I'm 51 and found i was hepc+ about 15 years ago.
Around 10 years ago I went on 6 months of Interferon/ Ribavirin which failed to clear the virus.
i have just contacted Concord Hospital in Sydney to send me the forms to access my files - 3 weeks minimum
I only remember that I had a genotype which was among the most difficult to treat
And my liver biopsy showed quite a bit of damage - i think on a number system i was 1 number below cirrhosis
When i went on the treatment I was very fit and healthy.
When i was on the treatment I was constantly sick and a nightmare to live with (I don't do sick well)
I felt crap for a year, had enough of doctors and constant blood tests
i was told the virus had cleared, but then told that it had come back??
It was a terrible year of my life, and i have dismissed the thought of any sort of treatment since
The article in the SMH which put me onto this site interested me though
It has brought all the bad memories back and I am very nervous, particularly as i may need ribavirin as well for best outcome
So i guess my questions are
How do i find out what specific treatment I will need, and what will be the side effects
Do I need to get my 10 year old files from the hospital to find the genotype i have
Or do I need to go for a new round of tests to determine best treatment
Once i have this info i can make an appointment with Dr Freeman and assess my options
Thanks all - this is a great group - pharma companies suck
