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Welcome to the Hep Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people who have Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatitis B, C or a co-infection, their friends and family and others with questions about hepatitis and liver health. Check in frequently to read what others have to say, post your comments, and hopefully learn more about how you can reach your own health goals.

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Recent Posts

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11
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by opaleye on February 15, 2024, 11:46:14 pm »
Hello Jack!

Started week 9 today! Only 20 pills to go! The incline has gotten a bit steeper lately. Fatigue is deeper, brain is foggier, and there were numerous days of digestive distress this past week, but the side effects remain tolerable and I am determined to get to The Destination.

Of course The Ultimate Destination is being Not Detected at three months post-treatment. Fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed!

I haven't had any more testing. I thought my primary care doctor was going to check CBC and CMP after the second month, but I haven't seen that lab slip in the mail yet. Yeah, I know I could've called the office to nudge them, but it's getting so close to the end though that I might as well wait for the HVC Quant order from the hepatologist's PA. That will also include CBC and CMP.

Funny, I did see the hepatologist himself last week. He did an endoscopy for my husband and chatted with me afterwards. He wondered (again) that if the insurance company had ponied up for a 12 week treatment instead of only covering 8 weeks, then maybe that would have been my cure. If they had covered another 4 weeks then perhaps there wouldn't have been a need for me to do a second and now third treatment.

Just tossing that out in case other people are wondering if they should lobby their insurance company for a longer course of treatment.

Thanks again for your encouragement and positive vibes!!  :)

Cheers,
Annie
12
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by jberlin on February 08, 2024, 09:05:04 am »
Annie,

Great to hear from you and to hear things continue to go well, and you continue to tolerate the treatment. Time continues to fly by - often too fast, but in this case let it fly! You are rounding the last turn and soon will be in the home stretch!

Have you seen a quant virus count yet? Wondering how the Vosevi is doing with 'whack a virus mole'? I am betting you are undetectable - let's get there and stay there.

Less than a month to go, so give us an update soon, and often if you can. Stay strong (and rest and hydrate!)

Hugs,
jack
13
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by opaleye on February 07, 2024, 09:50:49 pm »
Hello Jack!

Thanks again for being my seat mate on this journey. As frustrating it has been to be the straggler who didn't respond to the new treatments, I am so happy for those who did and are now cured.

Another milestone. Finished the second bottle today. Only 28 days to go!

Other than that, nothing much to report. Still struggling with deep fatigue and some "intestinal disturbance" more often, but it is tolerable. Having the extra time to sleep with working shorter days helps. I'm even getting "Good job meeting your sleep goal" praise from my smart watch  ;D

That's all for now. Thanks again for being here!

Cheers,
Annie
14
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by jberlin on January 31, 2024, 12:52:06 pm »
Dear Annie,

Thank goodness our livers are tough organs, and with a good diet will heal. I assume your Doc is just being extra careful, and why not?

Sorry about the fatigue, all you can do is keep eating, hydrating and resting - time is flying by and this needs to be, must be!, the end of your Hep C misadventure!

It is bittersweet to me that there is so little traffic on this forum now, but it is clearly because of the diminished pain and suffering of Hep C, and the wonders of scientific advancement. However, as you and I document this, many will read in the future and benefit from this diary - so please keep commenting and keep being that strong person it is clear you are!

Another day done!

Cheers,
jack
15
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by opaleye on January 30, 2024, 09:30:01 pm »
Hi Jack,

No apologies necessary! I didn't log in for a while either. We had family visiting for a few days and then I was catching up with work.

There also wasn't too much to report. I did pass the "halfway" point though -- 6 weeks completed, yay!! Almost done with week 7 now. My spreadsheet is color-coded so each week is a different highlight color. I'll take any positive feedback I can get!

Tomorrow I go to the hepatologist's office. First for a FibroScan and then a follow up visit. I'm a bit perplexed why the FibroScan. They used to do that at my annual visits but then after a liver biopsy I was told the FibroScan wasn't needed. Hmm.

The only other thing to report is that I've had a few episodes of deep fatigue lately. Not just tired, but debilitating fatigue that feels like I'm swimming through mud. Fortunately it isn't all day every day. It is enough though that I am now taking some family medical leave to shorten my work day.

Thanks again for sharing your journey and your words of encouragement! You have walked the walk so you know what it's like to travel down this road. You also know how important it is to have the support of this forum, and I so appreciate you joining me on my journey to slay this dragon.

