Latest test for C ( Mine)

[jody13]

I went to the guy that checks your blood and came back not good but not bad. The good news is that it has not gotten worse, Viral ct is still 2.4 million or around that. All the other test came back normal. The doctor is waiting to talk to me about setting up  for Tx. I hate the sound of that. Other than being a grouch sometimes I am doing good I thouht. What do you as a bunch think about it, My age is 76 . Would you take it or not? I have an appointment with him next week. I think.  Memory loss too. I'll guarantee that is not the first thing you lose.  Jody 13 

[DougV]

Jody,

I dunno. not sure how I'd feel about treatment if I was 76.  How is your general health?  Any idea how good or bad of shape your liver is in?  (Biopsy, Fibrosure, Fibrotest, or something?)  Do you know what genotype, or alternately do you know the length of treatment you'll do, 48 or 24 weeks?  When you say your labs were all normal does that include a Liver Function Test?

Considering this is a slow moving disease and considering you've been out of high school awhile, I think, if it was me, my liver have to be at stage 3+ before I would consider treatment, but that is just me.

Doug

[MissyMouse]

The only way I would consider treatment at the age of 76 is if I had geno 2, or possibly geno 3. Just my 2 cents.

Mouse

[Pancho and Lefty]

Jody,

I would rather die of liver failure than do tx at your age. I'm 60. . . the GI doc said I was a 'young' 59 when I started  a 24 wk tx. I'm able to maintain a reasonable level of activity through the ordeal. . . only because I was very active before.

I have a buddy who finished tx at age 60 (no, didn't clear) His reasoning is how many of the remaining years of life would one want to give up doing tx and recovering from it?

Willy mentioned someone is his late sixties who treated successfully on an abbreviated schedule. He'll probably be along to share about that.

FWIW, some of us here entered our ages into an informal data gathering thread. The average age here was 53.17 yrs. As far as I know, I'm the oldest treating txer at the moment. . . although the forum has members much older. 

best wishes,

Max

[Betty W.]

Jody.
I am 66, I feel the same as Max and Missy I am geno 1A and my biopsy showed very little damage. I do have a fatty liver I am trying to eat very healthy and exercise.I am taking Milk Thistle.
My thinking is that you have to look at the whole puzzle. Biopsy results ?
                                                                               Geno type ?
                                                                                How long have you had it ?
 I have Had HCV for 32 years
  I hope that I will be one of the lucky ones and do not have to tx. I am playing the wait and see game right now.
  Just my opinon,what it is worth, others know a lot more than I do.....Good Luck and God Bless, Betty




                                                                           

[Hank's mom]

Hi Jody - nice to see ya again. You have a lot to consider, but the most important thing is your quality now - you have been pretty on top of enjoying life, staying active in ways that you like, and have done your best to keep the rest of you healthy.

Considering that your viral load hasn't jumped, you are in a good position to weigh the pros and cons. I won't advise you - that's up to you - but, I would request more reasons from your doc. If those don't add up to anything that makes the time on tx worth it, I think I wouldn't tx. Quality of life means too much to bargain away.

Be well and stay positive,
Susie

[jody13]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm Genotype 2 and in good health , Or I think I am. We have to go to a conference in Vermont next month so I wouldn't want to start it before that. Right now I'm just stradleing the fence, trying to make up my mind. Is there any one that thinks it  is a easy trip? All I hear is the bad side, that is what I think about. Taking this for so long then having to do it again.  I had the lvliver biopsyk with the needle and it showed nothing. The ultra sound showed two dried up tumors and 1 in the kidneys, not active. I think the Herbs take did that, That one beer I had the other night caused a rash right between my shoulder blades. Jody 13

[willy]

Welll there is no doubt that some people would tell you to treat.  It's not a bad alternative, especially for geno 2's
but.......

There is currently a move to treat geno 2's with a shorter TX.....given a good response rate.  I would look into that and make sure that I was tested at appropriate times to see if I respopnded quick enough to merit the shorter TX (of course you won't know that unless and till you TX).

There are people RIGHT NOW self testing with Alinia.  So far it seems to be working well with geno 1's.  One would suppose that it could help boost response even more with geno 2's.  Once again a faster response could signal a shorter treatment time.  I believe that Romark, the parent company of the drug is in trials with more HCV patients and you may soon see some results.  ----This last part is a question mark since Alinia is already approved by the FDA..... but the results may become available sooner and less blinding may occur with this combo.  ( meaning we may see results sooner that in some heavily blinded trials)  We'll see, but I would definately look into alinia if you TX.  Any regular doctor can prescribe it.

I'm going to post this and them come back and fill in about Vertex. 

best,
Willy

[frank457]

Hey Jody, I personally would wait since you have little or no liver damage. To answer your question about if some people do ok with treatment, the answer is yes. What you read on the internet and these types of forums are people that are having a hard time and need support. Believe me that there are many people that do ok on treatment and do not need these forums so we never hear from them. Best of luck whatever you decide

[jody13]

Thanks Frank,   My x daughter in law took them with no problems I go up on the 11th, very soon. Today I have an MRI planned to find out about some other problem. More fun than a barrel of rattle snakes.  Joe

[Snowflake]

Joe,
 
I wanted to wish you the best on your journey, whatever your decession is...

Good luck with your MRI today also..

Thanks for the chuckle, about memory not being the first thing you lose..

TAKE CARE
  Winona

[robin]

Hi Jody...I'll be interested in hearing if you decide to treat or not. Do you have any other conditions or family illnesses that would affect you? Thinking here, if you have family that historically lives to be 90-100 and your liver is a 3...you may consider treatment, especiallly with genotype 2. Today, 76 is not considered to be that old. You sound like you are relatively heathly and active. If you did attempt treatment and found it was more than you bargained for...then you can always quit. I found it was not that bad of an ordeal and am really looking forward to the OK to retreat. A lot to consider either way. Keep your spirits high...robin

[Pancho and Lefty]

Jody, et al,

I don't know what you all read from my earlier post. I only stated what I would do.   I would never presume to give advice.

Read my post again and I think it's plain I'm talking only about what I'm doing. . . and would or wouldn't do.

I keep thinking the purpose of this forum is to share experience. . . handing out advice by those with or without experience is pretty common around here. . . but not by me.

best wishes everyone,

Max

[jody13]

The MRI, It was for a hand problem , It took over an hour because they were trying to find my brain, they finally had to put some dye in my blood so they could find any thing. But I made it home and got a got dinner out of the deal. Ate at Alplebees. Won't know any thing for several days but will check back when I know something. Some one mentioned  years of kinfolks. My dad  died when he was 67 , my grandad on my mothers side died when he was 67. My brother was 67 and had a heart attact and a prostaste opp. When I turned 67, I guess I'm to mean to kill but,  I was kinda nervous. I made that hurdle now for the next ones.   Jody13

[sharasmile]

Hey Jodi13,

What ever decision you decide to make please believe that we will all be here to help support you ...

If you decide to treat we will be here for you and if you decide not to do tx. we will still be here..

You just got a new Family and we will be Praying and sending only good things your way...

Sharasmile