Early response (undetected <2 weeks) meaning?

[sickpuppy]

Does it mean anything if someone gets to undetected in 2 weeks or less?

[dragonslayer]

Does it mean anything if someone gets to undetected in 2 weeks or less?

It means they're a super fast responder. What it doesnt mean is that they can stop treatment early!

[sickpuppy]

Seems logical to me. I was wondering more in terms of SVR chances, whether it means they are improved and maybe whether anyone has any studies or articles done on this?

[Lynn K]

There is no relationship between early not detected on treatment and eventual SVR after treatment has ended. Really all that on treatment testing does is confirm patient compliance otherwise on treatment testing means little.

The only test that matters is the 12 week post treatment test.

Kinda surprized they even tested you at 2 weeks in.

Good luck on treatment the important thing is most are being cured

Keep the faith
Lynn

[sickpuppy]

Hi Lynn, thanks for answering.

Regarding the 2 week test. Yes, I'm in the UK and we have the national health insurance thing so they are a bit more likely to do more tests, but less likely to prescribe anything expensive or do anything expensive unless you're dying.

I have tests at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks - EOT. Then after EOT again at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

However, there's no DAA available here for 24 weeks. All treatments prescribed are 12 weeks, regardless of stage of disease or previous TX.

Also, I've lost a Harvoni pill and they didn't provide a backup. Instead I was told to skip a dose because a new bottle can't be opened just for one pill. Go figure.

I called Gilead and I was told to basically feck off, since I'm not in the US. That's shameful. They provide replacement pills for misplaced and lost ones to patients in the US, I don't see why not all of them in the UK too. We are also paying them for the treatment, what's the difference?

[Lynn K]

well I doubt one missed dose will make a difference but personally I would not skip a dose if possible I would wait till the end and finish a day early but that is best answered by your doctor.

Yes I saw they are not allowing for a 24 week treatment in the UK but still your odds are very good to be cured even with 12 weeks

How were your varicies treated? Mine were monitored by upper EGD from cirrhosis dx date. First EGD just had grade 1, two years later grade 2. The following year grade 3 and had bandings performed so I never had a bleed.

I am checked every year now with no reoccurrence of the varicies since then.

Best to you
Lynn

[sickpuppy]

Hi Lynn,

My varices were actually what led to my diagnosis of HCV. I was 11 years old, couldn't sleep one night, went to the bathroom and crashed on my way there. Mom found me in a pool of blood, I was vomiting fresh blood all over the place and couldn't scream for help because of it.

Anyway, I got three more bleeding episodes after that, close encounters. Was technically dead for 2 minutes in my last episode, but I got brought back (I saw no bright lights if anyone wonders. It felt like I blinked, but when I came back I was told that I was actually out cold - literally - for 2 minutes).

That prompted us to say right, that's it - we need something done. So I got a banding and got put on Propranolol. That was 7 years ago. Since then they went from Stage 3, then Stage 2, then Stage 1 and last summer there were none, completely disappeared.

[Lynn K]

Wow what a story and what a shock to have all that happen at such a young age!

Hoping you are cured soon and can hopefully have a healthier future and long life ahead!

Best to you
Lynn

[Keithn8eb]

To SickPuppy..... I got my supply Harvoni just as I came down with shingles and was put on several drugs including an antiviral for 10 days. My docs wanted me to wait 10 days post shingles treatment before starting harvoni. I was a bit too anxious and only waited 3 days before I started harvoni. About 4-5 days in I had some sort of incident, and ended up in the hospital for 10 days. I then waited another 2 weeks before restarting Harvoni. So in my mind I wasted about 5 Harvoni. I finished Harvoni June 7th, had 2 viral load tests during treatment with none detected, and my 90 day post treatment is scheduled for September 10th, and I expect that to also be none detected. My point is I kind of "lost" 5 Harvoni and everything is looking good, so don't sweat losing 1 pill!