I just saw your introduction post and wanted to say hello and welcome you to the forum. Here's a reference to the 8 vs 12 week protocol. If your VL were below 6 million, the new rule is for 8 weeks. I believe you're going to do well on this. Your viral load while considered high, isn't considered a negative concerning your likelihood to achieve SVR. Your VL fluctuates regularly and is affected +/- by your immune response pre treatment. Here's a chart and the link:
Treatment duration
Treatment-naïve with or without cirrhosis: 12 weeks
Treatment-experienced without cirrhosis: 12 weeks
Treatment-experienced with cirrhosis: 24 weeks
Note: 8 weeks can be considered in treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis who have pretreatment HCV RNA <6 million IU/mL
My Kaiser GI Dr. Says the duration of treatment is base on your current VL
Im at 8 million so I'll be on for 12 weeks
Cinnamon Girl said
Feb 19, 2015
Hi JoAnne, good to hear from you!
The length of treatment with Harvoni depends on whether the person has previous experience of tx and whether or not they have cirrhosis.
These are the basic protocols...
Tx naive w. or w.o cirrhosis = 12 weeks
Tx experienced w.o. cirrhoshis = 12 weeks
Tx experienced with cirrhosis = 24 week
So if this is your friend`s first treatment then he is on the right tx duration whether or not he has cirrhosis, or if he has done tx before but is not considered to have cirrhosis.
Hope that helps, and all the best of luck to him!
JoAnneh said
Feb 19, 2015
I am confused about length of treatment on Harvoni. I Acheived SVR on Incikex 2 years ago. I have been sober 28 years and have A friend that I used drugs with as a teenager has Started Harvoni for 12 weeks. . He has not had a biopsy due to no insurance. He is sober now for 5 years. Should he be prescribed 24 weeks. Any feedback appreciated as this forum Was my life line on treatment.
-- Edited by JoAnneh on Thursday 19th of February 2015 07:05:52 PM
Beacon said
Dec 16, 2014
Bob,
Yeah I don't try to get too technical about my cardio so far, just easy jogging, get my heart pumping
about 3 times a week. As you know it takes some motivation and for me that's trying to hold
all these other diseases at bay. The little I do really helps with my numbers. It's day 5 for me
on Harvoni and so far no side effects that I can blame on the pills. I'm hoping it stays like this.
Bob54 said
Dec 16, 2014
Beacon wrote:
Bob,
I have also been on a cardio routine (walk, run, walk) in the park up and down hills. I been doing it for
nearly one year and it has really helped all of my bloodwork even my liver functions are better.
I just started on Harvoni last 12/12/14 but I think this week I'm going to take it easy and
not exercise and next week maybe ease back into if I'm still feeling good.
Hi Beacon,
Sounds like we're pretty near on the same page. I do about 2-3 miles every other day for 7 days (run,walk,run). Started last January after some pretty high Cholesterol results. Bought a heart rate monitor and keep my heart rate above 130, below 160 for a half hour. I do a 30 min Upper body with dumbells on in-between days. Has also worked wonders on my Bloodwork. I am going to drop the last cardio day for a little while and see what that does for me. I'm still having the Dry eye problem. Seems to be the only issue right now. Good luck to you and keep posting.
Beacon said
Dec 16, 2014
Bob,
I have also been on a cardio routine (walk, run, walk) in the park up and down hills. I been doing it for
nearly one year and it has really helped all of my bloodwork even my liver functions are better.
I just started on Harvoni last 12/12/14 but I think this week I'm going to take it easy and
not exercise and next week maybe ease back into if I'm still feeling good.
Tess said
Dec 15, 2014
Bob54 wrote:
Completing week 1 today, nothing significant to report despite my anxiety at the start. Did have a problem with gas (embarrassing but real). I think it was a combination of my daily vitamin E supplement and Harvoni. Stopped taking the supplement on Day 2 and the gas stopped. Have also noticed a dryness in my eyes lately. Don't know if that's the weather change or TX. Have continued my exercise regimen i spoke of previously and haven't experienced any negative effects. All in all feeling pretty good about this.
