My Wild Ride
In 2004 I was diagnosed by a Family Doctor. He suggested I seek a Gastroenterologist or better yet a Hepatologist.
I first went to a Gastro with my Husband who also was HCV positive. The Gastro did more extensive tests and discovered I had Genetic Hemochromatosis. I went to a Cancer center where they took a pint of blood to bring down my ferritin level. I only had to do this once.
I'm also a Type 1 Diabetic with Hypothyroid disease diagnosed in 1984.
He suggested I seek a Hepatologist at a teaching hospital. My start date was September 2004
They started me out with 1000 mg of Ribavirin a day and Pegylated Interferon injections. In a 4 week time frame my Hemaglobin dropped and I was told to stop treatment for 3 months. They gave me Aranesp injections. This was in October 2004. November 2004, They said my Viral load had dropped 2 "logs" I waited until January 2005 to start again. It was a 48 week treatment back then. In March of 2005 I was totally non-dectable of any active virus. :-) I continued to treat until December 16, 2005. Technically I was on 52 weeks of that nasty stuff but They did lower my Ribavirin little by little.
I've been clear of active/chronic Hepatitis C for 10 years.
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