Don't be discouraged. At start of tx I had a load of 19 million and at 5 1/2 weeks I still had a load of 21. Called sovaldi support line and the nurse said not to worry because it's not unusual. Wait til ur next labs.

beingsassy

Hey, David...  Many congrats on the week 4 good news. No need to stop smiling. Enjoy the ride, my friend. ;)

Rybronco -   There were always too many pills in the riba bottle to count. Did spot check from time to time to make sure they weren't breeding behind  my back, though. Five days to go. Right behind ya.

wayne

When I took my Sov/Oly this morning I noticed there are only four pills remaining!!  I didn't really "just" notice today....I have been counting every pill since the start of treatment!!  Noetheless, there are only four pills remaining and I can't wait to finish!!  I am excited to get one step closer to SVR. 

There is a tremendous wave of people on this combo finishing therapy in the next few weeks and I have heard nothing related to relapse.  My doctor is even more confident than I am...he says he has a ton of people on this combo, and he would have a ton more if insurance coverage wasn't an issue,  with no relapses thus far.  He also said he would put everyone on this combo if he could and he is declaring SVR at one month after EOT.  WOW!

At this point there are no real standards set with the new oral only combinations and I suspect many of the current standards will be recalculated as we know more. 

Happy Mothers Day to all!!

Rockon!

Rock On Barnacle!!

A Glorious feeling!!! And soon to be SVR!!

Nice Going Barnacle! Congrats!

I am so encouraged and happy to hear so many UND's! Yes!

At week 4 my viral count was at 80 total vs 16 Million pre-treatment, so I was still detectable at week 4.

I hope that in two weeks (WEEK 8) I'll be UND.

hey cool that was my mantra from the seventys. Today starts my ninth week of olysio solvadi combo UND after 4 weeks. My new blood shows und after 8 weeks, my doctor say,s after the final three weeks of treatment one more blood test and then come back in three months for blood work, although he expects the monster to be totally eradicated.

Amazing to see all the good results posted here in the past 2 weeks!!!!!

Darkstar congrats on EOT/UND!

Congrats to Audrey & Peter for getting started!

Pericles great news on 4 week/UND!

Yippee Gatorman 4  week post EOT/UND!

So happy for you and hubby on his 6 week UND Pl1952!

Rybronco sliding in to EOT soon - wtg!

Dee Dee congrats on UND!

Caryn looking forward to seeing you 5 weeks UND!

I'm 6 weeks down and 6 weeks to go - half way through and looking forward to my new lease on life. 

I went for a long walk this am before the sun came up and it felt SO good to be able to breathe deeply without coughing or getting winded.  I'm feeling better every day!

Happy Days are here again!

-- Edited by Sara on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 02:41:17 PM

Woooo Hooooo Dee Dee, UND and another joins the group.  What a great day, and like Kristen I have a big ole smile on my mug.  Congrats, happy for you.

Look at all you UND's!!!!  Way to go each of you!!  The UND's posts make me smile!

Guess what guys!!!!! My doctor called me today with my results from my blood work on the 1st and he said there is no sign of the virus to be found!!! All my numbers are great!! I am happy beyond words!!

I should  have the lab results on Wednesay and I will post them so you can let me know what you think .. :) (alt & ast , etc.. ) 

-- Edited by Dee Dee on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 01:33:08 AM

Congrats to all.  Great to see soooo much good news on one day.  The new meds are becoming miracles  for many.  Incredible

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!  I can't get rid of this big ole kool aid smile!!!  :)

Hey Gaterman

That is super great news 4 weeks post treatment UND is a really big deal. Happy for you and all your family.

Up and onward toward SVR

matt

Hey Gator Man and PL,

Big WOOT! Such great news on this Monday morning! PL, it won't be long now and you both will have the future you've both been dreaming of and Gator Man, 2% will quickly turn to <1% at week 12. I like your doctors method of sharing the SVR notification. That proves he really does care about you and enjoys the triumph of Tx! I'm thrilled for you both and love hearing this kind of news first thing. Keep fighting, victory is sweet....

