Nervous for a visit at my doctor and forgot to take the harvoni this morning

[Madelief]

This morning I had an appointment with my doctor in thh hospital. I was a bit nervous because last time he said he had doughts to do bloodworksduring treatment for the virusload... And that was for me the most important thing after 3 weeks Harvoni.
Also because he had not done it when starting treatment. The old outcome from 5,5 miljon virusload was from earlier time ( don't even know which year).
Now when I have a lot more information from you all which I am very thankful for, I had more questions.
But he didn't ask me questions about how everything was going. I was a bit overruled because he is such a nice person, I see him since 2001 And he knows my burden of feeling quilty and the suffering from having this secret which even my daughter knows since beginning this treatment. That was a big relief en emotional thing.
I asked him for the bloodworks and also for the virusload now after 3 weeks...first he said that it probably would be better to do this 3 months after treatment... I nearly felt from my chair....
Then I asked if it still would be 8 weeks treatment. He said maybe 12 weeks.. But how could he know that when he doesn't do labworks on the virusload.
He said that this test is very expensive, 500 euro. If I would do that also when I had to pay it myself. Ofcourse I said, I would do that because I am looking forward to it since starting treatment.
Then it was oké and I will hear the results and the end of the week, not for my costs ofcourse he said.
I understand nothing of this, when he hadn't done this now how could he know then if it stays the 8 weeks or change it into 12 weeks??? Now I have to come back in 4 weeks and that will be 2 weeks for the end of the 8 weeks....
And tonight I suddenly was doubting if I had taken my pill this morgen. No......how stupid, I felt so stupid. I was too much busy with the consult in the hospital.   
So now I have taken my forgotten pill this evening and morning 8 am I will take the next one on my regular time.
So at the end of the week I know my virusload and will post it. I can't wait to hear the results.
I felt disappointed that my doctor was so not understanding, he said that I should think no more about the treatment and let it go out of my mind.
It seems that he totally wasn't aware of the importance for me and I felt I was a bit emotionale lability is his opinion. I was in a good shape, no fibroses (f2) Was also new for me, and it seems that he was thinking: what is the point, what are you worring about...
I know I am not that ill as many of you and I am really grateful for that but this treatment is also for me not a piece of cake and this conversation with him makes me feel even quilty about this feeling....
He is reallly a very nice and kind doctor and I for not prepared on this clinical reaction.
Thank you all that I can share my feelings here!
Madelief
Ps
I also mentioned the swallen throat but he didn't give any reaction... It was a really strange visit.

[BillT]

Hi Madelief,
                This is from Gilead's site

How should I take HARVONI?
 Take HARVONI exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change your dose unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
 Do not stop taking HARVONI without first talking with your healthcare provider. If you think there is a reason to stop taking HARVONI, talk to your healthcare provider before doing so.
 Take HARVONI 1 time each day.
 Take HARVONI with or without food.
 If you miss a dose of HARVONI, take the missed dose as soon as you remember the same day. Do
not take more than 1 tablet of HARVONI in a day. Take your next dose of HARVONI at your regular
time the next day.
 If you take too much HARVONI, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency
room right away.

It says take it as soon as you remember and take your next days dose at your normal time.You and that doctor need to have a long talk about what he's doing and tell him how you feel and about the questions you have.Let us know how it goes.

[gnatcatcher]

Madelief, yes, it was a strange visit, but your doctor is not the only doctor who questions the necessity of measuring the viral load during treatment. Doing so was crucial for the old treatments but not for the new treatments like Harvoni. Viral loads can fluctuate a lot without the change being meaningful. The fact that he mentioned the cost of the VL test makes me wonder if there is a lot of pressure on him to control costs.

Your doctor already saw that your alt dropped from 145 to 45 after just one week of treatment, which means the Harvoni is working. His not inquiring about side effects doesn't seem "very nice and kind," but even my very nice and kind internist (regular doctor) once in a while has a bad day on which he lacks empathy.

It's good that you know that if you forget your pill at the regular time, you can still take it on the same day without problems. (BillT has already posted the relevant portion of Gilead's instructions.) It's good that you also know that you can always share your feelings here, where you are in good company.

Gnatty

[BillT]

One other thing while I'm thinking about it Madelief,
                                If you are ever not sure if you have taken it then count your pills.The bottle will tell you how many you started with and then count the days you've been on it.

 Thanks for jumping in Gnatty.I thought that VL tests were the norm but I guess not.I'm learning every day.

[Madelief]

Hallo Gnatty en Bill!
Thank you so much for your reaction! I counted my pills last night and so I knew that Inhad forgotten the one from yesterday morning. I took it last night en today at the regular time 8 am.
Yes I think thatvmy doctor hadn't his day yesterday, that must be the reason I guess.
Thanks! Wish you all a nice evening,
Madelief

[Cal]

Mad alien,
That is disappointing. In Australia, we gave a V/L before tx, one st 2 weeks then we are nit supposed to have one till 12 weeks EOT. I asked fir one at 12 weeks and got it. It is important for our mental health which us just as important as our physical health. It concerns me that he didn't look at your throat. Can you go to you GP? Or was that the GP? Maybe get him IR her to look at it? Or ring up the Hispital Doctor if the throat us still worrying you? Cal

[Madelief]

Thank you Cal for your reply.
I don't know what the titles of a doctor mean. I go to my liver specialist in the hospital. I see 1 doctor, no other one.
My throat is better now, it was only 1 day (day 20 of harvoni) swollen and problems swallowing and the metallic taste. That taste has gone away today I noticed.
Tomorrow or friday I will get the results of the bloodwork, including virusload, taken monday (day 21).
I can't wait to hear them, I try to be prepared that the virus will not be completely gone, but at the other hand I read from other people at the forum that there is really a chance that the virus has gone  and left me......oeffffffffff
I will post the results.
Madelief

[Cal]

Madalief,
Good that your throat is better. Yes please post results ASAP. It's a good drug so you're right, you're either UND IR near it. Cal

[Madelief]

Thank you Cal 
It feels so heartwarming this forum and that other people know how important this results are....I am so glad with concern, it is heartwarming
Even people near me here don't realise how important this is for me.....even the doctor said that there was never a need for having a secret and that it was  only in my head....
Because of that hiding they don't know now what the treatment means to me. But I feel better day by day , yessssss
But my husband and daugther do know the meaning and I hope I can tell them positive news 
Madelief