Hope is very important, here’s a video we did about it for World Hepatitis Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTC2E13E1Ww

Hello Frank,

Sorry to hear you are feeling unwell.

The old Interferon/Ribavirin was very harsh. You noted it took 9 years to recover from the 2001 treatment and treated again in 2013 with it before the Harvoni treatment in 2017.

While it may be leftover effects from the Interferon, or, less likely, the Harvoni what must be remembered is that Hep C treatment provides 0% protection from all other diseases.

Do you have blood results for full blood count, iron studies, creatinine, urea and electrolytes, vitamin b12, thyroid function, ESR, CRP and HbA1c?

This group of tests looks for a range of other things that make people feel sick.

Hello Nerv02,

What we don’t have here is the screening test for Hep C which is the Hep C antibody test. You should get that done.

What we do have is a whole lot of normal tests showing you have normal liver function with a normal ALT and AST – these are liver enzymes that go up when anything (including Hep C) is damaging your liver. The fact that you have normal values suggest you don’t have anything damaging your liver.

I have seen about 1 patient in 1000 who does have Hep C and also has normal liver function, so that’s roughly the chances of you having Hep C. A simple $10 antibody test for Hep C will put your mind at rest, let you know you don’t have it, and therefore don’t need any treatment.

So, looks like you don’t actually have the problem you’re worrying about.

Your kidneys and blood all look good too.

Hi KarenB,

Feeling a few twinges where your liver is – right side, under the ribs at the top of your abdomen is quite normal. It is indeed your liver shrinking as the damage done by the virus begins to be undone.

Hi KarenB,

If you want a sneak peek, and assuming your ALT was elevated on your CMP you can just do that. It typically falls to normal within 2 weeks of starting treatment. This is a lot less expensive than a viral load.

There is an 80% chance you will be undetected by the end of week 4, so that’s the time to look.

Hi KarenB,

Welcome to the forum.

To answer your questions, first I note you said

My doctor told me that it’s not alarming

So you probably don’t really even have to worry. Do you know the ferritin, iron, transferrin and saturation numbers?

Harvoni will not impact your iron level

Iron from animal meat sources is better absorbed than from vegetable sources but the vast majority of vegetarians are not iron deficient so either sort of diet generally works

Iron supplements should only be used if absolutely necessary because they are not natural (and natural tends to be better), they often upset peoples digestion (stomach pains) and they will turn your faeces black. The Iron+Vitamin C ones work best.

Given you are 40 and (from your name) a female it’s probable you are still menstruating. For most women who are pre-menopausal and iron deficient, the cause is heavy periods. If you are using an oral contraceptive your periods can be quite safely stopped by skipping the sugar pills and having (say) one period every 6 months when you take the sugar pills. That fixes the problem at the source.

Best of luck with the treatment. It’s generally smooth sailing to cure.

Hi Lorraine,

While no medication is 100% safe taking Hep C treatment is much safer than leaving the disease to run its course.

Diabetes and blood pressure treatment is not a contraindication to using Maviret although it is possible that the diabetes or blood pressure tablets he is currently on could interact with the Mavyret.

Drug interactions can be checked here:

https://www.hep-druginteractions.org/checker

The surgeries don’t impact on the treatment.

The best way to ensure your husband continues to have a normal active life through his 60s and 70s is to treat the Hep C. There was a big study looking at 33808 patients in 3 US Health Systems treated with these medications published in the Journal of the American Medical Association just a week or two ago:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2735458?fbclid=IwAR2UeyRE9Chd-VQwlXJjbI3S7_30xQInIOV7ZNq_lVkf7KAM0WeQhN94aBY

Key Points

Question Are patients with hepatitis C who receive direct-acting antivirals at increased risk for adverse events compared with those who do not receive these agents?

Findings In this cohort study of 33 808 patients in 3 health systems, direct-acting antiviral exposure was associated with lower odds of experiencing the following adverse events: death, multiple organ failure, hepatic decompensation, acute-on-chronic liver event, and arrhythmia.

Meaning Concerns about safety risks based on analyses of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Events Reporting System did not appear to be confirmed, suggesting that dispensed direct-acting antivirals may be safe for patients with hepatitis C

Hello Marszab,

Don’t panic. Yes, being undetected is better but the vast majority of people still detected at the end of treatment will still SVR