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142841 tn?1201975052

rocket ride

Today has been a day for the ages.

To recap a short history:  gt-1a,  cirrhotic, 57yo, originally infected 40 years ago in boot camp.  I've failed txt five times in the past, including last year sovaldi, ribavirin, and peg-interferon.  I relapsed after achieving UND.

I've been experiencing two complications from cirrhosis.  G.A.V.E. (gastric antral vascular ectasia), associated with cirrhosis although the exact causal mechanism remains unclear, requires periodic upper endoscopy during which oozing vessels in the stomach are cauterized.

I've also been diagnosed this week with hepatopulminary syndrome.  

So, just before today's endoscopy, my hepatologist decided to put me on the transplant list.  This way the adminiatrivia is out of the way and we can move quickly if I begin to decompensate.  

My Blue Shield PPO denied the prior auth request for Harvoni, and denied my appeal.  Their reason was the sovaldi relapse.  So...we applied directly to Gilead Support Path for financial assistance.  

I came from the endoscopy today, mulling over my new status on the transplant list, to hear a voicemail left by Gilead.

They've approved 24 weeks of Harvoni for me, and I am forever humbled by their generosity.  In a very real sense, they may have saved my life today.

It will take a few days to get meds in hand, we're going to add ribavirin and procrit, and it will be sometime before that arrives.

But, I'm looking forward to starting tx #6, and I'm hopeful for the future.
6 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi Neptune. As you can tell the concensus is that we are all very excited about the new meds including Harvoni.  I'm very optomistic that Tx #6 is the one for you.  I wish you much success in beating this horrendous virus at last.
I'm a betting girl, and odds are undeniably in your favor.
Much luck
......Kim
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
Hi neptune

GT 1a likely had hep c since 1978 or 79
Known about Hep C since 1990
Treated 3 times with interferon based TX null responder
DX cirrhosis in Jan 2008
Esophageal varicies that required banding in 2012
Annual Upper endoscopies to monitor for recurrence
Some mild GAVE no TX at this time
Pitting edama and scant ascities taking Spironolactone
Platelets about 90
TX last year Sovaldi Olysio 12 weeks
relapsed at 12 week post test no 4 week test done

Currently on 24 weeks Harvoni with Ribe added at week 10 for extra kick

So almost right there with you

Good luck on treatment
Lynn
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Congrats on getting Gilead to step up to the plate and help you out.  I failed 3x triple therapy with Vic @ 6 mo post EOT.  So I headed to Harvoni and Riba also for 24 weeks.  Cirrhosis confirmed.

Wishing you the best!

jules
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
COMMUNITY LEADER
Here is the data about when people relapsed during Gilead's Phase III trials (NEUTRINO, FISSION, POSITRON, VALENCE) where Sovaldi was combined either with just ribavirin is the G2 & G3 trials and peg-IFN and ribavirin.for those with G1 or 4-6.

NOTE: Relapse by week 4 has also been seen in all other current treatments as well. When treatment is stopped at EOT the suppression of replication is stopped and any remaining HCV virions that remain then start replicating once again.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concordance of sustained virological response 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-treatment with sofosbuvir-containing regimens for hepatitis C virus.

Hepatology. 2014 Oct 14. doi: 10.1002/hep.27366.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.27366/abstract

"Overall, a total of 85 of 863 patients experienced virological relapse. Of these patients,
66 (77.6%) had relapse by post-treatment week 4,
17 (20.0%) had relapse between weeks 4 and 12, and
2 (2.3%) had relapse between weeks 12 and 24.
The 2 patients who relapsed between post-treatment weeks 12 and 24 were both in VALENCE with HCV genotype 3 and were treatment experienced without cirrhosis "

Be well.
Hector

Helpful - 0
142841 tn?1201975052
Thanks, I hope this will be it, as well.

I was UND at EOT of Sov/Rib/PI, but by EOT4 my viral load was over 2million.
Helpful - 0
7395021 tn?1394075927
congratulation! This may be the one for you. How soon after treatment did you relapse? I am 1b, compensated and svr after same treatment as you. I was treatment naive. Harvoni will slay this dragon for you!
Helpful - 0
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