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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> And the count to 84 begins today! (Epclusa)
Post Info TOPIC: And the count to 84 begins today! (Epclusa)
EricChuckFar1


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RE: And the count to 84 begins today! (Epclusa)
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So I wasn't able to start two days ago unfortunately due to some friends surprise visiting me. I was hosting them for two days and panicked and decided to delay the treatment until last night. I didn't want to risk having side effects while they were staying over. I guess you could say I chickened out biggrin

But I have now officially started. I did wake up at 5AM today, being very thirsty, but other that so far so good! I'd like to believe my body and mind will treat me well during the next 3 months. We will see how things progress.

Day 2 is today.

 

Tig56 wrote:

I forgot to address your question on raw shellfish. It actually is important for those with any type of liver disease to avoid it. I'm a big fan of raw oysters, but had to decide the danger had to overrule the desire. Here's a brief description:

Raw Shellfish - Vibrio vulnificus

Seafood Safety - Vibrio in Shellfish

Wendy, sorry if I spoiled any of your favorites! V. vulnificus is a particulary nasty organism.

I seriously hate this nasty virus. It is taking away from me all the things I love! Okay, so no oysters, muscles, clams, various draught beers, wine etc. I think raw sushi should still be ok (Please tell me this is so!)

Btw, interestingly, I've had LOTS of raw shellfish during the past 4-5 years and never had issues. I wonder if I've just been getting lucky?



__________________

Diagnosed on Oct 06, 2016. Initial VL: 3 million, ALT: 20, AST: 26. Elevated Bilirubin. Genotype: 2

Started Epclusa Nov 20, 2016.

UND at 4 weeks. Und at 12 weeks.
wendyo


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I too thought of Marjim and her vacation and our mussels discussion  



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Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
Canuck


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Hey Tig/Wendy,

dejevu all over again!

Remember "marjim48" and her Carolina's vacation with mussels in wine sauce!

A lot of good info came out of that long, long thread too! And some fun. Aside from the shellfish risks (vibrio) info we explored there, there was also some good data on alcohol content left in cooked foods too!

All good stuff to be aware of. I'm with Shadow and Wendy on this. (Easy for me to avoid these risks, as I would never be "doing" raw shellfish nor alcohol in the first place -  yuk)!

Eric's plan sounds well mapped-out indeed!! smile C.

 

marjim48 wrote:

Just pulled up the 12 week blood order. Fasting not required. I assume the doc will call once viral load numbers are in. The way I saw these numbers was that I got an email from Quest saying new labs were posted on My Quest which is the patient portal. Since doc's office is closed today, they probably won't see even this till Monday.

Another random question. ....I know we cannot have alcohol. .....is it OK to have mussels made the traditional way with white wine and garlic?I heard the wine burns off. Or better to stay away from it?

 



-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Wednesday 7th of December 2016 10:31:53 AM

__________________

HCV/HBV 1973. HBV resolved. HCV undiagnosed to 2015. 64 y.o. F. Canada.

GT3a, Fibroscan F3/12 kPa - F4/12.6 kPa, VL log 7.01 (10,182,417), steatosis, high iron load.

SOF/VEL with/without GS-9857 trial - NCT02639338.

SOT March 10 - EOT May 5, 2016 - SOF/VEL/VOX 8 week trial.

 

(SEE UPDATES IN BIO)
Shadowfax


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Congrats on the start of your cure.

There is lots of good advice here but I will chime in on one point you said ..

 

Avoid alcohol (my doctor again told me it is ok to have a beer every now and then, but I think I'll avoid alcohol all together)

^^ Wise Decision! I am not sure what your doctor is thinking.

 

Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

Sf



__________________

65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
wendyo


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Luckily I detest oysters Tig! 



__________________

Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
Tig


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I forgot to address your question on raw shellfish. It actually is important for those with any type of liver disease to avoid it. I'm a big fan of raw oysters, but had to decide the danger had to overrule the desire. Here's a brief description:

Raw Shellfish - Vibrio vulnificus

Seafood Safety - Vibrio in Shellfish

Wendy, sorry if I spoiled any of your favorites! V. vulnificus is a particulary nasty organism.



__________________

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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wendyo


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Glad to see you get started Eric. I took mine with breakfast and did have some side effects for the first few weeks. (I was on harvoni) My doc let me continue to take my supplements but I went over each one with him as well as the specialty pharmacy. So if you want to take them, please have those conversations as we don't want to screw up this expensive opportunity we have been given! Never heard that about shellfish. I know I ate shrimp, sushi and probably mussels while on harvoni. Again; ask doc.             

Listen to your body. If you feel tired rest. I am a big gym person and I kept working out the entire time but if I needed an extra day off I took it. I did not drink protein shakes while on treatment. 

HYDRATE and we are cheering you on.

 

wendy



__________________

Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
Canuck


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Eric,

The only reason I chose "lunch" as my pill time, as it was the most reliable time of day I knew I would get my meal on time (and therefore my pill) on time.