Tig

Awesome and CONGRATS to Gator Man, Pl1952, and Pericles!!! 

Oh Happy Days!!! Nearing EOT....10 day countdown!! I am so ready to lose this deeply seeded fear I have carried for years and just get on with my life!!

I don't know how I will leave this earth when the time comes, but I do know it won't be at the hands of Hep C!!!!

Rockon!!

pl -   Thrilled for both of you! Thanks for starting the week off with such excellent news. ;)

Gator -   Congrats on the 4 week results. Less than 2%... gotta like those odds.

Hubby's 6 week VL test came back "not detected"!!!  Words can't explain how happy we are in this moment!!  So happy to share this with all of you!  Thank you sweet baby Jesus!

I am so happy to be hearing the good news from everyone!  

Groupergetter wrote:

---

Gman, glad you're showing signs of improvement.  SVR is just around the bend.    

---

4 Week EOT blood test and still UND! My doctor has his patients complete their 12 week post EOT blood work prior to the exam so that they can hoop and holler when he pronounces his patient as "SVR" - looking forward to it! He did indicate that post 4 week EOT relapse is less than 2 percent.

Congrats Pericles and Greg. We all will be SVR in the near future!

Audrey, my little friend's name is "Gatorade". That picture is a year old so he is a little bit larger at this point

Pericles -   Superb news and well worth a good cry. ;)

Greg -   Congrats to you, as well, on your continued UND. Loving all this fine news.

Hey Pericles

Congrats on attaining and acheiving UND its a day you will learn to cherish. Keep up adherence to the meds and away you fly.

matt 

Congrats Pericles, rock on. 

Edit post to share good news:  just checked lab results, remain UND at 8 weeks.

Pericles wrote:

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Well, just got results of lab tests after four weeks Sovaldi/Olysio/Ribavirin.  The virus was "Not Detected"; ALT = 9; AST = 16.  So far, so good.  I am guardedly optimistic.  

After 22 years with this virus eating away at my insides and playing with my head, I literally cried like a baby when I got the "Not Detected" four week results - though I recognize it does not mean cure. 

Best of luck to everyone fighting this.   

-- Edited by Pericles on Friday 2nd of May 2014 11:39:18 PM

-- Edited by Pericles on Friday 2nd of May 2014 11:49:10 PM

-- Edited by Pericles on Saturday 3rd of May 2014 12:06:57 AM

---

 That is great news!! I still had 40 showing at week 3, so hopefully at week 5 it will be GONE!!! Congrats!!!!

Hey Pericles,

Yeah!!! Congratulations, that's great news! You're well on your way to the news that we all have waited to hear, SVR. You know that it takes one step at a time, one day at a time and you're well on your way. Keep your heart and your eyes on the goal. You'll be there in no time, just doesn't seem like it will ever get there. I remember the wait, and finally quit counting the days because I was doing it so often, lol! I guarantee your day is comin', look forward to it!

Your numbers all look so good. It's amazing how fast these drugs work and you're another shining example of their effectiveness! Keep up the good work and always maintain that positive attitude! You've got a lot to be happy about tonight, woot!! Continued good luck...

Tig 

WOOOO HOOOO! HOORAY! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 11 more weeks to go....

Well, just got results of lab tests after four weeks Sovaldi/Olysio/Ribavirin.  The virus was "Not Detected"; ALT = 9; AST = 16.  So far, so good.  I am guardedly optimistic.  

After 22 years with this virus eating away at my insides and playing with my head, I literally cried like a baby when I got the "Not Detected" four week results - though I recognize it does not mean cure. 

Best of luck to everyone fighting this.   

-- Edited by Pericles on Friday 2nd of May 2014 11:39:18 PM

-- Edited by Pericles on Friday 2nd of May 2014 11:49:10 PM

Gman, glad you're showing signs of improvement.  SVR is just around the bend.    Audrey glad you got started. Keep us posted on the labs.  Good to see so much hope for those who have suffered through interferon/riba tx......and those who haven't.

Hey Gatorman. I had an iguana bigger than that gator in your picture take a lap in my pool then climb up a tree and over the fence to the neighbor's yesterday. He wasn't afraid and had an audience of three people and a dog. Thought I had it on video on my phone then realized it was on pause. It was bizarre. 

