Hep C Discussion Forum

65 years old, teacher, probably infected in a 1976 blood transfusion. Stage 3 Fibrosis. 1b Genotype. Joint pain and fatigue primary symptoms prior to treatment. Still working as a Math teacher. Have scaled back on non-work activity over past few years as fatigue worsened.

I'm eating well, drinking lots of water, and exercising. Seem to be sleeping a little better. More energy. Still have joint pain. Got a fitbit for Xmas and have been doing the 10,000 steps and shoveling snow.  Pretty good indication of energy level. Fitbit alarms at 6PM to remind me to take my pill. After all the effort to get this drug, I want to do everything right.

It took multiple appeals, but I got my Harvoni prescription two weeks ago.  Cost to me after Gilead coupons - $15 for 12 weeks of treatment. Thank goodness my employer-provided insurance finally came through. I was contemplating summer trip to Australia or India to seek drug through alternate channels.  I think insurers use the appeal process to limit the prescriptions they need to fill, those without the will, resources, or specialists who understand the system will not appeal and will not add cost to the insurance company for an expensive prescription.  I realize that the cost of the drug is limiting treatment. I blame Pharma "market-value" pricing for the situation many of us have found ourselves in - sick and unable to get the drugs our doctors have prescribed. Is there a credible effort to counter the lobbying strength of pharma? I've been contacted by an organization called "Fight Pharma Ripoffs" but don't know anything about them.