WW if you haven't jumped off the forum yet, listen I did a 12 week treatment of Harvoni started on 12/12/14 and ended on 3/5/15. I had not one single side effect. I found Harvoni to be very gentle with about as much side effects as taking an aspirin. That was my experience. I am right at 2 months post treatment and I still feel no side effects. During treatment I was beginning to feel like I was taking a placebo since I was thinking that a powerful drug like Harvoni would surely have some kind of side effects, but I was wrong....nothing....nada...zip...no nothing..no headaches..no brain fog...nothing. Then when I found out I was undetected at 4 weeks vl test, then I knew I was on the real thing :). 

Thank you Cinnamon Girl ues lets get this thread going

WW,

It is natural, brave and honest to express the fears that, I think we all have all had at one time or another.  

These side effects are nothing compared to the untreated ravages that this disease can have on the human body and spirit.

I know you can do it.  You are an athlete, so just push on and do not think about feeling poorly.  Do not allow the fear to get the best of you.  

Please do not stop treatment, OK?

Jo

Hi Ww,

We`re here for you at any time just like anyone else and it`s ok to express your fears.   Getting through treatment and ridding ourselves of Hep C isn`t easy but I`m sure we all agree that it`s the most important and worth while thing we can do.  For our future health and for the sake of our family and friends who care about us.

If you find it too scary to read about side effects and possible post treatment issues then it`s probably best if you don`t read them.  Do whatever you need to do to stay on treatment and make it as easy for yourself as possible! 

Anyway, this is Steven`s thread so let`s get back to the topic. 

Steven, I`m so pleased to see you back on the forum after so long, I remember what a struggle you`ve been through to get this far.

I wish you all the best with your recovery! 

Groupergetter wrote:

---

  For many of us the train has made it to the station.   Praying it's the last ride for all of us,

---

 We're with you Greg and everyone else finishing the ride. I look forward to many SVRs in the near future!

john

Thank you for encouraging me though. I think I may have to just keep off the forum just to keep my mind focused exclusively on healing. I apologize that I express my fears. I don't want anyone else to absorb negative energy either. I want to see others heal from this dang virus. Nobody should have to live under such horrible conditions. I pray for us all. 

I am not thinking this. I am reflecting on what I am reading on this forum. To a person new on Harvoni and newly exposed to anyone else with Hep C all of this is frightening information. I asked my doctor directly today and he said he doesn't expect me to become sick or depressed. He knows my history and I have not had any significant problems with depression or illness from HepC. Of course I want answers and some foresight of what to expect. This is my first and only Tx.   

Warrior Wolf!

I don't want to hear that from you. We are not talking about life altering side effects here. NONE of these are so awful they warrant stopping treatment. You have no idea how easy Harvoni is compared to old treatment regimes. Is some fatigue, headaches worth your long term health? Don't go looking for things to scare yourself over.  It might be a good idea if you stay off the web for awhile and just take your pills, do your yoga, etc. These forums can be extremely beneficial but for others maybe it's better to just stay off for now.  We chat about all sort of things and I really would hate to think that anything we've said scared you off your treatment.

And let's face it; most healthy people have headaches and 99% of society is suffering from fatigue; there is nothing here you can't handle Don't go freaking yourself out. OK? 

Also, keep in mind: the longer Hep C is in your body the more is  has the opportunity for  much more devastating issues that a headache or some fatigue. No one is talking about MONTHS of depression! We are only chatting about how it feels coming off of Harvoni. Like any medication there are some sort of withdrawals.  I see these as just that. I just prepped my deck for staining, it took me 3 hours.  Sure I might be tired now and need a break before I proceed but would I rather have HepC right now?  Not even close!

WW, I don't get why you think you would have months of illness and depression. I am at 16 weeks after the end of my treatment and honestly, feel better now then I did for many many years with Hep C.

I did have a terrible time on treatment but that was Sovaldi/Olysio and it took me around 8 weeks or so to get back to where I was before treatment. But now, I am so much better then I was before treatment. I know there are some people who are having a difficult time after their treatment but I think they will get better in time. Also, when you read of people not feeling well, think of all the people who don't even begin to look at these forums because they are doing fine. 

I guess it takes a little bit of blind faith, something I never really had much faith in myself. 

WW I didn't feel like I had a choice regarding treatment.  The alternative wasn't so pleasant and I had been having issues related to what I then found out was Hep C for years.  Maybe it's like trading one thing for another but I traded.  Hopefully we all traded UP.  Time will tell.  I want my golden years to be golden.  Don't stop treatment.  Just join hands and we will all travel the road together.  It's going to okay.  I don't think everyone is feeling this way.  And who knows, I might feel like a million bucks this time next year.  I am a fighter so this won't stop me from enjoying my life. 

My last day was Thursday, April 23. 

When was your last day on treatment

I finished 24 weeks and I do have cirrhosis. My doctor told me the Meds half life in your body is 5 days.  Today is my fifth day post treatment.  

During treatment I really did not have side effects.

I am tired, but  " feel more positive"

I still have my aches and pains... My liver enzymes are normal and I have been undetected since week 4.

Compared to all the other treatments I was on this is a piece of cake!  ( oh yeah, I did have a 20 pound weight gain on Harvoni!  LOL)

You can do it!

