Author Topic: Starting Harvoni today..... (Read 12980 times)

hummingbird57 · « **on:** July 03, 2016, 04:21:29 pm »

Hi!!

Glad we're all here for each other. Started Harvoni today after receiving from Australia yesterday! I'm on a 12-week course after having genotype 1a for (approx. ) over 40 years. I passed on treatment when diagnosis confirmed 15 years ago to wait for the new medications.

gnatcatcher · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2016, 07:19:24 pm »

Welcome, hummingbird57. We have a lot in common: HCV 1a for over 4 decades, passing on the earlier treatments for roughly the same number of years, then Harvoni for 12 weeks. I hope treatment goes as smoothly for you as it did for me. Stay well hydrated!

Best wishes,

Gnatty

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2016, 08:56:37 pm »

Welcome hummingbird! And good luck with treatment. You will almost certainly be cured.

kim

AussieRosa · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2016, 11:00:50 pm »

Hi, Hummingbird. Great to see another person taking their treatment into their own hands and sourcing the meds for themselves. Wishing you a side effect free treatment and a complete cure.
Rosa

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2016, 09:13:08 am »

Hi and thanks for a welcome to a class that's getting bigger (and closer to graduation for some of us). Just swallowed day #2 - 82 to go. I'm hoping for a smooth treatment as well but we're all used to some bumps in the road. Knowing that this stuff is in my bloodstream popping virus balloons is a pretty cool feeling.

I'm not a big water drinker............better go fetch up a glass.

Thanks again Rosa, Kim and Gnatty for the words of encouragement on day #1!

Mike · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2016, 10:58:16 am »

Hi Hummingbird,

I'm so glad you were able to access treatment. Make sure you stay hydrated. The 82 days will pass quickly and then on to the cure!

Best wishes, Mike

Baxter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2016, 01:24:11 pm »

Quote from: gnatcatcher on July 03, 2016, 07:19:24 pm

Welcome, hummingbird57. We have a lot in common: HCV 1a for over 4 decades, passing on the earlier treatments for roughly the same number of years, then Harvoni for 12 weeks.

Not to mention, both small birds. Y'all may have a lot to talk about!

FutureThinker · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2016, 01:39:29 pm »

Welcome to the forum! The hydration advice is very, very important. I wasn't a good water-drinker pre-treatment, either, and just had to put a couple of bottles of water on my kitchen counter to ensure I did it. It's a habit I'm still continuing! My treatment course was a piece of cake, and I am sending positive thoughts your way for the same. The future is bright! FT

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2016, 08:35:32 am »

Hi and thanks for the positive thoughts and I'm sending them back to all of you.

Hydration hydration hydration.............

brie41 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2016, 11:43:14 am »

Hi,

Welcome and best of luck on your treatment! I hope it goes well for you!! Brie

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2016, 11:04:41 pm »

Thank you Brie - I realize that I'm only in day #3 of treatment but I'm not experiencing any physical effects other than the expectation of something.......?

Certainly not expecting a walk in the park but this is amazing thus far........

Beth

Baxter · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2016, 11:50:39 pm »

That's not at all uncommon. My first few days, all i felt was incredibly freakin' HEALTHY!!!! Then after about 2 or 3 days, I started to experience increasingly severe insomnia, and by Day 5 or 6 I went something like 3 straight nights with only 3 hours of sleep total. Then, over the 12-week course, I had various sides come and go for a day or two at a time, but they were never that bad. More of an oddity than an annoyance, really.

So knock on wood, Hummingbird! You may be one of those who coast through it with no trouble at all. Just know that it's not unusual for odd side effects to manifest at just about any point in the treatment, so if you start to experience something that feels like sides, don't be alarmed. That's not out of the ordinary at all. I bounced from one side effect to another for 3 months, and all that mattered was that at the end of it, I got that magic number - The Big Zero!

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2016, 08:02:16 am »

Oh my - should have kept that to myself maybe on the "walk in the park" assumption. I'm scrolling through all the experienced members and see that, all are manageable but everyone has something to accept and adjust for over the treatment period.

I'm thankful to have it - keeping the eye on the prize - ZERO

Thanks - Beth (the hummingbird)

Flutterby · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2016, 04:39:11 pm »

Hi Hummingbird, I hope all is going well! Just posted an update for me (all good), and thought I'd check in to see how you are travelling? One week in already! Yeah!

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2016, 08:14:20 pm »

Hi Flutterby!!! It's good to hear from you. I started feeling a little queasy on Friday. I'm solo and have a dog so am able to drop her at daycare if she needs a break from me or the other way around.

I'm having some muscle and joint aches - my fingers and toes don't look swollen but feel stiff when I bend them, dull headaches, decreased appetite.

These meds are awesome so I'm not complaining.

Would appreciate any suggestions for managing these effects from forum members- thanks!

gnatcatcher · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2016, 08:27:16 pm »

Beth, I found that my scattered muscle and joint aches during treatment were actually helped if I exercised (within reason, of course). Assuming you are staying well hydrated (which minimizes headaches), I don't know what else to suggest.

Flutterby · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2016, 09:17:58 pm »

Oh, sorry to hear that! I hope Gnatcatcher's advice helps.... Yes, keeping your eye on the positives is good, but also good to share any challenges and seek help along the way if needed. I hope the aches and pains dissipate!

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2016, 09:28:30 pm »

Gnatty, thanks. I need to drink more water. "Scattered" is the perfect description. It's in one knee and then in an elbow, etc.. I'm pretty fit and have worked out with the same "trainer" for 5 years. I've been open about my hepatitis and he knows I've started treatment.

Thanks Flutterby -

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2016, 07:40:24 pm »

Hey! - Tomorrow begins week 3 of Harvoni. I had a few days of muscle aches, headache, etc. It let off and I kept moving. All in all - pretty uneventful. Time DOES fly.

Sending good thoughts to everyone out there and for SVR forum-wide.

Where's Flutterby? How are you doing?

beth

Flutterby · « **Reply #19 on:** July 16, 2016, 08:35:06 pm »

Yeah! That's so great to hear. Time does fly, and I'm so glad to hear the aches and pains eased off.

I'm here. Day#11 so right behind you! All is well with me.

...we are getting closer each day to ridding our bodies of the hidden curse!

Flutterby · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2016, 08:44:09 pm »

Gosh - hit the two week mark - time does fly. Now I know how good that feels! Hope you are well!

hummingbird57 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 20, 2016, 06:49:24 pm »

Quote from: hummingbird57 on July 05, 2016, 11:04:41 pm

Thank you Brie - I realize that I'm only in day #3 of treatment but I'm not experiencing any physical effects other than the expectation of something.......?

Certainly not expecting a walk in the park but this is amazing thus far........

Beth

Brie - you were there when I was just getting started...... great news!!!!!!!!!! Beth

Lilly White · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2016, 06:17:22 pm »

Thanks for the info guys! I'm on day 3 and feeling pretty dang good. Looks like time will fly.☺

gnatcatcher · « **Reply #23 on:** September 18, 2016, 07:10:23 pm »

Lilly White, welcome! Glad things are going well. Before you know it, you'll be an old-timer helping the next crop of newbies along.

Gnatty

KimInTheForest · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2016, 09:19:55 pm »

Welcome Lilly! Good luck with your treatment journey.

kim

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Author Topic: Starting Harvoni today..... (Read 12980 times)