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Miss B


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RE: New member introduction
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Hi Bill & welcome,

Interferon side effects are true misery. Just keep telling yourself that once that toxic waste is out of your system, your depression will lift and you will feel more optimistic about life. That's the only way I got through those dark days of treatment. 

I have not taken Sovaldi but people on here report mild side effects, so I think it's the Pegasys & Ribavirin that is the problem.

I hope your labs show you are SVR, but if not, you are too young to give up! Harvoni for 24 weeks should present insignificant side effects compared to what you had with Pegasys & Ribavirin.    

Good luck!

 



__________________

Miss B
56 years old. Genotype 1B, previous treatment with interferon 1994. Started Harvoni 12/8/14. After 2 weeks, VL dropped from over 4 million to 496. At 4 weeks, undetected, but at 8 weeks, <15 mL (detected), at 12 weeks/EOT UND!  
ma snart


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Thank you Tig...

yes its tough sometimes to provide a positive environment to someone who has suffered so long, but that is what I do, Helen will make it thru this treatment, will keep forum posted on her progress.

Thanks again

Good luck to all

Snart



-- Edited by ma snart on Saturday 6th of December 2014 03:21:50 PM

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Helen infected since 84 Failed previous TX 2006 Started Harvoni on 11/22 8.5 Million viral load after 8 days viral load 933 enzymes Normal
Tig


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Hello again Lost,

Our reply crossed in the mail! The antibody test is one of the first tests and it is usually confirmed with a HCV RNA viral load test to confirm the diagnosis. That's probably what they will do on Monday. The symptoms you're having could be from the HCV. There are several common issues that we share and yours fit into that picture. Are those the complaints that brought you to your doctor? They are problems that I've seen in both the acute and chronic stages of infection. Any idea on how long or how you could have been exposed? 

Let us know a little about yourself if you feel like it. We have an excellent search function at the top center. If you have any specific questions, let us know and we'll do our best to answer them. Just know that you're among friends. Try and not worry about things. The new treatments that are available now are very effective and said to be almost side effect free. If this has to be, it's a great time for treatment! Keep in touch and let us know how things go. We're here for you! Chin up!! Good luck...

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Tig


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Hello Lost,

Welcome to the group! You're in the right place. Please share a little information about yourself and we'll go from there. I'm glad you're here!

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Tig


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Hello Tim,

Welcome to you and your wife! So happy to hear after two weeks that she is feeling good and seeing the significant drop in her viral load. She should be undetectable on her next test. Give her our best and I look forward to hearing all the updates as she progresses. She's lucky to have you by her side! It takes a lot of strength and dedication to be a caregiver through all of this. From a patients viewpoint, I can tell you that your help is so appreciated and important. Keep up the important work, she is certainly helped by your dedication and care. Good luck...

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Lost


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Hi this is my first time here.  Im not sure if i am in the right place. My last blood work showed positve for Hep C and smooth muscle antibody positive auto immune hep.  I have blood test again Monday to confirm if my Hep C is reactive i think.  Not sure what is next sure do not feel well. Bad stomach pain night sweats and chills. Itchy etc etc

 



-- Edited by Lost on Saturday 6th of December 2014 12:37:33 AM

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Bills


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Hi Bill

welcome

Congrats on doing one of the tougher ones out these days. The bright side you made it through.  Thank God you were on Solvadi that made all the difference.   Between being UND and the shorter 12 week   Interferon / riba should pass rather quick as opposed to the 48 week doses in previous triples. Look forward to here you feeling better week by week. And a quick a SVR to you

BS

 



-- Edited by Bills on Saturday 6th of December 2014 12:18:05 AM

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Bills

Harvoni started 12-12-14 for 24 wks PrevTX Geno 1 stage 3 cirrhosis - non resp Int/ ribv. Started Trial  in Aug 2011 -July 2012 into Incivek relapsed  Feb 2013 Had 72 weeks on interferon & Riba.

ma snart


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Hi, am posting for my wife Helen, she is at day 14 on 24 week Harvoni treatment and so far not many side effects, mostly nausea.

We went for first week bloodwork last Sunday and lab performed all test, she went from 8.5 million to a mere 933 viral load, so I know this is one amazing drug.

All, just wanted to say hi and look forward to all of the post, I enjoy keeping up with all you good people.

Snart



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Helen infected since 84 Failed previous TX 2006 Started Harvoni on 11/22 8.5 Million viral load after 8 days viral load 933 enzymes Normal
Donna165


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I am just starting the new drugs in clinical trials on Dec. 3rd.  Did you feel really bad?  Will be taking the new drugs.



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RudiRoo


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Congratulations! It sounds like it was a really rough mountain to climb. It must be hard to make it to the end and still feel weak. 

Sometimes reading the stories under the post treatment heading has helped me. Understanding how others made it through all these challenges can help you devise your own road map. Fingers crossed for SVR!



