Author Topic: Moving to the US from Australia for treatment (Read 19178 times)

sawsome · « **on:** March 11, 2015, 02:42:19 am »

John | March 9, 2015 11:58 PM
I am an American living in Brisbane Australia. Harvoni has NOT been approved here. I am in stage 4 cirrhosis with chronic Hep C 1a. My platlette count is below 30 and I can not receive any other treatment (interferon).
My Australian free health care doctor says my best bet for survival is to return to the USA. I read the supportpath web portal and max offered is 16k in discounts. Im on disability now and things are getting worse. In the process of selling what little I have as far as assets go (less than 15K in total) minus 2k in flights and with exchange rates I will have roughly 6 or 7 K once I land in Columbus Ohio which is where Im from. I have 3 children and 3 grand children I would like to spend what life I have left with. Im 60 yrs old and just lost in a cloud over this. Im a carpenter so after childrens educations were paid for Im broke. I dont understand why they could save my life in 48 weeks and it seems impossible for me to get help. ALL advice is welcome and Thank you in advance. John Vance

Anita13 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2015, 12:58:08 pm »

John, If you can prove that you have no visible means of support and no health coverage, SupportPath will provide the Harvoni free of charge. My husband has a $12,000.00 cap on his prescription benefits. They charged the company for the first month and used up the cap. He paid the $5.00 co-pay, and now they have sent him the additional 5 months at no charge. Just get here and find a doctor. They will help you get the meds. Anita.

Bucky · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2015, 02:03:08 pm »

Quote from: sawsome on March 11, 2015, 02:42:19 am

John | March 9, 2015 11:58 PM
I am an American living in Brisbane Australia. Harvoni has NOT been approved here. I am in stage 4 cirrhosis with chronic Hep C 1a. My platlette count is below 30 and I can not receive any other treatment (interferon).
My Australian free health care doctor says my best bet for survival is to return to the USA. I read the supportpath web portal and max offered is 16k in discounts. Im on disability now and things are getting worse. In the process of selling what little I have as far as assets go (less than 15K in total) minus 2k in flights and with exchange rates I will have roughly 6 or 7 K once I land in Columbus Ohio which is where Im from. I have 3 children and 3 grand children I would like to spend what life I have left with. Im 60 yrs old and just lost in a cloud over this. Im a carpenter so after childrens educations were paid for Im broke. I dont understand why they could save my life in 48 weeks and it seems impossible for me to get help. ALL advice is welcome and Thank you in advance. John Vance

Hi John,
Do you have access to any of the new DAAs on the market?
Bucky

sawsome · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2015, 06:59:43 pm »

Thank you Anita 13 I was on the supportpath web site and it said with discounts of 16K in total cost would still be 32 K a month. I have to do the 48 week plan for Im stage 4 Cirrhosis. I will follow up with a call to them. I'm currently on disability here in Australia (sad to say) so proof of income is no worries. Thank you so much for this good news and Im wishing you and your husband all the best, John

Bucky No access to DAA's at this point Australian Gov has yet to add any to the PBS scheme here. My platelet count is very low (under 30) They won't start any interferon treatments because they don't feel I could finish before my count fell to below 8 or 10 and this could cause internal bleeding. Harvoni is a long way from being put into the system here. Thank you John

BubbaT · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2015, 10:15:18 pm »

Hello John, glad your coming home for treatment...

As you can tell most of us are in similar circumstances, first of all, let me say, we know what it's like to need help, and the good news is there is help for you,
I just started the Harvoni, 8 days ago, I'm f4, 57, never treated,

So, keep the faith and press ahead to get treated, trust in the Lord, all the Drs I know are still practicing....

sawsome · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2015, 12:08:54 am »

Thank you Bubba Since you are just in front of me with a similar conditions I would like to stay in touch. I know results vary from person to person but I think the more support we give each other certainly helps. Thanks again John

BubbaT · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2015, 12:23:19 am »

Sure thing john,

I have read some stories of some warriors on this site who have really endured
A lot of treatments that were not nearly as effective as the ones out now, that is one Of the reasons for delaying my treatment, so I'm thankful to be taking these meds now!

Also, the moderators on this forum are knowledgable and very helpful.

Keep me posted on your journey, I'm fighting with you!

sapphire101 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2015, 12:24:26 am »

Thank you John. Your post has restored my faith in America. From a lot of my research it seems that we are very restrictive in the U.S.A. and from your story I realize that we may be behind in some ways, but we are ahead in others and I wish you the best on getting your treatments.

