Hi Akiniai, It’s probably a good idea to try and register with a more family style practice if you can? We always see different GPs at ours too, but I ask which day the Dr is in that gave me my diagnosis and book an appointment when he’s next in. Once he was away on holiday and I needed forms for blood testing so had to see another GP, but she was also fine about the tests as my GP had written it all in my notes. I did ask around to find out which Drs were popular and who had been there the longest before I booked her though, sometimes the receptionists can be helpful if you word it right. Mine have been forthcoming as to which Drs they like ! but as I say, I have now built up a good relationship with my GP by only seeing him and he’s been great.

It seems to me, GPs main concern is cost of testing. Liver Function Tesrs are quite cheap, it’s the Viral Load testing that costs. I took Dr Freeman’s GP cheat sheet in with me (above in the drop down menu), some GPs don’t know anything about HepC and are nervous about what’s involved in monitoring and my GP said this was very helpful. He did want me to be under a hospital specialist too though, but once he had one letter from a helpful consultant, he didn’t ask again and has been great.

Have emailed you & will email you again later, I’m confident with a bit of effort you can line up support, although I know finding a local, family-style GP can be tricky these days, especially in London!

One thing I have learned throughout this, is not to be scared to ask any Drs re monitoring you, just need to find one with a ‘duty of care’ . I’ve had 3 hospitals since diagnosis and my GP has been consistant.

My best support however, throughout all this has been Dr Debasis at MonkMed, he’s a star, but can’t order NHS testing, unfortunately. Also Dr Freeman has been extremely helpful and kept an eye on me, all you really need is an NHS Dr for testing as private testing is so expensive , Drs D & F are the ones who really know what’s what and are the best to seek unbiased advise from as they aren’t restricted by NHS bureaucracy.

Hope this helps.

LG

ps A clinical nurse I spoke to told me the hospitals that have permission to run trials are the ones who are generally more free to assist generic HepC patients through their trial status. She told me hospitals had to be approved by pharma to get this status.

Wow – Awesome SShady

Hi RSF That’ll be me
Yes, many GPs do seem to be less restricted and mine has been amazingly supportive too. Having said that, they don’t offer such full testing like the hospitals, but are more frequent in their testing, so having both is the ideal if at all possible .

Hope you’re doing well ?

LG

Interesting. A certain consultant refused to monitor me at the Royal Free and was rather unpleasant about it too. Maybe their policy has changed recently or it depends on who you get to see. A shame, because It’s a great hospital.

There are a couple more that I have heard of, one in the south, one further up north. They say they are doing it ‘quietly’ and ask that I don’t post on any forums, but I can be PM’d on this website should anyone from the UK wish to.

You can ask to be referred by your GP to any hospital under ‘Patients Choice’.

Best of luck to all.

LG.

Hi Lisa,
A friend had a high spike in their Alt reading and had to be hospitalised, they weren’t 100% sure of the cause, but put it down to Spirulina. This friend is a medic in infectious diseases and works at a hospital, so I would agree with Gaj.

I believe VitB12 can help absorption and has been ok’d on treatment along with VitD, so I would be very cautious re anything else.

Wishing you all the best with your treatment .

LG

Hi JM, So sorry to read this. There should be a few options for you I think, seeing as you just had the Twinvir.
Keep the faith
LG