Viral load still detected on Harvoni

[Suepod1952]

Hi.  Worried about viral load.  Diagnosed July 2017.  Started Harvoni 8/2017.
Fibroscan F0-2. LFT's are always normal.
Starting VL 3.5 million genotype 1a
4 week.  VL. 774
5 week.  VL. 562
6 week.  VL. 484
My DR oadded 4 more wks of Harvoni for a total of 12 weeks. He thinks I have a chance of clearing the virus.  I have six more pills left
Someone on another blog encouraged me to email "Dr. *******" who messaged me back that I was in great trouble and would clearly fail on Harvoni and would go on to become resistant to all other medications.  He scared me to death with this mean email.  My DR just shook his head and said don't believe what you read on the Internet.
Someone recommended this forum as being very helpful. Any insight?

[Lynn K]

I commented to your other post

Try looking up some of dragonslayers posts from about 2.5 years ago.

He was weakly detected at EOT and even at 4 weeks post treatment but he went on to a achieve SVR 12 and remains cured today.

Really surprised they are testing so much while you are on treatment really on treatment testing is of little to no diagnostic value.

Best of luck

[gnatcatcher]

Suepod1952, it's still much too early. As Lynn said, dragonslayer cleared much later than most but was still cured. Your doctor is correct that the twelve weeks of Harvoni may clear the virus. If by chance Harvoni doesn't cure you, there's something called resistance testing that enables your hepatitis specialist to choose a new medication that you're not resistant to.

Shame on "Dr. *******" for spreading ignorant lies!

Not sure why your doctor is testing your viral load so often, since the test that will indicate a cure is the one you take 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Viral loads are rough indicators at best (they tend to jump around), but the good news is that all three of yours are a lot better than before you began treatment.

Rooting for you,

Gnatty

[andrew j]

Hi Suepod,

Yes ... You might have a 'NS5A resistance' - which means that you might be resistant to the action of the ledipasvir component of Harvoni.
That would explain your relatively high VL readings - and why your Dr kept ordering more blood tests.

Those tests have been a blessing in your case, because they have alerted your Dr to a potential problem, and have enabled him / her to order another four weeks of treatment for you.

Those four weeks might make all the difference!

As the others say - you're still in with a good chance - and if this treatment doesn't work, another one will!

Best of luck,
A.

[Lynn K]

Hi Suepod

just checking in to see how you are doing I guess you have finished treatment by now.