I saw my infectious disease doctor last week, and he had good news. Turns out I have been approved for treatment. So for the next six months, starting next week, I will be giving myself injections of "peginterferon alfa-2a" and six "ribavirin" pills everyday. The treatment is not always successful at getting rid of the Hep C and the side effects are quite intense, but it is better than the alternative. According to my doctor I have about a 70% chance at getting rid of it, which are pretty good odds. I actually don't even feel sick at all from the hepatitis, would not even know I had it unless I had gotten the original blood test 4 years ago. That is what is so dangerous about it, it can live inside some people for 20 years before their liver begins to fail. I read that Hep C is the number one reason for liver transplants today. The weird thing about this is that one day I went into a walk in clinic, for reasons totally unrelated to Hep C, and when I mentioned my disease to the doctor, he ordered various blood tests, and then made me an appointment to see a specialist. And now here I am, days away from treatment. And I never would have known that my liver function was deteriorating if it hadn't been for the walk in clinic doctor. Bless him.
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Hi Shirley. Good luck with treatment. You can do it! You must have genotype 2 or 3 if your doc said 70% chance of clearance. Most of "us" are accidentally diagnosed. Glad to hear you stumbled onto a good doctor at a walk in clinic. There is a Guide that offers helpful tips while taking treatment. You can find it at: http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm
ReplyDeleteWe have a very supportive group of people at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HepCingles2 Join us for questions, answers and support. Take care!
Wow, thanks sooo much!
ReplyDeleteSo glad things are better than expected thus far. You are going to kick hep's ass dude!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHaha. I hope so. I am looking forward to it!!
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