Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => Considering Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Wookie13 on July 20, 2015, 08:04:56 pm
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My labs are going great says the docs and my viral load has went down to only 45!!! Soooo happy!
These are my week 2 labs! I am now starting my week 5 !!!!!
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RBC AUTO - 3.60
HGB - 12.3
HCT AUTO - 35.6
MCV - 99.00
TBILI - 1.8
MY ORIGINAL VIRAL LOAD: 9659736
MY VIRAL LOAD NOW AS OF WEEK 2: 45 !!!!!! YES!!!:)
HCV RNA LOG NUMBER (PCR) 1.65
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Congrats on your great results! I am curious how long from request for Harvoni to actually getting the prescription. Hoping to clear right behind you.
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Hello, I did not take Harvoni. I am doing my treatment with Vieira Pak and it was amazing. No problem at all. Well, my Kaiser Insurance covered almost all of it except like $3,600 which I didn’t really have so the G.I. Dept simply asked me if I would like to do their Clinical Trial at Kaiser. I said yes immediately. Totally free. Not even for my visits. Labs were $14 each time. In like 5 days I was taking the meds! I am VIRUS FREE! TOTALLY UNDETECTABLE AND PERFECT LABS as of yesterday!!!!! I am soon happy! It hasn’t sunk in yet! I still have a couple of weeks of pills to take then I’m done!!!! So happy! Get on it and see what you can work out!
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:)wow awesome! Sitting here at Mayo Clinic about to get my fibroscan. They are telling me I'm getting meds as soon as blood work & this test goes in.we'll see but the confidence here is making me feel hopeful.your excitement is making me even happier.keep us posted & I'll be checking on with my numbers this week!
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You’re on your way to ridding yourself of Hep C !!!!!!! Congrats and do everything they say and on time every day!!!! Keep us posted!!! :)
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Congrats to all who have completed treatment!
Have not started yet but trying. United healthcare denied, denied again and would not even respond to appeals! Filed a class action complaint today...... a lot of work, Dr.s labs and Fibrosure, Fibroscan etc. I am hopeful that the class action suit may help others from having to go through everything I have gone through.... and get their medications as prescribed by their doctor!
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Mrcat211..what state is the class action suit in?I'm stunned that you were denied so many times.does the Dr. office send in the appeals? I'm praying we all get the meds but all we can do is keep trying.I won't know anything for at least a week .Will let you know what happens.Stay positive!
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Rosie13 I am in California. Tried and tried like banging my head against a brick wall but not giving up.....I can't! Thanks for your reply!
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Wow Rosie I don't see how you can get denied if you are an F4....that's just crap!
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I have just begun a twelve week course of Harvoni...this is my second day. I feel very blessed to have been approved with no problems however I have been"watchfully waiting" for this moment since my diagnosis in 2004. I am confident that I have had the virus for 30+ years since I had three major blood transfusions before it was known to be in the blood supply. I have been asymptomatic with very low viral loads all these years and am filled with hope that I may actually clear this insidious virus from my body. This is my first post and I will put up my labs next time as I see most of you do that...thank you for allowing me in the group!
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Welcome, pgccpft. It's especially nice to "meet" you, since I, too, was infected by transfusions and chose a very long period of watchful waiting before starting Harvoni. I've had a very easy time of it so far -- the few side effects I've experienced have been insignificant. Even though my viral load had gone as high as >9 million and my ALT and AST had gradually risen into dangerous territory, in just 4 weeks Harvoni brought the ALT and AST down into the normal range and the VL down to undetected. Based on what you wrote, your liver is healthier than mine was at the start of treatment, so you are well on your way to being cured. -Gnatty
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Thank you so much for the welcome! I have had no one to discuss this condition with or to share the experience that I am beginning to undergo. I look forward to future discussions and sharing experiences with those that understand...again, Thank you!
pgccpft
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Wecome to the forum pgccpft! I feel just as you that since I wasn't offered any hope in 2009 when I was first diagnosed I didn't tell anyone close to me so they wouldn't worry. We had just lost a sister & father so it was obviosly a stressful time. I was just at Mayo Clinic & do not have all the numbers yet from labs but the fibroscan showed mid range damage. It is now a waiting game between Mayo & the insurance co. She did tell me they don't get as many denials as they did last year because of the competition. They will keep trying regardless of how many times they have to fight for it. I am praying to get this behind me & heal but the game really is disgusting. Wishing you all the best of luck & when my numbers are here I will post . My genotype is 1b.
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Rosie13, Thank you for the support... It is day 4 for me on the Harvoni and so far no side effects. I feel so blessed to have received this medication after nothing for so long. I will be praying you get a positive result from your ins.co. I assume it is another example of profit over people.
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Yes I believe you are right about the profit. Didn't all the big insurance companies make deals with the drug companies & get a better price though? If we needed open heart surgury we'd all be in the recovery room by now. What time of day did you choose for taking your Harvoni? I have heard that daytime has been working for some & night some others. Thanks for keeping us informed about your progress!
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Rosie13,
I am sure there is collusion between the two entities... not much we can do but to be aware of it and share our knowledge with each other.
I am taking mine at night so that if there are any unpleasant side effects I might possibly sleep through them. So far so good...
