Another Question

April 6, 2002

It is important to know your HCV viral load after end of treatment. That holds

the key to further outcome.

Dr Sharat Misra MD,DM,FACG

Like I posted before, I am almost done with recommended treatment of

6 month course for genotype 2b w/cirochiss. I ws just wondering if u

r still experiencing symptons of hep, I guess that means the viral

load and virus is still there and the chance of reaching undetectable

would not be good. Symptons i am talking about are still dark urine.

However, if i drink a glass of water, it goes normal. Also, I hv had

the red palms (which is also a symton of hep) for years and years and

that is still there. My eyes are not yellow nor my skin, but eyes

look cloudy. So, i see symptons of hep still lurking around so this

can't be good if i am physically seeing this, right??? Also, i

thought there ws suppose to be a viral load done @ 12 weeks and here

I am almost finished and I hvn't had one done and only hv had 2 liver

tests that tells about the enzymes alt and ast and both of them were

normal. The first one ws done @ 7 weeks into treatment and they were

normal and the second one the enzymes were even lower, but I guess

one doesn't hv anything to do with the other. Just because u hv

normal enzymes doesn't necessarily mean the viral load is coming

down, right. I know I sound and I am getting really anxious right now

and a little scared because if the dr won't extend the course of

treatment for me, this is it for me and I am coming down to the wire

now. So if anyone hs any responses for me and and all r appreciated.

This group hs been so helpful to me and u hv always been there for me

and I very much appreciate this.

cher

April 7, 2002

Cher, I am a 2b too. I didn't go undectable until my 9th month of treatment!

I had stage II fibrosis, normal enzymes. My starting viral load was greater

than 5 million copies. I was kept on treatment for 13 months and as of Feb.

I have remained undectable. I too developed hemolytic anemia and had weekly

labs for all 13 months. Couldn't take full dose of the Riba. Anyway, ur doc

should keep u on longer if u haven't gone undectable yet. It just may take u

a little longer like it did me. Best of luck, hang in there. This too shall

pass! lvoe, mzgee

June 6, 2002

From what I've read, most people on methadone and with HCV do not get to do

treatment while on meth. Treatment could cause them to return to the drugs they

are trying to get off of. I had mild sides while on combo, but still I kept my

Vicodin and other pain meds handy and did need them from time to time.

I'm sure the doc is more concerned with causing more problems than anything for

people who are on methadone. If he allowed them to do treatment while on meth

and something happened, like they returned to their illegal drug use or killed

themselves from depression, etc., then the doctor could be held liable. I don't

know the details but that is my impression.

I have talked to a few alcoholics who were sober several years and the treatment

screwed up their brain and they went back to drinking. It's not that the

treatment is so bad in itself, but it can screw with the body and mind enough to

make someone who is already battling past problems like addiction return to

their old lifestyle. It kind of unbalances ya when what the person might need

is a sort of balance and control.

If you are on methadone and doing treatment, then I have to assume that your doc

feels comfortable with that and knows what's going on. Or, do you think he made

a mistake putting you on methadone and now is making sure he doesn't do it

again? It's really uncommon for someone on meth to do treatment. I sure as hell

wouldn't want to do that.

I don't know why a receptionist would ask if they were on methadone on the

phone. I think that may constitute an ethical issue and maybe needs to be

addressed with the doctor. It could just be a misunderstanding.

When I have gone to ER for migraines I've had a couple of nurses ask me how I

got hcv and I say 2 c sections and rho gam shots, take yer pick. But they

definitely look at me like I'm a druggie. I try to remind myself they are just

working people and have the wrong information and I feel it's my duty to share

the info on hep c when I can.

So maybe you should discuss that with your doctor. See why he is doing

something a particular way. He may have some reasons we can't see.

alley

July 19, 2002

Hi Meredith,

I have been on MTX (10mg, once a week) for about 10-12 weeks now.

It has completely (with very little exception) taken away my joint

pain.I have felt no side effects whatsoever. Prior to the MTX I had 3

swollen fingers, ankles like balloons, and walking was excrutiating

most the time. The positive effect started after about 2-3 weeks.

BUT, prior to the MTX, I had only minimal Psoriasis, now I have

patches on my scalp & groin area.

So I guess the cure for somethings, is the cause of others, at least

in my case.

