Name: Daryl
Age Diagnosed: 55
Age Diagnosed: 55
Current Age: 58
Sex: Male
From: From Los Angeles lives in
Vancouver, BC
Genotype: 1a
Acute or Chronic: Chronic
Cured Hep C: YES!!
Treatment Length: 48 weeks
Treatment Length: 48 weeks
Treatment used: Was in a clinical trial using triple therapy which consisted of Interferon, Ribavirin, and a Polymerase Inhibitor Roche RO5024048 a Direct Acting Antiretroviral (DAA)
I would like to begin my story with a salute to all of those people that have helped me, and others diagnosed with HCV. It has never mattered to me how someone was infected. I know people that used drugs and shared needles, as well as people that have received the virus through tainted blood transfusions, and none of it matters to me. What matters most is that people with HCV need help, and that help takes many forms. I am fortunate enough not to have the severe financial burden that many with this disease face. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to face HCV without medical options as well as any semblance of a support system, which I believe is so very important. I am deeply discouraged by the stigma that we all face when we are diagnosed with HCV.
I never knew many things about
this disease until I was diagnosed .I began a journey toward understanding and
knowledge, and ultimately ridding my body of this terrible virus.
The journey actually began when
I was hospitalized almost 4 years ago with extreme abdominal pain. After three
days in the hospital, and many scans and tests later, all that they came up
with was that I needed to have a hernia repair. They asked several times “why
was I there”. I am otherwise a healthy person, with the exception of having
asthma that is treated successfully.
In the next several months I
underwent many tests that included colonoscopy, gastroscopy, many blood tests,
a CT scan, and finally while being pre-screened for the hernia repair it was
discovered that my iron levels were high. This finally led my primary care
doctor to check for hepatitis with more blood work. The preliminary screen
showed that I might have the virus.
The second blood test confirmed
that I did have Hep C. That was in July 2009.
I was devastated by this news.
The next couple of months were
very difficult for me. In my mind my life was over. I was 55 years old, with so
much more that I wanted to do in my life, and now I am going to die. That went
through my mind over and over. As I began to research the virus, it didn’t get
much better, because it seemed like it was all bad news. I was obsessed with it,
and I couldn’t get it off my mind.
The next step was to see a
Hepatologist. More blood work was ordered to determine my genotype, etc. It came
back as genotype 1a, and I was told that it was the most resistant to
treatment. It was just more bad news. It seemed like that was the only news I
was going to get.
The next step was a liver
biopsy in early December 2009. That produced some good news about my liver. I
was happy to learn that I was stage 0-1, which means that there is little
damage to my liver from the disease. I was so happy to finally hear something
positive, and it was a great relief for my wife and family. The next step was
to plan for treatment. I was asked if I would be interested in participating in
a drug trial along with standard treatment. The Hepatologist gave me three
options actually. The first was to do nothing, the second was standard
treatment, and the third was with the drug trial. I decided that I would go
into the trial because the drug had shown a substantial increased chance of
clearing the virus, and reaching SVR. Since deciding to be a part of the trial
I have undergone many screening tests to determine if I am suitable.
The only thing they found
during screening was that I have a condition called optic nerve drusen. I am
scheduled to start treatment in a few days, and as far as I know I have been
accepted to participate.
As I begin the next stage of my
journey, I have a sense of relief mixed with anxiety about how the drugs affect
me. I want to continue to work as much as I can, and keep my life as real as
possible.
"I want to continue to be myself, and not be defined by this disease". Something that is very important to me is that there be more awareness and education about HCV so that people will get tested, get treated, and get better, without all of the added burden of stigma, isolation, and financial hardship. I wrote this before I started treatment in 2010".
My treatment was 48 weeks, and
that was a challenge at times, but I was undetectable at 5 weeks, and went on
to reach SVR at 24 weeks post Tx. I just had my one year PCR a couple of weeks
ago, and I remain clear of the virus, and continue to feel better and better…as
time goes by.
I am more involved than ever in
trying to spread awareness and understanding about HCV, and will remain
committed to this for as long as I possibly can. There are some new drugs that
have shown amazing results, and newer ones will show even greater promise, and
one day a vaccine!
I wish for all to have the
possibility for a better quality of life, and a disease free existence.
Daryl
you are an angel in disguise Daryl...I love you!
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