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Author Topic: New to the Forum and need advice  (Read 7515 times)

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Offline Ginabros

  • Member
  • Posts: 28
New to the Forum and need advice
« on: November 01, 2015, 06:18:03 pm »
Hi everyone,
I am new to the website and I would appreciate your input to my situation.
I am 45 y/o and I have been living with both Hep B and Hep C for about 33 years. I contracted them during the blood transfusion while I was treated for cancer at the age of 12. About 10 years ago I went on the antiviral for Hep B and currently on Baraclude, which keeps my viral load undetectable. I still have positive Hep B Ag and no Antibodies. I have never been treated for Hep C. I had a really bad reaction to the interferon when I was a child so I didn’t want to go on Peg interferon. Now, with so many new meds being available, I am beginning to consider the treatment, however,  I have been in the stable condition for a very long time and I am afraid to make my situation unintentionally worse.
Here are my concerns:
Can the Hep C treatment re-flame my Hep B.
What are the chances the new med like, Harvoni will work on me being co-infected with another hepatitis. I didn’t see many reports on the successful treatment of the co-infected patients.
In additional to being co-infected, my viral load is high (I think), does it matter?
Lately, my ultrasound shows some fatty liver. The doc doesn’t know why it is happening. I am small and skinny and I don’t eat fatty/unhealthy food.

Here are my stats:
HCV genotype: 1b
I do liver ultrasound twice a year.
Numbers below have been about the same (fluctuating 10 points) for years:
Alkaline Phosphatase:    133
AST:         45
ALT:         55
Below is from 2013 as my doctor doesn’t think it makes sense to re-check it if I am not on treatment.
HCV quant:   5,467,440 UI/ml
HCV log10:   6.738 log10 UI/ml

Thank you very much for any advice you can provide!



Offline BillT

  • Member
  • Posts: 573
Re: New to the Forum and need advice
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2015, 07:34:47 pm »
Hi Ginabros and welcome to the forum,
                                                       Let me start by saying I am not a doctor.My genotype is 1b and I'm on the Viekira.My numbers were very much the same as your's when I started(without the Hep B),and it's seems the Viekira works better for the 1b as I understand it.I would contact AbbVie with the co-infection question,or contact a hepatologist.The viral load seems to be a non-starter as far as the treatments effectiveness from what I'm seeing everyone posting.I have a fatty liver to but I like my fried foods so I'll blame the years of HCV for it and not the food. :) Let us know what you find out.Cheers
Contracted 1973 Military
Diagnosed 1980
Pegintron treatment 2004 unsucessful
Genotype 1b
FibroScan 10 (F2)
Start Viekira 10.17.2015

AST 40 ALT 69
VL 440k
10.31.2015/Week 2 Labs : AST 14/ALT 17
No VL done
10.14.2015/Week 4 labs : AST 14/ALT 14
VL UNDETECTED!!!
12.11.2015/Week 8 Labs : AST 12/ALT 13
No VL done
01.05.2016/EOT labs : AST 15/ALT 13
VL UNDETECTED!!!

12 WEEK SRV:UN-BLOODY DETECTABLE !!!!!!!!

24 WEEK SVR:UNDETECTABLE!!!! Thank You God.

Fibroscan 6Mo. Post Treatment 7.15.2016-5.3(F1)

Offline Joe NM

  • Member
  • Posts: 46
Re: New to the Forum and need advice
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2015, 11:37:39 am »
You can absolutely still be treated for hepatitis C while you have hepatitis B, whoever you see for treatment of hepatitis C and B should know the details about any complications this could cause but the clinic where I work has successfully treated several cases of C in people who also have B (I'm not a doctor, I just help with getting people covered for the drugs, so I don't know too much medically). The new drugs just target the hepatitis C specifically and generally don't have any effect on your hepatitis B or those medications. And you really don't want two hepatitis viruses at the same time, makes it extra important to get rid of the hep C!
HCV Case Manager
Type-1 diabetic
Connoisseur of battling insurance companies, and when that fails resorting to 'Sample Pharmacies' and sneaking insulin back from Mexico to survive.
Kindred spirit/admirer of all on this forum!
Here to help in any way I can!
EVERYONE DESERVES A CURE!

Offline Ginabros

  • Member
  • Posts: 28
Re: New to the Forum and need advice
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2015, 12:37:54 pm »
Thank you Bill and Joe!

Bill - good luck with your treatment! Is Viekira also a  new med? When did it make to the market? I am hearing people rave more about Harvoni. Why is that, in your opinion?

Joe - I will be talking to my hematologist in a few weeks. It's a great news that you have seen people with Hep B successfully treated for Hep C.

I have a complex medical history and I have learned that getting multiple opinions from doctors, patients etc. is the key in making the right decision.
Everyone in this forum has different experiences with fighting Hep C.
If someone here is like me, co-infected with Hep B and Hep C, I would really want to hear from you  :)

Thank you all!
Cheers!  :D

Offline BillT

  • Member
  • Posts: 573
Re: New to the Forum and need advice
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2015, 09:45:29 pm »
Hi Ginabros,
                 Viekira is one of the new meds and it came out last year.It depends on the genotype and other factors what treatment they prescribe.All of the drugs are amazing from what I'm seeing here.I think you're the first one I've seen here that is co-infected with B/C.There may be others,I just haven't heard anyone say anything about it that I can remember.You might ask the question in the On Treatment.Somebody may have it or at least have some information.Keep us posted.Cheers
Contracted 1973 Military
Diagnosed 1980
Pegintron treatment 2004 unsucessful
Genotype 1b
FibroScan 10 (F2)
Start Viekira 10.17.2015

AST 40 ALT 69
VL 440k
10.31.2015/Week 2 Labs : AST 14/ALT 17
No VL done
10.14.2015/Week 4 labs : AST 14/ALT 14
VL UNDETECTED!!!
12.11.2015/Week 8 Labs : AST 12/ALT 13
No VL done
01.05.2016/EOT labs : AST 15/ALT 13
VL UNDETECTED!!!

12 WEEK SRV:UN-BLOODY DETECTABLE !!!!!!!!

24 WEEK SVR:UNDETECTABLE!!!! Thank You God.

Fibroscan 6Mo. Post Treatment 7.15.2016-5.3(F1)

Offline Ginabros

  • Member
  • Posts: 28
Re: New to the Forum and need advice
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2015, 01:06:38 pm »
Hi Bill - great idea! Will follow your advice!

 


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