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Author Topic: Started Week 2 of Harvoni  (Read 6578 times)

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Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« on: November 30, 2015, 02:50:58 pm »
Just finished week one of Harvoni and was it a doozie.  I guess the side effects are different for everyone.  Mine were bad nausea, body aches, flu like systems and extreme tiredness.  I"ve always have a sensitivity to any kind of medication.  No Harvoni headaches, except for the usual neck issues that have created headaches for me prior to treatment.  Rested most of the holiday weekend and drank loads of water.

Today was the first day that I felt more normal and ventured outside.  Still have some nausea. 

We'll see what this week brings.
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2015, 06:21:50 pm »
Hang in there Healthgal! You're right - the sides really are different for eveyone, and sometimes exactly the opposite. Some people gain weight while others (me) lose all appetite and lose weight. Some people find Harvoni fatiguing while others find it stimulating to the point of insomnia. Weird!

All you can do is keep on keepin' on. One week down, 11 more to go. I made up a big 12-week calendar and taped it to my wall and crossed off each day with a big red "X". It was quite heartening for me to watch my progress as that chart filled up with red X's.

kim :)
Logged
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2015, 06:57:43 pm »
Hi Kim

Thanks for the encouragement.  I wasn't sure I could hang on after last week, but I reflect on the positive outcome.  This evening I had to take an Advil because of a bad headache, not related to treatment.  I have terrible cervical problems and usually get shots.  However, I'm staying away from them until treatment is over.

How have you been feeling since completing your treatment?  Are there any post side effects?  Weight wise, I'm still the same.  However, your right, that there are times one cannot eat.

Thanks again! 

HealthGal  ;)
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2015, 07:11:52 pm »
For me, post-treatment was MUCH rougher than treatment. Treatment side effects were no big deal, although the ribavirin anemia was certainly taking a toll on me. But I was not in physical discomfort at anytime during treatment, nor was I ill or bedridden. Post-treatment I became stricken with some mysterious undiagnosable malaise that lasted for weeks and had me housebound and often bed ridden with extreme fatigue, high fever and profuse sweats whenever I slept, which was most of the time. Personally, I think it was my immune system temporarily gone haywire. I number of people here seem to have auto-immune problems post-treatment that they did not have before but which eventually clear up.

We are at a time in history with these new drugs in which large numbers of people who have lived with a pernicious virus for decades are cleared of it in a matter of weeks. We have never before been in this situation with this disease. I think in many cases, it takes the immune system a while to catch up and figure out it does not have to work so hard anymore, does not have to have all troops at the ready 24/7/365.

I am good now. Quite good, actually. But it took me 12-14 weeks post-tx to get there. It's all worth it though. I now have my whole New Life ahead of me.

kim :)
Logged
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2015, 07:25:51 pm »
Thanks Kim, for the heads up on post treatment.  Do you think it relates to what kind of Genotype you are?

Anyone else out there with similar reactions after completing Harvoni? 

Congrads to you again on your freedom from HCV!!

HG.   ;)
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2015, 07:36:29 pm »
Hi Health Gal. I'm not sure whether genotype is related to post-treatment problems or not.

Here is one long discussion thread about people having post-treatment problems:
http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2053.0

And here is a thread on the question of whether Harvoni can cause Rheumatoid Arthritis (or conditions that mimic like RA) post-treatment. A number of people here have reported that sort of problem. RA is an auto-immune problem, the body producing an over-active inflammatory response. So it fits the theory that immune system may be left in a temporarily hyper-stimulated state following the rapid clearing of a lifetime of HCV.

http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2552.0

kim

Logged
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2015, 08:39:25 pm »
Kim

Just finished reading many of those threads you sent me.  Very interesting reading.  I know that due to my HCV over the years, created joint & muscle issues.  I also noticed that as time went on, I was getting more tired at the end of the day.  I truly (or hope) believe that when I'm cured, my body will feel much better than with the virus.  I rather go through lousy side effects now, than later on.  Only time will tell.  I may contact my Gastro doc to see if I could take a shot for my neck muscles.

All these years, I've been very diligent in taking care of myself while awaiting a cure for the disease.  I'm an avid greens juicer, vegetarian (not vegan), & exercise weekly. So, I'm hoping my post effects are minimal.  They better be, I'm planning a huge vacation for April.

HG.  ;)
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Started Week 2 of Harvoni
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2015, 08:43:21 pm »
Keep the faith! You're on the right path, and I'm sure you'll be fine post-tx.

kim :)
Logged
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/
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