Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. From: Cynde Moya <cyndemoya@...>Subject: Re: [ ] VL Date: Monday, March 7, 2011, 7:33 PM  Heck, my Viral Load is around 49 Million. I'm the host body 8) --cyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C. That number really only comes into play for a couple of things... one is for diagnosis. People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system. Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed. Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment. They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down. Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment. Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote: So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 was I wrong in thinking that VL tells how many hep c viruses are in your blood, then the higher the VL the more Hep C? I always thought this, seems like I was wrong. Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Theresa Gottlieb wrote: Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C. That number really only comes into play for a couple of things... one is for diagnosis. People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system. Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed. Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment. They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down. Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment. Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote: So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 The viral load only counts the number of hep c viruses circulating in your blood at that given moment.  That number can change due to any number of things...  Watch this video about hep c myths...  it's the last one.  She talks about viral load.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4JY92CicysThere is no connection between the amount of viruses in a persons blood and the amount of liver damage present.  On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 8:39 PM, Barrett <barrjohnm@...> wrote:  was I wrong in thinking that VL tells how many hep c viruses are in your blood, then the higher the VL the more Hep C? I always thought this, seems like I was wrong. Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Theresa Gottlieb wrote:  Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C.  That number really only comes into play for a couple of things...  one is for diagnosis.  People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system.  Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed.  Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment.  They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down.  Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment.  Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote:  So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Teri explained this very well. No, the number of copies of the virus means only what Teri says. was I wrong in thinking that VL tells how many hep c viruses are in your blood, then the higher the VL the more Hep C? I always thought this, seems like I was wrong. Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Theresa Gottlieb wrote: Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C. That number really only comes into play for a couple of things... one is for diagnosis. People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system. Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed. Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment. They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down. Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment. Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote: So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 thanks Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 6:58 PM, Gloria wrote: Teri explained this very well. No, the number of copies of the virus means only what Teri says. was I wrong in thinking that VL tells how many hep c viruses are in your blood, then the higher the VL the more Hep C? I always thought this, seems like I was wrong. Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Theresa Gottlieb wrote: Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C. That number really only comes into play for a couple of things... one is for diagnosis. People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system. Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed. Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment. They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down. Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment. Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote: So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I think the Viral Load is how many copies of the virus per ML in your blood. Like Teri said, it doesn't relate to how far the disease has progressed; other measures are for that.I've read that the viral load doesn't even correlate to how quickly or slowly one's liver/body succumbs to Hepatitis C & side effects. Even so, it seems like it would be better, nicer somehow, to have a lower viral load than a higher one. Beth, you asked if I have done treatment. I have completely failed one standard treatment with Pegasys (Interferon Alpha + Ribavirin); i.e. it had no effect on my viral load at all. A couple of years later, I did Infergen + Ribavirin, daily shots. This knocked it down to undetectable for a little while, but then the viral load just bounced wayyyy back up to where it stands now. After two years post-treatment, I feel like my mind and will have returned, which I really like. (Though one of the blessings of treatment is that I didn't really miss it much when it was gone. . .).I am feeling pretty good, I guess. I have a lot of random flu-like symptoms. I get tired. I itch. I find it difficult to maintain interest in things and people outside the workings of my intestines. I have episodes, lasting a week or two, where I have a lot of unlocalized, upper-right-quadrant pain ("6" pain) and dopeyness. I probably spend too much time looking for manifestations of other symptoms, like Ascites or Portal Hypertension. I find that I appreciate my healthy and happy moments a lot more these days. I'm glad that this group is so interesting and friendly; looking back I don't know how I did two treatments without some other similarly-experienced people to share with.Cynde Re: [ ] Cynde thanks Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 6:58 PM, Gloria wrote: Teri explained this very well. No, the number of copies of the virus means only what Teri says. was I wrong in thinking that VL tells how many hep c viruses are in your blood, then the higher the VL the more Hep C? I always thought this, seems like I was wrong. Hugs♥ ny On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Theresa Gottlieb wrote: Viral load is no indicator of progression of Hep C. That number really only comes into play for a couple of things... one is for diagnosis. People who test positive for the hep c antibody and have no viral load cured themselves with their own immune system. Hence, they just have the marker that they were exposed. Your viral load comes into play again when you start treatment. They watch for how fast that number goes down and if it goes down. Other than that, really, there is no reason to have a viral load taken other than at time of diagnosis and time of treatment. Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Beth Frey <bethfrey42301@...> wrote: So Cynde are you are tx? Are you thinking about tx? How do you feel? I know they say VL doesnt mean anything but I do find more comfort in the lower #;s. - Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 Well, welcome to the group!! You sure do bring a whole lot of experience with you. That's sad about both treatments.The first time I did tx (2004/2005), I was so naive that I honestly did not even look it up on the web. I was blissfully unaware. However, when that one failed, I really started to look for chat groups. I had so many questions that I couldn't seem to get the answers for.I am sooo grateful today, to be Hep C free. However, I can't go away because that is not what I have learned to do in support groups. We sure wouldn't get support if the old timers to chime in once in awhile. I think the Viral Load is how many copies of the virus per ML in your blood. Like Teri said, it doesn't relate to how far the disease has progressed; other measures are for that.I've read that the viral load doesn't even correlate to how quickly or slowly one's liver/body succumbs to Hepatitis C & side effects. Even so, it seems like it would be better, nicer somehow, to have a lower viral load than a higher one. Beth, you asked if I have done treatment. I have completely failed one standard treatment with Pegasys (Interferon Alpha + Ribavirin); i.e. it had no effect on my viral load at all. A couple of years later, I did Infergen + Ribavirin, daily shots. This knocked it down to undetectable for a little while, but then the viral load just bounced wayyyy back up to where it stands now. After two years post-treatment, I feel like my mind and will have returned, which I really like. (Though one of the blessings of treatment is that I didn't really miss it much when it was gone. . .).I am feeling pretty good, I guess. I have a lot of random flu-like symptoms. I get tired. I itch. I find it difficult to maintain interest in things and people outside the workings of my intestines. I have episodes, lasting a week or two, where I have a lot of unlocalized, upper-right-quadrant pain ("6" pain) and dopeyness. I probably spend too much time looking for manifestations of other symptoms, like Ascites or Portal Hypertension. I find that I appreciate my healthy and happy moments a lot more these days. I'm glad that this group is so interesting and friendly; looking back I don't know how I did two treatments without some other similarly-experienced people to share with.Cynde--- Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (34) Recent Activity: New Members 4 New Links 34 Visit Your Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.