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Author Topic: Just Started Harvoni Treatment  (Read 5386 times)

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Offline Happyness

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 1
Just Started Harvoni Treatment
« on: May 04, 2015, 08:06:35 am »
HCV Genotype 1a
129806 IU/ML
AST 40
ALT 37

I was diagnosed in 2005, and it was attributed to transfusions during open heart surgery for congenital heart disease in '74 & '81. Liver biopsy was negative.

Since diagnosis my GI doctor had me waiting for better treatments with fewer side effects, but having blood work done multiple times per year. I made an appointment with him as soon as I heard about Harvoni (I always had to schedule a few months out because he's in transplant surgery so much), and he discouraged me from starting treatment! He was really quite confrontational about it, and asked me if i had $100,000 to spend on treatment. When I said no, he suggested we just continue with blood work because my counts were low... but all those lab visits were breaking the bank, anyway!

I'd been a good patient. I was an occasional drinker prior to diagnosis. Once diagnosed, I cut out all alcohol, tylenol, advil, motrin and alleve to try to keep myself from getting worse. This doctor's conduct really made me sad. I went to a different practice for a second opinion, and my new GI doctor got the ball rolling during my first appointment. My insurance company quickly approved coverage, and I had my prescription three weeks later with a co-pay coupon from Gilead, so I pay $5 per fill.  Then one of my teeth broke, and I had to take antibiotics after extraction because of my heart disease, so I held off starting the Harvoni.

I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now, and it's been invaluable in helping me understand possible side effects and keeping my hopes up. I took my first dose last evening with a meal, and so far no side effects. I would just say to everyone else, if you don't like what you're hearing, don't be afraid to seek another opinion!

Offline BubbaT

  • Member
  • Posts: 267
Re: Just Started Harvoni Treatment
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2015, 08:36:39 am »
I agree happiness,

Some Dr's have a big head and think they know more than everybody, but they fail to recognize, that they don't have liver disease and they are not suffering....

So I have a problem with the big head Dr's. And I would seek a Dr, that has enough compassion to recognize that it's not his job to play God with my life choices...

If he was suffering with hepc, I wonder if he would put off his own treatment?

Delaying treatment is not a good idea!
Age 57 male
Infected late 70's
Diagnosed 95
1a, 2 prev biopsy 95, 2004
Ct 2007, 2015
Treatment Naive
F4 A3. Fibrosure/ CT 2-5-15. Ammonia 222
VL 2.2 mil.
Started Harvoni  3-3-15. 12weeks, finished 5-26-15
4 week VL undetected
12 week EOT undetected

 


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