Hep C Discussion Forum

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Chatbox
Please log in to join the chat!
Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Julia is ready to start treatment. Questions...
Post Info TOPIC: Julia is ready to start treatment. Questions...
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
RE: Julia is ready to start treatment. Questions...
Permalink  
 

mallani wrote:

It's a fancy name for Fibroscan.

 Ha!  I wouldn't have guessed that.  Good, then Julia is getting a Fibroscan right away.



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
mallani


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3398
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hi Gerald,

RUQSBD is 'Right Upper Quadrant Sheerwave Beam Dispersion. It's a fancy name for Fibroscan. Let us know the readings.

Good luck getting on Sovaldi/ Ledipasvir. That would be the first choice. Cheers.



__________________

Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
Permalink  
 

Just guessing but RUQSBD looks like an abbreviation for the location for the ultrasound :  RUQ =Right upper quadrant...  That is where the liver is located so could be.  Malcolm will know for sure.

The Sovaldi/Ledispavir will be approved October 10, 2014.  It will probably take a while to get insurance approval because most policies require prior authorization for specialty drugs.  Many people here are waiting for this treatment combo and hopefully Julia can get it too.  

Blood work can provide some information about the liver but to diagnose cirrhosis definitively she should have a liver biopsy or fibroscan.  

Well done finding the Hepatologist who speaks Mandarin for Julia; very well done.   



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
gerewolf


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 23
Date:
Permalink  
 

Matt, the blood tests, as far as I know, were testing to see if there was any damage to her liver.  I don't know if they specifically testing for cirrhosis.  On Monday she'll have some kind of sonogram, called "RUQSBD."  Anybody heard of that?  The week after I have made an appointment for her with a well-known specialist in hepatology who speaks Mandarin (Julia is a Chinese immigrant).  We're grateful for the information about the new medications coming out in a month or two. 



__________________

Julia, age 57, Hep C, genotype 1b, just diagnosed.  Hoping to start new medicine.

 
longld


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 134
Date:
Permalink  
 

gerewolf,

  I would not go to the insurance alone - your dr is much better positioned to do that once they have a proper diagnosis.  Agree with Matt, if the viral load went down to 7 million you would not assume liver is getting better......

cheers, lee



__________________

62 Yrs Old, CHC Geno 3, Cirrhosis, Kidney Transplant (13 yrs), On Sovaldi/Riba Treatment (24 week) since Feb 01,2014

Viral Load 7M on 1/8/2014,  UND at EOT 7/18/2014
Matt Chris


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1782
Date:
Permalink  
 

gerewolf wrote:

My wife, Julia, and I have written on this forum before.  She has been waiting for the new medicine because she's afraid of interferon, but her viral load keeps climbing.  It was at 4,000,000 in the beginning and now it's at 10 million.  We get conflicting information from doctors.  So far she has been relying on blood tests of her liver, which all come out negative.  

Hey Gerewolf

I am somewhat confused, what do you mean by "tests of her liver come out negative" do you mean as far as cirrhosis? BTW viral loads can vary daily by the millions so don't let that bother you.  

Isiscat is right on with her viewpoint, if you live in the USA and can wait 2 months there is no reason to include Interferon in your choice of treatment.

matt



__________________

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

61 year old Geno type A1, F4 Cirrhotic, started 24 weeks on Harvoni 12-17-14 ,EOT-5 week = UND, 8-31-15 =UND , SVR-24 Baby YES! 
Isiscat2011


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1724
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hi gerewolf:

Julia should make an appointment with a Hepatologist and also go ahead with her liver assessment (biopsy).  In less than 4 weeks a new all oral combo will be FDA approved (Sovaldi/Ledipasvir).  She may be able to get started on that right away.  

There is no reason to use an Interferon based tx when all oral DAAs are available.  The all orals typically last 12 weeks and have higher SVR rates with fewer side effects than the Interferon based tx.  Get a good doc on board and he/she will help you with the insurance co. and other details.  



__________________

Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
gerewolf


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 23
Date:
Permalink  
 

My wife, Julia, and I have written on this forum before.  She has been waiting for the new medicine because she's afraid of interferon, but her viral load keeps climbing.  It was at 4,000,000 in the beginning and now it's at 10 million.  We get conflicting information from doctors.  So far she has been relying on blood tests of her liver, which all come out negative.  But she has now scheduled an appointment for a biopsy.  I think Julia is convinced now to begin the treatment using the combo including inferferon for her genotype.  As I understand it, the treatment lasts 3 months, but she said her primary doctor told her that the interferon part lasted 3 months but that she might have to continue other medicines for 1 or two years.  We are also concerned about paying for the treatment.  I'll be calling her insurance company to see if they'll pay for it.  I also know that the drug companies themselves offer funding.  We've appreciated the feedback from the forum in the past and we'd appreciate any info you can offer about all of this now.  Thanks.



__________________

Julia, age 57, Hep C, genotype 1b, just diagnosed.  Hoping to start new medicine.

 
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Julia is ready to start treatment. Questions...
Legal Disclaimer:

THIS FORUM, IT'S OWNERS, ADMINISTRATORS, MODERATORS AND MEMBERS DO NOT AT ANY TIME GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE AND IN ALL CASES REFER ANYONE HERE TO SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ADVICE FROM THEIR DOCTOR.