My Hepatitis C Treatment
If you’ve landed here looking for my online diary of Hepatitis C treatment, click on the links below.
You can read it in two different formats – so choose which you prefer.
1. The original Blog format – written in reverse chronological order (ie – most recent entry at the top of the computer screen)
2. Book format – where the entries are arranged in chronological order
Good news! I have now completed the 48 weeks and successfully cleared the virus. I have achieved SVR as they say in the HepC world – Sustained Viral Response. SVR means the virus is undetectable in my blood each time they test it. The testing procedures are able to detect “down to” less than 20 copies per million. Until the tests are developed to detect down to 0 copies per million no one can be labelled “cured”.
That means there is a less than 1% chance that the virus is still there lurking and hiding. But, hey, there is a 1% chance that anyone walking about in the UK has the virus without knowing it, so I reckon my chances are about the same as anyone else out there.
1. BLOG FORMAT
Click here to read the blog in original format from the beginning…
When you click on the link you will be at the first entry. Read from the bottom of the page to the top and navigate to new pages following the Next Entries < < or > > Previous Entries hyperlinks (in light blue) at the top and bottom of the current page. Then use the Archives to open each months entries, clicking < < Previous Entries and scrolling to the bottom of the page to get to the first entries of the month.
2. BOOK FORMAT
Click on the link below to download .pdf file.
My Hepatitis C Treatment Weeks 1 – 48
You will need Adobe Reader to open .pdf files. 
(Get a free download copy from Adobe.com)
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June 26th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Hi there, my mom is 51 and has hep c. She has been on two different treatments about 7 yrs ago. I was passing by your blog and was wondering what treatment you were on to get such AWESOME results!
Thanks, Bonnie
July 7th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Hi Bonnie
Sorry I’m so slow replying – but thank you for your comment and question.
I did the standard (in the UK) treatment of pegylated interferon and ribavarin.
Sorry to hear your mum was not successful on her treatments. There are devlopments happening in the field I hear so there is always hope that a newer combo of meds could be helpful to her. No doubt she is still a patient of a hepatologist or gastroenterologist who can advise her about her medical options.
I wish her well – no one deserves to have to live with this virus.
Good luck in your studies
Ron
January 20th, 2010 at 7:31 am
hi,
Thanks so much for your blog!
I just found out that I have stage 4 Hep C & cirrhosis. I will be starting treatment soon with ribavarin I think. I was wondering if I can could ask, since you said you cleared the virus at what stage were you at when you started the treatment?
I am amazed at finding out the news, as besides feeling very tired I feel fine, but then again I not fine inside. I am very hopeful for the treatment, and hope I can be “Hep Free’ one day too!
Downloading your pdf, as I down have net access at home, thanks for thinking about people without net access as well!
Thanks so much for your blog, I appreciate it`-`
Johnny
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Hi Johnny
Many thanks for your kind words about my blog – glad it is of some use to people.
The UK medical terminology and tests are different than those used in the US so it isn’t always easy to make comparisons.
My liver fibrosis was stage 4 before I started – that is stage 4 on a scale of 1-6, with 6 being cirrhosis. I think a different scale is used in the US so you cannot compare. Do you know what genotype your HepC virus is? I wondered if you meant you have genotype 4 and cirrhosis.
One thing is for sure – Hepatitis C, its symptoms and treatment issues are very complicated and it can be a steep learning curve to understand all the jargon, conditions and terminology. You will no doubt learn it all in good time.
Wishing you well
Ron
February 27th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Hi Ron,
You are welcome, sorry for taking so long to get back to you, lost the bookmark, but just found it again. Thanks so much for replying!
Yes it does seem like the terminology is different as I was told I am at Stage 4, but with cirrhosis. I have Genotype 1. I posted the information here:
http://hawaiiflash.net/hepC.pdf
Yes I am beginning to see the steep learning curve. I am starting to learn a few things, and I think that in time I will have a better understanding of everything that is happening.
thank so much!
Johnny`-`
April 11th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
im new to the computer and happy i found this site its good to know im not the only one who still feels terrible 3years after finishing the 48weeks treatment.im very tired all the time and suffer from deppresion and short time memory loss and no concentration.when i had hep.c i was active and could lead a normal life and have a laugh now that is just a memory i wonder if i will ever get better.
April 17th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Hi carol
I am sorry to hear about your experience. You don’t say if you have been back to your doctor. It might be useful to discuss whether anti-depressants or some counselling would help you to feel like you can lift your moods.
Wishing you well
Ron
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:24 am
Hello Ron, You’ve sure done a great job with your site here, impressive! I guess my case of HepC is a little different than most, I came down with it hard last April,09′ and was given 6 mos. or less to live, viral load went thru the roof, blew up with Ascities, kidney disease and had a belly button hernia from excessive fluid buildup, ended up in a wheelchair, too weak to hardly get out of bed, Did Not qualify for any of the interferon treatments, just was told to go home and be with family and friends..
My wife would set me up out in the sunshine, and boy I sure done a lot of praying, and was just wanting to make a fast end of it, but my wife pleaded with me to not leave her alone, [she's been my sweetheart for a lifetime it seems.] We’re retired, kids gone and married with their families.. but my wife and I have each other.
To make a long story short, I came across the [SITE NAME DELETED & EDITED BY RON], and it really works like crazy! I mean unbelievable, it dropped my viral loads by 60% in a little less than a month of taking his hepC and hiv. protocol everyday, also my liver enzymes dropped in the normal range in less than a month too! Same thing the next month until I’m well now, still have ascides somewhat, but that’s even lessened considerable, and no sign of the kidney disease anymore.. I know for a man my age, I’m certainly in better shape than I’ve been in over the last 10 to 15 yrs…back when I was much younger anyway. Working everyday and even go jogging with my dog now and again.. Just thought I’d share this with you as I know there are those special cases out there that gets sent home not qualifying for treatments just as I was… So hopefully, they’ll read this and realize that there is an alternative that does do a great job too. Thank you for listening to my story, and keep up the wonderful work that you’re doing here!!
