Relapse after spontaneous viral clearance

[toaofpooh]

I was able to clear Hep C, GT 3 on my own (without treatment) in the acute phase. After a year of thinking I was clear, I returned for an annual check-up and Hep panel, only to discover my viral load was detectable again at a very low level, 1200. I will be starting a 6 month TX treatment very soon. My Hepatologist says this is this first time he has witnessed a relapse after spontaneous viral clearance. Has anyone ever heard of a case like mine? If so, would love to hear how they ultimately responded to treatment.  TNX

Also, Nervous about the treatment disrupting my Job, I know the treatment is no walk in the park but does it ever get bad enough to keep one from working?

[chemister]

I could not work during the treatment. I feel seek, and fatigue with anemia, which is normal. All people react different during the treatment, and you most find it out by yourself. A friend of my worked during the hole treatment time, but she looked thin and did not look well. I wonder when I meet her first time that she had started with drugs or something.

Your virus load is very low, that is good for the treatment if you respond to the Interferon.
In europe the virus load is (EQ / ml)

200.000 til 1.000.000 low
1.000.000 til 5.000.000 medium
5.000.000 til 25.000.000 høy
more than 25.000.000 very high

1200 is very, very low virus load.  

[toaofpooh]

Thats great you're clear! best wishes and thanks for the info,

[FlGuy]

Yes, treated for 24 weeks then re-treated for 46 weeks.  Had a 9-month break in between.  Geno 3 (but with cirrhosis) and a few other negatives, so had to put the pedal to the mtal in the second trip.

[toaofpooh]

Thanks FIGuy

Did you relapse after the 1st time and are you clear after 46? what is your GT?

[FlGuy]

Some people never know.
As to your original question, I treated twice 24 weeks and 46 weeks.  I missed a total of 4 days of work, but I was not sharpest needle in in the pin cushion during treatment.

[toaofpooh]

I learned that it was GT3 in the beginning of the acute phase and it actually took 9 months to clear which is outside the traditional 6 month acute period so I suspect you are right, I never really got rid of it. I presume it was the acute phase because the initial symptoms came on strong but I still have no idea when or how I acquired it, never had a transfusion, never used needles and have always preformed safe sex , not that I consider sex a risk for Hep C. Only guess is an old tattoo.

[FlGuy]

It's likely that it was never gone, but under the detection limits of the test.  When did you learn that it was GT3, when in the acute phase or when it 'returned'?