Lookin good PW, you're on the way.  Happy and for you. These meds are great.  Not sure what's taking so long on my EOT 4 weeks.  Was drawn a week ago and no results      Hoping and praying we all make it to SVR.  Be well.

PW--That's great! Twenty-three mil to almost UND in 2 weeks! Can't ask for much more. Most expect UND in 4 weeks so you are on the way. Thumbs up!.

Be happy, PW. That's a fantastic result! And all in only two weeks. You are responding exceedingly well to the meds. Probably UND as I type this. Get ready to be REALLY happy at your next check. 

wayne

PW,

I would be extremely excited to be that close to UND at two weeks! It doesn't get much better than that and your LFT's look great! I don't get a VL test til six weeks ). ; 

Great News!

Hi All.  I just got my 2 week viral load test back.  My last result was 23 mil in Nov 2012.  At 2 weeks I'm <15.  Here's my results...how excited should I be about this?  At first I was very happy, but I want to see UNDETECTED don't I?

Also, btw, my ALT and AST were pretty high before and now they're back in normal range.  Here's my other results:

I took my last dose as well!  Hoping for the best! 

Congrats to you, Gator Man, I`m just catching up on your news and so pleased for you!

Thanks for such a thoughtful and inspiring post, and I have no doubt your mother would be overjoyed and very proud of your determination to rid yourself of this virus and finally achieving your goal. 

I`m very glad you intent to stay around, your comments are always appreciated as well as the support you give to other members.

Enjoy every new virus free day, you`ve worked hard for it! 

Thank you everyone for the kind  thoughts and wishes. Besides my family, there is no one I wanted to share the good news with besides my fellow forum members.

I am convinced my positive results from tx can now be replicated for almost everyone suffering from Hep C. For those still waiting, the next DAA generation will be even better and I hope that we will soon achieve virtually a 100% "cure" for everyone treated. Matt, your day will come soon!

In the 1950's, my mother was a lab assistant studying infectious diseases for Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Salk's efforts, along with the support of people like my mother, led to the eradication of polio, at least in the developed world. The number of people worldwide infected with Hepatitis C is staggering at an estimated 150-200 million, far surpassing AIDS and many of the diseases of the past like polio. If my mother were still alive, she would of course be ecstatic over my personal good fortune, but remind me that the work has just begun.

Everyone participating in this forum plays a part in that work by sharing their current or past struggles, and providing morale boosting support and information for those of us wading into this new tx landscape, especially if we have failed in the past. To respond to your comment Wayne (OldenSlow takes the prize for the best screen name, although Groupergetter is a close second), I don't plan on being a stranger. There are many members who still generously contribute their time, knowledge, and concern long after they have finished tx; I would like to be part of that group.

My special thanks goes to all the gurus who constantly support people like us that need a kindred spirit and an ear to listen. Your help has been invaluable to me personally, as I am sure everyone on the forum would agree. I also add an additional thanks to our Cinnamon Girl (Jill), who keeps this forum smoothly ticking in the background along with all the contributions she shares with it's members.

P.S. The World Cup has temporarily usurped Gator football as the center of the sports universe. My wife tells me that not everyone agrees with the part about Gator football. Although a rare occurrence, she is of course incorrect!

Gator Man,

Such great news!, I'm so happy for you.  I know what you mean about not believing this would ever happen. Waiting on my 8 week into tx bloodwork. Was ALMOST UND at 4 weeks (15), down from 1-1/2 million.  So glad to see this great news. Congrats!!!

Hey Gator Man

Another great day by another result from a very happy Gator Man, this is better than the Gators winning the national Championship.  This year 2014 will turn out to be an super Fantastic year for beating the H out HCV.

Looking forward to joining you later this year.

matt

Way to go Gator Man! 

G-man if you could see the big ole s'eatin grin on my face you'd be proud.  Excited and happy for you.  If you're coming to your old stomping grounds drop me a pm.  Would love to meet you and family.  Maybe get together for a cool one....I hear pine floats are pretty good    Congrats!

Hi Gator Man,

Congrats. Fantastic result. Cheers.

Congrats Gator Man!  Celebrate!