Hey Bob,
Congrats on starting Harvoni! You mentioned dry eyes and maybe it's a coincidence, but at an eye exam last week the doc noticed dryness in my eyes. He wants to see me again in 3 months because he wants to find out if it's related to the Harvoni (I'm 18 days in). I hadn't heard of it being a side effect but maybe it is. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has come across that as a SE.
Take care and best of luck!
- Tess
Matt Chris said
Dec 14, 2014
Hey Bob
Good to hear from you after the first week, I think its a good idea to get your pulse rate up and move the blood around.The Tx has to reach all the areas in the body IMO a patient on treatment should move / exercise during not only treatment but the rest of there life.
Welcome to the Harvoni treatment train.
matt
Bob54 said
Dec 14, 2014
Completing week 1 today, nothing significant to report despite my anxiety at the start. Did have a problem with gas (embarrassing but real). I think it was a combination of my daily vitamin E supplement and Harvoni. Stopped taking the supplement on Day 2 and the gas stopped. Have also noticed a dryness in my eyes lately. Don't know if that's the weather change or TX. Have continued my exercise regimen i spoke of previously and haven't experienced any negative effects. All in all feeling pretty good about this.
Bob54 said
Dec 9, 2014
Thanks Cinnamon Girl, I tried to delete one but couldn't. Thanks you all for the input.
-- Edited by Bob54 on Wednesday 10th of December 2014 01:27:15 AM
Mugsy said
Dec 9, 2014
Hey there, Bob. I have been on Harvoni for over 2 weeks now. We are all different in our reactions to Harvoni and I'd add that you should listen to your body and adjust your exercise level according to how it makes you feel. The first week/10 days seem to be when the side effects were the strongest for me. I had headaches, joint pain, nausea and a bit of insomnia. So if you aren't up to the previous level of exercise, cut back a bit and adjust as you get to feeling better. Maybe change to walking or swimming for a couple weeks and then return to your previous regime, slowly. I am no expert, but this seems reasonable to me.
Good luck to you.
Mary
Cinnamon Girl said
Dec 9, 2014
HI Bob,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for introducing yourself in the New Members` Area.
I don`t have any personal experience of Harvoni either but I would say follow your doctor`s advice to decrease your exercise routine a little, certainly for the first couple of weeks, to see if you have any side effects from the medications.
On the whole it`s good to keep up some sort of exercise while on any treatment regimen, and in your case there are medical reasons for continuing with it, but just ease up a little would be my suggestion and see how it goes.
Best of luck with your treatment!
(Ps - I`ve joined your 2 threads with the same heading together so that the replies are in one place, hope you don`t mind. Jill)
Tig said
Dec 9, 2014
Hey Bob,
I can't speak from experience with Harvoni, but have to believe you're your own best judge. You sound like you have a good exercise regimen and are committed to it. However, as your doctor suggested, you might want to consider reducing the reps or overall time committed to the program. I think from the other comments here from Harvoni and Sovaldi patients, you will likely be able to tell some of your limitations in a couple of weeks at most. I might suggest cutting your routine in half, now and then seeing how you feel in two weeks. If you experience no extra fatigue at that point, you could either choose to bump it up a little or decide that for the next 10 weeks, the abbreviated schedule equals your doctors suggestion of "toning it down". Either way, it's a good idea to keep some of that energy in reserve during treatment. You never know how your body is going to react to these medications. Good luck Bob, the time will go by fairly quick and you'll be able to return to your full schedule when the time is right!
Tig
Harvoninme said
Dec 9, 2014
Hi Bob. Welcome & grats on starting treatment. A few people seem more sensitive to the side effects of Harvoni than others. Most seem to be breezing through treatment. I would let my body be my guide.
Best wishes for a quick, happy treatment!
