Aa
Shold I take treatment with no symptoms?
I am 60 years old and have had hep c geno 1a for about 36 years (they didnt recognize it until 2000. No change at all, Feel great no symptoms at all.Doc has been watching it since then with yearly bloodtests, very mild only slightly elevated enzymes, sometimes even normal. Doc says I am a lucky one & have a very healthy lifestyle. He is suggesting this new combo, OLy & sovaldi and should I do it with no symptoms, feeling great and hate to take any meds or drugs. Will I wake a sleeping monster, should I just wait...Scared and unsure
What is important is the health of your liver. Some people are indeed able to live with the virus and have no affect of their livers. However, feeling healthy doesn't mean your liver is in good shape. Hep C can be sneaky.
So, to repeat what everyone else has said, get a biopsy or a fibroscan. If you have no damage, there is no reason why you can't continue to live your life with the virus. Just be sure to not share anything that might spread it ( like a razor or toothbrush).
So, to repeat what everyone else has said, get a biopsy or a fibroscan. If you have no damage, there is no reason why you can't continue to live your life with the virus. Just be sure to not share anything that might spread it ( like a razor or toothbrush).
Get a fibroscan
Less invasive and will tell you approximately how much damage to your liver
I just did 12 weeks Sovaldi and olysio and I am now cured!
Less invasive and will tell you approximately how much damage to your liver
I just did 12 weeks Sovaldi and olysio and I am now cured!
James I'm giving it to you straight, my man. This is nothing to fool around with. Having this virus could directly impact your life in a very negative way.
I'm very grateful that you reached out to all of us as we have felt the complications this virus has brought to our lives. As Hector said it is a silent killer. Think its great you are calling your Dr, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Take care
....Kim
Not to scare you but when I had a fever and swelling that wouldn't go away I went to the ER. They ran some tests and said, "You have Hep C and cirrhosis and perhaps need a liver transplant"! Never had a clue that I had
Hep C or liver disease because of it. Now that's a wake-up call.....
I'm very grateful that you reached out to all of us as we have felt the complications this virus has brought to our lives. As Hector said it is a silent killer. Think its great you are calling your Dr, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Take care
....Kim
Not to scare you but when I had a fever and swelling that wouldn't go away I went to the ER. They ran some tests and said, "You have Hep C and cirrhosis and perhaps need a liver transplant"! Never had a clue that I had
Hep C or liver disease because of it. Now that's a wake-up call.....
Thank You all very much...I am contacting my Doctor today. I realize I need much more information and most likely more action
James
James
Everybody made great points. If you don't want a Biopsy at least have a Fibrosure test done. It's a simple blood test, not near as good as a biopsy but could be a wake up call. It was for me. Also there is the fibroscan now.
Best to you
Best to you
I can totally relate to what you are saying and this is why. I also felt I had zero symptoms and felt fine. It was only AFTER I treated and cured did I realize that I thought I felt good before, but after treating felt GREAT! You kinda become used to being OK and don't notice the slightness of symptoms.
A biopsy (gold standard for detection) can give you the true accuracy of where your liver disease stands, but is not necessary if you chose to treat. They can do blood work and ultra sounds which also give a clear picture of your liver disease and are non invasive. I only mention that since some people are afraid to go for the cure as they are afraid of the biopsy process. I would also add that I go to Mayo Clinic for my treatment and they do not recommend liver biopsys to treat Hep C.
You mention so far so good with no symptoms now, but liver disease can rear its ugly head so unexpectedly. I had no idea I even had the virus, woke up one day with a fever that wouldn't go away, and off to the hospital for tests only to find out I had cirrhosis. No prior warning at all. Your Dr is wrong when he said not to do anything and just live your life. He honestly is so very misinformed, or has his head in the proverbial sand.
Have you been given a viral load? Around 15% of the time your immune system can clear the virus on its own, but the only way they will find that out is with a blood test. My 1st test showed my viral load to be only 51, but I still had Hep C, and my liver was being destroyed.
Are you awaking a sleeping monster? You bet you are since he won't stay hibernating forever. If you decide to a wait and see formula, at least get a 2nd opinion. That way you won't live your life with unsettled uncertainty that one day the shoe will drop, and you are left with perhaps an uncertain future.
Please know its not my intention to scare you, but knowledge is power, and our best decisions in life are based on being informed.
Know whatever you decide we are here to support you and help you along the way as we have all been where you are.
Take care and please know there is now a cure, should you decide to proceed.
...Kim
A biopsy (gold standard for detection) can give you the true accuracy of where your liver disease stands, but is not necessary if you chose to treat. They can do blood work and ultra sounds which also give a clear picture of your liver disease and are non invasive. I only mention that since some people are afraid to go for the cure as they are afraid of the biopsy process. I would also add that I go to Mayo Clinic for my treatment and they do not recommend liver biopsys to treat Hep C.
You mention so far so good with no symptoms now, but liver disease can rear its ugly head so unexpectedly. I had no idea I even had the virus, woke up one day with a fever that wouldn't go away, and off to the hospital for tests only to find out I had cirrhosis. No prior warning at all. Your Dr is wrong when he said not to do anything and just live your life. He honestly is so very misinformed, or has his head in the proverbial sand.
Have you been given a viral load? Around 15% of the time your immune system can clear the virus on its own, but the only way they will find that out is with a blood test. My 1st test showed my viral load to be only 51, but I still had Hep C, and my liver was being destroyed.
Are you awaking a sleeping monster? You bet you are since he won't stay hibernating forever. If you decide to a wait and see formula, at least get a 2nd opinion. That way you won't live your life with unsettled uncertainty that one day the shoe will drop, and you are left with perhaps an uncertain future.
