Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Sarasmile on June 19, 2017, 03:04:29 pm
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Hi everyone,
I finally got my Harvoni approved and received my pills for the full 8 weeks. Insurance issues that I'm sure many of you understand delayed my treatment for awhile.
I start my first dose today at 4pm. After all this time of waiting for approval I find myself so anxious. I have a hard time with medications as I seem to get a lot of side effects. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that I will be able to complete the therapy. I'm worried that I won't...sounds kind of silly when it's something that I prayed for. Thank you for letting me vent and any encouragement much appreciated.
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You will do well and get over it. Drink lots of water and its just 8 weeks. We have all done it so will you. :)
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Thank you Jakas. Started my first day on to a cure.☺
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Hi again, Sarasmile. Since I already shared my easy experience with Harvoni on your other thread, I'll just say that swallowing a first pill of a new medicine for me often felt like swallowing a hand grenade. Not so with Harvoni, because I had already followed a thread on these forums where people shared their mostly very easy experiences, and the Harvoni prescription information booklet showed that the most common side effects were quite rare and not hard to deal with.
Let's consider the worst-case scenario: you end up being that rare person who has trouble with Harvoni. Either your doctor can offset the trouble or you get put on a different Hep C med instead (there are other excellent choices now). It's much more likely that you will have an easy ride.
Feel free to keep us posted and ask any questions that come up.
Best,
Gnatty
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Hi Sarasmile..I like your name it reminds of a great song of Hall and Oates...I was talking to my treatment nurse at the beginning of Treatment about people not being able to handle it, they run a very big liver clinic (thousands) and she said nobody had to stop because of these pills....nobody...you'll see after a few days you'll chill out because there is nothing to it.. nothing like interferon. Take care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFCTFXn6xE
I start my first dose today at 4pm. After all this time of waiting for approval I find myself so anxious. I have a hard time with medications as I seem to get a lot of side effects. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that I will be able to complete the therapy. I'm worried that I won't...sounds kind of silly when it's something that I prayed for. Thank you for letting me vent and any encouragement much appreciated.
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Completed my first week of treatment. All in all it has been OK. Very emotional the first couple of days but that seems to have leveled out. Today I'm having pain in my upper back and fatigued and sleepy. Everyday has been different. Have a great day everyone.
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... So pleased it's going reasonably smoothly for you.
Best wishes,
A.
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One week down, only seven to go. So many of us had already reached UNDETECTABLE when we were tested after four weeks* that the biggest part of the battle between Harvoni and the bad guys likely occurs very early in treatment, which can explain the fatigue. We've also conjectured that the immune system gets baffled by the arrival of this new, powerful ally. Every day was different for me, too.
Gnatty
*Doctors differ greatly in their testing schedules, so yours might not test then. The official test to see if one is cured occurs twelve weeks after the end of treatment.
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One week down, only seven to go. So many of us had already reached UNDETECTABLE when we were tested after four weeks* that the biggest part of the battle between Harvoni and the bad guys likely occurs very early in treatment, which can explain the fatigue. We've also conjectured that the immune system gets baffled by the arrival of this new, powerful ally. Every day was different for me, too.
Hi Gnatty, my TX nurse also said the biggest battle happens in the first month, how do we explain that many become more irritable and emotional the last weeks of TX? (or that is what I'm reading) Thanx
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Jorah, how many of those who became more irritable and emotional the last weeks of tx were taking ribavirin, which includes anxiety and rage among its side effects? If someone taking the non-ribavirin meds becomes more emotional, it could be due to anxiety about whether they'll be cured or will end up among the unlucky few. For some people, the closer they come to a highly desired goal, the greater the anxiety that they may fail to reach it.
Just my two cents.
Gnatty
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No, they were either on Epclusa or Harvoni alone...Yeah who knows?
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Going into week 2. Today is the worst I've felt since starting treatment. Having anxiety, upper and pain, and brain fog. This to shall pass...just venting. Have a great day everyone.
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Sarasmile, vent away -- this is a place where that's okay.
Day by day, you're getting there. May nothing come that you can't bear.
Things will be a whole lot worse if I keep trying to write in verse. ;)
Gnatty
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Yes, Gnat!
Sara,
Are you drinking plenty of water?
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Yes but today I am having a hard time doing that. Can't seem to eat today either. Will keep pushing fluids..I have some bone broth...will have some of that too. Thanks everyone. Gnatty..thank you.