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  • 9 October 2018 at 9:38 pm in reply to: Low grade hep c infection for the past 15 years #28620
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi Schnapper,

    Like Songbird says, it would be wise to ask your doc for an annual physical and the usual blood tests. If there is something not right in your liver then the standard liver function blood tests would normally confirm this.

    All the best,

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    21 September 2018 at 11:53 pm in reply to: Rexontamination after EOT #28574
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi TigerFan, Mar,

    Well, Dr James is the real Medical Doctor here, but maybe I can save him some time (he will surely correct me if I am wrong).

    When you get infected with HCV, the body recognises the virus as “foreign” and the immune system quickly develops antibodies against it (so an antibody test will reveal the presence of virus, but not how much of it).

    But the antibodies are just the first stage in a cascade of responses which should eventually kill the infection before the infection kills you. For HCV, This all works correctly in about 1 out of 4 cases.

    The problem is that, unlike many other kinds of infection, for the other 3 out of 4 cases it turns out that the HCV virus is able to hide or “lie low” for long enough that the rest of the immune system calms down before the virus is completely destroyed. But a part of the immune system stays activated, which is why we usually have only a few millions of virus per unit of blood instead of virus goo coming out of our ears, and also why some people have strange but unexplainable symptoms like skin problems etc.

    So this all means that if you are re-infected with HCV, you are still stuck with the same half-functional immune response and so you will remain infected until the next treatment.

    I am not sure how different genotypes come into the picture here. It must depend on which part of the viral surface that the antibody physically recognises. Probably it will be the exterior viron surface, and so the genotype of the hidden payload inside will not come into play.

    Anyway, as far as I know, why this all happens with HCV and not other viruses remains a mystery. In life we are all potentially exposed to several hundred viral pathogens on a daily basis, but we successfully kill most of then stone dead in a few days.

    On the other hand there are some anti-HCV vaccines in the development pipeline, so maybe in the near future it will be eventually possible to innoculate against it.

    ps. sorry for long answer!

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    18 September 2018 at 4:17 pm in reply to: Rexontamination after EOT #28558
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi John,

    The previous thread was from over 2 years ago, but the search page only offers to search over the last year of posts be default.

    It’s a bit of a pity because back then there were lots of good posts from people who were learning about generics and how to access them for the first time. But I suppose it might be too much of a burden for the fixHepC web server to always search over everything, since there are now over 26,000 posts.

    BTW, here is another one:

    https://fixhepc.com/forum/questions-and-answers/553-shaving-blades-toothbrushes-nail-clippers-etc.html#7269

    Cheers,

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    17 September 2018 at 12:07 pm in reply to: Rexontamination after EOT #28555
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi John,

    There is already a thread on this:


    https://fixhepc.com/forum/end-of-treatment-eot/1130-possible-reinfection-route.html#19133

    The general consensus seems to be self-reinfection is unlikely, but of course be sensible.

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    15 September 2018 at 12:57 pm in reply to: The member Ariel #28551
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    I suspect that quite a few of the “guests” that are counted at the foot of the page are in fact “former active” members like me who visit from time to time without actually logging in.

    Maybe Ariel is still watching from afar? I certainly am!

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    6 August 2018 at 10:31 am in reply to: Coral is awesome. #28414
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    I second that emotion!

    OorWullie

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    2 July 2018 at 3:24 pm in reply to: I’m new to the forum #28264
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hello Don-Joe,

    Your liver function test numbers indicate no hepatitis of any kind. Not acute. Not chronic.

    AST=30 ALT=40 are in the normal ranges. If there was anything wrong with your liver, these numbers would be much higher.

    Taking other medication might raise these numbers temporarily, but it is no big deal. Most of us here with Hep-C have lived with scary ALT and AST levels for years. And Most of us are still alive.

    If you want to be absolutely sure that you do not have Hep-B or Hep-C, you will have to ask your doc for antibody tests. Since you are obviously worrying a lot about this, what price would you pay for peace of mind? You will not be able to get these tests done without a doctors prescription.

    But I can tell you for free your doc would have already ordered those tests if he had the slightest suspicion that you might have either of those viruses.

    I have one last question. What do you mean by clay-colored stools? Clay can be orange or brown, or anywhere in between. Or clay can be cheesy white or gray. If you mean anything like orange or brown, stop worrying. If you mean white or gray go back to your doc right away.

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    30 June 2018 at 11:01 pm in reply to: Newly diagnosed #28255
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi Barb,

    If you want to make a video appointment with Dr Freeman, or a member of his team, you can use the “Contact” form (top right of page) or send a mail to help@fixhepc.com

    If you take into account possible time zone differences, I am sure someone will get back to you very soon.

    Good luck!