I echo the advice from everyone else- call the supportpaths website for guidance.
Also reach out to Gilead and Abvie both big pharma leaders in HEP C medications. There are also a few others and you can search all the latest news and articles in this forum.

sawsome · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2015, 04:48:47 am »

Thank you Bubba and Sapphire for the kind comments. And yes I've been to 27 countries and 48 states and America is by far the greatest country in this world.
Yes I am afraid having had this for soooo long. Hoping my liver holds out till I get the Harvoni. I will use this site to encourage everyone and this gives me hope with the new meds out now. Its seems like there's hope now for all of us and a few short years ago there wasn't much success. All are welcome to friend my here or FB. Just leave a message and Ill be happy to give you my links. Thanks again John

sawsome · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2015, 04:52:58 am »

Bucky they have sofo approved here so far but its for private health only at this point (different system for health here) All are interferon based with Rib and DAA like Sofo. I can't take interferon at all cause of my platlette levels. So my only chance is the Harvoni or Vpak not available here anytime soon. Thanks Bucky...John

BubbaT · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2015, 06:23:05 pm »

John, In the waiting interim, a few suggestions if you are not already doing these!

Cut out all salt, and red meat, and sugar also, especially artificial sweeteners

Eat sliced garlic medium cooked, the Allicin in the garlic is good for your liver, Are you taking milk thistle now? Or alpha lipoid acid, coq10, read the story on the man from india who had the 6 treatments, his link is under hepc story's, he has these supplements listed in his story.

Google the health and nutrition liver diet, Google Allicin .

Try to enjoy each day without stressing how your gonna do it all,

Hope this helps...

sawsome · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2015, 02:09:48 am »

Thanks Bubba yep I take Milk thistle for 3 yrs now lots of berries esp blueberries n straw berries. Garlic also. No salt or preserved foods fresh as much as possible. I walk daily also about 2 miles at a fast pace. I drink 6 liters of water a day more if I can. I sweeten things with a dash of honey but that's my treat haha. Never take Ibuprofen.......I take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) only rarely and in small dose. I never drink alcohol of course that's just stupid. Of course each case is different than mine but this seems to be the norm for most of us. Thanks Budda you rock dude!

Philadelphia · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2015, 07:32:26 am »

Dear John,
I am in Australia and have hopefully jagged treatment with one of the new DAAs. I'm in Sydney right now waiting to meet with the treatment people tomorrow. It's part of an early access program. Can I suggest you try another specialist for a second opinion? I trawled the Internet until I found someone who could point me in the right direction. I googled looking for people with an interest in both everyday treatment and research. I wanted someone who was passionate about making a difference for people who lived with hep c. The person I am seeing is in Sydney. I have to travel 6 hours one way to see them but it's worth it.

sawsome · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:00:36 am »

Hi Philly,
Thanks for your post and advice. Each case is different stages counts and even personal responses to drugs. In my case Harvoni is the answer (platelet count is very low) Interferon TX (triple treatments) will not work in my case as Ive seen several doctors here and in the USA once I found out I had Hep C and Cirrhosis. Stage 4 now so my options are limited. Hep is hard to detect as many here know. Standard blood test is a long shot say as in a standard Physical exams. In my case now 40 yrs into Hep c. I found out after acquiring Cirrhosis stage 1. Australian doctors have told me to go to the US and get Harvoni. Thats what I am doing. I have a gofund link to help me get through this http://www.gofundme.com/p4m1g8
Im not the asking type person this was my children's idea and it is going to help some. Health care is different here in Australia ( the set up and cost) Im not saying one is better or worse than the other. The cases are the difference. I wish you peace love and laughter in your fight and will support you in anyway I can. Keep up the good fight Philly and Thanks again John

BubbaT · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2015, 11:43:02 am »

http://www.salisburypost.com/2015/01/10/salisbury-vas-wait-times-average-for-nation-second-best-in-nc/

Hey john, are you going thru the VA in Columbus Oh?

I copied this link from a "post Motor listed" about the VA in Salisbury NC,
They have Teams of dr.s treating Vets, hope you can find treatment asap,
As a navy vet also, we need to take care of our Own!

Praying with you, Bro!

motor · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2015, 11:52:07 am »

The above link is for wrong article. Not sure how that could happen, but hope this works:
http://www.salisburypost.com/2015/01/30/salisbury-vamc-hepatitis-c-cure-rates-among-best-in-va/

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Author Topic: Moving to the US from Australia for treatment (Read 19178 times)