Hi everyone I received a phone call yesterday saying I have hep c. 5 years ago I was on treatment forgot the name and injections which made me so ill for 12 weeks but completed the whole cause. I had couple of blood tests after saying the virus had gone also in 2016 same saying was gone.im just very confused as to how it as came back ? I have been clean of drugs 6 years. I do occasionally drink which again will not be doing my liver no good. Am so scared and anxious and think this will be the end of me this time I seriously think the damage is done.
Hep c come bk: Hi everyone I received a... - British Liver Trust
Hep c come bk
Hi Cazza,, I ,m sorry that the virus has reared its ugly face again but although things seem bleak at the moment the situation can be sorted. Fŕom your description of injections coupled with a fairly miserable Hep treatment experience i,m guessing that you had the old interferon regime or more probally Peg Interferon which does not have the re liability of clearing the virus permanently ( i think it was around 52% for Interferon alone, or 72 % to 94% success with the Peg Interferon treatment ) Now, if you were drinking during treatment then that wil block the chances of it working which is why they wont treat folk they suspect haven,t given up. I was fortunate as I had my treatment right as Interferon was being phased out in favour of the new anti virals which have an almost 100 per cent success rate with no nasty side effects, including depression. I don,t know whereabouts you are but if in Britain then obviously you can be treated for free and with Thank goodness the new anti virals😃 . At the time of my treatment I had some cirhosis damage due to alcohol, and a very high viral load. I was cheerfully informed by a consultant that if I didn,t quit drinkiing and have the Hep treatment I,d be dead within two years!. I stopped dri nking cold turkey which i have since found out o e should not do, I will spare you the details, it was not pretty, (
😂at one point I was having hallucinations of elephants grazing in the back garden! ). Anyway, it is never too late but please, please give up the booze, you are worth it and obviously want to live or you wouldn,t have written. You ll have to stop totally anyway for the treatment to work. ( if you did have any alcohol the last time while having the Interferon then best not to mention it as it will be grounds for them not treating you again. ). Best wishes, if I can help in any way please ask. The new treatments are a walk in the park compared to the old, Interferon was used as a cchemotherapy treatment at one point which is why you felt so yucky on it. My friend has just cleared the vivrus in 8 weeks, o side effects and feels great.......and so will you. ☺☺
Hi moonbeam yes it was the old treatment and was hardest 12 weeks of my life! And no I never drank with treatment was to poorly cauldnt eat or keep any thing down as it was! Yes am in Uk 🇬🇧 so will get sorted it’s just waiting for referrals etc.. and wish u all the best thanks for getting bk to me 😊👌🏼
Hi Cazza,
Just really to say that I agree with everything moonbeam said - I also had Peg Interferon and in my case this did not clear the virus. That must have been nearly 10 years ago now...
About 5 years ago I was one of the early cohort on the new Direct Acting Anti-Virals (DAA) treatment - in my case Harvoni and Ribavirin. This was either 6 or 8 weeks, I forgot which and since then I have been what they term Sustained Virological Response (SVR) - no trace of the virus or antibodies.
I assume you are under the care of a hepatology team - if not get yourself refereed - and they will asses you and if suitable (that means no drinking) they will put you on the course. I believe the current SVR rate is in the high 95% or higher so I think you can look forward to a brighter future.
Best wishes - Peter
Hi Cazza22,
Two good replies so far but you might find the following link of use.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Hi thanks for your lovely replies both of you means a lot it should of said my hep c had come back ?! Can this happen? Am so worried right now 😐
Hi Cazza22,
I think Peter's reply sort of said his early treatment, which was the same as your first treatment, did not get rid of his hep C.
Since you are seeing a doctor for this I'd guess you should call his office and find out if they are planning on starting you on the newer treatment for hep c and when it will start and if not then why not.
Best wishes,
Mary
Thanks Mary the confusion was I have had loads of blood tests up to 2016 and said I was clear of the virus 😢so to be told I have it again is devastating xx
Hi I see hepatitis specialist next Monday can’t come quick enough so I no what’s what ! I want a fibro scan Aswell x
Hi ,the good news is the latest treatment regimens are not like your previous treatment 🤞
That,s great Cazza, perhaps make a list of your questions beforehand and take pen and paper or record replies. I was terrible for coming out of the docs surgery and suddenly remembering a tonne of questions i wanted answers to. A fibroscan is a great idea, don,t be fobbed off, it,s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease as they say!. 😆