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    22 June 2018 at 11:22 pm in reply to: Viral load #28207
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi Sabrecat,

    I don’t know about the difference in dosage of X-rays, but the speed at which those things spin is impressive. For a given dosage, faster should mean better 3D images. Here is a cool little video that explains that better than me:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FWknU5_brc

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    22 June 2018 at 10:59 pm in reply to: I’m new to the forum #28206
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi Don Joe,

    I would like to say a few things.

    From what you said in your previous posts, you should get your blood work results in about a week or less. This will give you or your doc the best fact-based indication of what is causing the dark urine and yellow or clay colored stools. So my advice is just to hang in there and wait for the results. Everyone here has been through that. Mostly it will be good news (like hepatitis cleared), sometimes not so good (hepatitis still there). Really bad news is very rare.

    Chronic hepatitis C is not a killer these days. It is easily treated. It is why we are all here.

    If the bloodwork suggests a biological case, your doc will order more tests to confirm Hep-C or something else. This will mean more waiting.

    If the bloodwork suggests a not Hep-C but physical cause, your doc will order an echography or an X-ray scan. He will look in order of most likely cause first. Most likely is a gall stone stuck in the bile duct. This is easily treated. If nothing is visible in the imagery he could order a biopsy.

    And so it goes on. Right at the end of all of these possibilities is your worst fear. Even if your worst fear comes true, it might still be treatable.

    Right now, I am sure your thoughts a racing everywhere. As soon as you get the first results in, you can just focus on what that means, and you forget about the rest.

    Even if the waiting is driving you nuts, everyone here is telling you in a different way that you just gotta do it!

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    31 May 2018 at 10:04 pm in reply to: Can someone answer my questions. Just finished mavyret #28102
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    The liver specialist here told me it was extremely rare to relapse so late, and that most relapses happen soon after the end of 12 wks of Tx. You should be just fine after doubling-down on Sof/Vel.

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    31 May 2018 at 9:08 pm in reply to: Can someone answer my questions. Just finished mavyret #28100
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi SplitDog, my GT3 brother, thanks for asking. I had a few complications after relapsing, that’s for sure. I am now on a new treatment, and responding well. I will post the full story on another thread when I am a bit further down that road. Glad to see that the Sof/Vel option worked for you!

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    31 May 2018 at 8:51 pm in reply to: Can someone answer my questions. Just finished mavyret #28099
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi James,

    Most people experience very few side effects with DAAs. But like you say, a small percentage can have more complex reactions. But its always best to start by looking for simple explanations than to fear the worst. There are several foods that can affect stool colour. For example, there is a list of some here:

    https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-causes-orange-stool-1942943

    But again, for a proper medical explanation, you’d need to speak to your doc when your latest blood results are in hand. If he can’t tell you straight away, he should know which further tests to try next…

    Cheers,

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    31 May 2018 at 6:24 pm in reply to: Can someone answer my questions. Just finished mavyret #28095
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Not very user-friendly are they? If it was me, I’d do a little experiment on myself while I was waiting – cut out the gym and sauna for 3 or 4 days to see if that makes any visible difference.

    Fingers crossed for good news on the 12th…

    Oor Wullie

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

    31 May 2018 at 4:00 am in reply to: Can someone answer my questions. Just finished mavyret #28093
    Avatar photoVororo
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @vororo

    Hi again James,

    Sounds like you need to get that nurse fixed as well. ;)

    There has been a lot in the news recently about “no means no”. What a lot of Drs and nurses in the UK fail to understand is that “your blood means your blood”. So you should be perfectly entitled to have a copy of your blood test results, no-questions-asked.

    Anyway, if I understand your first mail correctly, it sounds like the 10,300 that she told you for the VL was the number before you started on the Mavyret. So no help there. Did you have any blood tests since then? If so, the ALT and AST numbers that Nurse NoHelp gave you should be more up to date. If those numbers are both about 50 or less, then probably not much to worry about. The normal range is about 40 or less, but sometimes it takes some time for the liver to rebuild itself even if the virus is gone.

    By the way, you will see that a lot of people here on FixHepC put their main liver function values (ALT, AST, GGT, and VL) along with the date of measurement in their login signature (something like mine below). If you are going to stick around here, this could save some time. It is also often a fun way to monitor your own progress.

    Shoot, I still can’t get my head around why it is sometimes so difficult in the UK for people to know what is in their own medical file. Me, I live in France. In France you go to a commercial lab (there are lots) to get a blood test, and the lab sends your results to your home address (and these days also to an App on your phone). You then get reimbursed for some or all of the cost automatically. Normally people in France know their test results before their doctor does. It is so easy and fast, it could not be any simpler. Will it ever happen in the UK? I doubt it… Maybe a quick fix is to have your phone handy, and ask to take a photo as soon as your results come into view?

    Cheers,

    Oor Wullie

    Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
    Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
    Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
    Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).

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