Author Topic: Started Harvoni Yesterday (7/22/2015) (Read 17780 times)

Abspop · « **on:** July 23, 2015, 10:02:16 am »

Hello. I'm an old man (65) who has had HCV most of my adult life. I was able to start Harvoni yesterday and, naturally, I'm hoping for a positive outcome. I would love to see my beautiful 3 year old granddaughter get married someday.

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2015, 10:11:56 am »

Welcome to the forums, Abspop. And congrats on starting treatment! What length of harvoni treatment are you on? 12 weeks or 24? I see you have both cirrhosis (F4) and previous treatments.

Best of luck to you, and keep us all posted

kim

Abspop · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2015, 08:29:22 pm »

Hi Kim, thank you. I'm on for 24 weeks providing the first couple of months goes well.

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2015, 12:06:54 am »

Quote from: Abspop on July 23, 2015, 08:29:22 pm

Hi Kim, thank you. I'm on for 24 weeks providing the first couple of months goes well.

Excellent! I'm glad to hear you get set up with 24 weeks. That should do the trick for you.

best,
kim

sabre · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2015, 02:47:38 pm »

Welcome aboard, Pops! Best wishes on the journey.

ricpark · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2015, 07:19:22 am »

Welcome Abspop, 24 weeks is the recommended treatment for F4. I hope since you are taking Harvoni by it self you should have very little side effects (everyone is different).
I'm 67 and have had HepC 1a since the 60's. 1 more day of my 12 wks with Harvoni + Ribavirin. In the big picture it's been a cakewalk.
Rich

straycat · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2015, 06:26:20 pm »

Hi there Abspop - I started Harvoni today (7/25) and as you can see by my sig line I'll be on the 24 week train

Best wishes - it's all going to be good for us from now on

Philadelphia · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2015, 06:46:59 pm »

Good luck on your journey abspop. Hang in there. It's going to be worth it.

april · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2015, 05:59:04 pm »

Best of luck to you Abspop, I am 56, started treatment on July 1st with Harvoni only for 12 weeks. Its been a walk in the park. I too was on Interferon/riba-non responder, then on peg/riba- non responder, I keep waiting for the side effects to start. I keep feeling like I am going to feel like I did on past treatments. So far no side effects. Occasional headache, very mild and some heart burn also very mild. Drink ALOT of water. I try to drink 100oz a day. I work 6 days a week and have not missed one day. Good Luck!

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2015, 12:43:27 am »

I stated Harvoni on Monday July 27..I had a slight headache the first two days but today I felt great. I can't wait to see if this treatment works.

april · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2015, 10:11:54 am »

Good luck Scoutdoy, are you on the 12 week course or 24 week? I am on my 5th week of the 12 week course, I too have very little side effects. I am starting to get an annoying case of heart burn and they dont recommend we take antacids 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking the Harvoni. So I am staying clear of antacids all together.

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2015, 12:56:49 pm »

I am taking the 12 week with Harvoni only. I adjusted my time a little. I found that taking it first thing when I woke up gave me a slight headache so the last couple of days I wait a few hours until I have had some coffee and a glass of water and then take it.

april · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2015, 05:24:44 pm »

Just got my results back from my first set of labs. I am undetectable after 5 weeks on treatment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2015, 05:41:00 pm »

congrats april! You are on your way!

kim

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2015, 11:01:39 am »

Congrats April....change your toothbrush

april · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2015, 11:46:11 am »

I did scoutdoy, hows treatment going for you so far?

april · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2015, 11:47:30 am »

Thanks Kim

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2015, 10:40:10 pm »

Hey April, my treatment is going absolutely fantastic. Honestly I feel better than I have in 10 years. I had a slight headache the first couple of days but then figured out if I drink a full glass of water and then wait 15 to 20 minutes I stopped getting the headaches. My joints feel a hell of a lot better for sure. It could be psychological I suppose...I don't care...I feel better that is all I know. My best friend has this disease also, but she can't seem to get approved for the medicine. It really pisses me off that I got it and she didn't.

