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Hep C help
i just found out that my dad (53) may have Hep C (dont find out until tomorrow whether it is antibody or virus). He drove 3 hours to tell me this in person as he didnt want to tell me over the phone. At his age I was wondering if there is anything that he could do or anything i could do to help? Would his life expectancy be lowered if he has the virus at all? he is seeing a specialist and says that he could get treatment IF he qualifies, what does if mean? this is more for me and to inlighten myself as he said the specialist is giving him info on it and he went to a lecture for those with hep c. I think what i am worried about is if he is going to die sooner then later. this worries me as to he said some wierd things to me like "dont worry i lived a good life" and "if anything happens i need you to help as much as possible". do you think he may not be telling me everything?
My God I had no idea that the medications were that expensive! I guess I will start returning all the Xmas presents I just bought...laughing. No it's really not funny trying to humor myself i guess.
I am from Quebec and am still in the pretreatmemt stage, I was diagnosed in March seen a very good liver hepatologist who specializes in Hep c here in Montreal . I will be seeing him after the holidays with more tests and then treatment . My insurance compasny is Manulife and tjjey will pay 80% and the rest is through the pharmacuticul company so I was told , I cannot afford to pay the 20% out of pocket, it is wy too much, so I will be informed when I see him . It all depends on his coverage, but as others mentioned there is assistance to pay the costs. Good luck keep us posted .
There are certain factors that may help your father's doctors determine whether or not he will be recommended to do any treatment; the most important factor certainly will be whether or not he has a Viral Load for hcv. Hepatitis can be be viral, alcoholic, auto-immune or of some other origin, so inflammation of the liver and spleen is not conclusive for hepatitis c.
You mentioned your father has enlarged liver and spleen, but you did not mention if it was found by physical examination or by imaging, or if he has any other concerning symptoms. If it is possible for your father to obtain copies of all his blood work results, that might also help determine if there is high concern for his liver condition. There is also possibility that your father's doctors may recommend a liver biopsy depending upon his lab results, as biopsy is the best method currently available to accurately assess any damage sustained by the liver.
I hope your father receives good information and options from his physician.
You mentioned your father has enlarged liver and spleen, but you did not mention if it was found by physical examination or by imaging, or if he has any other concerning symptoms. If it is possible for your father to obtain copies of all his blood work results, that might also help determine if there is high concern for his liver condition. There is also possibility that your father's doctors may recommend a liver biopsy depending upon his lab results, as biopsy is the best method currently available to accurately assess any damage sustained by the liver.
I hope your father receives good information and options from his physician.
So I thank everyone for helping me on here. I just tlked to my dad and found out that he has an inflamed spleen and liver. they were not specific yet on the hep c and said they need to do more blood work to see if it is going to correct itself or if he has to do treatment. it inflamation is caused by hep c but it is still unclear on if the treatment is needed. he goes in for blood work again on monday and has a doc apt scheduled for in january to talk to the specialist and a doctor and if needed they will help him get insurance and help him with the meds needed. i guess i am still waiting to see exactly whats going on but the wait will be for a while still
The treatment is going to depend on what Genotype your father has (if he has active Hep C).
Genotype 1 is treated with the triple medication regimen Ribavirin, Interferon and either Victrellis or Incivek. The other Genotypes are treated with Ribavirin and Interferon.
The treatment usually lasts 24 weeks to 48 weeks (and sometimes longer). The length of time is determined by the patient's response to treatment. The sooner a person becomes Undetected the shorter the treatment. Undetected at week 4 of treatment equals 24 weeks of treatment. Detected at week 4 and one must do 48 weeks. There are some other variables and criteria such as the person must show he/she is responding to treatment or the treatment is stopped altogether. (For instance, one cannot have a viral load of 1000 or more at week 4 of treatment.)
The Incivek and the Victrellis are very expensive and average over $50,000 for a full treatment course. The interferon is also costly but not as much as the Incivek or Victrellis. Ribavirin is not so expensive. My medications cost about $25,000 a month while on the triple med regimen. ($18,000 of that is the Incivek.) After I am finished with the Incivek my cost will be about $7,000 a month. Of that, the insurance company pays most of it and I pay $70 a month co-pay. My co-pay will drop to $about %40 a moth once the Incivek is done. Every insurance company is different. Also, you are in Canada so the insurance is different from that in the US. I don't know how Canadian insurance works. I know there are people on this forum from Ontario and perhaps they will chime in.
The drug companies do offer assistance if one does not have insurance.
I think after your father finds out if he has active Hep C and what Genotype he has, then you will have more data to help you make informed decisions.
Genotype 1 is treated with the triple medication regimen Ribavirin, Interferon and either Victrellis or Incivek. The other Genotypes are treated with Ribavirin and Interferon.
