Why, why, why??

[beeblessed]

Just something that's been on my mind and my family wants to know too:  
1.  Why treat if all tests are good and I have no symptoms and am not in pain?  
2.  Why treat at all when so much of the population walks around with Hepatitis and doesn't even know it?  
3.  For those of you who have had it long term, did something happen overnight to make you decide to treat?  A pain or some other symptom.  

I will be treating soon but in the midst of it, if I am having bad days, I want to be able to have a valid reason for doing what I am doing.  It's akin to skydiving in a way.  Someone once asked, why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane on purpose??  To some degree, the same could be asked of Hep C treatment.  I hope your answers help calm some fears of some other newbies here too.  Many thanks everyone.  I appreciate your opinions, feedback and experiences.

[suezeeque]

rambeon40 said:  "I had a fairly well-known expert on Hep C tell me that once diagnosed with cirrhosis, you have a 5% chance of liver fail;ure each year." and "Only 5 to 20 percent of people with chronic infection develop cirrhosis in about 20 to 30 years, and doctors cannot predict which patients those will be."

^^^  THIS.

[rambleon40]

it's very difficult to transmit Hep C.

It's harder (but necessary) being honest with a partner about it.

Gotta walk the dogs.  Happy Labor Day!

[rambleon40]

Forgot a cite:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554637

if you get a log in page, google "cirrhosis progression hepatitis c"

article =
Progression to Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Patients: An Age-dependent Process

[rambleon40]

Regardless of age of infection, cirrhosis is shown to develop between age 60 and 65.  Excess weight increases likelihood and pace of development.  

I had a fairly well-known expert on Hep C tell me that once diagnosed with cirrhosis, you have a 5% chance of liver fail;ure each year.  

Even money says you live to 75 without treatment.  These numbers are almost certainly skewed by people who did not know they had the disease and lived normal carefree lifestyle.  

I submit that a lifestyle high in dark colored vegetables, exercise, no fatty nasty CAFO meat, no alcohol, and lean BMI will get you through.

We all die sometime.  Be strong while you live.  

Big Pharma is pretty much full of hooey.  They'll say anything and hide truth to get the $15,000 to $30,000 your treatment regimen costs.

[rambleon40]

Cause maybe we don't want to take the time to eat really really healthy, keep our weight low, not drink alcohol and exerice regularly which, I am convinced, would be just as approiate and a whole lot safer therapy than any interferon combo therapy.  

"There is a risk that increased screening could result in treatment for people who will never need it. Only 5 to 20 percent of people with chronic infection develop cirrhosis in about 20 to 30 years, and doctors cannot predict which patients those will be.
“I think the companies have done a superb job of marketing this disease,” said Dr. Ronald L. Koretz, emeritus professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Koretz said there was no good evidence that treatment made a difference since many patients cured by the drugs might never have developed serious problems anyway."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07E7DE1E31F931A15754C0A9669D8B63&pagewanted=2

[beeblessed]

Hi everyone!  For those of you who replied to this post in September, I really appreciate your input but.......I started tx on September 1st.  Thank you so much for your advice, and I sure this WILL help other newbies who want the same clarification on....what to tell their loved ones, as far as their reasoning, and.......what to tell/remind ourselves in the midst of tx, especially if there are bad days.

ZA2AZ -- Welcome!!  So glad you wet your feet in my thread :)  Best to you on your test results, please post them in the forum, and certainly any questions you may need answered.

Blessing everyone!