(And being on additional VOX I was required to take my pill with food).

Had supper been a "more reliable" time, I would have picked supper. Suppertime for me was unreliable, suppers out at a restaurants which meant "bringing" a pill, or an early supper at 5pm, or a late one at 7 PM did not offer me the consistency I needed to create a relaible evening dosing. Partly I "might have" picked supper over lunch (in a perfect world) on the very premise that if I had sides, then perhaps a person might sleep through them? In retrospect, have no idea if taking the dose at night would have helped me at all. I suspect in my case it would NOT have made any dif to me.

Others, in trying to avoid experiencing some daytime headaches they were having, did chnage (slowly) from day to nighttime dosing (to see if they would be less aware of headaches), but it is possible that their headaches (or any sides they had been experiencing, at first, might have decreased (stopped anyway) as they progressed through their course. Who knows if it was just a matter of time, or just drinking more water, that may have really been the most influential thing that decreased their headaches versus taking the dose at night.

Better to pick your best time of day now, and not have to change it later. Tig is right about having to be very careful about having to change the time of day dose with your doc's advice. The changing of the time of day dose should be justified by a problem that could not be prevented aforehand, dose time chnages should be out of good necessity. It is possibe to chnage the dosing time, of course, but it is best to decide the best time now, to avoid having to change it. 

Once I started on lunchtime for pills, I stuck with it, as making sure I got the pill on time (at the same time every day) was the priority. Had supper time been more reliable for me, I probably would have done supper dosing.

I agree with Tig, normal diet, ask your doc about sups. C.



__________________

HCV/HBV 1973. HBV resolved. HCV undiagnosed to 2015. 64 y.o. F. Canada.

GT3a, Fibroscan F3/12 kPa - F4/12.6 kPa, VL log 7.01 (10,182,417), steatosis, high iron load.

SOF/VEL with/without GS-9857 trial - NCT02639338.

SOT March 10 - EOT May 5, 2016 - SOF/VEL/VOX 8 week trial.

 

(SEE UPDATES IN BIO)
Tig


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Congratulations Eric! You're going to do great, I'm certain of it. Epclusa is one of the finest treatments available and you're fortunate to get it. They have just released it in many areas and I hope to see it made available on request. Everyone here has been successful on this protocol. You did good!

The general rule of thumb is to avoid all supplements while on treatment. Very often they will interfere with the drug's action and/or alter the blood test results. It's best to avoid them clear through treatment and for the 12 weeks after treatment is complete for that reason. You're not going to obtain any benefit to treatment from them while on treatment. Let those high dollar drugs do their thing and if you want to resume the supplements afterwards, that's up to you. I would ask your doctor about the fish oil and increased protein. Fish oil is probably okay, but your liver will work overtime if you flood it with high protein drinks. Just eat a balanced diet and you'll be getting everything you need. Check out our nutrition section, we've got some real good ideas, especially the Green Smoothie thread if you're interested.

If you want to change your administration time, it has to be done slowly. An hour per day has been suggested if you need to move it. I don't think you're going to have much in the way of side effects with Epclusa. The reports of "sailing" through treatment has become familiar on this protocol. If you want to move it, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare team. Stay hydrated and you should be fine, 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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EricChuckFar1


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Today is day 1 of 84 for my treatment. I am excited to start it and put this whole thing behind me. After being initially diagnosed over a month ago, I was broken and alone. You folks have provided me with tremendous support and love beyond what I ever expected. Just wanted to say thank you for what you're doing! My confidence has risen significantly and I am ready for day 1!

Below, I've summarized my plans for the next 12 weeks!

 

Quick background info:

  • Diagnosed October 6th, 2016 with HCV, genotype 2.
  • Initial VL: 3 million, ALT: 20, AST: 26. Elevated Bilirubin
  • Prescribed Epclusa for 12 weeks

My plans thus far:

  • Drink plenty of water (around a gallon a day)
  • Take the pill in the evening when I am almost always home
  • Avoid alcohol (my doctor again told me it is ok to have a beer every now and then, but I think I'll avoid alcohol all together)
  • Work out and try and stay in good health!
  • Blood work at 4, 8 and 12 weeks

Few questions:

  • Is it okay to take supplements with Epclusa? I.e. Fish oil, protein shakes
  • Do I need to avoid certain food types? I read somewhere about avoiding raw shellfish. What would that include?
  • I read that some folks take the pill in the evening so that the resulting side effects are during the night
  • If I was to start in the evening, would it be okay to switch to lunch time sometime in the future (and stay consistent with that).

 

Cheers,

Eric



__________________

Diagnosed on Oct 06, 2016. Initial VL: 3 million, ALT: 20, AST: 26. Elevated Bilirubin. Genotype: 2

Started Epclusa Nov 20, 2016.

UND at 4 weeks. Und at 12 weeks.
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