I am enjoying this back and forth between those of us that have suffered in silence for so long. We must stay strong.
pgccpft
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I take mine at noon..it seems to give me energy for some strange reason and don't want to be up late at night
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Welcome P (short for pgccpft)! Welcome aboard! I take Harvoni at 9 p.m. each night... notice I get goggy about an hour later. It has turned out to be a good time for me. I was thinking same thing, if there are side effects I would sleep though them. Minor sleep issues at times but think that would be the case no matter what time I took it. I'm thinking I often sleep through the insomnia;)
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Bree, Thank you for the welcome and P will be fine... I did not put much thought into my user name and I can see now it is rather cumbersome. This is my first time posting anything anywhere so please forgive my lack of knowledge when it comes to proper etiquette and protocol in this setting.
I am on day 5 of Harvoni and so far no side effects to mention...although this morning I awoke feeling a bit "weird". That feeling is gone now. I must say I am somewhat concerned about some post treatment stories I have read here that discuss joint pain etc. I guess we are all first sojourners on this ride and will find out together as we each experience our own journey...Again, I just feel blessed to finally have something that may rid me of this assassin hiding and waiting in my body.
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I also read the post treatment responses (scary)but I am not focusing on that right now.The way I compartmentalize is some people have some effects and others do not.Why should we worry about things that we have no control over.The hep c will do us in so the miracle of Harvoni is real & almost a reality for my cure. Let's hope we all come out on top of the world. I take care of throw away pets...I need to be healthy to help these poor animals that others have forgotten.
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Bree, thanks for suggesting the nickname P. I couldn't figure out how to pronounce pgccpft.
P, as for proper etiquette and protocol here, other than what's in the Posting Guidelines found in the WELCOME - READ THIS BEFORE POSTING! thread at the top of each major forum topic, I'm not aware of any. The diversity of monikers, personalities, and writing styles is one reason this forum community is so vibrant.
I lurked for months before registering, and as I read the "Harvoni Side effects" thread, I worried whether I would have certain ones mentioned, based on my prior medical "adventures." None of the ones I worried about has materialized, and I've reached day 45 having had only trivially minor side effects to date. -Gnatty
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Gnatty,
Thank you for the helpful information... I really see the value in this sharing of experiences with a medicine we have all been waiting on and certainly am thankful for those of us who have been blessed(but fought so hard!) to get the Harvoni. I also pray that all who are being denied over and over again will continue to have the strength to fight on just as we all have had to do to receive this medicine!
I will be posting my labs(before and after) as soon as I get them.
Thank you all for your kindness and support,
P
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Hi P (thank you for letting us call you P). I have had that weird feeling off and on throughout treatment (less now) and have described it to Dr. as just a weird feeling.
The few side effects I had in the beginning have dwindled. I am used to fatigue so I can't tell from what it's from anymore. I do have more energy and alertness and sense of well-being (loving that).
I'm aware of the sides some have after treatment. I am assuming the best and that I will feel great and be cured. The main thing I am focused on right now is SVL after treatment.
I'm just hoping it works for all of us. And, those who are being denied, please keep trying. I did and somehow it "came to me" (in the end, not through insurance but Gilead). Keep the intention going.
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Hi P & welcome to the crazy train. This is a wonderful place of exciting news & stimulating conversations that I personally find very enjoyable as well as helpful & therapeutic. Hope You trip has few sides. It's kind of like the island of misfit toys here, We might have a flaw or two but we are perfectly capable of giving Joy to many. (says the crazy guy from Texas!) Hey , by the way , has anybody seen the Engineer lately????
Hope everyone is practicing their Happy Dance in anticipation of the SVR celebration.
P.S. Spell checked it & got everything right the first time , Maybe My fingers are starting to work again!!!!!
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Thank you for the welcome Slats1056...everyone has been so kind here. As I stated earlier, I have never done this forum thing but this subject is different! Good people here fighting for their lives in virtual silence and mostly alone...this does feel like empowerment to me! I am sure what I am about to state we can all relate to however I will state it anyway; I have been wrestling with how I contracted this, then when that was determined(or narrowed down) then the whys had their day, then the what to do/what CAN I do tape starts, then the who do I tell/who CAN I tell and finally(in my experience) the lack of knowledge bordering on lack of concern from the medical establishment,ie; "Yes, it is chronic AND terminal, No, I can not tell you how long...maybe you are never effected maybe 10 years...treatment? I would recommend "watchful waiting" in your case since you have no way to pay for treatment(the watchful waiting has its own cost).ETC.
And now we are here! I do not get excited easily by nature but I must say this is truly heady stuff and I am so pleased to have you fine people to share this ride with!
Again, Thank you all!
Sincerely,
P
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Great post P. I personally don't let all the questions & doubt get to Me, after all we are human. I plan on battling the Hep C Demon & cheating the Reaper for a very long time!!!!! I was a wild child & knew everything or so I thought. Surprised everyone Including My family when I made it passed 21 years old! Fast forward four decades , I have mellowed over the Years but I'm still full of piss & vinegar. So keep Your head up & revel in the here & now!
Check out some of the personal stories on the forums & You will find You are not alone by a long shot!! Heady Stuff Indeed. Good times with Better Times on the Horizon!