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Hiya Jimmyboy
You sure do spin a good email! You are the same Jim from the website whose name I blocked out in the comments you wrote, ain’t you?
Miracle mineral supplements that bring “freedom from disease” from “TB, Aids, Herpes, Fungus, Malaria, Leprosy, Shingles, Parasites, Sleeping-Sickness, Hepatitis, Melanoma & Pneumonia”. Woohee – what a list! Those doctors just don’t know what they’re missing bothering with all that expensive medicine when those mineral supplements are only $20 a bottle.
Now you ain’t just any old home boy are you? I see you are President and Field Executive Officer of your very own International Foundation Humanitarian Project – and you run a lot of websites – I lost interest and stopped counting at 6. That’s a lot of websites selling snake-oil.
By now you may be realising I’m not too impressed by con-men making these kinds of claims and preying on the fears and misfortune of people with Hepatitis C by selling cures (subtly called “freedom from disease” and ”protocols”)
If you aren’t the same Jim, sorry about that, cause you sound a lot like him.
And sorry for you too, cause either you’ve been conned or you’re trying to con me. No mineral supplements will lower viral loads by 60% in a month and reduce ALT’s to normal range in a month and reduce ascites and alleviate kidney disease in two months – and get you out of a wheelchair and jogging too.
Jimmyboy, I have listened to your story and was not too impressed. But thanks for commenting on the great job I have done on this site – part of my “wonderful work” has been to ensure that links to websites providing phoney cures don’t appear here – and that unbelievable claims like those appearing on those sites are confronted as the nonsense that they are.
Ron
June 16th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
It’s great to hear that you reached the undetectable status. Thanks for sharing your treatment.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Hello,
I was diagnosed earlier this year in January with Hepatitis C.
My viral load in the month of april 2010 was 5800000. I did not go on treatment till now and was on a healthy diet.
I got the blood test done in the month of September and my viral load came down to 300000. This is a huge difference in the viral load.
Please advise if Hepatitis C can be cured on its own OR this is just a fluctuation.
Thank You.
November 20th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Hi Vinay
I have no medical qualifications so you should of course check with your doctor about possible reasons for your viral load dropping like this. Sometimes (and rarely I believe) viral loads do drop on on their own – but I have never heard this happening caused by a healthy diet.
I think whoever did your blood tests and gave you the results should also provide some commentary and interpretation of those results. It seems reasonable to me that you can ask them to do so.
Wishing you well
Ron
January 1st, 2011 at 2:48 am
Thanks so much for your blog. I’m at week 17 of interferon/ribavirin/protease inhibitor (it’s a study) and I have been really enjoying your account. Not maudlin! Not constantly invoking divine intervention (though you might have been thinking it). Have to say I’m very envious about your frequent aromatherapy massages. However, I have some fantastic ginger shampoo and I hit the hot tub at my gym as much as I can (not that I work out anymore, mind you). Best wishes for the new year, MJ
January 29th, 2011 at 3:54 am
I just wanted to share my own struggles with the disease with anyone interested
My blog: http://maureen120483.blogspot.com/
If you click on the link near the bottom I have shared my entire 6 year battle with getting a diagnosis and dealing with graduating college, trying to stay an athlete (I’m a swimmer and runner), and making it through grad school!
It’s a new site, but I am hoping to share some insight in how to maximize the health of the immune system in order to stay healthy, from the perspective of someone with a doctorate in the health profession… and someone who has been there herself
January 30th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Hi Maureen
I had a look at your blog. It’s unbelievable that you were struggling without a diagnosis for 6 years amidst all that contact with medical people. It confirms what I have seen before (and experienced myself) – HCV is very hard to diagnose as most diagnosticians don’t seem to add up the symptoms correctly and think HCV.
Good luck with the blog. I have added a link to it from my blogroll on the right.
Wishing you well
Ron
May 16th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Hi my name is Jewell, To be honest I didn’t feel bad just tired I really don’t know how long its been there. Started treatment, Question, in week 7 of treatment blood work says white blood count dropping, did you have this happen? How low is too low?
Anyway Congrats on your sucsess!!!!!~ The Lord already blessed you now I pray he keeps you
May 20th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Hi Jewell
Thanks for your comment.
I believe my white blood count did start dropping – but you know, it is now so long ago I cannot remember specifically. And I wouldn’t know how low is too low – I am not medically trained (or competent)
I always advise people to check with their medical team who should be providing you with that kind of supportive information. That way you will get information that applies specifically to your own personal circumstances.
Wishing you well and a good outcome on your treatment.
Ron
August 24th, 2011 at 3:39 am
Hi, Ron
Congrats on your success. I have been recently diagnosed with Hep C. It happened by accident, I donated blood and found out that I had it. I guess I am lucky, because I haven’t had any symptoms. I just have started the blog (5 min ago) because I just couldn’t hold it inside anymore and then I found yours. It is great, thank you, you actually have given me a new direction. Instead of being angry and lost I will try to use my blog to describe my story to encourage others amd may be support myself through the journey. I start my treatment in october so we’ll see how it will go.
August 27th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Hi Irina
Hope you find your blog as useful a support as I did to track your journey through treatment.
I wish you every success in your treatment beginning Ocober.
I have made a link to your blog from my front page.
Wishing you well
Ron