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2015, 10:42:47 pm »

How is your treatment going April?

Scout

Ledoc01 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2015, 03:13:19 am »

@ Abspop

I hope things are going well for you and that your Harvoni "ride" is uneventful.

I hear ya on seeing that 3 year old get married. I'll be 60 in a couple months...I have a 3 year old daughter as well as a 5 month old who was born a few days after I started Harvoni. FWIW, my wife's grandmother was told at an early age that she shouldn't have children because it was unlikely she'd live that long; she recently turned 98!!

Stay positive and enjoy each day. I had a bit of a bumpy ride and this board was a real help to me.It really helped me to stay sane. Remember, the odds are in your favor. If I could offer any suggestion Id just say don't obsess on this. I decided I wasn't going to let the virus "own" me. SO far, so good. I got my 12 week post treatment test results today which indicate I'm clear.

As Spock would say; "Live long and prosper"

Now go hug that grandchild :-)

april · « **Reply #20 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:03:40 am »

Quote from: Scoutdoy on August 13, 2015, 10:42:47 pm

How is your treatment going April?

Scout

Hi Scout, treatment is going well, I have no side effects at all. I have more energy and am sleeping just fine. I had my first set of labs done 5 weeks into treatment and I am UD. I am hoping it sticks. Thanks for asking, hows your treatment going?

april · « **Reply #21 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:06:21 am »

Quote from: Scoutdoy on August 13, 2015, 11:01:39 am

Congrats April....change your toothbrush

I changed it, my problem is I use an electric tooth brush. Replacement heads are $31 for 2. I guess its a small price to pay compared to the cost of treatment.

Rosie13 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 14, 2015, 10:50:29 pm »

Could someone explain the toothbrush thing? Hopefully I will be posting next week if I was approved. Trying to take all the great advise on staying calm & ditching the worry. I have not told anyone in my family & dread the conversations.It's nice to enter the no judgment forums 7 learn how to cope. Thanks again.

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #23 on:** August 14, 2015, 10:59:28 pm »

Quote from: Rosie13 on August 14, 2015, 10:50:29 pm

Could someone explain the toothbrush thing?

Hi Rosie. Here is one thread on these forums where the toothbrush thing is being discussed:
http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2725.0

Basically there are 3 camps of people:

1. Those who don't believe you could reinfect yourself with your toothbrush (which could have trace amounts of blood on it) after being cured, or after reaching "undetected".

2. Those who do believe it's possible and change toothbrushes periodically during and post-treatment until reaching SVR12. (Some change daily.)

3. Those who don't know if re-infection from one's toothbrush is possible or not, but don't want to take any chances.

I changed at Week 2, Week 4 (when I became undetected), and Week 6. Then I stopped because the cheap dollar store toothbrushes I bought for this purpose were making my gums bleed, thus increasing risk (maybe) of reinfection. I decided it was a sign from the universe that I don't need to change my toothbrush. But, you know, why not change your toothbrush somewhere in that process…

kim

Scoutdoy · « **Reply #24 on:** August 15, 2015, 12:28:31 am »

Hi Rosie,
my doctor recmended i change my toothbrush every 4 to 5 days until I become undetected. Just to be on the safe side,,,,just in case there was some old blood or something in the bristles. Chances are you wont reinfect yourself, but better to err on the side of the what if's. I was also told to change razors every 4 or 5 days too. After having this nightmare disease for 30 years, changing my toothbrush and razor is no big deal, for me anyway. I just hope that with a skyrocked viral load of 14 million that i somehow become undetected. I hope so anyway...

Scout

slats1056 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 15, 2015, 12:39:02 am »

I agree. Throw em out & replace them. Better safe than sorry. Beside it's relatively cheap and will give You a little peace of mind. No sense in stressing over the unknowns. (or unproven?) Why sweat the small stuff?

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Author Topic: Started Harvoni Yesterday (7/22/2015) (Read 17780 times)