Aa
my viral load
i'm 32. don't drink. got a viral load of 14,000,000,000. i think that's crazy high. is it and if so wht does that mean? going for biopsy in october
" If your biopsy shows you in Stage 0 or 1, there is no need to Treat,
because a safer Treatment is on it's way, prob in less than 3 yrs. "
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I don't think any of us has enough information to put forth a blanket statement that, if a biopsy shows stage 1 or 2, then there is no need to treat. We would need a complete history and physical and all of the lab and test results to determine whether someone could wait for the next available treatment. Plus, no one knows for sure when the new meds will be available. In addition, even if the liver fibrosis is low, that does not mean someone has no extrahepatic manifestations and diseases caused by Hep C. I was probably at Stage 0 when I had systemic vasculitis. Others are at low stages but have Hep C caused lymphoma.
because a safer Treatment is on it's way, prob in less than 3 yrs. "
________________________________________
I don't think any of us has enough information to put forth a blanket statement that, if a biopsy shows stage 1 or 2, then there is no need to treat. We would need a complete history and physical and all of the lab and test results to determine whether someone could wait for the next available treatment. Plus, no one knows for sure when the new meds will be available. In addition, even if the liver fibrosis is low, that does not mean someone has no extrahepatic manifestations and diseases caused by Hep C. I was probably at Stage 0 when I had systemic vasculitis. Others are at low stages but have Hep C caused lymphoma.
I think the viral load may get high like that, if your body isn't bothered by the virus, and doesn't fight it.
Good luck with your biopsy, it is the best indicator of what shape your liver is in. Like the others have said, and like my Doctor always reiterates: Dont freak out about your viral load number! We only use viral load for when we are in Treatment. Then, if still have ANY viral load, you still have Hep C. But if you have zero viral load after treatment, and it stays that way, 6 months post Treatment, then you can consider yourself cured.
If your biopsy shows you in Stage 0 or 1, there is no need to Treat,
because a safer Treatment is on it's way, prob in less than 3 yrs.
Remember, no alcohol of course, and try not to worry. Hep C tends to be very slow moving, I caught at age 27 yrs, and was Stage 2 at age 49 yrs. But since I had so many symptoms, and my labs were out of range ( my platelets suddenly dropped below normal, my liver enzymes became much more elevated than normal, tens times higher than they had been the last 20 yrs of having Hep) , then I chose to Treat my Hep C.
So, remember to keep a copy of all your lab work, to refer to any changes. My Primary Physician didn't know enough about Hep C, to realize the warning signs. We have to be in charge of saving our own lives.
Good luck with your biopsy, it is the best indicator of what shape your liver is in. Like the others have said, and like my Doctor always reiterates: Dont freak out about your viral load number! We only use viral load for when we are in Treatment. Then, if still have ANY viral load, you still have Hep C. But if you have zero viral load after treatment, and it stays that way, 6 months post Treatment, then you can consider yourself cured.
If your biopsy shows you in Stage 0 or 1, there is no need to Treat,
because a safer Treatment is on it's way, prob in less than 3 yrs.
Remember, no alcohol of course, and try not to worry. Hep C tends to be very slow moving, I caught at age 27 yrs, and was Stage 2 at age 49 yrs. But since I had so many symptoms, and my labs were out of range ( my platelets suddenly dropped below normal, my liver enzymes became much more elevated than normal, tens times higher than they had been the last 20 yrs of having Hep) , then I chose to Treat my Hep C.
So, remember to keep a copy of all your lab work, to refer to any changes. My Primary Physician didn't know enough about Hep C, to realize the warning signs. We have to be in charge of saving our own lives.
As already suggested, don't focus on your current VL. The most important thing is the current status of liver damage which you'll learn from the biopsy. If, and when you begin tx, your response to the meds will be measured in relation to your starting VL - log reduction. Good luck moving forward.
www.vrtx.com/assets/pdfs/VRTXHCVTreatmentResponse.pdf
www.vrtx.com/assets/pdfs/VRTXHCVTreatmentResponse.pdf
You must mean 14 million, (14,000,000). This is high but doesn't really mean anything until one starts to treat....... Best to you.
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