if my viral number is higher than most on here does that mean I'm worse off?

[dmclain]

Hi I'm really wondering now about how bad I am sense my I'm 7 million and most on here seem to have a lower number? sense I don't gave any other info like most on here do I'm concerned I'm worse off than I thought. What do you guys think? I haven't had a biopsy in probably 18 yrs which they said liver was fine   and I've been at 7 million that long also.  I just had an ultra sound the old fashion one not the new one and it was fine. And I don't think my alt and other number was elevated  much if I remember right from my resent blood work. So why do you think my viral number is higher and does it mean I'm worse off? Or not necessarily? 

[BDK]

My VL has always been 7-9 million, other than when I was on interferon and riba back in 1999, and immediately after.  I've been F01- since 1998 with most recent Fibroscan a couple of months ago.  One hep doc told me to pay no attention to viral load in terms of illness severity or liver damage, just in terms of measurement as a response to treatment.

[Trenz]

My VL fluctuates a great deal, but I've had two different docs tell me the exact same thing as BDK's doc about the significance of the VL number.

[donk]

My pre harvoni VL was about 9 mil. My 4 week tx VL is undetectable. Don't miss any med doses and the numbers will be good.

[motor]

In my relatively short career with hepC research I don't think of 7M as a high number.  One friend of a friend whom I discussed the hepC experience with told me her vL was 70M.  Another friend cured by Harvoni in clinical trials was 15M.

[Mugwump]

The viral load is the least effective way to determine levels of the most important aspect of HCV infection, which is liver damage. All that can be surmised from a high viral count in the blood is that the disease is doing damage but the level of damage can only be determined by other tests.

My viral load was 2.3M at beginning of treatment but 6 months before that could have been much higher. All it meant was at beginning of treatment my immune system was doing a better job of keeping the disease in check.

Keeping healthy and active, not worrying, no alcohol, eating sensibly along with treatment will give our body the best chance to clear this disease. 

[dmclain]

Oh wow thank you for responding I feel much better! My mind wants to blow things out of per portion  some times . I'm just learning and really appreciate you all on here!

[Maddawg46]

Heck no!  Everybody is different.  Do you get over a cold the same time that everyone else does.  Go on the offensive.