The treatment usually lasts 24 weeks to 48 weeks (and sometimes longer). The length of time is determined by the patient's response to treatment. The sooner a person becomes Undetected the shorter the treatment. Undetected at week 4 of treatment equals 24 weeks of treatment. Detected at week 4 and one must do 48 weeks. There are some other variables and criteria such as the person must show he/she is responding to treatment or the treatment is stopped altogether. (For instance, one cannot have a viral load of 1000 or more at week 4 of treatment.)
The Incivek and the Victrellis are very expensive and average over $50,000 for a full treatment course. The interferon is also costly but not as much as the Incivek or Victrellis. Ribavirin is not so expensive. My medications cost about $25,000 a month while on the triple med regimen. ($18,000 of that is the Incivek.) After I am finished with the Incivek my cost will be about $7,000 a month. Of that, the insurance company pays most of it and I pay $70 a month co-pay. My co-pay will drop to $about %40 a moth once the Incivek is done. Every insurance company is different. Also, you are in Canada so the insurance is different from that in the US. I don't know how Canadian insurance works. I know there are people on this forum from Ontario and perhaps they will chime in.
The drug companies do offer assistance if one does not have insurance.
I think after your father finds out if he has active Hep C and what Genotype he has, then you will have more data to help you make informed decisions.
Length of trt depends on several things such as genotype, current condition of the liver determined through biopsy, etc. It is usually 24 -48 weeks. Out of pocket expenses depends on your insurance coverage or if he's in a trial. Since your from Canada, maybe others can inform you since I'm not aware of the costs there.
Oh yeah.....still no call. Still wondering whats going on. I think im going to call him today to see if the results came back yet. they were supposted to come back by Tuesday and he said he would call me Wednesday but I know how things can get and Im trying to wait patiently.
how long does the treatment usually last? I think that I read that it lasts up to 48 weeks and can get very costly (like $75,000). Can anyone confirm this?
It's obvious you and your father care a great deal about each other, and the fact that your father is being forthright and proactive and discussing his condition openly with you is a good thing. As others have said, until there is confirmation of active infection, there is no need to fear the worst... it's natural to be concerned, but you will find that educating yourself will do much to relieve your anxiety.
Hepatitis C is a curable condition for many these days, and if it happens that your father is found indeed to have active infection, it does not at all mean that it necessarily shortens his life span at all... one step at a time. What your father is expressing to you is very much what many folks go through during the course of finding antibodies and awaiting a final diagnosis... probably less an indication that something is wrong, and more an indication that he is having the same concerns and questions as you are. Keep us posted... hopefully your father will be found not to have active virus, but either way, know that folks here will help answer your questions and concerns. ~eureka
Hepatitis C is a curable condition for many these days, and if it happens that your father is found indeed to have active infection, it does not at all mean that it necessarily shortens his life span at all... one step at a time. What your father is expressing to you is very much what many folks go through during the course of finding antibodies and awaiting a final diagnosis... probably less an indication that something is wrong, and more an indication that he is having the same concerns and questions as you are. Keep us posted... hopefully your father will be found not to have active virus, but either way, know that folks here will help answer your questions and concerns. ~eureka
Yes we are from Ontario and from what I am told it is one of the best clinics in the area due to the fact that it is specific to HCV. He has already been looking into the meds and the coverage for them and just waiting on the results from the blood work. Just waiting on the call to see what they are.
Let us know when you find out. If needed, this forum is a great resource for support and information. Many of the knowledgeable members will help to answer your specific questions and guide you on the right path. HCV is treatable and can be cured, so don't despair. There is much to learn about HCV, the trt, side effects, etc. so if needed this forum will help guide you through the quagmire. Good luck to your dad.
Yes, I think the more you read and learn the less anxious and worried you will feel.
It is great that your dad has a good liver specialist already. He/she will be able to help with information and decisions.
It looks like you are from Ontario. Is your dad also from Ontario? There are several forum members that are from Ontario and know a lot about treatment in Ontario. After you find out more details you can post specific questions and perhaps some of them will know the answers.
Hopefully the insurance company will cover the meds but the drug companies do offer assisitance if the insurance won't pay.
Best to you and your dad.
It is great that your dad has a good liver specialist already. He/she will be able to help with information and decisions.
It looks like you are from Ontario. Is your dad also from Ontario? There are several forum members that are from Ontario and know a lot about treatment in Ontario. After you find out more details you can post specific questions and perhaps some of them will know the answers.
Hopefully the insurance company will cover the meds but the drug companies do offer assisitance if the insurance won't pay.
Best to you and your dad.