Good luck on your post-EOT appt.

Hi Pierre,

Good to hear you're pretty much done with treatment. I'm sure you're clear.  It's really wonderful, isn't it?

Wish I had paid more attention to my diet all these years. I also consumed some alcohol, even though I knew better.

it must be psychological, but I feel like I have more energy than usual. Ive been cleaning and organizing things like I haven't done in a long time.  Whatever is causing it, I welcome it. Glad I don't have a headache but I'm afraid I may have the side effect of insomnia, because I already have it somewhat. I'm retired so not a big deal but I have pets so I have to get up early. Remembering back to the two failed attempts with the interferon and RIBA, I hope I didn't sound like I'm complaining. This is going to be enjoyable!

Take care and looking forward to your post with results.

I never had a pill case before, but I bought one just for these meds-$2 pill case for $150k worth of meds. They probably deserved something more ornate!

I go in for my 4 week post-EOT exam tomorrow Based on feeling pretty much the same post-Tx as I did while on the meds, I think I had only minimal  side effects over the 84 days. Overall, if I look at a baseline of a year ago, I think I feel a lot better today. The decline with liver disease can be so insidious that is hard to notice the subtle physical and mental changes at any given time.  I'm just now starting to appreciate the positive effects of ridding myself of this virus (fingers crossed).

The third time will be a walk in the park for you Audreyanna!

Bravo Audrey -- it's a very pleasant journey in that side effects are basically zero, except for a certain elation from the very start as the good results quick in quickly. Happy trails! Tomorrow is my last day on the meds -- will have new tests done before the end of the wee, & report here. (kept my meds on the kitchen counter, which in NY from Jan to April wasn't a problem heat- or humidity-wise. Yes, & did chuckled at the though of swallowing $1600 with my breakfast every morn (though mine is a cup of hot water with  some drops of lemon juice, a 16-ounze glass of fresh vegetable juice, plus a bowl of full-grain organic cereal, oats, Faro, whatever, cooked up each morn, plus 2 cups of coffee... sets me up for the day. Have done that for the 2 years since I was diagnosed & I believe that that diet (low-glycemic for all other emals too) has been very useful for keeping the liver in the best possible shape while I waitefdfor the new meds.

Congrats Audreyanna!!

A quick 84 days and you are done!!

Your morning breakfast sounds like mine...eggs , bacon, and the equivalent of a mortgage payment!! Yummy indeed!

I find myself chuckling each morning when I take these meds......just ate $1,500,00     I know it sounds strange, I took my first meds at 3:30 pm. That night as I laid in bed, I could feel the virus being killed.

27 days to go, but hey who's counting?     Even with brain fog this tx is memorable.

Thanks, Oldenslow and Tig. Yeah, I already have them in a pill case for the week and the rest in the bottles in the fridge. I keep the ac on but it is sooo hot lately, the humidity can creep in so guess better safe than sorry.  Getting excited for tomorrow! Having scrambled eggs and dragon slayers as the main course. Yummy!

The one thing we have to consider here in Florida is the humidity too. If you keep your home air conditioned and as Wayne mentioned, you don't keep them in the sun, you should be fine. I like the refrigerator because it's climate controlled and you know it's a safe environment for medication. I just had my fridge checked and the tech mentioned my main compartment humidity was at 29%, here in the house it's 55%, outside it's 81% right now, that's some oppressive stuff. Keep your meds in a controlled environment.

Tig

Audrey -   Room temp will be fine for both meds. Instructions call for keeping below 86 degrees, so don't put them on a window sill in the sun, or anything like that. Otherwise, you be ok.  ;)

Audrey,

The refrigerator, the freezer might be too cold.

Tig

Congrats Audreyanna!

I just looked at Gilead's and Jansen's site and can't find anything on refrigeration. They are probably only sensitive to heat, like Tig said. When I picked my Olysio up at the pharmacy there was no ice packs. 

Good luck on your new Tx!

