Do I understand Trinity 4

[franke566]

I agree with you completely.  Portann posted to me that Fibromyalgia was treated with Interferon "not" Lyrica and I looked it up on Web MD just to make sure that Lyrica was a treatment for Fibro and it said yes it is the only drug approved for fibromyalgia by the FDA.  Since I believe the Interferon may have triggered my current problems I believe the neurologist just tagged me with Fibromyalgia to shut me up or maybe the Interferon has nothing to do with it at all-maybe some where in my gene pool I was destined to present with these symptoms anyway.  I am not very smart about all this.  All I know is I felt bad all thru the Tx and was so happy when it was done and waited for the sides to go away and they didn't and things just got worse.  My main concern is does a positive 115 viral load mean I need Tx again?  Maybe thats why I feel bad and need the Tx again-I'd go for it-despite the sides-I want to live! franke566

[franke566]

thanks, I will ask my PCP to fill out the Quest blood work form for a Hepatimix test
and go to Quest myself-got it written down.and will see PCP tuesday.

to telfelhunden:  No, I can't think of anyway I could have re-infected other than removing a few fishing hooks from myself or my clients.  I thought any of us could relapse at any time spontaneously?  Am I wrong about this also?  I just kept getting worse and worse
so I came back to Houston where the Medical center is.  Where I live the nearest major
hospital is the Vet-or Brownsville, Tx-sorry Brownsville but I prefer my dogs vet clinic.  The hepatologist who treated me originally in Brownsville was the one I called a quack.  He didn't listen to or answer my questions before-during or after Tx.  I'm a simpleton
about health issues and I didn't take it serious enough because I didn't feel sick, so I figured okay I take the pills, give myself the injections have a few side effects, end treatment and end of story...wrong.  Thanks all, franke566

Rockerforlife:  I got your note and I will try it!  Thank you-you ROCK!

[Teufelhunden]

What's odd is testing positive 4 years after treating. I would think your VL would continue to climb upon relapsing. Is there a chance you were reinfected if in fact you are tested positive? I don't believe since I've been here that I've read a thread about someone relapsing after such a long period of time. As far as the VL numbers upon relapsing, if the numbers were low to begin with at pretreatment (470,000), unless something drastic occured, the numbers should be close to the same at post treatment if relapse happened.  I was undetected June 2006 and by Sept 2006 my numbers were 57,000. By Dec they had climbed to 87,000.  My blood test results from last week will tell me how far the numbers have increased since Dec 2006 and if they're above the 500,000 threshold, well, that'll tell me my theory about the numbers leveling off just flew out the window.
Teuf

[jmjm530]

You might want to get another test prior to seeing the hepatologist. To to make it simple, ask your PCP for the "Heptimax" test from quest diagnostics. all the doctor has to do is write "Heptimax" on the prescription form with a diagnosis code. You can then bring that prescription to any quest Center (see Quest website for locations) and things will be taken care of. Conversely, if your doctor has quest account he can do the blood draw in his office. But given all the confusion so far, I would opt for getting a prescription that you could see with your own eyes and then trot down to a Quest Center. Feel free to post your Heptimax results here. Good luck.

-- Jim

[franke566]

Thank you.  I will do so right away.  My PCP sends me to Baylor Fellows for Hepatologists and I've just been seeing a Gastroenterologist for the past several years that is more interested in Colonoscopys which I do have annually-twice a year is too often since I never presented with any polyps or diver-whatever.  Now let me be clear:  I ask for a HCV RNA test-right?  Thank you all so much for helping me!  I have problems concentrating. franke566

[jmjm530]

I also could not find the exact test that Franke posted.

The important thing, however, is that if Frankie tested positive -- as a result suggest -- that he is relapsed, and he must see a qualified doctor. His Dr. statement per the other thread that everyone will show some virus after SVR is is absolutely wrong.

So, Franke, why don't you call up the closest teaching hospital and make an appointment with a hepatoloigst (liver specialist) to get you on the right track.

-- Jim

[apache1]

Hey, this is getting confusing to jump from thread to thread on the same topic.
Lets try to keep info all together in one thread, preferably the one Franke started about his VL
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Greatbirds-question-on-my-viral-load/show/956201

apache

[portann]

Totally confounded. Here's the range at this link for the Hepatitis C Viral RNA
Quantitavive TMA:                                         :

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/intguide/jsp/showintguidepage.jsp?fn=TS_HCV_RNA_QuantTMA.htm

Method
Quantitative transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)

Linear range: 5 to 7,500 IU/mL

Franke, I'm wondering of you could verify your load numbers again? (And by the way, you 100% misquoted me above. LOL )

Alias: HCV viral load

CPT code*:  87522

Reference Range

HCV RNA <5 IU/mL

[jmjm530]

According to above, you are virus positive somewhere above 115 IU/ml. You cannot tell how far above because the dynamic range of the test is between 5 and 150 IU/ml. if your doctor is telling you anything other than your positive for hepatitis C, get another opinion from liver specialist (hepatologist).

[franke566]

Okay here is what the report says  from Quest diagnostics

                                                 In range        Out of range   reference range      Lab
Hepatitis C Viral RNA
     Quantitavive TMA                                         >115            IU/ML                    EZ
           HCV RNA ON TMA                                                      reference range
                                                                                             Less than 5

             HCV RNA ON TMA                               >380            LogIU/ml
                                                                                            Less than 0.7    

Then there are several paragraphs about detection of Hcv RnA by TMA is used to quantitate HCV Viral Infection etc.
I hope you or someone can help me decipher this

[Trinity4]

Franke,

Firstly, you don't have to start a new thread to answer questions or make comments.
You can post on the same thread and people will answer.

You've been finished with tx for 4 years.  A viral load of 115 just doesn't make any sense because if you relapsed or did not SVR your viral load would be a lot higher than 115.  It would be in the millions.  Ask your doctor for a copy of your PCR and post the results on here so people can help you interpret the results.  Need to know the sensitivity of the PCR, and exactly what the results say.  Something doesn't jive.

I would find another doctor too.  If my doctor shrugged his shoulders at a positive PCR after completion of tx and told me everyone tested positive for a few virus after tx I'd run like hell.  Doesn't sound like you are getting adequate care.

If your doctor can't produce the PCR showing +115 you can go to another doctor and ask for a HCV PCR RNA.  Quest Lab has a very sensitive test called Heptimax which detects down to <5.