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Author Topic: Just approved for treatment HCV  (Read 8795 times)

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Offline cbass

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Just approved for treatment HCV
« on: June 02, 2016, 09:46:37 pm »
Hello!
I am Carolyn and I have lived in Mexico for over 35 years.  I heard about the Viekera Pak with Ribavarin for treatment and it is finally available here. 
I was approved by my insurance to go ahead with the 12-week program and I am so excited and optimistic.
My questions are:
What can I take as herbal supplements during the treatment?  Or it is too much work for my liver?
I would truly appreciate any comments and experiences and suggestions.
I have never had any symptoms other than lower energy, but it is also 90ºhere and that wears everyone out. 
I have always had concerns about the "cure" being toxic on my system, but I am preparing for this journey with positive thoughts and will welcome each pill to come into my body and clear the virus.
Thanks in advance for your tips and encouragement!
Best regards
Logged
1977 Contracted HCV
1995 Diagnosed Genotype 1a
2011 VL 2,000,430, Fibrotest .89 (F4)
2016 Fibrotest .72 (F3)
2016-May:  ALT 44  AST 55

Starting Tx: Viekera Pak + Ribaviran  for 12 weeks + Hepamerz

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,546
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2016, 11:25:22 pm »
The majority here have held off on anything we were taking while on treatment. Why throw a bunch of other meds or herbals into the mix and risk the effectiveness of treatment has been the general consensus.

The majority of people with hep c have no symptoms except many reporting tiredness that is why hep c is considered a silent illness. By the time you have symptoms they would be symptoms of advanced liver disease i.e. cirrhosis and not hep c.

Many here had little to no side effects while on viekira pak although ribavirin does cause many to have a reduction in hemoglobin HGB and become anemic possibly requiring a dose reduction. You should have your complete blood count done weekly at least initially to see how well you are tolerating the Ribavirin.

Best of luck on treatment
Si se puede!
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline cbass

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2016, 10:59:22 am »
Thank you, Lynn!  I appreciate your opinion.  I agree that my liver will be working to eliminate the medicines, so the herbs will be on standby until I finish my 12-week regime.   
I am wondering if I am reading too much here on the forum, because I am getting a bit anxious as to the possible SE of Ribaviran. 
Also, my doctor has not talked about the schedule for blood tests once I begin.  From other posts, I see that most people have monitored their levels as soon as 1 week into Tx.  Any thoughts on that?
I will report my status once I receive the medicines and begin.
Thanks--have a great weekend!
 
Logged
1977 Contracted HCV
1995 Diagnosed Genotype 1a
2011 VL 2,000,430, Fibrotest .89 (F4)
2016 Fibrotest .72 (F3)
2016-May:  ALT 44  AST 55

Starting Tx: Viekera Pak + Ribaviran  for 12 weeks + Hepamerz

Offline brie41

  • Member
  • Posts: 191
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2016, 06:16:40 pm »
Hi Cbass,

  Just wanted to say Welcome and best of luck on your treatment.  I am sure you will do just fine as most of us have.  Brie
Logged
Diagnosed  HCV, 1A 2006
Viral load 6 million
Ast/Alt always in the 20's
F0-F1, never changed
Treatment naive, started 8 week Harvoni 3/15/16
4 and 8 week labs undetected
6 week eot labs undetected
13 week eot UNDETECTED!

Offline cbass

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2016, 06:19:14 pm »
Thank you, Brie!   I will be posting once I begin the Tx in case I have any questions or concerns.  So glad this forum exists! 
Logged
1977 Contracted HCV
1995 Diagnosed Genotype 1a
2011 VL 2,000,430, Fibrotest .89 (F4)
2016 Fibrotest .72 (F3)
2016-May:  ALT 44  AST 55

Starting Tx: Viekera Pak + Ribaviran  for 12 weeks + Hepamerz

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,546
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2016, 12:30:38 am »
There can be some side effects from ribavirin but not everyone experiences them I wouldn't worry until you get there and deal with what comes. I had anemia but now everyone gets that.  I still worked full time but was easily winded from the anemia. Had to dose reduce from 1200 mg to 1000 mg a day then everything was fine after that.

Hope you are side effect free from the riba

Good luck
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline cbass

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2016, 04:00:49 pm »
Thank you, Lynn.  I appreciate the info. 
Best regards!
Carolyn
Logged
1977 Contracted HCV
1995 Diagnosed Genotype 1a
2011 VL 2,000,430, Fibrotest .89 (F4)
2016 Fibrotest .72 (F3)
2016-May:  ALT 44  AST 55

Starting Tx: Viekera Pak + Ribaviran  for 12 weeks + Hepamerz

Offline lporterrn

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,969
  • LucindaPorterRN
    • LucindaPorterRN
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2016, 11:24:22 am »
Hi Carolyn,
Looks like you got great feedback, and I thought I'd add a few more things. You asked, "I am wondering if I am reading too much here on the forum, because I am getting a bit anxious as to the possible SE of Ribaviran." I have been on ribavirin twice (once for 48 weeks). It's not a fun drug, but the effects start slowly and gradually. People get through it, and if you are cured, it is worth it.

You said,
Quote
I have always had concerns about the "cure" being toxic on my system, but I am preparing for this journey with positive thoughts and will welcome each pill to come into my body and clear the virus.
. This is awesome, and I think it is the way to go. One thing that helped me was to not refer to the treatment as toxic or poison. Hep C is a very serious disease, and it helped me to think of treatment as medicine.

Your doc will have his/her own protocol for labs. Here are the standard lab monitoring recommendations for treatment: http://www.hcvguidelines.org/full-report/monitoring-patients-who-are-starting-hepatitis-c-treatment-are-treatment-or-have

Hope you are sharing good news with us at the end of treatment. In the meantime, we here cheering for you.
Logged
Lucinda Porter, RN
1988 Contracted HCV
1997 Interferon nonresponder
2003 PEG + ribavirin responder-relapser
2013 Cured (Harvoni + ribavirin clinical trial)
https://www.hepmag.com/blogger/lucindakporter

Offline cbass

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2016, 04:35:14 pm »
THANK YOU, Lucinda for the interesting info and words of encouragement.  I will be updating my labs prior to beginning treatment and will post on my profile. 
It is amazing that so many of you are cured, yet continue to contribute to the forum to help others as we come on board.

Best regards!
Carolyn
Logged
1977 Contracted HCV
1995 Diagnosed Genotype 1a
2011 VL 2,000,430, Fibrotest .89 (F4)
2016 Fibrotest .72 (F3)
2016-May:  ALT 44  AST 55

Starting Tx: Viekera Pak + Ribaviran  for 12 weeks + Hepamerz

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Just approved for treatment HCV
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2016, 06:59:48 pm »
Welcome Carolyn, and good luck with your treatment! :)

kim
Logged
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/
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