Author Topic: Last day of Viekira pak plus ribavirin! (Read 25195 times)

Red Hen · « **on:** January 14, 2015, 11:51:33 am »

Whew! What a long haul that 12 weeks felt like. Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment where I'll turn in the empty pill paks and most likely get blood work done. I'm really looking forward to not taking pills! I'm nervous about how things will turn out 12 more weeks down the road. This is the first treatment I've been through, type 1A and no cirrhosis but some scarring on liver. For the next 12 weeks all I can do is wait and try not to worry. Any advice? What are others doing while they wait?

Tess1971 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2015, 12:12:47 pm »

Eating very healthy and trying not to over do it. I feel really go on some days, then I take a step back and don't. I have been told it takes months to recover from treatment, especially ribavirin. It is slow, but, definitely getting better - feels like baby steps sometimes. Hang in there as I am doing.

Red Hen · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2015, 01:21:03 pm »

Thank you, Tess1971. I was just giving myself a hard time for not going out to scrape snow off my car. Sigh. Friends and spouse "think it would be nice" if I could meet them downtown for lunch. This involves snow removal, making myself presentable and then finding a parking place, etc, etc. I know I'm not going to make it. I feel so guilty but they just don't understand how tired I get sometimes. Your support helps!

Red Hen · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2015, 01:22:25 pm »

Oops. Posted the same message twice by mistake. Hope I got rid of one.

sunrise · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2015, 08:02:17 am »

Good morning Red Hen and Tess
I know the feeling! Im getting my 4 week post tx tests in 5 days. I guess for me I have been putting it in the back of my mind. It did help to have both vl tests during tx. come back UD, but we all know that the post tx tests are the ones that count. So I find staying busy or sleeping really helps. We will beat this thing! One way or another! It is miracle times for us. Just think also how we did not have to go down the interferon path....Blessings ....Sunrise

Tess1971 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2015, 12:30:16 pm »

Your right about the interferon, I am glad I held out all these years. I think my immune system is confused since it had been dealing with the hepc since the 70s. I feel really good now on some days, but, like I said, I still take steps back and feel tired and almost like I am trying to come down with something if I run around like I am all better, ha. My skin is better now and just has some flair ups now and then - I went back to using the Aveeno Baby daily moisturizer which I used during treatment. I still get heartburn which I only got occasionally prior to treatment. I am really anticipating and being positive about my three month blood work………….Yowsers!!! it is getting closer now. We are all on our way you know !!

Red Hen · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2015, 03:21:15 pm »

Thanks, Sunrise and Tess. Went to the doctor today and had blood taken for the 4 week check up. So lucky we did not have to do interferon treatments. Torture! This treatment is not pleasant but not horrible. My skin looks awful and I feel "washed out" all the time. I'm using Weleda calendula baby cream on my face and that helps. I do feel like we will all beat this hep c! We are so lucky!

Tess1971 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2015, 08:47:39 pm »

Red Hen, I thought Viekira Pak was a combination of anti-vitals and not taken with ribavirin…………I do not know much about it though. So is it taken with ribavirin for certain genotypes?

Lynn K · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2015, 01:20:47 am »

Viekira Pak is taken with ribavirin for those with genotype 1a with or without cirrhosis and by genotype 1b with cirrhosis. So the only ones who can take Viekira pak with no Riba are genotype 1b without cirrhosis. Also most are for 12 weeks except GT 1a with cirrhosis the treatment is 24 weeks

Red Hen · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2015, 10:51:49 am »

Yes, thank you, Lynn. I am 1a without cirrhosis so also took ribavirin for 12 weeks. Viekira was approved by the FDA in late December and then picked up by Express Scripts. I started Viekira on a drug trial in October 2014. It was a gamble. Not many people here have used it, so far.

Tess1971 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2015, 01:08:36 pm »

I am always curious about new treatments since I am in a category that has no other options after sov/riba………………..at least not at this time.

Red Hen · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2015, 05:10:00 pm »

Tess, I don't know much about the different genotypes. You are waiting to find out the results of 12 weeks post treatment; is that right? You are almost there! Sunrise, you are so close! I have my fingers crossed for both of you. These drug companies are getting more competitive every day; coming up with new treatments.

luckysincere · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2015, 06:54:00 pm »

Last night I took my last Harvoni pill, along with Ribavirin (for the last 5 wks), after 12 weeks. I also had my 12 week labs yesterday, so I too am waiting. I have to say it feels strange. I have never been on any meds I had to take religously, other than an antibiotic here and there. I have a fulltime job and life has pretty much been the same. I didn't realize how bad I felt until I started feeling better after starting the Harvoni.

Praying for good results for all of us!