Ro

WW everybody is different dont be so negative i have had no side effects be grateful you have the opportunity be postive - You are doing the right thing - you are taking care of yourself

WW, compared to the interferon/riba treatments this is a cakewalk.  Side effects yes, just gotta keepa go, Get through it, and be thankful to have the opportunity......many don't,  In relative terms it's not too bad.  Hang tough, it passes quickly. Hard to believe I've been on this nearly 6 months,  You can do it :)

 I finished a 12 week clinical trial for Harvoni, with ribavirin, in February of 2014.  Within 6 months I felt better than I have in years.  Now, a little over 12 months out, I have become so much more active that I tore my rotator cuff (playing with my 75 lb dogs) and had to have surgery for that.  Fortunately, that too has passed. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm really looking forward to my 70th birthday this year.

Sounds as though the se of Harvoni are similar for many here.  I take my last pill of the 24 week regimen tomorrow YIPPEEEEE.   I had two bouts of virus' through this tx.  Can't ever remember having two pretty bad cases in one year.  Also have the headaches, insomnia, aches and pains and serious brain fog.  Some of these were present before tx so can't be sure it's the Harvoni......though quite certain it is a contributing factor.  I'm sure folks at work think I'm on drugs.  :)  

This tx really needs to work.  My office is closing in June and it will be no more job for gg.  If for some reason it doesn't stick, I only can only hope to deal with it with as much grace and dignity as Connie.  For many of us the train has made it to the station.   Praying it's the last ride for all of us,

Hi ss,

I finished 12 weeks of Harvoni on April 7th.  I've had headaches, exhaustion, insomnia, intestinal issues galore and a strong case of the blues. The fog is always with me.  Prior to Harvoni I had less exhaustion and equal fog.

I actually lost weight; down to 108, but can't eat too much at a time.  Alimentary canal is messed up.

Test results are excellent; ALT is slightly elevated at 34.  I am UND and everything else is within normal range.  Quite remarkable!

But, here and there I have had a few better days.  I only want a peek at normalcy to keep me going.  My main goal is to simply hang on until I feel better and I understand that is could take many months.  I can wait; I have time. 

  My body is doing a good job, so I will provide it with good food, sleep and exercise when I can. I also tire very easily, so I triage the important stuff early in the day. Some days I cannot get anything done at all. 

I too hope we can all start reporting improvements in the near future..

Jo

I have fibrosis and finished Harvoni, 8 weeks the first of Feb. 

I just talked about this today in fact.  I have a patient advocate from BCBS who has kept in contact with me.  No clue why.  I guess maybe Blue Cross is following people on Harvoni to see how they are doing.  Big investment for them?  No idea.  I got this week for my 12 week blood work and we talked about how I have been feeling after treatment.  I told her that I am bummed out somedays.  Tired and achy like so many others are.  I asked her if she was following lots of people and she is.  I asked if they are also feeling crappy after treatment and I was surprised she told me YES.  That they are all basically having the same complaints as me.  I was surprised that she told me if for some reason I did relapse she would see my results and would reach out to me.  I am HMO but she said she would refer me to where ever I wanted to go for my next doctor and treatment.  Univ of Chicago etc.  That was rather nice!  I hope I won't have to take her up on the offer though.  She knew I was unhappy with my doctor.  Anyway my point is that many people are feeling lousy after treatment ends.  Time will tell if this improves.

I have been tired before treatment as well

Yes, Shadow10cats

I finished 24 weeks 4/14 and I'm extremely tired and a little depressed.  Hope we feel better soon!!

I am not finished with my Harvoni Tx. I just finished my first week. I feel like this occasionally. I don't have the headaches or extreme fatigue. I get this flushed feeling though. I asked my Doctor and he says he has heard that commonly reported to him. I am not doing things to help detoxify myself as I go along. I am back out in the mornings for exercise. I am not running but I did walk 3.5 miles. I am going to work up to the running next week, I hope. I am going to try hot baths. I was a resort all weekend and used the jacuzzi in my room to help with the uncomfortable side effects that I have. Though I am feeling the side effects, they have been mild. I am prescribed to do 8 weeks.  

I was just going to start a post regarding withdrawals from Harvoni.  I was on it for 3 months. Stopped last Monday the 27th. I have been really tired. I am still off work but I get up around 7am and have coffee. I have a hard time not falling back asleep. Once I am up I can be productive for maybe 4 hrs before I'm down and out again. I also seem to get flushed, warm like my temp is spiking. This happens on / off throughout the day.  It also happened this morning as I was waking up I got really warm & felt kind of crummy.

Even tho Harvoni had bearable side effects it has to be a strong medication so I can only imagine my body trying to detoxify.  I'm curious if anyone else has felt like this or others withdrawal type symptoms.  (for a lack of a better word to call them)

I have cirrhosis and finished 12 weeks of Harvoni on February 15th.

1. I had the headaches at first. Mine seemed to go away with Tylenol and the use of saline nasal spray and ( Fluticasone  prescription nasal spray) I had lots of sinus issues,  joint pain , insomnia(but I had that before treatment), a very healthy appetite. I also seemed to catch EVERY virus that came my way. In 12 weeks I had a GI bug, thrush, a wicked month long flu/cold, and pink eye! And of course the brain fog.

2. My Alt and AST returned to normal levels by week 2, the lowest since 2000.    My viral load ( 4,500,000) was UND at week 4 (on December 22nd. NO viral load testing again until 12 weeks EOT.... May 15th)   My platelets remain low @ 84,000.  My A1C rose a whole point.

3. My energy level seems to be increasing. I Spring cleaned the windows inside and out and then rested the next day. I am also finding that I am sleeping better and I wake up earlier and actually feel rested!!

4. No  I added 15 pounds.

Good luck to you, ss

Anybody out there finished Harvoni with Cirrhosis

1. Any Side Effects 

2. HOw are your  Test Results - 

3. Energy Level

4. Did you lose weight

Good Luck to All