I wish you the best.

Stay Well

> Hi again,

> I forgot to ask....How long does it take for the P to clear up

while

> on methotrexate??? I have been taking it for 2 1/2 weeks and have

> seen no improvement to my scalp. In fact, i am beginning to get

spots

> on my arms,back,legs and hands! Does it have to get worse before

it

> gets better???!!!

> I thought that prednisone also helped the P?

> Any thoughts on this??

> Frustrated in Indiana

> Meredith

>

> [Moderator's note: Meredith, MTX usually takes about six months

before it's effects begin to kick in - at least that's what the

doctors will tell you. Judging from the past posts I've read on this

forum, MTX's effects seem to vary greatly from one person to the

next. It works magic for some, but does nothing for others. For

example, I was on 12.5 mg of MTX orally for about 8 months. It had no

discernable effect at all on either my P or PA that I could see. The

only effect it seemed to have was that I lost a few more hairs from

my head than I normally do and was nauseous for one or two days each

week after taking it. Actually there was very little nausea at first,

but then it started lasting all day, then two days, and by the end of

eight months it was lasting almost three full days - that's part of

the reason I stopped taking it. As for Prednisone helping Psoriasis,

I just finished a Medrol dose pack a couple of weeks ago, and didn't

notice any effect on my Psoriasis at all even though it eliminated

the swelling in my right knee and ankle almost immediately. Ron]

July 21, 2002

Dear Mike,

The law requires for safety reasons that Chemotherapy agents be made

inside a verticle laminar flow hood or biological safety cabinet.

The first three drugs are antibiotics. The forth is a chemotherapy

drug of the antibiotic class. Chemotherapy drugs can be of

Antibiotic

Hormone

Alkylating agents

AntiMetabolites

Natural or other Neoplastics

Hope this helps!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chemistry

Pharmacy Technician Educator

-- In @y..., " Mike & Anita Corbus "

<mcorbus@m...> wrote:

> Here another question

>

> Which of the following parenteral medications must be prepared

inside a biological safety cabinet?

> 1. Vancomycin

> 2. Streptomycin

> 3. Eyrthomycin

> 4. Dactinomycin

>

July 21, 2002

answer is dactinomycin because it is a antineoplastic

antibiotic. Antineoplastic is another term for

anti-cancer.

--- Mike & Anita Corbus <mcorbus@...> wrote:

Here another question

>

> Which of the following parenteral medications must

> be prepared inside a biological safety cabinet?

> 1. Vancomycin

> 2. Streptomycin

> 3. Eyrthomycin

> 4. Dactinomycin

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

August 25, 2002

Treating a person with cirrhosis is considered to be strictly up to

the doctor and each person should be individually evaluated. Some

doctors just won't consider it however. It could be he has a doctor

who just doesn't want to treat him, or feels like his cirrhosis is so

advanced that it would be dangerous. However, some doctors will even

cautiously treat people in liver failure while on a transplant

waiting list. It is really at the doctor's discretion. If he has

early cirrhosis he should definitely be on treatment unless he has

other health conditions you don't know about. He should probably get

a second opinion. If his cirrhosis is really very advanced it is true

that treatment is much more risky. (Of course, so is doing nothing.)

If it were me I would definitely be looking for another doctor.

Claudine

--- runabout_104 <runabout104@...> wrote:

> I hv a question regarding a person I hv not met yet, but hs hep C

> and

> I was asked to talk to him in regards to hepatitis since I had been

>

> on treatment, he hd no where to turn or no one to ask questions of.

>

> Anyway, the only info I hv @ the moment is that the dr. he is

> seeing

> right now won't treat him because he hs cirochiss. I too, hv

> cirrochis. Can someone give me some info regarding y he won't be

> treated or direct me to some sites for info. Could it be he hs

> found

> a dr that is from the " old school " and thinks cirochiss is " the

> end " .The dr that ws treating me made the remark that he recommended

>

> treatment, at least I wd be doing something towards it. What kind

> of

> statement is that anyway??? I just don't get it. Anyay, any info

> that

> u can give me to help this guy or sites u can direct me to that I

> can

> get some info that this guy can take to his dr, I wd appreciate it,

>

> if anyone hs time. Thanks

> cher

>

__________________________________________________

August 25, 2002