Author Topic: Started 12 weeks of Viekira-Pak with ribavirin this morning! (Read 17670 times)

w_ink · « **on:** June 25, 2015, 06:24:47 pm »

I was lucky enough to get one of AbbVie's Virkira-Pak vouchers through my doctor. My insurance co (Blue Shield of California) had denied both Harvoni and Viekira, determining I wasn't sick enough...ugh. I had to go off my estradiol patch, but the bucketload of hot flashes every day will be worth it if I can get rid of the HCV.

So far (1/2 day...heh), so good!

Phoenix · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2015, 09:01:15 pm »

Best of Luck to you. So far it's a piece of cake!

w_ink · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2015, 02:31:53 am »

Thanks, Phoenix!

Philadelphia · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2015, 07:50:45 am »

All the best! I'm 14 weeks into a 24 week program. Over half way! Stay the course, it's worth it.

dearprudence · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2015, 10:16:29 am »

Good luck W_ink! I am into my 7th week of 12 on viekira pak and ribavirin. Virus Undetected at week 3! new blood work just in - AST 11 and ALT 7 - hemoglobin 12 . doc says it's all good! No really bad side effects at all. Stay with it!

w_ink · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2015, 05:23:35 pm »

Philadelphia & DearPrudence,

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! Today's my 7th day on the VPak and Riba. Eleven weeks to go. Mostly, I've been tired, and a bit of nausea the last two days, but I'm so glad we're able to have a treatment with such a good chance of getting rid of this virus. We'll beat this!

dearprudence · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:02:59 pm »

Quote from: w_ink on July 01, 2015, 05:23:35 pm

Philadelphia & DearPrudence,

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! Today's my 7th day on the VPak and Riba. Eleven weeks to go. Mostly, I've been tired, and a bit of nausea the last two days, but I'm so glad we're able to have a treatment with such a good chance of getting rid of this virus. We'll beat this!

sharing and encouraging and learning is what this forum is all about - I am so glad I found it - I know I am not going through this alone. Yes, we will beat this!

w_ink · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2015, 12:24:41 am »

End of week two with a few side effects from the ribavirin. Weakness and fatigue, especially walking up hills and stairs; a bit of nausea; lack of appetite. But overall, I'm really positive. Found out today my viral load at start of treatment was 18,100,000. It was 11,000,000 six months ago. I had my two week blood work done today, so I'll know in a week or so. Takes a while for the viral-load lab to go through. I'm hoping my numbers have dropped.

dearprudence · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2015, 12:05:44 pm »

w-inkj --- don't forget to drink plenty of water - hydration is key.

w_ink · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2015, 04:35:17 pm »

Yah, I've been drinking more than 2 liters a day, more like 2.5. If I don't, I get more headachy.

Philadelphia · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2015, 05:43:40 pm »

I had those sx with the drugs too. The first couple of weeks were the worst for me. Looking forward to hearing your results - they should give you a boost.

w_ink · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2015, 08:50:42 pm »

Thanks, P. & P. I really appreaciate your support!

w_ink · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2015, 03:22:35 am »

Great news! Though my hemoglobin keeps falling (start=14.9-->week two=11.6-->week three=10.3), as does my RBC count (start=4.46-->week two=3.53-->week three=3.25), my viral load went wayyyyy down! I am psyched!

AT START: HCV RNA=18,188,000 IU/mL; HCV Log 10=7.260
2 WEEKS: HCV RNA=50 IU/mL; HCV Log 10=1.699

Philadelphia · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2015, 04:47:44 am »

I've said on the other thread but I'll say it again, congrats!

Sven · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2015, 07:51:05 am »

Hi w_ink,

I think we will move together into the treatment,because i also start the treatment near in the beginning of july. Also the same like my results,and i'll say this was expected, RBC and hemoglobin to fall.
I've read somewhere that the statistics of Viekira Pak treathment show around 95 % success,this is wonderfull news,i hope no more interferon for the other generations.
I wish you good health and success!

w_ink · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2015, 11:55:12 am »

Thanks, Sven! Here's to a cure!

sapphire101 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2015, 11:31:02 pm »

Side question for you Wink. How is it going without the estradiol patch? LOL any relief yet from hot flash city? Would be nice to come out the other side all done with them.

w_ink · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2015, 02:12:09 am »

Hi, Sapphire,

Ha! I was hoping the same thing. My body's just not ready to give up the ghost. I have about 10 or 15 a day, which I can deal with. It's the ones at night that mess me up. Right before a flash, about 10-20 seconds, I get this prodromal sense of dread, like something awful has happened, even when I'm asleep. It wakes me up. I think, Oh no, something terrible is going down! Then I realize, Oh, it's another freaking flashzilla.

But mostly it's just another little side effect, a little nausea here, a little breathlessness here, a little inexplicable rage over there, a cough, a headache, itchies, some insomnia, but I don't care! Because my viral load is 50 and falling, and my liver is doing a little tap dance of appreciation. Oh, and bonus, my joint pains are diminishing!

Starting my second month tomorrow. One third done, two thirds to go!

Here's to getting great news on your 12-week labs!

ms.nomoreC · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2015, 12:48:39 pm »

Hi w_ink,

Great news on your lab results. We're almost there!

w_ink · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2015, 06:39:51 pm »

I am jumping for joy. Got my 8-week labs back. And this is what I've been waiting for:

Name      Value      Reference Range
Test Information:
Hepatitis C Quantitation      HCV Not Detected      IU/mL
HCV log10

So happy! Three more weeks to go till EoT!

ms.nomoreC · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2015, 06:59:17 pm »

Terrific news W_ink! Not too much longer now!

After this, (my EOT is Sept. 7th) I intend to continue to baby my liver while it heals from 46 years of HCV attack. Can't wait to see how I feel once my RBC, hematocrit, and hemoglobin return to normal.

It will be interesting to see how we all feel without HCV and without side-effects!

Philadelphia · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2015, 07:31:22 pm »

We finish on the same day ms nomoreC

w_ink · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:01:40 am »

ms.momoreC & Philadelphia, I hope for all of us a sustained cure. I'm right behind you!

dearprudence · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2015, 10:25:20 am »

Good luck to all of you coming down the home stretch! Can't wait to see your eot results!
I finished 8/2 and eot was virus undetected. Waiting for 12 week svr now.
WE WILL BEAT THIS!
Prudence

LF98 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2015, 02:46:47 pm »

Just wanted to say that I am almost 3 weeks in. Took a lab at two week mark and ALT and AST are 10 and 11. They were both in the 80s prior to starting treatment. I have geno 1a and am doing VP plus riba. Is this a good sign that it's working?

w_ink · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2015, 03:31:31 pm »

LF98, Sounds good! Do you have any other lab results, like hemoglobin? Did they do a viral load count? Don't sweat it if they didn't. Everyone does labs differently. But your AST and ALT are great. Best advice I got when I started was to drink plenty of water and to take the pills in the middle of a meal, not before or after.

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Author Topic: Started 12 weeks of Viekira-Pak with ribavirin this morning! (Read 17670 times)