know.

Tig

Current GT3 Data:

http://www.hepatitisc.uw.edu/pdf/treatment-infection/treatment-genotype-3/core-concept/all

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Sorry to hear you`ve had a bad night, Mike. It`s actually not unusual to be freaked out after getting the diagnosis of Hep C, and a lot us here will be able to relate to that. But nowadays it`s a very treatable disease and especially since Sovaldi became available in the US.

I`m pleased you don`t have any symptoms, and in fact not everyone does. A lot of us only find out we`re infected with the virus when we`re tested for other things and so it usually comes as quite a shock!

We have many members here who have successfully treated with Sovaldi and I`m sure other people will reply to you later. There`s lots of information around the forum and if you look at the top of the page you`ll see a `Search` box where you can find previous discussions about whatever key word you enter.

You`re in good company here, we all understand how it feels so remember that you`re not alone with this.

All best wishes to you, go and get some sleep now! smile

MechanicMike · Veteran Member

Hi Jill,

I appreciate the kind response. I only found out today about the positive test, so I'm understandably a little freaked out--been up all night and even called in sick because I can't sleep and have been crashing google trying to gather as much information as possible prior to my doc visit, because I intend to be very proactive regarding my treatment.

I have no symptoms to speak of, in fact I feel very good. Too much reading, I guess, has made me paranoid beyond belief. I'm sure the shock will wear off soon.

One quick question before I head off to bed: Is there someone you know of in this thread with similar symptoms to mine? I'd like to hear from someone who's "been there, done that."

Thanks again for your kind words. I found you guys through Reddit and boy am I glad I did.

Warmest regards,

Mike

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi Mike, welcome to the forum, I`m glad you found us!

Yes, that is the correct treatment protocol for Genotype 3a, and the number you quoted, 10,134,172, is your viral load. Your viral load and liver enzyme levels (ALT and AST) are high but they don`t indicate severe liver damage and there`s no reason why you wouldn`t have an excellent chance of clearing the virus, so try not to get too stressed about it.

To find out your exact liver status you`d need to have a biopsy or a fibroscan, as an ultrasound scan is limited in what information it gives as far as liver damage is concerned. Fatty liver issues are more common with your genotype but as long as you clear the virus it`s likely to improve over time.

You`re doing exactly the right things by giving up drinking and taking regular exercise, and I`m glad your thyroid problem is being addressed.

Try not to worry, just take it step by step and let us know how your GI appointment goes next month.

Keep in touch, you`ve found a good group here with lots of helpful and friendly people!

All best wishes ~ Jill

MechanicMike · Veteran Member

Hello all,

I first found out I had Hep C antibodies while giving blood in '92 (Red Cross letter). Went to see my GP physician who verified the results and did further testing. Was told that it was undetectable. Recently had treatment for hyperthyroidism (radioactive iodine), and hypo now and taking levothyroxine. Was still feeling bad, so went to my current GP who ordered an ultrasound and a full hepatic panel. Ultrasound showed "fatty liver." AST was 121, ALT was 146. Further testing revealed that I was genotype 3A with an HCV RNA PCR QNT or 10,134,172. Is that the viral load? I won't see another doc (GI) until 3/3.

Are these levels extraordinarily high? From my reading (google), the suggested treatment is sovaldi/ribavirin for 24 weeks. I'm assuming, of course, that it will hinge on my current liver damage. I'm virtually pain-free, a little over-weight (but working on it with running/weights). The weight gain came from being hypo for 3-4 months of being hypothyroid and not being able to exercise.

I've totally given up drinking and don't smoke. With a 10 million viral load, I'm very afraid that I've suffered severe liver damage and that the treatment will not be successful. ANY feedback would be very appreciated.

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