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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Doctor's appointment yesterday
Post Info TOPIC: Doctor's appointment yesterday
JimmyK


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RE: Doctor's appointment yesterday
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jackershannon wrote:
".... But apparently all I wanna know is one single thing? Do they start giving hardcore injections right from the beginning of your first visit with the doctor? Pls tell me honestly.

 No way! They have to check your insurance first to make sure they are getting paid.

  Just Kidding.

 

There are quite a few items that need to be taken into consideration in order to form the proper treatment plan, none of which include needles other than the required blood testings that are part of treatment.

JimmyK

 

 



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Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
Tig


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Hi Tyler,

Welcome to the forum. We can better address your questions and concerns if you start a new thread in the New Members section. This is an older thread and belongs to the original poster, Kevin. So I don't want to hijack his thread.

Prior to you introducing yourself in a new thread, let me assure you that they don't use injectable anti virals in the treatment of Hep C any longer, not in the United States anyway. There are still references made to the use of Interferon, but they are dated. The new oral HCV DAA's (Direct Acting Anti-Virals) are taken by mouth. No injections. The only use of needles would be the occasional requirement for blood testing. It's not a frequent requirement, but necessary to confirm your response to treatment and to monitor your health.

Please introduce yourself in the New Members section. Click on the "Start New Topic" and we'll be able to continue this discussion.



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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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jackershannon


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Jaded wrote:

Nothing to worry about at all except finding a better qualified DR. Your almost there now so breath easy.

 

That's so very true.  Recently  I have been diagnosed with Hep C and this coming Friday I'm gonna have my very first visit with the doctor. This is actually making me very tensed coz since childhood I was scared of doctors, their room and obvio their injections no infact I'm trypanophobic, honestly blankstare. My sis has scheduled an appointment online with the doctor and somehow have convinced me too. But apparently all I wanna know is one single thing? Do they start giving hardcore injections right from the beginning of your first visit with the doctor? Pls tell me honestly.



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Jaded


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Nothing to worry about at all except finding a better qualified DR. Your almost there now so breath easy.

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64 year old EOT 10-28-15,SVR24 April 21 2016  ALT-12/AST-23 June '19 - fibroscan 6.9 F-0 July '19
Tig


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Hey Kevin,

The results given are excellent! You had nearly a 5 log drop in your viral quantity, that's huge and indicative of the drugs effectiveness. I won't repeat everything Jill has already explained, so allow me to echo them. I think you have this firmly under control and have nothing to worry about, except maybe that doctor, lol! Seriously, it looks great and I agree, you will be undetected following your next viral load.

Stay positive and stay the course, you're going to beat this thing! Good luck...



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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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Cinnamon Girl


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Hi Kevin, that`s an excellent result at this point in your treatment, you don`t need to be at all worried by that. 

What it means is that the PCR viral load test that was used can still detect the virus but is not able to give an exact quantity apart from saying it`s `less than` the lowest number the test can measure (<15 IU/mL).   In other words, your viral load is too low to be quantifiable, which is brilliant. 

This is not at all uncommon with Harvoni, and your next test will undoubtedly show an `undetected` result.  The link that Tig provided further down the thread should give you some reassurance about that. 

You asked in your latest thread about the issue of 8 weeks rather than 12, and I did reply then that the shorter tx duration applies to people who are tx naive, without cirrhosis, and whose pre-tx viral load is less than 6 million.  You do fall into that category and I`m sure you still have every chance of success with only 8 weeks. 

I know it must be very confusing for you when your doctor has given you such a pessimistic outlook, and also I appreciate that it is a bit late in the game to start looking for another Gastro or Hepatologist.  As others have already said here, your doctor is totally wrong with what he`s told you and obviously lacks basic understanding about this treatment, this is a very good result!  Do talk it over with your primary physician, that might help. 

The main thing is that this result shows that the treatment is working well!

 



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
KPB


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I just received my VL blood work report from the doctor   (per Tig's suggestion below)

the VL has dropped

On date: 04-17-2015 , before treatment - 1088513 IU/mL - 6.04 log IU/mL

started treatment : 06-01-2015

On date: 06-22-2015 , now it says   -  <15 IU/mL  -  <1.18 log IU/mL       "detected below the limit of Quantitation"

these results look good,  to my untrained eye, 

Harvoni TV Commercial says - "12 week treatment,  and some may be cured in as little as 8 weeks"

Gilead recommends 12 week treatment

should I just not worry ?,  should I raise some He!! ?    I would like all advise and/or suggestions, 

plus...I will also be talking to my primary physician about this as well  (maybe I am just not understanding something)

if I am not UND, @ 4 weeks, Why would my Gastro want to pull me after 8 weeks, just to put me on a different drug ? why not just do the 12 weeks.

Am I confused here ?  non of this is making sense to me.

 



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SOT 06-01-2015,  VL - 1088513 , LOG - 6.04, Genotype - 1A , Fibrosis -  F3 , 59 yr. old male ,

VL - < 15 ,  LOG - < 1.18, @ 3 week blood test 

EOT 07-27-2015,  VL -   UND  ,   @ 9 week blood test  , 

NEXT BLOOD TEST - 08-01-2016
KPB


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I want to thank you all for your words of encouragement and advise.  I agree that this DOCTOR has some issues that prohibits him from being dispassionate.  I have decided to discuss this problem with my much trusted primary physician who can, and will be very happy to help me make sense of all this new information.