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Hep C since 1982, GT IL28b CC, tx naive, VL 2.5M, normal liver panel, Hepascore F-0, A-1. Sjogren's, Hashimoto's, Raynaud's, etc. SOT S/O 12 wk tx on 10.28.14. EOT 1.19.15. HEP C FREE AT LAST! 4.29.15
Groupergetter


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Hey Bill, that's a powerful combination you were on.  Glad you've made it through.  I too did the Int/Riba, Peg/Riba, and then relapsed on the S/O.  While a difficult regimen, when you reach SVR, it will have been worth all of the negative issues you've been dealing with.  As others have alluded, time for recovery is individual.  Hoping you'll see improvements with each passing day.  smile   

Because the healing takes time, some of the improvements may initially go unnoticed. As you indicated, your body has had this virus over 40 years.  It may take some time to become "normal".  Many of us have dealt with this for so long, we may not know what "normal" is.  cry   In time you'll feel better.  One morning you'll wake up, look back, and realize the nightmare is over.  What a glorious day that will be. 

Congratulations, you've fought the good fight.  Relief and renewed energy are on the way.  Relax, enjoy the day, share your improvements with us.  It is encouraging for others to know one more life has been spared of this nasty virus. 

Be well.



-- Edited by Groupergetter on Saturday 22nd of November 2014 11:06:58 AM

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1b  Int/Riba relapse @ 48 weeks.  Stop tx Peg Int/Riba 12 weeks ill. Relapse S/O 6/23/14 :(   Started Harvoni 11/12/14  EOT 4/28/15.  EOT+4 UND :)  SVR! 8/4/15  :)     Thankful for every morning.
Matt Chris


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Hey Bill

Congrats on finishing your treatment, no easy task to say the least.

Depending on your current health, it could take about a month to feel fully normal again but each person can be different. Get your blood moving and eat healthy as you can.

matt 



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"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! 
bbintn


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Thanks for the responses- I've been looking around on the forum and there's some good info here.

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Bill in TN 57 year old male, diagnosed with Hep in 1972- before designated Hep C. Cirrhotic.
Tig


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Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum, I'm glad you found your way to our group! Everyone has provided some good thoughts. I was on the IFN/RIBA combo with Vic for 28 weeks. It takes months to clear the Riba and the IFN can take weeks or more it seemed, but they start clearing right away. The depression from IFN can be debilitating, I took anti depressants to control it. It was horrible, I'm sorry you had to go through that. It should improve quickly, but it does hang on in some people. If you don't notice some quick improvement, discuss it with your doctor. You don't want to live like that if you don't have to! (DUH!)  We can all relate to the emotional strain of treatment and are here to talk if you feel the need.

As suggested, search through the posts here and you'll find all kinds of useful information. If you don't find what you need or have a question, post it here or in an appropriate thread. We've got some friendly,  knowledgable people here just waiting to help. Good luck...

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Isiscat2011


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Welcome Bill:

So happy you are on the other side of tx and with a little luck that will be the end of tx for you.  Everyone is different but for most people recovery from tx is a gradual process.  I was on an Interferon based tx for ~the same amount of time as you and I noticed a mental "clearing" right away.  It is a good bet that if you SVR the fatigue will improve--probably better than it was during-- and even before tx.  Recovery from tx is so individual that it is almost impossible to predict.

Keep us posted on how you are doing, OK?  smile



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


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Welcome to the forum. Glad you made through your tx. If you look around at some old posts you'll probably find answers to questions you may have. I can't answer as I was on a different combo. But there are members here who can tell you theie experience on the tx. You were on. It took me a couple of months to start feeling better but I was on sovaldi and ribavin. Everyone responds differently so just take it easy and don't try to jump into your old habits right away. The meds you were on are pretty potent and it will take time to start feeling better. Just don't be too hard on yourself, you deserve to pamper yourself after what you went through. Give it time. Hope you stick around and let us know how you are doing.

gigi



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genotype 2 completed sovaldi and ribavirin on 6/4/14. SVR on 12/3/14
bbintn


Newbie

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Thanks Rob.



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Bill in TN 57 year old male, diagnosed with Hep in 1972- before designated Hep C. Cirrhotic.
Fireman Rob


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Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum.  Congrats on completing treatment and for fighting through the hard meds.  It takes a while for Int/Riba to leave the body.  I'll let someone that has more experience with those two meds answer but in most cases it seems six months, plus is the norm.  I noticed with Sovaldi that after about two months, I felt like the meds were leaving my body.  Good luck on SVR and keep us posted when December gets here.

There is a lot of knowledge here that can help you with all of your concerns regarding HCV. 

 Best,

-Rob



__________________

Age 33, Male. GT-1 for ten years. Diagnosed in March, 2014.

Treated with Sovaldi/Olysio: SVR 24 on February 16, 2015!
bbintn


Newbie

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Hello, I just finished 12 weeks of Solvadi/Pegasys/Ribavirin treatment and found this forum when looking for info on how long it will take to start feeling better. As you all probably know, this treatment was a real bear. I've never had such depression in all my life and my energy levels are practically non-existent. Today is the first day with no meds, so I'll just keep taking it day by day, but I'm ready to put this behind me. I'm 57 years old and cirrhotic after having Hep for 42 years- before they even called it Hep C. I had previously done interferon alone for 12 months in 1999, and Peg with Ribavirin for 6 months in 2001.

The HCV was undetectable after 4 weeks. I'll go for my end of treatment tests on Dec 1st, so I'm hoping for the same results. I doubt I would go through this again though if it turns out to be unsuccessful.

 

 



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Bill in TN 57 year old male, diagnosed with Hep in 1972- before designated Hep C. Cirrhotic.
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