Cheers,
Annie
16
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by jberlin on January 24, 2024, 08:47:59 pm »
Annie,

Sorry for being AWOL on you. Was actually out of touch traveling with the paying job for a few days.

Great news on the bloodwork. This means a lot, because your body is really tolerating the treatment. I remember having to get white and red blood booster injections the first go round, and how bad the white one hurt. My second treatment I tolerated so much better. And finally. it seems you are as well.

You are doing amazing and are amazing!

I am holding my breath for your quant Hep C count. I want 'not detected!' Listen to music, it sooths the soul - whatever you enjoy - with a dose of water with electrolytes.

"Stowin' away the time, Are you gatherin' up the tears?"

No more crying soon!

Hope to get an update soon!

jack
17
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by opaleye on January 11, 2024, 11:15:02 pm »
Hi Jack,

I can't tell you how much your support means to me. A thousand thanks for taking this journey with me!

Excellent news with the labs. Everything NORMAL except platelets, and that count has improved. I can't remember when I only had one value out of range with these tests!

CBC

RBC: 5.21 NORMAL (down from 5.61 HIGH on 11/17/2023)
Hemoglobin: 15.3 NORMAL (down from 16.4 HIGH on 11/17/2023)
Hematocrit: 44.8 NORMAL (down from  48.8 HIGH on 11/17/2023)
Platelets: 141 LOW (up from 133 LOW on 11/17/2023)

CMP

Alkaline Phosphatase: 103 NORMAL (down from 108 NORMAL 12/26/2023)
AST (SGOT): 29 NORMAL (up from 26 NORMAL on 2/26/2023)
ALT (SGPT): 22 NORMAL (up from 19 NORMAL on 12/26/2023)

Thanks for your encouragement to keep hydrating. I do have some electrolyte powder and that has been helping with the headaches. Perhaps that is something I should do every day as a preventative.

Sigh. At one time I called myself a musician, have the Bachelors of Music degree and everything. And yes, I did have a Steely Dan songbook and would plunk out Do It Again on the keys. Probably why that lyric jumped into my head. ;D

Cheers,
Annie
18
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by jberlin on January 11, 2024, 11:03:37 am »
Glad you are a Steely Dan fan - Keep singing! Keep hydrating. Make sure to drink something with electrolytes in it, like sugar free gatorade, or get a powder to mix in. A lot of water can flush your system too much, also causing issues.

May the side-effects subside and rest come more easily. This is my wish for you now as you race to the finish line.

Looking forward to seeing good news from your bloodwork and your treatment.

jack
19
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by opaleye on January 10, 2024, 08:49:52 pm »
Happy New Year, Jack!

Thanks again for your encouragement. I just can't imagine going through 48 weeks of treatment only to get the bad news that it didn't work. Kudos to you for getting back, Jack, and doing it again -- and it being successful with the second attempt! :)

So, a milestone today. Just finished my first bottle of Vosevi. Woo hoo! Only 56 more pills to go!

At this point my main side effects are crazy loud tinnitus, headaches, and lately more deep fatigue and brain fog. I'm trying to drink more water and get more sleep but it's been a challenge. In the evenings I have time for a cup of hot tea (usually peppermint but sometimes decaf chai) and that does down easy. Even before the treatment I just drank filtered water, but just not this much!

Today, thanks to my primary care doctor, I got a blood draw for Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP). I will post the results when they come in.

Cheers,
Annie
20
On Hepatitis C Treatment / Re: Third time is the charm? Starting 12 weeks of Vosevi
« Last post by jberlin on December 31, 2023, 10:41:17 am »
Annie,

2024 is going to be the year!

Like you, I would want to know the viral load at or about 6 weeks. You (and your Drs and the Forum) need to know how the treatment is working.

In July 2005 (back then they waited 6 months before post treatment testing) when I was told I had relapsed and my Hep C viral load was higher than before I started treatment, I was crushed. I was convinced the battle was won, which was foolish and naïve of me. 48 weeks of shots, hair loss and a weight drop of 30 pounds (interferon / Ribavirin was not a kind treatment), all for naught. After a couple of years I decided to retry, as treatments were improving, but Duke Hepatologists told me to wait as they had very promising drug trials underway (which turned out to be Incivek (telaprevir)), which is what I received for 24 weeks in 2012 (along with Ribavirin).

The point is that you fight on because you must. Not sure why you drew that rare short straw, but it will make beating Hep C even more sweet for you. And I believe that good news comes in 2024!  :)

Your posts are going to help so many others, so again, thanks for the updates and keep them coming.

Happy New Year!

jack
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