Genotype 3

[Lexia]

I'm starting treatment. My first day is tomorrow. Anyone who is going through treatment for hep c, with genotype 3? I have no idea how I contacted the illness and am so scared this won't work. I've been having severe liver issues. First diagnosed a year ago. Based on the time of diagnosis and my first positive hep test I've had it for about 1 and 1/2 years.

[Lynn K]

Hi and welcome

We all had those fears about treatment no working but these new meds are having great results. I didn't have genotype 3 but have some information for you.

Are you treating with Daklinza or Epclusa or some other med?

For Daklinza in clinical trials those without liver damage who are treatment naïve cure rates were 97%

For Epclusa for the same group cure rates were about 98%

Of course we all worried that we would be one of the unfortunate few that treatment does not work for but the odds are treatment will work for you.

There is a signifigant number of people who cannot point to a specific event where they believe they contracted hep c. So you are not alone in that.

When you said you are having liver problems what do you mean? Have you been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis? Have you had a Fibroscan or Fibrosure blood test? Do you know your fibrosis level which would be something like F1, F2, F3 or F4

In general, hepatitis C is very slowly acting illness taking decades to cause significant liver damage. Only about 20% of people with hepatitis C you will progress to cirrhosis over 20 years of infection.

Best of luck on treatment

[Lexia]

Thank you. I am just freaking out, it all came as a huge surprise...and not the good kind.  I misunderstood and when I said I had liver damage, my sister who's a nurse said I didn't but my LFTS were in a 20,000s which was what prompted the doctors to run so many tests and eventually discovering the hepatitis.  I had thought it meant I had damage she said I didn't. I had imaging done which was unremarkable and showed no signs of damage.  I had a negative hep test roughly 2 months prior to the positive test while I was inpatient with various symptoms, later my GI doc said I was likely having acute symptoms even though testing hadn't picked the virus up. 
The treatment he put me on is Soldavi and Daklinza, in fact today is my first day, I took the pills this afternoon on an empty stomach with 8oz of water.  I wanted to start treatment the second I found out I had the illness but my doctor encouraged me to wait because he said 20% give or take, patients their bodies clear the disease on its own. In fact 2 months ago my VL was under 100 so we were all very optimistic.  I didn't want to wait the 3 months my doctor recommended to retest and asked for a retest in a month and my VL was over 55,000 and the doc agreed it was time to start treatment.  I wish he'd done it when i was first diagnosed last year.  I have been putting off having becoming pregnant and I'm 38. My understanding is that I can take this med combo during pregnancy if I were to become so, however I feel it best to wait.  I have a lot going on in my head. I also  was diagnosed with lupus with a working diagnosis of sarcoidosis and just feel like I've been sick forever and I guess I'm dealing with more depression than I'd keep to admit.

[Jorah]

Hey Lexia I'm Geno3, I'm on epclusa but Daklinza/Sofo is as good for Geno 3. I can certainly understand the anxiety, but now you're being treated and you'll be ok. I understand what you're going thru I also have other medical issues and life problems...seems it never stops. Its not easy ..you'll be ok.

If you've had this for a year and a half (from what I understand) you're likely in a very good spot, as most of the time it takes years for the virus to do severe damage. I'm sure you will be cured at the end of TX, no problems. Drink a lot of water, like 8 glasses a day, eat properly, no drinking alcohol etc.

Take care   

[gardensnail]

I just found out in March of this year that I am Hepatitis C positive, genotype 3.
I believe I may have gotten my virus from a piercing. I truly feel blessed AND burdened. I can't lie, it's a struggle. I shockingly got approved for Epclusa treatment and immediately began. My liver enzymes were elevated but no liver damage (yet).
I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that I cleared the hepatitis C virus BEFORE my two week lab work. I am now in the middle of my last month of treatment. I've noticed little things like my energy levels going up. My sensitivity to caffeine coming back, my oily face cleared up, my bowel movements are TRYING to become regular. We can beat this. We will beat this.
When I was told that I had genotype 3, I became discouraged... but there is no reason to be discouraged with Epclusa and I really feel like I'm living proof of that, so far.
This is scary. This is our lives. You're not alone.

[KimInTheForest]

I just found out in March of this year that I am Hepatitis C positive, genotype 3.
I believe I may have gotten my virus from a piercing. I truly feel blessed AND burdened. I can't lie, it's a struggle. I shockingly got approved for Epclusa treatment and immediately began. My liver enzymes were elevated but no liver damage (yet).
I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that I cleared the hepatitis C virus BEFORE my two week lab work. I am now in the middle of my last month of treatment. I've noticed little things like my energy levels going up. My sensitivity to caffeine coming back, my oily face cleared up, my bowel movements are TRYING to become regular. We can beat this. We will beat this.
When I was told that I had genotype 3, I became discouraged... but there is no reason to be discouraged with Epclusa and I really feel like I'm living proof of that, so far.
This is scary. This is our lives. You're not alone.

Welcome GardenSnail! And congrats on your treatment progress. Sounds like you are well on your way to being fully cured! I too was Geno 3. Wish Epclusa had been available for me. I was cured in 2015 with Harvoni+ribavirin.

kim