Blood test show previous hep b infection

[D.B]

Hello I'm new to the forum . I've been approved for eplusa, I failed soldavi with ribavarin 2years ago.my concern is the blood test informed me I had previous exposure to hep b. Has anyone else had this double exposure, and have taken eplusa? I read side effect warnings, pretty scary reading. Could bring back the hep b, or cause extreme liver damage. I'm apprehensive, maybe Aldo because of previous failure .when I was on soldavi/Ribavarin my red blood count dropped. D.B

[Lynn K]

Hi and welcome

My last treatment (my 5th) was with Harvoni for 24 weeks and ribavirin for 15 of those weeks.

I also had a reduction in hemoglobin really all 3 times I took ribavirin. It is a common side effect of ribavirin.

As far as the hep B I know about reactivation concerns but I think that is not a concern for a patient like you who does not have the hep b virus currently. I believe this only applies to those who are currently infected with the hep b virus and it is dormant that there is a risk of reactivation of the hep b virus. Do you know if you carry the hep b virus or only antibodies? Antibodies are not the virus they are made by our bodies when they try to fight a virus.

Even once you are cured of hep c you will always test positive for hep c antibodies just not the hep c virus itself on the HCV RNA test.

I have heard hep b test results are a bit more complicated to interpret than hep c testing

You should discuss this with your doctor about the specifics about your previous hep b infection.

[Gaj]

Hi D.B.,

As Lynne says, your low blood count on previous treatment would most likely have been due to the ribavirin.

And the risk of reactivation of HBV is only for the small group who have ‘chronic’ hep B, which is the small group of patients who are unable to clear the virus themselves. This doesn’t sound like your situation but can be easily checked with a blood test that looks at the various antibody/antigen results obtained. If you or your doctor still have the results of your previous tests these will probably tell you what you need to know anyway but if not then you just need another blood test to check your status.

[D.B]

Thank you for the replys, I will ask health care workers. The test showed up in the abnormal range 0 to 1? We're normal I was < 0 I'm trying to remember . I believe she said I showed antibodies ? Again sorry for ignorance. Thank yo to all the replys. God bless,D.B

[Lynn K]

Yeah don’t know as much about hep b testing as I wish I did but I think if you have no virus and only antibodies you should be good to go but yeah check with your doctor.

Best of luck

[D.B]

I would like to ask who has taken medical marijuana during treatment? I would think it would be an option for anxiety during treatment?

[Lynn K]

Some insurance companies will not allow treatment if you are using marijuana even if it is medical in your state marijuana is not legal nationwide.  Most of us avoid taking any medication not required during treatment to avoid the small risk of interfering with the Hep C medications

For some people marijuana actually increases anxiety is another thing you want to consider.

You should discuss your concerns about anxiety with your doctor if you have anxiety in general you may consider taking an anti anxiety medication.

Everyone feels a little anxious especially thatfirst pill it is totally normal to feel a bit anxious when taking treatment.

[D.B]

I'm feeling too hyper, my Dr prescribed an anti anxiety drug. I was told from others the anti anxiety drug causes memory loss.i was told medical marijuana does the same thing with out bad side affects . I'm just asking , I'm sure others have had high strung side effect. I'm on my9th day .

[andrew j]

Hi D.B.,

These drugs seem to make some people feel anxious ... Epclusa more-so than Harvoni, it seems (... which is similar, and what I took).

Some people feel energised, and actually enjoy the feeling - esp. if they have felt tired or fatigued because of Hep C (= 'Harvoni High') ...

FWIW - I think that marijuana is better for feelings of clagginess or unwellness, rather than for anxiety.
(It's well known as a help when people are going through chemo, of course).

Do you have any natural skills you can use? eg. reassuring yourself, controlling your breathing, exercise etc.?

(You seem to be doing OK?) ...

[D.B]

Hi, it's different then when I was on rib/soldavi it's more of a wired feeling.
Yes I do breath deeply , excercise, have my meditation time in the mornings.
Some days I'm more quiet inside others wired. When I'm awake all day and evening comes still wired and nothing seems to help, i drink calming teas. As is true this too shall pass.i guess I'm from the cut, if something that's not damaging to the epclusa
And it helps for a short time being it's better than the stress. I'm not a drug person but the anti anxiety pills prescribed do help if and when needed , I was just wondering if a more natural approach would be. Better.

[Lynn K]

It might be better or it might not. But it could be problematic in obtaining treatment from insurance.

Natural is a word that gets thrown around lot. Natural does not make a thing better or even heathy. Deadly nightshade is a natural poison for example.

For some people marijuana increases anxiety not decreases.

Just because a thing is natural does not make it better, safer, or more effective than what has been developed by modern medicine.

Some of us experienced what we called a Harvoni high where we felt we had extra energy kind of like drinking a lot of coffee but for those who don’t like that feeling it can be unnerving. One suggestion was to take your meds early in the day to burn off the extra energy so that by evening it is easier to get to sleep.
You should discuss your concerns with your doctor.

[andrew j]

I'm not keen on those tranquilising meds either (D.B.)

I think - if someone could come up with something natural that could calm or relax - they would be a very rich person indeed!

I think that you're doing everything you reasonably can.

Healthy eating helps, of course.

Are you drinking plenty of water?