Please know its not my intention to scare you, but knowledge is power, and our best decisions in life are based on being informed.
Know whatever you decide we are here to support you and help you along the way as we have all been where you are.
Take care and please know there is now a cure, should you decide to proceed.
...Kim
Hi there.....I agree with everyone . You may feel great but without a biopsy, fibroscan, or the blood test for liver enzymes you will never know what stage fibrosis/cirrhosis you have which is very important to know so you can be proactive and make the most informed decisions about your TX. Look for another gastro!
The treatments that are out now are so much farther along since a yr and half ago when INF/RIBA/INCVK were the SOC. In Oct there is going to be a Tx which will be shorter according to GT if I'm not mistaken. We r all in this war together an we will win it. Take care and the others have given you some excellent advice. God Bless
The treatments that are out now are so much farther along since a yr and half ago when INF/RIBA/INCVK were the SOC. In Oct there is going to be a Tx which will be shorter according to GT if I'm not mistaken. We r all in this war together an we will win it. Take care and the others have given you some excellent advice. God Bless
Definitely get a liver biopsy - not a difficult procedure. And then always a 2nd opinion
Yearly bood tests and watching your liver enzymes have very little to do with how advanced one's fibrosis could be. Your doctor should be ashamed of himself for misleading you to be under this impression if this is indeed the case. Hepatitis C is asymptomatic (meaning having no symptoms) which means the notion that you feel OK is great but it does not mean a whole whole lot when it comes to this disease.
This is the reason Hepatitis C is sometimes called a shadow disease or s silent killer. It can lie dormant for decades. I am not trying to scare you or anything like that only to encourage you to see a Gastroenterologist or Hepatologist so you can make an informed choice based on the right kind of information.
This is the reason Hepatitis C is sometimes called a shadow disease or s silent killer. It can lie dormant for decades. I am not trying to scare you or anything like that only to encourage you to see a Gastroenterologist or Hepatologist so you can make an informed choice based on the right kind of information.
Hepatitis C is an asymptomatic infection in most people. Typically people only developed symptoms when they have developed advanced liver disease. Cirrhosis. So feeling good and having normal or slightly elevated liver enzymes does not mean you don't have liver disease. This is why chronic hepatitis C infection is sometimes called a silent killer.
Many baby boomers have been infected with the virus for many decades and most don't even know they are infected.
As the others have said get a liver biopsy from a gastroenterologist and then find out how much liver damage has been done by your infection and if you need to treat now or can wait for better future treatments.
Good luck.
Hector
Many baby boomers have been infected with the virus for many decades and most don't even know they are infected.
As the others have said get a liver biopsy from a gastroenterologist and then find out how much liver damage has been done by your infection and if you need to treat now or can wait for better future treatments.
Good luck.
Hector
Hi, J: Welcome to the Forum?
Both desrt and truredhear are right. I will even go a step further and say that you probably will not experience any symptoms until you are at or near cirrhosis.
If you decided to treat now, you may get by with a fibroscan (spelling?) instead of going for a biopsy. THEN, if the disease is not completely wiped out, there are still some newer treatments that will be available. (Cured=SVR or sustained viral response).
I treated in 94/95 w/3 x wk Interferon injections, was, I believe, a null responder , was sent to our teaching hospital to see if I qualified for trial they were going to do, wasn't so just got on with my life. If I had not had gall bladder surgery in January And a good surgeon who strongly encouraged me to have a biopsy since it had been 20 years, I might have wound up w/ cirrhosis as Iwas not having any symptoms. As it turned out, I am F3 stage A0-A1. Needless to say, I am on treatment (Sol/RBV - not the same as yours). The next step is F4- cirrhosis, not a place I want to go.
I am saying all of this to drive home why I so strongly agree with d & tru - It is important to get treatment!
In looking back, I am not trying to scare you, just make a point to follow up. Your health is important. Good Luck! Pat
Both desrt and truredhear are right. I will even go a step further and say that you probably will not experience any symptoms until you are at or near cirrhosis.
If you decided to treat now, you may get by with a fibroscan (spelling?) instead of going for a biopsy. THEN, if the disease is not completely wiped out, there are still some newer treatments that will be available. (Cured=SVR or sustained viral response).
I treated in 94/95 w/3 x wk Interferon injections, was, I believe, a null responder , was sent to our teaching hospital to see if I qualified for trial they were going to do, wasn't so just got on with my life. If I had not had gall bladder surgery in January And a good surgeon who strongly encouraged me to have a biopsy since it had been 20 years, I might have wound up w/ cirrhosis as Iwas not having any symptoms. As it turned out, I am F3 stage A0-A1. Needless to say, I am on treatment (Sol/RBV - not the same as yours). The next step is F4- cirrhosis, not a place I want to go.
I am saying all of this to drive home why I so strongly agree with d & tru - It is important to get treatment!
In looking back, I am not trying to scare you, just make a point to follow up. Your health is important. Good Luck! Pat
desrt is so right. You need a biopsy to see about damage. Sometimes we do not have symptoms. I have been the same way, Blood work was close to normal always. I had a biopsy 5 years ago and it was F2. I am 60 years old and this is my 6th day on Solvald and Olysio and It is great so far. Can not even tell I am taking a pill. It is easy. I would definitely treat now or with the newer ones this fall. It can get bad quickly sometimes. You will get some more advise on here, people that know way more than I do , Like Hector and others, they can advise you with some experience in this. Good Luck and listen to others who have been down this road. Find a good doctor for a second opinion.
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