Bob54 said
Dec 9, 2014
(duplicate post...edited by Jill)
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Tuesday 9th of December 2014 08:54:07 PM
Bob54 said
Dec 9, 2014
Started a 12 week course of Harvoni on Dec 8, so this is day 2. Have some questions about exercising if anyone can help out. Last year about this time I had very high cholesterol readings along with blood levels approaching pre-diabetic ranges. Caused a serious change in diet and eating habits as well as starting an exercise regimen that I have so far stuck to pretty religeously. Prior to starting Harvoni, over a 7 day period, I did 30 mins of cardio every other day, and did a 30 min upper body workout on the days in between, then took 2 days off. I am currently on those two days off and intend to get back to it tomorrow. Doctor advised me to tone it down a bit so my body has the energy to help fight this disease, but as I reach that moment, gotta admit I'm not sure i know what tone it down means. Has anyone on Harvoni dealt with this type of issue? On the one hand I'm dealing with Heart health and diabetes, on the other, whipping this Liver disease. Any thoughts out there? Cholesterol and blood levels are all back in normal ranges.
Hi Kerry,
I just saw your introduction post and wanted to say hello and welcome you to the forum. Here's a reference to the 8 vs 12 week protocol. If your VL were below 6 million, the new rule is for 8 weeks. I believe you're going to do well on this. Your viral load while considered high, isn't considered a negative concerning your likelihood to achieve SVR. Your VL fluctuates regularly and is affected +/- by your immune response pre treatment. Here's a chart and the link:
Treatment duration
My Kaiser GI Dr. Says the duration of treatment is base on your current VL
Im at 8 million so I'll be on for 12 weeks
Hi JoAnne, good to hear from you!
The length of treatment with Harvoni depends on whether the person has previous experience of tx and whether or not they have cirrhosis.
These are the basic protocols...
Tx naive w. or w.o cirrhosis = 12 weeks
Tx experienced w.o. cirrhoshis = 12 weeks
Tx experienced with cirrhosis = 24 week
So if this is your friend`s first treatment then he is on the right tx duration whether or not he has cirrhosis, or if he has done tx before but is not considered to have cirrhosis.
Hope that helps, and all the best of luck to him!
I am confused about length of treatment
on Harvoni.
I Acheived SVR on Incikex 2 years ago.
I have been sober 28 years and have
A friend that I used drugs with as a teenager has
Started Harvoni for 12 weeks. .
He has not had a biopsy due to no insurance.
He is sober now for 5 years.
Should he be prescribed 24 weeks.
Any feedback appreciated as this forum
Was my life line on treatment.
-- Edited by JoAnneh on Thursday 19th of February 2015 07:05:52 PM
Bob,
Yeah I don't try to get too technical about my cardio so far, just easy jogging, get my heart pumping
about 3 times a week. As you know it takes some motivation and for me that's trying to hold
all these other diseases at bay. The little I do really helps with my numbers. It's day 5 for me
on Harvoni and so far no side effects that I can blame on the pills. I'm hoping it stays like this.
Hi Beacon,
Sounds like we're pretty near on the same page. I do about 2-3 miles every other day for 7 days (run,walk,run). Started last January after some pretty high Cholesterol results. Bought a heart rate monitor and keep my heart rate above 130, below 160 for a half hour. I do a 30 min Upper body with dumbells on in-between days. Has also worked wonders on my Bloodwork. I am going to drop the last cardio day for a little while and see what that does for me. I'm still having the Dry eye problem. Seems to be the only issue right now. Good luck to you and keep posting.
Bob,
I have also been on a cardio routine (walk, run, walk) in the park up and down hills. I been doing it for
nearly one year and it has really helped all of my bloodwork even my liver functions are better.
I just started on Harvoni last 12/12/14 but I think this week I'm going to take it easy and
not exercise and next week maybe ease back into if I'm still feeling good.