Thanks, Tig. Yes, I am soooo ready to finally slay this dragon. Third time's a charm.

So should I keep them in the fridge or freezer? I guess the fridge is ok huh? Honestly, I was afraid they had brought me the wrong drugs when it was wrapped up like that.

I'm not sure about your scripts, but all of mine were required to be kept in the refrigerator too. Some aren't sensitive to cold but very sensitive to heat. So the safest place for them is in the icebox!

Tig

Congratulations Audrey!! This is great news and I'm sure you're both excited and a tad nervous. Rightfully so, but trust me in a few short months, you're going to be doing the SVR happy dance with the rest of us!! The plan is simple, get up tomorrow and go slay a Dragon.... Good luck!

Tig

Got my pills!! Yee-haw!  Starting tomorrow morning. 

The pharmacy delivered them and oddly, they were wrapped up with ice packs and the driver told me to keep them cold. I put them in the fridge and read all of the accompanying literature and there was no mention of keeping them refrigerated. I will, just in case but is this true?

My viral load is over 14 million. I heard some of them are dead though.

My other numbers aren't too bad. You can read them in my profile! :)

My viral load is over 14 million. I heard some of them are dead though.

My other numbers aren't too bad. You can read them in my profile! :)

Wow!! Good news indeed everyone. It's simply staggering to see these results coming in so fast and so encouraging, that it almost leaves me without words (almost I said)! Congratulations to each of you. Keep up the good fight and celebrate your successes. You've all waited for your moment to come and good things come to those that wait. The proof is starting to present itself each day and with each report I've read. I'm proud of each of you for what you've accomplished thus far. Sharing your happiness and knowing we're all in this together only makes my smile wider!! Keep it going my friends...

Tig  

Audrey, I did 16 weeks as an added buffer over 12.

Hi Peter -- I'm on medicare & entering final (12th) week of S/O tx. I had tests after 2 weeks (liver functions nearly back to  normal; VL down  from 2 million to 25) than at 4 weeks: liver functions back to totally normal, VL UND; after that we waited for week 8, did liver panel -- everything normal; didn't do VL -- Dr's sense was if liver panel totally normal that indicated that you are still UND; I agreed -- seemed silly to spend more Medicare  money than necessary -- there's many with HVC around need their support; next week when I'm done with tx will have panel & VL done again; if all's okay will do next check-up in 12 weeks, which would be the moment the Dr. declares me SVR (fingers crossed). This feels comfortable to me (There will be 2 yearly MRI for the first year, & then a yearly one after that).

Yeap, this is turning into the good news thread!

Pierre

Peter M wrote:

---

This is turning into the Good News Thread! Congrats to Audreyanna and Darkstar.!

 I just had my two week visit with my hepatologist's PA who's in charge of treatments. They wouldn't run a VL until 4 weeks and then they won't  run one again after that until 12 weeks unless the 4 weeks isn't undetectable, in which case they will run another at 8 weeks. When I mentioned that I read about some one getting tested every week, he commented that he hoped that person wasn't on Medicare because he wouldn't want to be supporting that kind of testing with his personal taxes. I once had a gastroenterologist tell me that it was my duty to take interferon to clear the virus because I was on disability and taking public money from Social Security to live (I don't think she realized that SS isn't public money). I changed doctors.

Is there anyone else on Medicare here who is on this treatment? If so..how many viral load tests are you given?

The good news is that my AST and ALT and Alk Phos are all in the normal range for the first time since the 1970s. And in only two weeks of taking Sovaldi and Olysio! And with virtually no side effects!

Of course, the bottom line is being undetectable..but I won't find that out until 4 weeks.  None of the other tests showed any difference, I am still mildly anemic, and my platelets dropped from 82 to 79. 

Anyway I am super pleased about my liver function tests. 

 

Standard Range	4/1/2014	4/25/2014
ALK PHOS - 56-119 U/L	131	92
ALT (SGPT) -12-60 U/L	164	43
AST(SGOT)  - 15-41 U/L	130	37

---

Many high fives to you Darkstar, Audreanna, and Peter!

Dem sum good meds huh?

Keep Rockin On!!