Gator Man wrote:

---

When maddie started this thread for all of us just beginning the off label Sovaldi/Olysio combination, there were a lot of unknowns. I think we definitely have "better treatment options" with even more promise on the horizon. If you had asked me a year ago, I wasn't confident that I would ever see this day.

 

         ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So true and the clinical trial data on the S/O combo was very limited.  My hepa doc told me that in practice they are seeing really fine across the board results with this combo.  It is doing an especially bang up job with the 1b gt even with cirrhosis.  Great news, Gator Man.  

I am so happy reading all of these great results!  Congrats GM!!!

Woot woo!!!!!!   The hits keep coming.....so happy for you!

Yeah, Gator Man! Bravo & congrats! You got your life back. So great to hear the SVR news gives all of us waiting for those post-tx weeks to be over courage.

 WOOT    Yes sir Gator Man!! I'm loving what I'm reading Brother!! I'm big time happy for you, congratulations!!

Tig

Congratulation  GM!  I love hearing the success stories of those on the new DAA's. It gives everyone much hope. Good luck.

12 - zip. A shutout. Music to our ears, Gator Man. So many of us hoping for same. Many thanks for your helpful posts throughout. Best of health to you going forward and don't be a stranger!   

wayne

Gator Man....HOORAY!!!! I love the final score!  It's been a long haul since 1982.

I"m supposed to have 12 wk eot done next Thursday but because of the 4th of July holiday w/e I am going to wait till the following Monday.  Don't want any mess up with this final blood draw...  So won't have my results for another week after that. 

Gatorman,

That is so awesome! I'm so happy for you that words can't express! What a fantastic gift. This gives me so much hope too. Way to go!

 Gator Man wrote:

"I am new to the forum so I will introduce myself. I am a 53 year old male diagnosed with Hepatitis C  (1b) in 2001, almost certainly the result of numerous blood transfusions in 1982. I was a null responder to Interferon/Ribavirin in 2001 and have been waiting for better treatment options."

That was my first post on January 6, 2014.  The jpeg is from the lab results I received yesterday. The chicken scratch on the lower right next to the smiley face is my doctor noting that I am SVR12. It also shows my AST and ALT in the normal range.

When maddie started this thread for all of us just beginning the off label Sovaldi/Olysio combination, there were a lot of unknowns. I think we definitely have "better treatment options" with even more promise on the horizon. If you had asked me a year ago, I wasn't confident that I would ever see this day.

Thank you Lisa for your kind words and the hug. 

Congrats Kurt on EOT!

Sara wrote:

---

Today is graduation day for me!  After many years and a failed course, I'm finally getting my diploma and graduating with highest honors - Hepatitis C Undetected. 

I am so proud of myself. I want to thank my husband for his love and for putting up with me. I also want to thank my educators, mentors, prescribers and providers. For those who graduated before me, thank you for being my inspiration and helping me to persevere when I wanted to give up. For those still waiting, I urge you to finish. 

Now, on to my masters degree a thesis on the immune systems ability to keep the Hepatitis C virus vault locked and a degree in EOT+12 SVR CURED!

What matters in life is what moves you. By all means keep on moving. In the spirit of love, may whoever and/or whatever moves you be good for you.

Belated congrats to Pierre on EOT+4 UND and Tanya and Peter on UND.  Congrats PW on starting tx - may you see UND quickly.

Congrats to PL's hubby, Ericka and Dee Dee on EOT - I'm with you

Congrats Maddie on EOT+8. 

 

---

 Congratulations to everyone, but Zara, you are an amazing woman I don't know your story, but you sure made me feel inspired. Hugs x

I had to stop riding about 2 years ago....totally...it was too hard and took too much out of me,  I only have young horses......they are wonderful but I'm not supposed to take any risks.....I'm thinking of cheating soon anyway,,,I feel great and want to get back into riding condition,,,lol

Hey Kurt,

Congratulations on finishing treatment!! Good luck on all of your tests today and onward to SVR!!! Good luck...

Tig

Marypetrecz wrote:

---

...you are talking about when your finished.....not during...correct?  So maybe a few weeks of being careful?  I'm not fair skinned....but I've gotten burned....

