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Author Topic: Began Harvoni Treatment  (Read 7046 times)

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Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Began Harvoni Treatment
« on: November 25, 2015, 12:42:12 pm »
Hi to all.  :)

Finally got approved for 12 week regime for Harvoni.  Only took about 8 months!  It seems you have to have a high Fibrescan number to get anywhere with the insurance companies.  I'm not really sure how accurate the scan is, because the doctor had a hard time getting the instrument to respond due to my ribs being too close together.  Anyway, doesn't matter because now (hopefully) I'm on the road to recovery.

Started Monday November 23rd @ 10:00 am.  Taken with food.  (Felt this time would work better for me and would not interfere with any other usage of vitamins, etc.)

On Harvoni side effects for me:

Bad Nausea
Aches and pains all over.
Feeling like I have a bug.
Mostly feel cold at night.

Hoping these side effects will disappear soon so I can get back to normal activities. The nausea is the worst.

Hang in there everyone!
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: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2015, 01:53:19 pm »
Hi Healthgal! Welcome to the forums and to the Harvoni journey. :)

Re: Side effects, I think most of us with Harvoni have noticed that side effects are short term. In my case, things would arise, last for a week or 10 days, then go away. It felt like a lot of things/changes were happening in my body throughout treatment beyond just the elimination of virus, and that my body was working to adapt to each one.

Good luck! :)

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: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2015, 03:32:15 pm »
Hi Kim 

Thanks for the reassurance.  How long have you been on treatment, or have you completed your course?  I also noticed that I get some muscle cramping and intestinal issues.  I know I've just started the regime and have to be patient.

I have Geno 1 with fairly normal to borderline ALT/AST numbers.  Not sure how I picked it up, but think I've had it since the 80's.  I'm pretty sure it was through blood products.  It's been a wait & see until Harvoni came around.  Glad it's now.  Might have liver scarring.

Thanks again!  :)
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: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2015, 03:54:19 pm »
I had 12 weeks of Harvoni+ribavirin from May through July this year. And it worked. I am cured according to my SVR12 result last month. :)

I did notice throughout my treatment that things were constantly changing in my body,and my body would adapt to each new development from the drugs, then a new one would come along. I have heard other people here say the same. So in other words, I wouldn't worry too much about any particular side effect at the outset, since it will likely go away or reduce with a week.

I am not sure what to suggest for the nausea and aches and pains. Other people might have ideas. Be sure to drink plenty of water while on treatment. It really does help with a lot of the side effects.

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 BillT

  • Member
  • Posts: 573
Re: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2015, 04:09:32 pm »
Welcome to the forum Healthgal,
                                I'm glad you got approved and have started the journey.Don't worry about how you got it.Getting cured is what this is all about,and it's happening every day here.
Logged
Contracted 1973 Military
Diagnosed 1980
Pegintron treatment 2004 unsucessful
Genotype 1b
FibroScan 10 (F2)
Start Viekira 10.17.2015

AST 40 ALT 69
VL 440k
10.31.2015/Week 2 Labs : AST 14/ALT 17
No VL done
10.14.2015/Week 4 labs : AST 14/ALT 14
VL UNDETECTED!!!
12.11.2015/Week 8 Labs : AST 12/ALT 13
No VL done
01.05.2016/EOT labs : AST 15/ALT 13
VL UNDETECTED!!!

12 WEEK SRV:UN-BLOODY DETECTABLE !!!!!!!!

24 WEEK SVR:UNDETECTABLE!!!! Thank You God.

Fibroscan 6Mo. Post Treatment 7.15.2016-5.3(F1)

Offline Madelief

  • Member
  • Posts: 60
  • Together we reach the bright site of te road
Re: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2015, 04:32:18 pm »
Welcome Healthgal  :)
Glad for you that you started this treatment. There are so many people here who are cured I read, and that is very supporting.
Wish you all the best for your treatment!
Madelief 
Logged
start Harvoni 11-02-2015 (november)
Bloodtest 11-09-2015 alt 45 (before treatment 145)
8 weeks treatment
F1
Bloodworks 11-23-2015
HCV not detectable!!!
Rest of the numers in a normal range : ))))

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2015, 04:39:19 pm »
Hi, HealthGal3 -- your doctor can probably prescribe something for the nausea. It doesn't matter whether you take Harvoni with food or not, but it definitely helps if you drink lots of fluids throughout the day. If you can, get exercise despite the aches and pains. Harvoni works really quickly, eliminating most of the virus in the first couple of weeks. That could be a reason for your side effects, although why some of us have few side effects, yet still get rid of the virus is a puzzle.

Gnatty
Logged
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2015, 05:40:45 pm »
Great to hear from all of you!
 
Everyone gives great reassurance and advice.  I have been drinking more fluids, as another mentioned, this drug eats up liquids.  Has anyone dealt with the issue of taking something for headaches or aches & pains?  My headaches are from previous neck issues.  I've been refraining from taking any otc medicines. 

I take my first blood work up in little over a week.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!  ;) ;)
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 gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Began Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2015, 07:34:29 pm »
Tylenol (acetaminophen) up to 2,000 MG per day is safe with Harvoni and safe for the liver: http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2268.msg15550#msg15550
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. -Gnatty
Logged
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85
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