Hey Bob,
Congrats on starting Harvoni! You mentioned dry eyes and maybe it's a coincidence, but at an eye exam last week the doc noticed dryness in my eyes. He wants to see me again in 3 months because he wants to find out if it's related to the Harvoni (I'm 18 days in). I hadn't heard of it being a side effect but maybe it is. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has come across that as a SE.
Take care and best of luck!
- Tess
Hey Bob
Good to hear from you after the first week, I think its a good idea to get your pulse rate up and move the blood around.The Tx has to reach all the areas in the body IMO a patient on treatment should move / exercise during not only treatment but the rest of there life.
Welcome to the Harvoni treatment train.
matt
Thanks Cinnamon Girl, I tried to delete one but couldn't. Thanks you all for the input.
-- Edited by Bob54 on Wednesday 10th of December 2014 01:27:15 AM
Hey there, Bob. I have been on Harvoni for over 2 weeks now. We are all different in our reactions to Harvoni and I'd add that you should listen to your body and adjust your exercise level according to how it makes you feel. The first week/10 days seem to be when the side effects were the strongest for me. I had headaches, joint pain, nausea and a bit of insomnia. So if you aren't up to the previous level of exercise, cut back a bit and adjust as you get to feeling better. Maybe change to walking or swimming for a couple weeks and then return to your previous regime, slowly. I am no expert, but this seems reasonable to me.
Good luck to you.
Mary
HI Bob,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for introducing yourself in the New Members` Area.
I don`t have any personal experience of Harvoni either but I would say follow your doctor`s advice to decrease your exercise routine a little, certainly for the first couple of weeks, to see if you have any side effects from the medications.
On the whole it`s good to keep up some sort of exercise while on any treatment regimen, and in your case there are medical reasons for continuing with it, but just ease up a little would be my suggestion and see how it goes.
Best of luck with your treatment!
(Ps - I`ve joined your 2 threads with the same heading together so that the replies are in one place, hope you don`t mind. Jill)
Hey Bob,
I can't speak from experience with Harvoni, but have to believe you're your own best judge. You sound like you have a good exercise regimen and are committed to it. However, as your doctor suggested, you might want to consider reducing the reps or overall time committed to the program. I think from the other comments here from Harvoni and Sovaldi patients, you will likely be able to tell some of your limitations in a couple of weeks at most. I might suggest cutting your routine in half, now and then seeing how you feel in two weeks. If you experience no extra fatigue at that point, you could either choose to bump it up a little or decide that for the next 10 weeks, the abbreviated schedule equals your doctors suggestion of "toning it down". Either way, it's a good idea to keep some of that energy in reserve during treatment. You never know how your body is going to react to these medications. Good luck Bob, the time will go by fairly quick and you'll be able to return to your full schedule when the time is right!
Tig
Hi Bob. Welcome & grats on starting treatment. A few people seem more sensitive to the side effects of Harvoni than others. Most seem to be breezing through treatment. I would let my body be my guide.
Best wishes for a quick, happy treatment!
(duplicate post...edited by Jill)
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Tuesday 9th of December 2014 08:54:07 PM
Started a 12 week course of Harvoni on Dec 8, so this is day 2. Have some questions about exercising if anyone can help out. Last year about this time I had very high cholesterol readings along with blood levels approaching pre-diabetic ranges. Caused a serious change in diet and eating habits as well as starting an exercise regimen that I have so far stuck to pretty religeously. Prior to starting Harvoni, over a 7 day period, I did 30 mins of cardio every other day, and did a 30 min upper body workout on the days in between, then took 2 days off. I am currently on those two days off and intend to get back to it tomorrow. Doctor advised me to tone it down a bit so my body has the energy to help fight this disease, but as I reach that moment, gotta admit I'm not sure i know what tone it down means. Has anyone on Harvoni dealt with this type of issue? On the one hand I'm dealing with Heart health and diabetes, on the other, whipping this Liver disease. Any thoughts out there? Cholesterol and blood levels are all back in normal ranges.