Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => Considering Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Stevie.C on July 20, 2016, 04:06:21 pm
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Went for fibroscan today bloods , the scan went fine , the was 5.5 , which I was told was good and no damage , anyway waiting to see the specialist in 3 weeks and find my course . I was told if I'm geno 3 you can be offered interferon/ribavarin immediately . I'm in UK and even have to be put on a waiting list here , but the interferon and riba can be done right away so I'm wondering if anyone has past experiences with this as I've not heard great things about the interferon .
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Went for fibroscan today bloods , the scan went fine , the was 5.5 , which I was told was good and no damage , anyway waiting to see the specialist in 3 weeks and find my course . I was told if I'm geno 3 you can be offered interferon/ribavarin immediately . I'm in UK and even have to be put on a waiting list here , but the interferon and riba can be done right away so I'm wondering if anyone has past experiences with this as I've not heard great things about the interferon .
Hi Stevie. First of all, that's great that your fibroscan score is nice and low with no real damage to liver! :)
As for the offer of interferon/ribavirin... I would not go that route. Now that the GOOD drugs are here, I see no reason for anyone to go with the earlier era of treatment that has higher toxicity and lower cure rate and often a longer treatment time. Geno 3 people (which i was before I was cured last year with Harvoni/ribavirin) can now be cured with a variety of all-oral (no interferon) treatments. I would suggest you hold out for one of those. They can even be purchased in generic form overseas, and many people are curing themselves that way. But if possible, get yours domestically with health care coverage. That is always better.
I myself never did the earlier interferon/ribavirin treatment because of the toxicity and poor cure rate. But many others here on these forums have. I am sure some of them will chime in.
good luck to you, whatever you decide. :)
kim
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The cure rates with Interferon & Ribavirin for genotype 3 are about 65%.
I was a genotype 1a and treated 3 times with interferon based treatment with no response. If that was all there was I would but as there are these new medicines with near perfect cure rates I would not mess with interferon unless I had no other option and had advanced liver disease.
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Thanks for the replies , it's great to have feedback from actual recipients .
I hope I'm not geno 3 so I don't have the dilemma of choosing that treatment , but think I would turn it down and wait for the better easier option . Here I was told I will normally get treated within a year and 18 months Max so I will wait I think as i never fancied the interferon. I also wouldn't like to miss work or have any side affects , and wouldn't like to go thru a set of treatment and it not work which would kill optimism a bit , it's just the waiting for me ,I have lots of plans in my life I want to get on with but I'm healthy I suppose that's the main thing .thanks.
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Just to add I did work full time on all my treatments and only missed some time the first time I was taking Ribavirin and became very anemic. My doctor added epotin to boost my RBC count and I went back to work after a couple of weeks. I won't say I felt good felt like I was just getting over the flu for 6 months so basically like crap for the whole time.
Anyway hope it works out for you.
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Considering your numbers I would wait Steve.Trust me,the interferon is one nasty treatment(I survived it)and there's only a 30% cure rate on it.I'm shocked they even still offer it.
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Thanks guys , I think I would wait if it comes to that , here's hoping I'm not geno 3 so I just avoid the dilemma, I will get treated here it's just if how long but I am a good candidate I was told , hope when I see the specialist he has good an outlook , I will keep you posted and thanks
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Just a little follow up.
I'm geno type 1a and count is 107 000 (which I know isn't that big of an issue) from what I believe , but seen specialist and I'm on a waiting list now , which is how it works from where I am from in Scotland , I was told I should be treated within a year from now so here's hoping I get away on holiday next October like I want and put the story to bed for once and for all
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Thanks for the update, Stevie, and hope your name comes up sooner vs. later on the list. Best to avoid all alcohol until you are cured! FT
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Hi Stevie,
With new drugs coming on stream all the time, competition must be hotting up to
secure deals to supply to the U.K - especially considering the size of your public health budget.
i.e. Your name might come up sooner than you think.
I really hope so!
Best regards,
Andrew J.