Harvoni tx finished

[Pablo]

Hi all, just finished 12 weeks of harvoni and ribavarin,previously failed 2 other tx, have cirrhosis but generally in very good health, viral load start 800,000
Week 2(190)
Week4(80)
Week 8(12)
Week 12(12) detected
All other bloods in normal range, got the 12week result today v disappointed, thought I'd nail 12 with 28 more days of meds! But still 12!!! Gilead have told my nurse to retest in 4week ! Cut be just the dregs of the virus left!! They are coming across a number of people who are detected at 12 weeks but still reach svr. Not convinced myself, just wondering if anybody had any knowledge on this scenario! Don't think there's much else down for me after this only to stay fit and healthy and good luck!! Thank you Pablo , I'm in the uk by the way,

[gnatcatcher]

Hi, Pablo -- congratulations on finishing treatment. There are people on these forums who were still detected at the end of treatment, then went on to reach SVR12. One of them goes by "dragonslayer" (I can't remember the others). His real name is Paul. He was still detected 7.5 weeks after treatment, but he was undetected at 11 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks after treatment. I hope he'll see your post and chime in.

Gnatty

[Pablo]

Thank you gnatty,

[KimInTheForest]

Hi Pablo. Don't lose hope. Gnatty's right. There are other people on these forums who were still weakly detected at End of Treatment but went on to become undetected at 12 weeks post-treatment. Congrats on finishing! I also did 12 weeks of Harvoni+riba (because I was geno 3).

kim

[BillT]

Hi Pablo,
            Congratulations on reaching EOT.Try not to worry about it right now.As everyone had said several people have gone on to SVR12 when they were still showing a bit of VL at EOT.I was on the Viekira and the odd thing is that this only seems to happen with the Harvoni treatment for some reason(at least that what I've seen).We had a discussion about this at one point and were thinking it's just bits and pieces of the killed virus showing up.I know it's hard not to,but as I said try not to worry about it right now and see what happens.Congratulations again and best of luck.

[Pablo]

Thank you all, fingers crossed then, just deflating as you are all aware, trying to put on a brave face and carrying on as normal with work and everyday life is challenging,

[dragonslayer]

Thank you all, fingers crossed then, just deflating as you are all aware, trying to put on a brave face and carrying on as normal with work and everyday life is challenging,

As if on cue:  Pablo, Im one of those who was detected at the end of my 8 wks of treatment.. You can read the specifics in my signature, but suffice it to say EOT rna levels arent predictive of success any more than on treatment testing.   The ONLY one that matters for most of us is the 12 wks post treatment... I was Detected 29 at end of treatment, and even at the 8 wk post treatment marker, I was Detected, although the fact that the level had fallen from 29 to not quanitifiable was a great indicator that the next test, the 12 wk post treatment one would be undetectable, and, indeed, it was, as was the 24 wk post treatment marker and the 48wk post treatment marker. 

Plus which, there have been studies done which corroborate these kinds of results.. Here's one in particular:

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2015/03/hcv-rna-does-not-always-mean-treatment.html

Culled from the conclusion of that study:

"...Overall, six patients had HCV RNA that was detectable by the Abbott assay at the end of treatment. Despite the presence of detectable HCV RNA, all six achieved sustained virologic response level 12.

Typically, measurements of HCV RNA have been useful in predicting treatment efficacy and guiding duration of interferon-containing therapy. These results suggest that HCV RNA that is detectable by the Abbott assay does not necessarily signal therapeutic failure."

So, buck up Pablo.. odds are you have not failed treatment.   Hopefully your dr. will order up blood work by 8 wks post..  Even if its detected then too, so long as the level hasnt increased significantly from your EOT test, odds are you will be undetected by 12 wks post.. Generally, when there is a bonafide treatment failure, the virus replicates fairly rapidly so that there is really no question as to whether relapse has occured. These low levels post treatment are likely measures of impotent  and dying virions  since HCV requires replication to survive and Harvoni works by disabling replication.

Best of Luck... Cant wait to hear your likely good results in a couple of months!

[Pablo]

Thank you dragonslayer for your kind and informative reply! It's certainly reassuring!! May I ask how did you feel post tx! Did you feel like you'd cleared! Cheers Pablo

[dragonslayer]

Thank you dragonslayer for your kind and informative reply! It's certainly reassuring!! May I ask how did you feel post tx! Did you feel like you'd cleared! Cheers Pablo

That's really hard for me to say.   I definitely feel better over all now that its been a year since EOT..  Joint pain and brain fog were two of my biggies, and theyve pretty much disappeared.. However  I get the sense that youre referring in your question more to the idea that maybe some people can actually feel the virus having disappeared near or just after the EOT, and as for me, I really dont think I could.. One thing I noticed at the EOT was the redness in my palms definitely lessened.   But other than that, no, I couldnt really feel that the virus was gone per se.  I still had good days and bad days, and on my bad days, I still suspected that perhaps the virus was back or had never gone away.    These kinds of feelings can be so psychosomatic for some of us that all it takes for us to feel immeasurably is a good blood test!

[hopefully]

I started Having treatmen 7 days ago. First two days I experienced tightness in my chest and some mild difficulties breathing. I was taking my daily dose at 5:00 am. I switched to 5:00 pm , because I had to go to work the next day.
It made a big difference in the side effects I was having. Now I am only having
headaches and fatigue with nausea some days. I really enjoy reading all of your post about your treatments. I know very little about this drug and the long term effects it may have. I am very thankful I was able to get the medication and very hopeful that it will work for me. Please keep your post comming, they help giver the strength I need right now.
Thank you Hopefully.

[BillT]

Hi Hopefully and welcome to the forums,
                                      You're in that sweet spot for the side effects right now.Most people seem to get the around weeks 2 and 3.You're going to hear this over and over again,but drink more water.Everyone is different with the sxs but the headaches seems to be pretty standard with this and the water helps.I'm glad you're on the cure train and I hope it's a easy go for you.Keep us posted.

[Pablo]

Hi, I mainly suffered with neck aches! Nothing compared too last tx of telepvr! Now that was a challenge, and suffered awful fatigue for months later, harvoni sides seem far less ! Feel v good at the moment. Good luck