Tig, I will request my blood work reports, and I will also print out the NEW OF THE DAY ARTICAL you supplied for me below and take it with me.

again thanks everyone

Kevin



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SOT 06-01-2015,  VL - 1088513 , LOG - 6.04, Genotype - 1A , Fibrosis -  F3 , 59 yr. old male ,

VL - < 15 ,  LOG - < 1.18, @ 3 week blood test 

EOT 07-27-2015,  VL -   UND  ,   @ 9 week blood test  , 

NEXT BLOOD TEST - 08-01-2016
coolheat


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Kevin, I'm a couple of days behind you in starting treatment. I just go back from Dr., received my first blood test.  He sounded alittle different in his speech.  He made a lot of reference to if this or if that, its considered failed. If they don't get some kind of results they are looking for, you get pulled from treatment or moved to another. Maybe they have regrouped and their has been an update in protocol.  Because I have had the virus for so long, I was kinda thinking there might be a few still visable. I ask him about that, before he went and found the blood results. He did not say that would prevent me from continuing with treatment. He also said something different from what he had told me before treatment; he said now, the gold standard is 6 mo. after stopping treatment with a SVL of undetectable.  If it were me, I would also look for a different Dr.. I was also told to continue some form of workout, even if light, walking on treadmill, or light weights, up and down the block, etc.. BP had been high, and dropped right away. Hang in there Kevin and look to the light. Full moon last night, pull some of the silvery light into your head.  Thinking of you. Marsha



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65 YO F, GT 1a1b, ast 14 alt 21, fibrosis 3/4 DX 1968 non a or b, TX 12 wks Harvoni, SOT 6.1.15, 1st bld wk: detected unquantifiable EOT 8.28.15 detected unquantifiable, 3 mo.EOT mid Nov.~SVR 12: ) UNDETECTED
Brian1412


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make sure you have no gap in your script...



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Brian1412


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Read the editorial part in the link. It is important for you situation and important that. You Dr doesnt seem to know it. If it were me i would make sure the med continues on schedule.the link in tigs post had from mrs porter is righ

I had a dr like that inially..took me about 2seconfs to fire her. These prople kept me straight while i found a knowledgeable. One quickly. Night and day......



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Brian1412


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If it were me i would stay on the daily med. And and do so until a dr who knows. What he is doing is on you team. Continuance. Of the med is important.....

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Brian1412


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Yeah. What. Mal said



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mallani


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Hi Kevin,

Your doctor is obviously an idiot. Everything he told you is incorrect.

Can you request a change to another doctor who knows what he's talking about.



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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
Brian1412


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I already dont like your Dr. Tig is right.. i hope you stay in touch and you listen to them

You want to make sure the Dr doent make his problem your problem.as he is very close to doing so if he stays with whast he is saying

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Tig


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Hey Kevin,

All I can say is wow! Your doctor needs to do some homework.  Your results are just fine and indicate the medication is working. I'm very disappointed in your doctor's lack of both Harvoni knowledge and bedside manner. Harvoni's function does indeed attack the viruses ability to replicate, thereby reducing its viral quantity until it's undetected. That allows your own immune system to take over from there.

You provided your viral load at the beginning of treatment in copies/ml (1 million+). The number 1.18 you provided, is the log calculation of the second test, which is a different expression. Do you have the test results from your second viral load? Share that if you have it. You should ask for copies of all your test results, you have a right to them. 

Many people aren't undetected until the end of treatment, some even go on to SVR after a detected result at EOT. The facts are there, and perhaps you can direct your doctor, in a nice way, to read this information I'm about to share with you. Don't let this discourage you. You have shown good results thus far and there is no reason to believe your treatment won't be successful. You are showing an excellent response to the treatment and SVR is determined by remaining undetected 12 weeks after the end of treatment, not before.

Don't worry about this Kevin, looks like you're progressing fine to me.

 http://hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/hcv-viral-load-test.html



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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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Brian1412


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So your basically. 4Weeks in treatment. Is that the norm thst one is either. Undected or it is decided the treatment isnt working in that time period? Seems short

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KPB


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I am on day 32 of my Harvoni treatment,  gave blood day 22, and on July 1st, I talked with my doctor.  My start of treatment VL of 1088513, has been reduced to a VL of 1.18 in three weeks.  My doctor was not happy and did not present much hope that my Harvoni treatment was going to work for me.

He told me that I will probable end up in that 1 to 4 percent of people Harvoni will not help.

I asked him if Harvoni's function was to stop the virus from reproducing ,  he told me, that was NOT a true statement.   

So.....the plan is to finish the 8 week treatment,  give blood on week 9, and see him week 10 for those results.  If I am not UND on week 10,  we will discuss round two of this fight.

also:

I have read here that:

Harvoni has a blood thinner property within it....Doc. says that is wrong, and I should be taking a baby aspirin to increase circulation.

I have also read that I should conserve my energy ,  because Harvoni need it to fight that dragon.  My Doc. says wrong, exercise to increase blood flow. 

this has not been a happy day no



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SOT 06-01-2015,  VL - 1088513 , LOG - 6.04, Genotype - 1A , Fibrosis -  F3 , 59 yr. old male ,

VL - < 15 ,  LOG - < 1.18, @ 3 week blood test 

EOT 07-27-2015,  VL -   UND  ,   @ 9 week blood test  , 

NEXT BLOOD TEST - 08-01-2016
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