---

Mary -   Post tx yes. Seems to be much variance in the degree different people experience the sun/heat issues. I'm not of fair complexion either, but it was troublesome for me. The Olysio clears fairly quickly once the meds are stopped, though, so that's a plus. No evening riding during treatment? Why is that?

wayne

So good to hear about the sun sensitivity....I will be finished the S/O august 7th.  I'd like to start riding ASAP.  I can ride in the evening, once I'm finished....not allowed to ride during the meds,.. ): .... Too much a chance of injury I guess....I'm so temped though,....i really miss the outdoor activities.  Small price to pay.....

you are talking about when your finished.....not during...correct?  So maybe a few weeks of being careful?  I'm not fair skinned....but I've gotten burned....

kurt wrote:

---

I'm wondering how long the sun sensitivity lasts as I'd like to start training outside. The treadmill is getting boring. 

---

Hey Kurt -   In my case, started to notice improvement within a couple days. Completely resolved within 2 weeks or so. Also had increased visual sensitivity to light and that took longer, but things seem normal now. Ran outside for first time about 10 days ago. Dreadmills have their uses, but enough is enough.

wayne

kurt wrote:

---

 I'm wondering how long the sun sensitivity lasts as I'd like to start training outside. The treadmill is getting boring. All the best, Kurt

 

---

I did not have any significant sun sensitivity issues while taking Olysio, although I started tx in early January. Almost 12 weeks post tx at this point and no sun problems. I've been running outdoors ( no more "dreadmill") and been at the pool mid-day several times over the last few weeks. No sunburns or skin irritations. I'm can't comment too much about the initial 4 week post tx period since I wasn't outside a lot, but I have had no unusual sx since then. I still have some insomnia, which is not abnormal for me regardless of tx.

Give it a couple of weeks, a hat and sunscreen, schedule your training for early morning or late afternoon and you should be fine.

 I took my last doses of Olysio/Sovaldi yesterday morning. I'll stop at the lab for bloodwork

today while I'm out. This morning was different in that I wasn't worried about the time. I actually slept an hour later. 

 I'm wondering how long the sun sensitivity lasts as I'd like to start training outside. The treadmill is getting boring. All the best, Kurt

-- Edited by kurt on Thursday 19th of June 2014 12:33:33 PM

Lots of good news today!! Sara, I'm right behind you. 11 more days and I will be done! 

Outstanding Rybronco! Dee Dee, your good news will arrive shortly!

Hi Mary:

Off-label just means the 2 drugs are being prescribed together on an experimental basis.  

They haven't been approved by the government to use together yet--but don't worry--they will be.

Thanks tig.  That is very helpful...and it is very confusing.  I do really enjoy this site.  It's very cooll being part of a community with a common goal.....we all want to be well.

Hi Mary,

I added a link to an explanation of it as well. I know, it can get confusing when all these terms start getting thrown around! We have a good reference in the Knowledge section about many of the abbreviations used here and elsewhere. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you take a look at it. They are helpful when these kinds of questions arise!

Tig

Duh.....lol.....I thought it was some kind of generic.....designer thing,,,,,,silly me.

Mary,

Off label means that it hasn't been an approved standard of care (treatment) by a licensing organization, such as the FDA. When you review the use of a drug by reviewing the "label" provided by the manufacturer, you will notice a list of purposes the drug is approved for. Since the FDA hasn't approved Sovaldi and Olysio as an approved or recognized treatment yet, the use of it for HCV as a combination together, is considered "OFF LABEL" use of it. I hope that explains it and isn't terribly confusing, lol!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use

Tig

I don't know what off label sovaldi and olysio means......

RYbronco, just noticed that you wrote you are UND at EOT+4....that is fantastic!  Isn't it a great feeling? So happy for you.

Congrats Rybronco! I swear, it's almost impossible keeping up with everyone that is either Undetected, or awaiting their SVR results! These new drugs are incredible and incredibly fast acting! I'm happy for all of you and wish you the best of luck. Onward to SVR!!!

Tig

Thank you all so much for the congratulations and continued good wishes.  This board is a much needed support system for me as I'm sure it is for others.  It is also, a fantastic resource filled with knowlegeable members.  Thank you again to each and every one of you.

Yay Sara!!!!