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12 Week Viral Load 950

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 12:28AM
Since at 12 weeks I am still detectable, what are my chances of SVR?
Member Comments (66)

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 05:39AM
Dr Thomas Berg from Germany says 20-30% if you do 48 weeks. You can increase these odds by extending treatment to 72 weeks. Here is a link where you can read about studies on extended tx.

http://www.liverfoundation.org/downloads/alf_download_321.pdf

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 05:43AM
Also your viral load at week 12 is beneath 6000 IU/ml, which is the cut-off for the group of patients which according to dr Berg benefit the most from extended treatment.

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 08:27AM
To: zazza
Thank you! I really appreciate the link.  It was exactly what I needed to keep my hopes up! I am really starting to get nervous. I started tx at 2 million ; 4 wk - 297,000, 8wk - 11,0000, 12 wk 950. I go back Dec 19 and all I want for Christmas is UND!!!!!.
I am female, 50, 5'5", 135 lbs. , take 14th shot Sunday, tolerating tx well, still able to play competitive tennis 2-3 times a week. Just get really short of breath! My hemaglobin stays around  9.4 though. White count was hovering around 1.6 but now up to 3.4. I did have a rough spell wk 7 - wk 10. Muscle soreness, headache, fatigue etc. I think (hope) I have learned to pace my self. But I have to admit, I am on the look out for another bad spell like that again. I try to stretch my muscles now so they don't ball up like that again.

by Trinity4, Nov 29, 2008 10:10AM
To: skersj
There's a few us in the 72 wk club.  No big deal.  Each week is one more behind you.  It can be overwhelming to look at it as 72 wks total treatment duration.  I don't think about in those terms anymore, just glad when I get through the next week.  Treatment pitfalls pop up weekly, so those are they hurdles we have to concentrate on.  
Good luck and if you clear the virus at 24 wks, you are considered an official slow responder and a good candidate for extention.
Trinity

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 10:16AM
To: skersj
Playing tennis with an hgb of 9.4! You are one tough cookie!

Once you get UND as long as it is at least by week 24, you should pay attention to the relapse rates instead of the SVR rates. There is little risk of breakthrough once you get UND, so the risk really is relapse after treatment is stopped.

Best wishes,
Za

by Trinity4, Nov 29, 2008 11:20AM
To: skersj
Just wanted to add that since you are taking your 14th shot this Sunday, perhaps your doctor would be willing to do PCR testing every week to two so that you know exactly when you become UND.  I did not have any additional PCR testing after 12 wks, so when I discussed extending treatment with new hep doctor that will handling my treatment extention I was told that he recommends a minimum of 36 wks addtional treatment after UND.  Some doctors add the the weeks it took to reach UND to the 48 wks.  Example, if you clear at 14 wks, your treatment duration would be a total of 62 wks.  Had we known exactly what week I went UND it could have shortened my treatment course.  I think I probably cleared somewhere around wk 15 but since I only have the 24 week PCR to base my UND status on, I will have to go the full 72 wks.  Treatment protocols vary from doctor to doctor.  I would rather err on the side of caution in my case since I don't know the week I obtained UND.
You may want to talk to your doctor about starting you on epogen (Procrit) for the anemia.  I certainly will make you feel better.
Good Luck
Trinity

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 11:31AM
I don't agree with Trinity here. I think as a slow responder you should do the full 72, and not try to find some treatment extension plan which is not backed up by studies.

I became UND myself somewhere between week 13 and week 15, and sure enough, it was tempting to do 52, 56, or maybe 60 weeks. This was also suggested to me by one of my doctors. But in the end, I decided to do the full 72, just to be sure I had done everything I could to win the battle against HCV. I am SVR now, and it certainly was worth those 72 weeks on tx.

It is interesting however which week you become UND, as the odds of getting SVR are greater the sooner you become UND.

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 01:51PM
To: Trinity4, zazza
Although this tx is no picnic, if my blood work stays stable, I am more willing to go 72 weeks in hopes of NOT RELAPSING than to cut it short and start all over again and never know "what if?"  My doctor wants to test every 4 weeks. Hopefully my body will hold out and that will be close enough.  I let them know at my 12 wk check, I am interested in going 48 wks past UND. He suggested at the time before we knew I still was detectable that we might go just a full year but said since we were not on a study, we have option of going 72. . (Hope my insurance feels the same!)  I am being seen at a Liver/Kidney Transplant Center and they tell me the marjority of their patients are HCV+.
Although I felt really bad wk 7 - 10, for some reason, I feel great now even though hgb is low. I pray every day, my that my body is strong enough. I can tell my strength is not what it was before treatment.

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 01:59PM
To: Trinity4
Have you taken the Procrit? Does it help with shortness of breath? Sometimes when first beginnning an activity, my heart feels like it is going to burst and I can't breathe, but once I get warmed up, it gets better unless I run alot. I played a very competitive match for 3 hours a couple of weeks ago and the last 30 minutes, I could tell I wouldn't be able to go very much longer no matter how hard I pushed myself. I was wondering how much it would help and how many shots before most people see a difference?

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 02:00PM
To: skersj
Testing every 4 weeks is fine. That is what I decided to do when I was detectable at week 12.

Tx sure is no picnic, but it is doable - one day at a time. I can't believe I am already 8 months post tx. Just do one day at a time and then suddenly you are all done and it is all behind you.

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 02:18PM
To: zazza
Are you SVR!!!!?

by Trinity4, Nov 29, 2008 02:23PM
To: skersj
I have no experience with Procrit but many have said it certainly helped with the shortness of breath and fatigue caused by anemia.  I'm sure others will speak.  

by jdwithhcv, Nov 29, 2008 02:57PM
To: skersj
Procrit helps with the shortness of breath, to a degree.  You may not see your hgb go back to where it was, but Procrit can raise it enough to let you tolerate treatment and you will adjust somewhat to the lower hgb levels.  It took about 4 weeks before I felt improvement, but as long as I took it I was able to maintain hgb of 10.1.  Without it I needed transfusions.  Best of luck to you.  I hope you go UND soon.

jd

by skersj, Nov 29, 2008 03:31PM
To: jdwithhcv
Thanks, I am keeping the faith that I will be UND soon. If not, I will continue the battle! For some reason, I have alot of energy now, but good to know a helpful drug is there should I need it. It is comforting just knowing.

by zazza, Nov 29, 2008 04:02PM
To: skersj
Yes, I am SVR and so are my two "companions in crime" who treated at the same time as I, Wyntre and Proactive. There is hope for us 72-weekers! But not to forget that not everybody gets SVR after extended tx. Nelson is a recent example of a relapser after 72 weeks.

The only way to find out if extended tx will give You an SVR is to try it. Roughly speaking, extension cuts the relapse rate in half, and that is good news for us slow responders.

by skersj