Hep C Discussion Forum

Hey JB1407!

Welcome here from me too! (my fellow-GT3). Glad you joined the group, and very glad you got Gilead's wonderful Epclusa. You'll be right as rain in no time. So, you are about 9 days into your therapy, and it sounds like you have already learned a lot, and are doing quite well. Glad to read your details and to see you have a lot of good things going on for you (in your favour), youth, otherwise healthy, good healthy lifestyle, aware of need for good diet and already know to drink lots of water while on therapy. You do not need "luck" the odds are already stacked in your favour with epclusa, and all your other good particular factors. Us 3's are so lucky to be treated in the era of Gileads "VEL".

Sorry, I would have met/greeted you sooner, but i have been on an "away", I have some catching up to do around here. 

We are not such a rare breed (us GT3's) - the plain ole GT3's, 3a's, 3b's ... if ya's counting us all up! there are actually quite a few of us around these parts! Seethelight,Cinnamon Girl, robertsamx, loopy lisa, Jaggles, billym, zlikster, max, wizard, anat, me, and probably a lot more I can't recall just off-hand!, there must have been quite a few more who have come and gone, those 3's who have been nicely cured but still pop in here once in a while. You are certainly not alone being a GT3, we all keep you company. 

You should write up a signature line, can I suggest something like this (below)??, otherwise, we might not be able to keep in mind your pertinent details during discussions ...

In my 30's, male, Dx March/Apr 2018. GT3 (a or b?). Might have had HCV since birth or for a long time, date unknown. Pre-treatment VL (  ?  ), ALT 201, AST 116, U/S showed some "fatty liver", Fibroscan showed Fscore of (3 or 4?/or ____ kPa's, or some level of cirrhosis?? - to be clarified), Tx 12 weeks Epclusa, SOT May 27, 2018 - EOT Aug 18. MRI to be done Jun 12. 

You can fill in blanks, change/correct/ add things to your sig line however you please as you find them out and as you progress.

I cannot tell (from what you have shared) what the >11 you mentioned stands for, whether that is "11 kPa's", from your fibroscan, which would put you in the non-cirrhotic Fscore range of F3. Perhaps it is a number pertaining to your VL, but I cannot tell without further details, such as what report it is written on, or things like measurement details written beside it, "log"/IU/ml, or kPa's, etc.

I am glad you are getting treated. Too bad your Mom went through the rough stuff, back aound 2011. She will be glad for you that you got the likes of epclusa. Like Tig said, even if you and she had the exact same GT, you would still not likely ever be able to figure out, for sure, the when/why and how you got HCV especially given your healthy, lo-risk lifestyle - you and the others here have it right tho, the priority of importance is that the HCV be treated. 

Please do post more info and labs, or share whatever you like, we will always try to help where we can, or answer questions as best as we are able.

I am looking forward to hearng more from you and about your MRI, how you are feeling and clarifications on some of your stats such as VL and Fscore.

Glad you are here. C. 

-- Edited by Canuck on Tuesday 5th of June 2018 04:46:41 AM

Hi JB,

Welcome from me also. As everybody says it really doesn't matter where the virus came from, stressing over where you may have gotten it doesn't help. Beating the thing is the important thing here. You have found a wonderful place to chat, where there are so many people happy to share their journeys with you. Good luck with yours, I look forward to hearing your updates. I have only been a member for a short time myself but have met some lovely kind and helpful people here.

I am a fellow Epclusa traveller. I began my journey on May 1 and tomorrow with end week 5 for me ( I am in Australia) I am geno 3a. (been carrying it for nearly 40 years) It had never caused me any problems. I don't know what my viral load was before treatment or my 4 week bloods. They tell me that the number of the little blighters running around in me is unimportant and has no bearing on my treatment. Best treatment plan is what genotype, fibrosis level, ultrasound etc.

I was Lucky. My tests all came out pretty good, particularly with genotype 3, and carrying it nearly 40 years. My fibrosis level was around 8 1/2 from memory. In the greeny yellow section. My ultrasound showed no fatty liver, cancer, etc. My ALT was 72. My AST was 67. My blood test last week I am now ALT 16 My AST 23 so alls going great.

I eat pretty healthy. I am a vegetarian so lots of fruit and veg, lentils nuts etc. I find on treatment I am craving the naughty things in life like cake. Been giving a bit too. LOL. I Figure its my body telling me it needs some sweeties. My treatment is going very well. We are fortunate to be on treatment in a time of these wonderful new DAA's. So many success stories and very little side effects. My side effects are minimal. Most may be side effects but may not be. The one that I know is without a doubt to do with the treatment itself or these darn bugs exiting their comfortable  home is a weird feeling in my head, sometimes with a little nausea, but nothing that is causing me too many concerns. I walk quite a lot also, trying to make my 10,000 a day. There have been a few days I haven't made it since starting treatment I must admit but I have also had some 15-20,000 days.

Try not to stress. Stay positive. Good Luck. We can win this war!

Hi JB,

welcome and congratulations on getting started on Epclusa. This is the best time ever to have HCV because these drugs are miraculous. If your mommas HCV was geno3 then that may be how you got it...she may have had a small wound when she put a bandaid on your skinned knee or just about anything you can imagine or...it could have been from a completely different source...I sure do understand how a diagnosis of HCV could occupy your thoughts.(its shock I think) but as you wisely realized, it really doesnt matter, what matters is you are now on your journey to wipe out that dragon.  

I tell my children (who are around your age) worrying is like praying for the worst...so keep a positive inner dialogue.

Its great that you are walking...9,990 step a day.  Good for you (literally and figuratively)

Youre not alone, we have a lovely family here that can relate and advise and listen and care .

Alison

Hi JB,

Welcome to the forum! You have friends here who will help you through your three months of Epclusa and will try to answer your questions. Don't fret about how you contracted HCV, stay positive and realize Epclusa is highly effective for genotype 3. Assume you will be cured. Drink that gallon of water daily and don't be surprised if you get some side effects like fatigue that might last a few weeks and then go away.

Of course no alcohol at all for the rest of your life, even when you are cured. Not even an occasional beer, commit to an alcohol free life now. I'm probably just repeating what your dr has already made clear. Your viral load should be expressed in IU/ml call your dr for clarification.

For comparison Epclusa put me in bed the first four days I took it then I felt OK, some light fatigue. Towards the end of the second month I had the heavy fatigue again for a few weeks. Everyone reacts differently Epclusa just doing its' work. Call your dr if you experience side effects that bother you.

I finished my three months 3 days ago and feel great. No fatigue at all. I'm older and have some other problems like arthritis and a bum knee I have to deal with but those problems will be managed. Best wishes and the three months will pass quickly.