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Author Topic: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks  (Read 8754 times)

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Offline Maddawg46

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  • Posts: 31
New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« on: February 28, 2015, 02:13:36 am »
Ive been waiting for this drug since 1998 when I did 6 months of peg lasted Interferon.  5 weeks now.  My SVR is <20.  Side effects are not much.  I was ready for something like Interferon.  This stuff is a piece of cake.  I had a few mild headaches, but I don't like taking Tylenol much.  I have mild Cirrosis.  Moderate fibrosis.  This stuff has me pretty excited!
I had an infection which I was given Prednisone.  That made my blood sugar go nuts.  Almost had to go to emergency twice.  I told my wife let me pass out in the parking lot.  I don't want anything interfering with this Harvoni!  Sounds like there are a lot of sick people hear.
It's a battle.  Your at war.  Better get tough.  The virus is, so you better get the warrior mentality

Offline Lynn K

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  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2015, 04:11:25 am »
Hi welcome and good luck on treatment

I am assuming you mean your viral load test (HCV RNA by PCR) was less than 20.

SVR  is a sustained viral response for example SVR 12 refers to having the virus undetected 12 weeks after you have completed treatment at that point many are calling that cured although some doctors prefer to wait for the SVR 24 test to declare success.

Are you F4 fibrosis? Only F4 fibrosis is called cirrhosis any lower number is degree of liver scarring

The stage score represents the amount of fibrosis:

• Stage F0 = no fibrosis
• Stage F1 = mild fibrosis
• Stage F2 = moderate fibrosis
• Stage F3 = bridging fibrosis
• Stage F4 = cirrhosis

Anyway good luck again
« Last Edit: February 28, 2015, 04:20:47 am by Lynn K »
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Maddawg46

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  • Posts: 31
Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2015, 08:32:17 am »
Shoot, I know my viral load was <20 at 4 weeks.  Cirrosis started last June.  The last biopsy I had which was 4 years ago showed moderate to severe Fibrosis.  The Cirrosis is why I have to take Ribavirin 2 times a day.
It's a battle.  Your at war.  Better get tough.  The virus is, so you better get the warrior mentality

Offline Lynn K

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Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2015, 03:44:06 am »
Did you hav anothe biopsy last June then? How did your doctor diagnosis the cirrhosis?

I was diagnosed at my 5th biopsy I went from F1 to F2 to F3 to F4 with each successive biopsy. My last biopsy was Jan 08 when I was diagnosed with cirrhosis. I did have a fibroscan this last fall in case my insurance needed it I think my score was 74 on that test.

Yes I started tx in November for 24 weeks Harvoni then my doctor decided to add Ribavirin which by the time it was all approved and in my hand I was just finishing week 9 or Harvoni. Right now I am just finishing week 14 Harvoni and week 5 riba so 10 more weeks to go for me I will be done on May 4th.

Did your doctor check you for esophageal varicies by doing an upper endoscopy? I had to have varicies banded in 2012 and also have some edema and some ascities so I take a diuretic Spironolactone for that.

Have you had any cirrhosis symptoms yet?

Good luck to you on treatment
« Last Edit: March 01, 2015, 04:01:24 am by Lynn K »
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Maddawg46

  • Member
  • Posts: 31
Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2015, 05:52:09 am »
I did the esophagi down the throat for the vein thing last summer.  Then another MRI in January.  Kaiser Permanente then required I get a echo cardiogram.  Another set of blood tests.  They determined the Cirrhosis from previous MRI in May 2015.
On n the 12 week Harvoni/ Ribavirin program.
I think the Cirrhosis just started.2013 I had no Cirrhosis.  Kaiser my health plan is not promoting due to cost.  I heard about Salvaldi last May and started to bug them about it.
It's a battle.  Your at war.  Better get tough.  The virus is, so you better get the warrior mentality

Offline Lynn K

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  • Member
  • Posts: 4,543
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2015, 03:19:14 pm »
Yeah I did Sovaldi Olysio from March to June last year. I was UND at 4 weeks and  at end of treatment but when I was tested 12 weeks after I finished in September the virus was back at the same level as before I treated and I had relapsed.

I was was watching the news for Harvoni to be released in October 2014. Went to my doctor appointment in November got the Harvoni and back into battle with the dragon 18 Nov.
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline saydey

  • Member
  • Posts: 11
Re: New here- Harvoni and Ribavirin 5 weeks
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2015, 02:39:43 am »
Hi to all you hepful  ;) posters. I've been one of the readers for a long time, and figured I should join in. Started Harvoni with Ribavirin April 11 for 12 weeks. Nothing awful at first, usual fatigue and pains and some severe loose bowels, but actually started to feel like my body was getting healthier. Five days into tx started to decline fast, chest pain, breathless, weaker than ever. Eeks,  long story.  Called RN but just was told to take it easy, haha, like I could do anything else!  Had labs done 4/24 (2 weeks) and saw doc today. Told her my sides (RN had told me try to limit my list of questions to "two per visit" but doc wanted to hear it all. Hair loss, digestive system stuff, breathless, tired, sadness, etc.  She ordered an anemia test right then, results back in a minute or so, and a bit of panic seemed to begin. I guess I am very very anemic from the RIBAVIRIN.  I was taking .400 MG ribavirin in the a.m. with harvoni, then 600 mg
riba  in the evening. The RN came rushing into the room saying sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry?  She and my doc basically forbade me to take a planned trip (150 rugged miles) to see my 93yo mom
So now I'm even sadder but they said side effects were from the riba, reduced the doses, and carry on (but stay at home). This is way too long, sorry, but thank you all for sharing your stories and tx. I'm so grateful that this is healing so many of us. Best to all of you.
Started Harvoni & Ribavirin 4/11/15. 
Hep C 70s or 80s,  Diagnosed in about 2005.
Cirrhosis diagnosed 2011. Decompensated as of 5/2015
Gen 1 viral load before starting tx  2,900,000.
4 weeks VL <15 still detected
8 weeks VL <15 UNdetected :)
Hopeful EOT  July 4, 2015!
Added 4 more weeks Harvoni & Riba 800mg, Not.
Insurance declined payment beyond 12 weeks.
Still undetected at 1 week after EOT, yay!

 


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