Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
December 22, 2024, 07:48:19 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 6315
  • Latest: DRG
Stats
  • Total Posts: 55137
  • Total Topics: 4855
  • Online Today: 291
  • Online Ever: 3061
  • (September 25, 2024, 11:40:40 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 231
Total: 231

Welcome

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.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.
  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.
  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.
  • Product advertisement (including links); banners; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from the Hep Forum Moderators.
Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C  (Read 6843 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline patrick.m18

  • Member
  • Posts: 5
Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C
« on: September 14, 2016, 08:46:58 pm »
Hey everyone I just wanted to share my story so far in hopes that someone else can benefit from what I have learned and been through. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago while doing liver tests to begin Acutane (for acne). My mother mentioned that she is Hep C positive and that I was tested when I was a baby but she just wanted me to get tested again to be sure. Well the tests came back positive, I can still hear the scream in my moms voice when she got the call from my doctor. Its been a long 5 years that's all I can say. I was going to start a clinical trial that same year in San Francisco. It was going to be a treatment including interferon and at the time my parents and I were really considering it. My mom had tried interferon 15+ years ago with no success. Thankfully I decided to not do the trial and I was going to wait out for this "miracle" drug that everyone was talking about. About 2-3 years after this point I go back to the doctor to hopefully start this new miracle drug. Well stupid me admitted to using marijuana to help several symptoms from the HepC as well as other issues I have. Marijuana truly helps numb pain and keeps my nausea under control. That doctor made me feel horrible about it and told me she wouldn't see me for another year until I was 1yr sober. Fast forward another year and I decide to go back to a new, different amazing doctor. I explain to her my entire situation and she said Harvoni would be a great fit for me. Well the real battle with insurance started then. I'm young, don't make a ton of money, so I was on med-ical which had worked great for me up until that point. I had a fibroscan done with a score of 5.4, and a viral load of 4.4 million. Med-ical wouldn't cover the medicine unless my score was at least a 7. I then switched to Covered California, and now I'm stuck paying a pretty pricey monthly fee but it was my only option to get cured. My refill copay is $200, so if I only have to do two months I can make it work but it'll be tough.

Last night (9/13/16) I took my first pill. I'm on an 8 week treatment with my last pill being on November 7th. On December 7th, I will be one month cured (Hopefully!) as well as it being my birthday! The next couple months are looking so great for me. Hepatitis C isn't the worst thing out there but it has been weighing on me ever since diagnosed.

Offline koifish54

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
Re: Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2016, 10:15:17 pm »
Good luck with your treatment odds are with you!!

Offline MommaT

  • Member
  • Posts: 65
  • Tomorrow Is a New Day
Re: Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2016, 03:48:49 pm »
I read your story and was very moved. I am so happy you were able to get your treatment and will complete it on your birthday! 8 weeks is not bad at all! Funny I started my treatment on my birthday to end it on my daughter's birthday! Keep posting and hoping you feel good like some people say with treatment! I am only going on a week but not same Med.
62 year old Female
Treatment Naive
Genotype 2b
2001 Dx Donated blood after 9/11
2002 Biopsy F1
2016 Fibroscan 15 F4
Comp Cirrhosis Stage 1
pretreatment VL 1,722.660 mil
platelets 122 low
alpha 2 Macroglobulins 647
Apolipoprotein A-1 214
GGT 67 high
AFP Serum Tumor Marker 11.4
ALT 563 AST 332
2016 Sept 16 Epclusa started
4 wk VL <15 HCV Detecte
ALT 19 AST 18
8 wk VL HCV Undetected!
12/8/16 EOT Yipee!
12 wk VL HCV Undetected
SVR 12
SVR  24  10/5/2018 HCV Undetected   12/10/18 DETECTED????????

Offline AussieRosa

  • Member
  • Posts: 226
Re: Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2016, 12:49:38 am »
Congratulations on starting treatment, Patrick. If you haven't read much of the forum, the best advice is to drink a lot more water than usual. It will keep side effects at bay. Please keep us updated on your progress. Wishing you a smooth and successful treatment.
Gt 1a
contracted 1983
Fibroscan 6.1
Treatment naive
VL 2.97M
ALT 38
AST 47
Started Viekira Pak + Ribavirin Tues 19th Jan 2016
Week 4: VL Undetected!
March 5th Ribavirin dose reduction to 800mg from 1000mg
EOT April 11th 2016. VL Not Detected
12 Weeks post EOT: SVR12. Cured with a capital C!!
6 months post EOT: Undetected :-)

Offline Mw2324

  • Member
  • Posts: 138
Re: Just started Harvoni Treatment: 20 years old born with Hep C
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2016, 05:52:30 pm »
Hey Patrick,
   I read your story. I am wondering how you are feeling? Wishing you the best!
30 yr. old female
Infected in 2006
Genotype 2b
Pretreatment:
F0
Alt 28
Ast 30
Viral load 49,000
Started Epclusa on 9/9/16 -12 week treatment
4 week viral load undetected... ALT 19 AST 19
12 week eot viral load undetected...ALT16 AST 11

 


© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.