Tess1971 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2015, 07:25:35 pm »

Yes Red Hen,
My blood work will be end of February (27th) so at that time it will actually be 3 full months. Ghilead sent me a link when I got the meds where I keyed in the date I started and that it was for 12 weeks and they gave me a date to have blood work done to be considered cured - ha - I thought that was so cool. When I told the doc's nurse she said that will work and set the appt. I see doctor almost two weeks after that in March so I won't know the results til I see him - that is gonna be a very long two weeks for me.

Red Hen · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2015, 07:43:46 pm »

Hi, luckysincere! I'm glad you started to feel good right away. The Harvoni sounds like the easiest drug to take with fewest side effects. Let us know how your tests turn out.
Tess, That will be a long two weeks. Compassionate thoughts from me. Keep us posted.

Katie · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2015, 08:54:19 pm »

Good thoughts for all of you at the end of your journey and to being FREE of this monster! My 12 weeks are up on Feb 25th and these past 44 days have just flown by.

I too am feeling 100% better and find it amazing that I did what I did when I felt so lousy. It creeps up on you and you start believing it when your friends tell you your complaints are from old age. I never did really believe them, but now I know it for sure. I feel better than I did 10-15 years ago so my clock is turning backwards and I am becoming young again! Ha!

2015 is going to be the year the monster Hep C dies!

Katie

Tess1971 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2015, 03:56:26 pm »

That sounds good to me !!!!!

dotrip · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2015, 03:55:19 pm »

Hi to everyone -- I've been reading your messages as I was getting ready to start on my Vieira Pal + Riba treatment (I'm a 1A who treated unsuccessfully about 10 years ago with interferon + Riba). I started treatment this time on March 12 and am already dealing with a nasty skin rash. Makes me nervous that the rash started so quick.

This forum is really a ton of help - just to read about others going thru the same issues. Hope we all kick Hep C OUT!

Donna

Red Hen · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2015, 03:45:11 pm »

Hello Donna and all. I'm still waiting for my 12 week post treatment Vieira Pak and ribavirin appointment on April 9th. It will probably be awhile after that before I'll know test results. I'm feeling pretty good, but sometimes very apprehensive. All the waiting takes a toll on me and I bet we all feel that way! If the HCV is undetected at 12 weeks post, then I'll be tested again at 24 weeks. That's supposed to be the most important test. Sigh.

dotrip · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2015, 05:22:40 pm »

Red Heb, I will be having my labs drawn on April 9 for my 4 week test. Good luck to you. I agree the waiting takes a toll on you -- I wish we could all fast forward to the final SVR result.

Donna

Tess1971 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2015, 09:24:35 pm »

Well my 3 month tests were Undetected - yay! I felt so relieved when I got it. No anemia at all, perfect kidney tests at >90 (actually better than prior treatment) and LFTs are even below the normal range for ALT at 23 and lowest normal for others.
I am very please to say the least. Dr feels and relapse would be extremely low at this point which is good to hear as I still worry in back of my mind.
The itching and rashes still keep reappearing with stomach irritation. If I take a regular strength famontidine it clears up that stomach upset as well as the itching becomes much less, dr says that is because it is a H2 blocker and it is histamines that are causing it all. And as we know histamines are an immure response also.
I have been told the skin issues can resume on and off for 6 mos or more post treatment so I guess it will be an itchy summer for me - ha!

Katie · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2015, 09:29:35 pm »

Wonderful News Tess!!! What a relief you must be experiencing! I bet the skin issue will gradually improve and this will be your best summer in a long, long time!

Enjoy your hep C FREE life. Be well, Be Happy fellow warrior!

Katie

Tess1971 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2015, 09:36:07 pm »

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou Katie !!!

Lynn K · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2015, 10:04:21 pm »

All Right Tess!!!!! Woo whooooo

Doing the Happy Dance for you congrats!

sapphire101 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2015, 12:59:45 am »

Big Congrats from me too Tess! Wonderful news. Even an itchy summer will be a good one for you.

Welcome Donna. I am keeping my eye out for all of us in 'Club V' because our numbers are few. Red Hen is completed and I am at 5 weeks. You are over a week on Viekira Riba treatment now. Any side effects? The first two weeks were the most noticeable for me and now they are barely there.

dotrip · « **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2015, 09:02:48 am »

Sapphire, thanks for the reply - I am now past 1 week. The first week has indeed had sides (rash, headache, chills). Most are much better - still get itchy and I get a headache if I fail to hydrate enough. But it all seems to be moving in the right direction.

Donna

Red Hen · « **Reply #26 on:** March 23, 2015, 02:30:38 pm »

Great news, Tess! So happy for you!

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Author Topic: Last day of Viekira pak plus ribavirin! (Read 25195 times)