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No. Viral load rises and falls. The # doesn't tell you anything, and the fact that it is high one day to the next is irrelevant, and the fact that it is low is irrelevant. What matters most is if it goes away completely. Since you have treatment coming up, and may have more questions, the best place to get good feedback is Hep Forums. Good luck on your treatment.
Hi im supposed to start hcv treatment next week 65 yrs old geno 3 fibroscan F1 .7.2 not feeling bad from hcv but recently diagnosed copd .im a bit worried i had flu vacc 6weeks ago my viral load has increased quite a bit already very high 15 mill do you think flu vacc could cause increase .?
Thank you for writing. I am so happy my words make a difference. BTW, next year if you do get a flu shot, be aware that your age means you may get the stronger vaccine. Your body may mount a strong immune response, and for a day you may feel like you are getting the flu. It isn't the flu, it is an immune reaction. It doesn't happen to everyone one, and it doesn't happen every time. I only mention it because I think that is why some people say that they get the flu from the shot - not realizing that they are in fact building protection from it.
Thank you Lucinda for this article. I found out I had Hep C genotype 1 in the early 90's. At 64 now I still play hockey once a week and do a lot of walking when weather permits. I live in the country on a couple of acres and that alone keeps me moving. I have up until now not gotten a flu shot. I have gotten the flu about 3 or 4 times since the early 90's and have it as I write this. Day 5 and it is (slowly) going away. Thus my lucky search and finding your blog. Each time it has taken me 10 days or more to get the flu behind me. I have always suspected my immune system was compromised because of the Hep C and now I know. It can be quite frustrating and even mildly depressing for me to ride out the flu. I don't like 10 days of laying around. Your point hit home about if there was a vaccine for Hep C. I never thought the flu shot was especially dangerous but thought I could thwart it with healthy eating and life style. I know it helps but boy oh boy when it doesn't! My wife (who does not have hepatitis) had flu symptom a week or so before me, dry cough a few days and couldn't get warm for one day. That was it. I understand now that this chronic infection I have puts me at a disadvantage and will make sure (which my G.P. does a good job of) my vaccines are all updated and begin the seasonal flu shot next fall.
I am now cured after 12 weeks using sovaldi/ribavirin/peginterferon. Thanks! Awesome! A second chance for a healthy lifestyle from a deadly disease I contracted through my own fault of drugs and alcohol abuse. I had no co-pay fro the treatment or drugs. Thanks to my wonderful Dr. Marie. I experienced some fatigue and nausea in the beginning but it subsided as i progressed. I had blisters on my hands that were bad (cause unknown). Thanks to everyone who took part in my treatment.
i have been living with HCV / 1b.. along with millions of others hoping and will be fighting for Harvoni... and i have ALWAYS gotten a flu shot - since they were created and certainly since i had HCV and my viral load has remained low..and my liver is " unremarkable" in sonograms.. and I have NEVER HAD THE FLU.. and i am out in the world A LOT with my work as well... in germy places... so dont be afraid of the flu shot! The information is IN! The same panic has happened with fule shots has has happened with vacines in general, and now there is a big problem with kids and measles. vaccines do not cuase Autisim..infact the is more info that fathers sperm over 35yrs. may be the link... I read that people with HCV should get the Shingles shot... it from somewhere like the CDC.. i dont read anything that isn't VERY RELIABLE or the American Liver Foundation or somewhere like that... along with the HCV A and B vaccine - however i have been told several times, if you've had HCV B you dont need it cuase you cant ever catch it again? Doctor can tell by your blood work if you've HAD HCV B but it has gone away.. thats what i was was told becuase i had it years ago.. hope this info is correct.. great Blog! thanks you everyone that shares here and esspecially you Ms. Porter RN!
I appreciate Lloyd's commitment, and I know he has a huge following. Although I don't agree with some of what he says, I am hesitant to voice my thoughts about some of his opinions, because although I disagree, he seems to have restored health and hope to people. This is no small thing, especially when you call him your hep C guru, which is a potent affirmation of your belief in him. That said, I see many scientific flaws in Lloyd's work. For instance, observations about flu shots raising viral load are meaningless, since an increased viral load doesn't correlate to worsening of hep C. Viral loads go up and down. And quite frankly, I doubt he had hands on enough patient records all tightly controlled to make these observations. Also, "observations" are not useful at all, since we humans tend to see what we want to see. That is why double-blind studies are more important than observational ones. Lloyd does not understand some hep C basics, and it makes it hard to swallow his recommendations.
Sami Scott
I have been on Epclusa for my chronic Hep-C virus for 1-month and want to know if it is safe for me to get a flu shot while on this medication?
September 2, 2020