NEW ON HERE,3rd DAY ON VIEKIRAX,EXVIERA& RIBAVIRIN.

[Noony2k]

Hi all I would of posted from day 1 of me starting my treatment (3rd day now) but I had to wait for admin to ok my profile.
Anyway I'm on my 3rd day of treatment,as my subject says:I'm on Viekirax 2tablets  a day, Exviera 2 tablets a day and the  Ribavirin 5 tablets in one day.
I'm Geno type 1a (typically tut)
The first day I started I was worrying quite a bit about side and not really knowing what to expect. I was actually sat there most of the day just waiting anxiously for the side effects to kick in lol,but to my surprise no sides came or the 2nd day, now the 3rd day & ive just a bit of stomach ache.
I was worried because of all the research I've read and done ha.
But yes it's still early days but what I've realised and advise to others is that everyone is different and we might not exp, the next persons sides,just because they did.
Has anyone any advice who's on this treatment or completed it?
I'll check back in later and let you's no how day four is going tomorrow.
Thanks in advance& take care all.

[Philadelphia]

Hi noony glad to hear it's going well! I did a similar treatment: the old viekira pak plus riba. I found the riba knocked me around in the first couple of weeks, but my specialist reduced the dosage of it. After that is was plain sailing. For me, it was my haemoglobin plummeting. I also had a big increase in bilirubin in the first couple of weeks but it dropped back quickly. I made a decision to work part time all the way through. After the first few weeks I could have worked ft but I had a years sick leave sitting there so decided to use some of it. 

I did 24 weeks and as you can see by my starting numbers I wasn't in great shape. Now I feel good. I feel 57 and all that brings with it, but good!

[Philadelphia]

Ps: I blogged my entire 24 week treatment. Yep, all of it. The good, the bad and the downright ugly. I think there's a fair bit of info in there among the whining, inappropriate jokes and endless blood test results. Link is in my sig at the bottom of my post

[Noony2k]

Hi Philadelphia, hope your keeping well.
First of all I'd like to say a big thank you for your reply

[Mimi]

Hi noony, I'm starting on the same meds as you on the 25th of April and am sitting on the couch waiting for the side effects to kick in already!  Lol.
My anxiety is in total control!
How did it go for you?  Is it bearable?
I dread swallowing my first pills....i can see myself just sitting there......waiting.....heart thumping...
Do you notice anything after the first day?
Can you function normally on the treatment?
Can you drive?
Sorry for all these questions but the suspense is killing me!
I have 2 kids to take care of and not much help.
hope you feel better

[Noony2k]

Hi I'm really really sorry for not replying sooner but my password/ login all messed up and couldn't get on.
How did you do with it all.
Once again sorry.

[Mimi]

Hi, dont worry.... I have 3 weeks left and I'm still alive 
First 2 weeks were ok, i was almost a bit hyper. Then it got harder. Very tired and had heart palpitations and bad shortness of breath. Was in hospital twice with it but all was ok, think my anxiety got worse on the treatment and made me feel that way.  I sleep ok, no rashes. The worse part is being exhausted most of the time and the mood swings. My viral load before treatment was 114,000, after 2 weeks it went down to 12, at 4 weeks still detected but <12, just got my 8 weeks bloods done but won't get the results for another 3 weeks. Hopefully it will be undetected!
How are you feeling now? Hope all is ok

[mikeo52]

JUST STARTED HARVONI YESTERDAY. TOOK MY 2ND DOSE THIS MORNING. OF COURCE NOTHING APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING YET. BUT I'LL CHECK IN IF SOMETHING DOES. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

MIKE O

[Penna]

Hi I am heading into my 4 th week viekirax  plus rib.  No major side effects so far.  My tiredness in the evening after work hasn't improved but I've had that for years. I am drinking loads of water. Will have my two week blood tests next week.

[andrew j]

Hi Penna,

Great to read that you're having a reasonably smooth ride!
The Riba seems to cause some people a few problems?

May the rest of your Tx be as easy - and

Best wishes,
A.

[Penna]

Hi all
Starting into week 5 viekirax and ribavarin, only side effect has been fatigue and difficulty concentrating, still working FT. My two week blood tests showed my My viral load reduced from 2. Million to 45 which the nurse said was a great result. Hope the next 4 weeks go as smoothly and as quickly as the first 4. 

[mikeo52]

ITS BEEN AWHILE. HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL. FOR ME 31 DAYS ON HARVONI, ALL SEEMS TO BE GOING OK. I WILL CHECK IN AGAIN SOON.

MIKE

[Daddy17]

I'm curious as to why each of you were prescribed the Viekira Pak and Ribavirin?  My insurance has denied Eplusa but suggested the Viekira XR and Riba.    I am treatment naive and 1a.  Thanks.

[gnatcatcher]

Welcome, Daddy17. I was treatment naive and 1a and was able to get Harvoni (which, like Epclusa, is sold by Gilead). I wouldn't have been able to get Viekira+Riba. Why? My prescription insurance is with CVS Caremark, which made a price-cut deal with Gilead to prescribe its products. The other super big prescription insurance handler is Express Scripts, which made its price-cut deal with the makers of Viekira+Riba. Chances are, whatever outfit handles the prescriptions for your insurer has gotten a lower-price deal for the Viekira+Riba. If your doctor could make a convincing medical argument that Viekira+Riba was contraindicated in your specific case, perhaps you could get Epclusa (or Harvoni).

The only other way to get what you prefer would be choosing a different insurer for 2018 (after checking its 2018 formulary), but that would mean waiting many more months to get treatment and might mean switching jobs or doing something else equally extreme. Otherwise, you're stuck with a less convenient treatment but one that gets the job done.

Gnatty