Thank you all. I did so reading up on it and think that my lack of knowledge was what was worring me most. I didn't know anything about the hcv at all and it just came as a shock when he told me. He is seeing a really good liver specialist in a special clinic that deals with HCV exclusively and I am just waiting on the phone call from him (which should be today sometime) I think the wait to see if he has it or not is probably the worst part for me. My wife has been very supportive for me as well as I found out both of my best friends parents had it and beat it. I think my biggest fear of all this is that he recently had his gall blatter removed (within the last 3 months) and then finding out about this is just taking a told on not only him but myself and my sister even more. He is a happy man but I think that over the years it hopes for the best but expects the worst. Currently he is using health coverage from Trillium (I think) and I am not that knowledgable of what the cover for medication. I do know that he will not give up as he did say that he will try everything possible to beat it. I thank you all for your help and stories as it has put my mind at ease.
After you and your dad find out if your dad has the actual disease or if he is just antibody positive, then you will be able to go forward with decisions (if he has the disease).
Try not to worry too much. Most of us thought we had a death sentence when we first discovered we had the active disease. After we learned more about the disease and the treatments, we realized we had many more years to enjoy life.
I have had Hep C for 30-35 years. I was diagnosed in July 2011. I am 65 years old and I started triple med treatment in September (11 weeks into treatment now). I am now Undetected and hope to stay that way. Many people on this forum are doing well (in terms of becoming Undetected) on the new medications. Depending on the Genotype that your dad has (if he has active disease), he can decide with his doctor which treatment plan is best for him. Most likely he has many more good years left, even if he does have active disease.
After you find out more information and can give some specifics, maybe people will have more detailed information to provide. This is a good forum with many knowledgeable people on it.
I wish you the best.
Try not to worry too much. Most of us thought we had a death sentence when we first discovered we had the active disease. After we learned more about the disease and the treatments, we realized we had many more years to enjoy life.
I have had Hep C for 30-35 years. I was diagnosed in July 2011. I am 65 years old and I started triple med treatment in September (11 weeks into treatment now). I am now Undetected and hope to stay that way. Many people on this forum are doing well (in terms of becoming Undetected) on the new medications. Depending on the Genotype that your dad has (if he has active disease), he can decide with his doctor which treatment plan is best for him. Most likely he has many more good years left, even if he does have active disease.
After you find out more information and can give some specifics, maybe people will have more detailed information to provide. This is a good forum with many knowledgeable people on it.
I wish you the best.
There are far worse health problems that your dad could of said he had. If you were going to pick a major disease HCV is the one to have. At least it is curable. The new meds that came out earlier this year gives someone with HCV a 75%+ chance of CURE.
Tell your dad to stop drinking any type of alcohol if in fact he has the virus.
Make sure he is seeing a Hepatologist (liver specialist). This type of doctor is most likely to be up on latest treatments.
Best of luck to you and your dad.
Tell your dad to stop drinking any type of alcohol if in fact he has the virus.
Make sure he is seeing a Hepatologist (liver specialist). This type of doctor is most likely to be up on latest treatments.
Best of luck to you and your dad.
Maybe if there was more general knowledge about this virus, your dad wouldn't have felt he couldn't tell you over the phone.
As far as his age goes, many people on this forum have done treatment into their 60s.
It isn't uncommon to find out you have hepatitis 30 years after first contracting it.
You can search hepcadvocate. org for information.
As far as his age goes, many people on this forum have done treatment into their 60s.
It isn't uncommon to find out you have hepatitis 30 years after first contracting it.
You can search hepcadvocate. org for information.
i agree with flcyclist. this forum has a wealth of information on it. i thank god i found it when i first found out i had hcv. it's been a life saver for me. my cyber friends are always there for me. btw i'm 62 and on week 24. just found out yesterday i have to go another 24. i'll do whatever they say to slay this dragon and achieve SVR. good luck to you. belle
Welcome, there is a wealth of information just on this forum, if it wasn't for being here myself, I may have not wanted to treat. I should be starting soon with a triple treatment called "Victrelis, peginterferon/ribavirin" just waiting for approval from my insurance. I've had Hep-c for maybe up to 40 yrs and living with cirrhosis, so it isn't a death sentence, that's exactly what I thought when I first found out years ago. Educate yourself and keep posting on this forum with your questions. Best wishes.
Regards
Charlie
Regards
Charlie
At this point try not to worry too much. First, your dad might not even have HCV. If he does, there's several tests the hepatologist will need to do before they determine whether treatment is necessary, and if so, what is the course of treatment. Many have undergone treatment and successfully cleared the virus. If you father does need trt, he will need your support, both emotionally and physically. Just be there for him, since he really will need you.
You can do a search and come up with a tremendous amount of information, so I won't bother posting links. Good luck to you and your dad. If you need additional help and information, this forum is a great resource.
You can do a search and come up with a tremendous amount of information, so I won't bother posting links. Good luck to you and your dad. If you need additional help and information, this forum is a great resource.
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