Started Harnoni a week ago

[Bobby T]

After 4 treatments from mixing the interferon, to Pegaferon/Ribavarin/protease Inhihibators, which almost killed me, 2years after still not recovering from the treatment it self, in March I went to Dartmouth Hitchcock, from Burlington VT to adress 'not managed ascites. They pulled 18 lbs of fluid out of me and set treatment plan. Due to muscle waste, lack of ability to eat anything besides tuna and egg salad for over a year, chronic cough due to fluid in my lungs, I developed three separate hernias. One from chest cavity to my belly button, then belly button hernia and finally every thing ruptured in the normal male hernia spot. Due to my condition, platelets at 300, 30 lbs underweight, G.I. doctor got a transplant surgeon to do the repair. Very successful, now have gained 10 lbs, eating normal low sodium diet, and started Harvoni with no side effects one week ago! Icing on the cake, walking two miles a day now, muscle tone coming back, and then my buddy long time friend got a ticket for me to the Gratefull Dead concert on the 4th of July! Been sober for 32 years, so's that not an issue, just keeping hydrated and being able to get to a bathroom quickly due to the diuretics!! Long path, but I truely believe I'm gonna make it work. Out of the cloud, and prepared to take it the 24 weeks
Bobby t

[lporterrn]

I appreciate your attitude! Glad you are on the path and hoping for a good outcome for you.

[Corey]

Wow good for you!  Give it hell!!

[Bobby T]

Two months into it now, awaiting Pcr/viral load counts, but feeling better than the last 8 years, gaining some weight back, walking two miles a day, not to mention making the Grateful Dead concert and a Cubs game on the the 3rd and 4th of July. Labs I have been taking for last 4 years continue to be 80 percent out of normal range. Don't know if the Harvoni will repair some of that, but the ascites has not returned, concerned mostly about platelets and bleed time. Keeping positive, effects of Grateful Dead concert adding on to my emotional attitude..."BE KIND".   4 more months to go, then moving from VT to Fla, and hopefully a lot less doctors!...Bobby

[S.Belle]

Congrats !  You are on the right road.
Just a tip about Florida though. When I moved here four years ago, I saw a gynecologist once a year and an internist twice a year. Now I have an internist, a gynecologist, a gastroenterologist, an orthopedist and an endocrinologist. There's also a Labcorp on every corner ! 
Life is very different here, but I love it. It's Hot and Humid in the summer, but the winter is the best. Last January during a cold snap, I had to wear closed toe shoes and a sweater for three days !  Lol !  I'm in SW FLA and a typical winter day is 75-80.  You will adjust and not miss those boots. Good luck !

[Bobby T]

Thank you for the info. Planning on "Ormond Beach, hep -c free! My doctor at Dartmouth has already given me D.I.'s for referral, follow up, and if the time comes, transplant connection. Damage to liver very bad, but hope has returned and enjoying every day! Your 'winter days" sounds like our best summer days! Won't miss the boots at all! Also here in VT, docs were not managing  the ascites right, and I saw every 'specialist' in their system, except Gyno! All they had to do was perform a "tap", give me twice the meds to prevent return, and now the doc at Dartmouth has done that, my main ingredient to ward off the sides of the diuretic is bananas!! Eating low sodium meals and fish also help a lot. Can't wait to 'catch dinner", tan, swim, and as the old saying goes, "Go to Disney World" I feel so good being alive again! Bobby

[Bobby T]

Pcr....Non Detectable hep c!!!

[lporterrn]

Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Philadelphia]

Congratulations Bobby