Five years of SVR

[knewboy]

Survived a year and five months of the old interferon/ribavirin regimen -- I was a late responder -- with only a destroyed thyroid as an aftereffect.  (That's 72 interferon shots and 3,024 riby caps.)  By week 40 my Hg was down to 7 and had to pay for four weeks of Procrit myself or d/c treatment.  But I've been clear since November of 2009, and that makes the experience one to be thankful for.

Now the V.A. is telling me that I no longer need yearly qualitative, that there's a 99% chance I will stay clear.  The doc says instead he will monitor yearly liver function tests and if no spikes occur, the qualitative test isn't necessary.  I hope he's right. 

Of course, the antibodies will always be in my blood. 

Wish I knew about this forum while undergoing treatment because the support would have helped with all the ancillary issues that arose.  The V.A. system keeps to the twenty-minute-and-out plan for appointments, so there isn't much time for quality Q & A's.  But the price is certainly right: didn't pay a penny for the treatment, except the Procrit.

Anyway, I do have a post-treatment concern.  Now that I have been clear for five years, what do I tell a prospective intimate partner, if anything?  My moral compass points to full disclosure, but the V.A. staff says, Not so fast.  You're cured.  Even under the worst conditions HCV is difficult to pass on; post-successful treatment, the odds of communicating the virus -- assuming safe sex practices are used -- are infinitesimal.  This is what they told me.

Is there any research into the chances of infecting a partner in a monogamous intimate relationship, post-treatment?

Thank you, forum folk.  God be with all of you.

[Katie]

What I have been told is that it is only with "risky sexual activity" and there are many couples where the spouse of the HepC victim was not infected, ever.  I think you are just fine especially since you have been clear for so long. 

The virus must be wiped out or it would be replicating and showing up and a virus replicates exponentially.  It is one reason we have to wait for 12 weeks for another test to see if some were hiding out and starting to replicate again.  The only thing I would worry about if I were you is becoming reinfected by an outside source. So relax and enjoy your cure.  I can't wait til I can say the same thing!

Katie

[sunrise]

Hi Knewboy
     Good to hear you are UD. Sorry you had to go thru the old standard tx.,  but it did work. That's a miracle. As for intimacy. These times we live in its probably a good idea to use safe sex practices.  Even though we beat this disease, well myself so far so good.4 week post tx UD . There are plenty of nasty bugs waiting to inhabit our bodies. Just be safe, better than sorry...Blessings Sunrise

[Mike]

Hi Knewboy,

You're cured. You don't have to disclose anything unless you want to. There's no moral/health directive anymore. You can't pass something you don't have. 

Best wishes, Mike

[MyFriendJimi]

hi knewboy. i had a triple deal, telaprevir, interferon, ribavirin for 12months. my last treatment was 5yrs ago in august 2012. my viral load is still nil.

i still get random rashes with or without swelling, puffed out swollen eye sockets, finger and toe cramps, and the stupid psoriasis that started during treatment which i think is going to last forever (even though im on otezla). thank God we're cured!

but how are you feeling now? do you have any leftover side effects years later? i can't find real info on the internet about life after treatment years down the road. the doctors looks at my symptoms and dismiss me quickly with a generic quick fix.

hope everything worked out with the partner.