[D.B]

I love water it's my go to,but this med seems to change my likes and dislikes . I'm not desiring water as much and I'm not wanting salads etc sugar crave has been higher than norm. I still make myself drink and made a healthy salad with supper, I'm going to try to eat healthier. I do take med in morning10:30,and today calm I actually felt tired waking up, yesterday very wired it seems to come and go in cycles . I've heard there's healing cycles in our makeup, when healing you will be more tired, hair loss etc? I think through everything I'm doing or ca feel some confusion might be to strong a word, I don't like yo much noise especially towards evening, just want quiet and not. E pulled to much.I hoe when this course of mess is through, I will get. Ack my mind the way I use to feel, the rib did effect me. Did you bounce back completely?its been 2&1/2 years since rib soldavi

[Lynn K]

For me I never felt bad before or after treatment. I had a roughy time with ribavirin because I became anemic.

So except for being 59 and having liver cirrhosis for 10 years yeah I feel fine.

[D.B]

Thanks Lynne, I guess we just have to know God
made us all different , and that's a good thing. I'm going to go and get a good night sleep.D.B

[Lynn K]

Yeah not everyone reacts the same for sure but just know there is light in the other side.

Sleep well and feel better soon

[D.B]

Hello, I'm having difficulty navigating this site. I've been reading blogs on epclusa, comparing my symptoms with others . I was reading about hair loss , I definitely lost
Hair with the ribavarin/soldavi.i want to give some of my history, so I can get some feedback. I have probably had hep since the 70's. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014,oh yes I am a female, ha ha . I had 3 operations in 3 months, bilateral mastectomy . I went on soldavi/ ribavarin in April of 2015. I failed that treatment, I was becoming anemic, red blood count dropped, maybe to close to operations
I lost slot of blood. No chemo no drugs with the cancer. So I got back my 23 day blood draw , still detected 21 quantitive. She said the pharmacist my labs look good
. My viral load was over 3million. The last drug regimen I was at 1,500,000? And my first blood draw was 26/quantative. At the last draw 12 weeks it showed noise
It was confusing, not undetected?anyway I was dissapointed to have any detection
Brought back previous failure, oh by the way I'm genotype2 supposedly the easiest to treat. I'm keeping the faith , just wanted to share with community. God bless D.B

[Lynn K]

Becoming anemic while taking ribavirin is a common side effect. I became anemic all three times I treated my hep c using that med.

Viral load varies all the time when not treating so not really a concern. I am assuming you are still on treatment. Testing on treatment the only thing you want to see is a  significant reduction in viral load.  We had a couple people here who are actually weekly detected at end of treatment and even at the 4 weeks post treatment virus test result. But they went on to be not detected 12 weeks post and are considered cured. Look up dragonslayers posts from early 2015.

My pre treatment viral load when I treated with Sovaldi and Olysio was 2 million after I relapsed 12 weeks after being not detected at EOT it was 2.4

The only test result that matters is the 12 week post treatment test result all other tests are basically noise. I can relate to your fears about not being cured this time. I treated 3 times with interferon based regimens and was a null responder. Then I treated with Sovaldi and Olysio for 12 weeks when they were first approved. I was not detected at end of treatment but was found to have relapsed at 12 weeks post. My last treatment was 24 weeks of Harvoni and 15 weeks of ribavirin. I am now 2.5 years post treatment and still cured.

Good luck and hang in there try not to worry for now.

[D.B]

Is it a better sign if you show undetectected 3 weeks after starting?im 30 days into treatment. The pharmacist says it's a strong drug she's testing me again mid January . Then 12 weeks. The first testing was st 3weeks. I'm trying to do everything on my end to help meds, you read about others that drink etc and clear right away, is it my system? I still have 8weeks to go,I will stay in faith it's working.D.B

[andrew j]

D.B,

Don't worry about a thing.
You're completely on track!
Your readings are where they should be - and you're feeling OK.

All is well!

Best wishes,

A.

[Lynn K]

Tests on treatment don’t really mean anything. They mostly are only to confirm you are taking your meds.

The only test that means anything is the 12 week post treatment test.

[D.B]

I just want to say , how nice it is to have a listening ear, this is such a nice caring
Group. Thank you for your reassurance. Goodnight to all.D.B and thanks Lynn
For your wisdom.

[D.B]

Just want to say my last pill is February 14.
I'm happy to be through, the last 2weejs I've been
Weaker and my breathing a bit more labored.I knowI  read on the forum
How long it takes to get these drugs out of our system.
Can someone tell me how long ? I'm thinking 3 or 4 days? D.B

[Lynn K]

Found a couple of references I am combining for an answer

“Epclusa Excretion: see individual drugs (sofosbuvir); for velpatasvir: bile/feces 94%, urine 0.4%; Half-life: 15h”

From a hepmag article by Lucinda

“To determine how quickly a drug will be eliminated, you need to know its half-life. The half-life is how long it takes the body to get rid of half of the dose of a particular drug. If you stopped taking the drug, then it will keep eliminating half until there is nothing left.

Each drug has its own half-life, and the amount of time it takes varies, depending on your age, the efficiency of your kidneys and liver, what other medications or supplements you take, and so on. The general rule of thumb is to multiply the drug’s half-life by 5.5 for a rough estimate of how long it takes to leave the body. Let’s do the math.”

Based on the information I found

15 hours times 5.5 is 82.5 or approximately 3.4 days so it seems your guess is pretty good.

Congrats on finishing treatment soon.

[D.B]

Thank you for being a faithful counselor for all of us going through this drug regimen .
Could you give some insight on how long it takes for the liver to heal from the strong drugs, where it's I guess back to pre drugs?D.B