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Life with cirrhosis in Russia
Hi to all !
I'm 40 yo male from Russia.
2 years ago i was diagnosed HCV and subcompensated cirrhosis ( CP 8 points ). In russia neither social medical insurance nor additional insurance ( additionlay paid by employer or by youself ) cover HCV cure.
So everybody had to pay for drugs ( not cheap, though ) and good doc from his wallet.
Year ago i was very sad, because of i'm interferon-ineligible due to low platelet count. But, 2 months ago egyption and indian farma companies started producing of generic copies of sovaldi and one chinese company started copies of daclatasvir and asunaprevir. With help from my family I was able to buy these medicine and 3 weeks ago started triple therapy with daclatasvir + asunaprevir + sofosbuvir for 24 weeks.
Today blood tests shows that HCV is undetactable in my blood, so i'm happy enough. To this time i has no side effects and my health is same as 1 and 2 and 3 years ago. I'm regularly has long bike or inline skates rides ( 40 - 50 km a day )
I'm 40 yo male from Russia.
2 years ago i was diagnosed HCV and subcompensated cirrhosis ( CP 8 points ). In russia neither social medical insurance nor additional insurance ( additionlay paid by employer or by youself ) cover HCV cure.
So everybody had to pay for drugs ( not cheap, though ) and good doc from his wallet.
Year ago i was very sad, because of i'm interferon-ineligible due to low platelet count. But, 2 months ago egyption and indian farma companies started producing of generic copies of sovaldi and one chinese company started copies of daclatasvir and asunaprevir. With help from my family I was able to buy these medicine and 3 weeks ago started triple therapy with daclatasvir + asunaprevir + sofosbuvir for 24 weeks.
Today blood tests shows that HCV is undetactable in my blood, so i'm happy enough. To this time i has no side effects and my health is same as 1 and 2 and 3 years ago. I'm regularly has long bike or inline skates rides ( 40 - 50 km a day )
Thanks for answering. Completely understand your reasons.
I am very concerned for people in my country where the new drugs aren't yet approved. Even when they are available, most people won't be able to afford the cost. We don't have any prescription medicine insurance here, instead the government pays most of the cost for selected medicines. They are unlikely to list the new HCV drugs due to the cost.
I am very concerned for people in my country where the new drugs aren't yet approved. Even when they are available, most people won't be able to afford the cost. We don't have any prescription medicine insurance here, instead the government pays most of the cost for selected medicines. They are unlikely to list the new HCV drugs due to the cost.
I decided to use these copies because traditional way ( peg-ifn + rib ) wasn't allowed for me. I wasn't first person, using these pills. There are a number of people, cured with this medicine.
Medicines Sans Frontiers was saying they might do something along these lines a while back. That is, to release cheap versions of the same substances to bring the prices down.
Your story is very interesting. Could give hope to people who can't afford the big brand drugs. Without going into troublesome details, how did you make sure that the copies were the real deal before trying them? I know that you can test for viral load after you have started (and congratulations by the way). What was your journey to making that decision and getting those alternative drugs?
I hope you will attain SVR!
Instead of using chinese chemicals, some people with cirrhosis may try to use sofosbuvir+ribavirin therapy for 48 week. See http://natap.org/2015/EASL/EASL_85.htm
Instead of using chinese chemicals, some people with cirrhosis may try to use sofosbuvir+ribavirin therapy for 48 week. See http://natap.org/2015/EASL/EASL_85.htm
Congratulations on being undetected. That's great that your family was able to help you out financially to pay for the medication.
Best wishes to you for SVR.
Best wishes to you for SVR.
Glad you found us. I'm so glad you were able to get treatment and have reached UND. Keep plugging along, keep your medicines going and protect your liver from bad substances. Good luck to you and continued good health.
I has 1b geno with IL28 CT/TG - not very favorable for interferon/riba.
Also i has low platelet count due to porta hypertension, so interferon is strictly prohibited for me.
Chinese copies if dac/asun are not true medicine - just chemicals with identical formula, so i don't want to publish their names here. But, because of inaccesibility of brand drugs, it's only way to cure HCV for many people. And many people already cured it.
Also i has low platelet count due to porta hypertension, so interferon is strictly prohibited for me.
Chinese copies if dac/asun are not true medicine - just chemicals with identical formula, so i don't want to publish their names here. But, because of inaccesibility of brand drugs, it's only way to cure HCV for many people. And many people already cured it.
hello Fox , and i am so happy for you that you have started treatment .
I want to let you know that the liver if not very badly damaged has the ability to regenerate and get back to nearly normal , since your virus is already undetectable , i am sure that your liver has already started to repair itself .
i am from india and i know that sofosbuvir is available here , how can one get Declatasvir and Asunaprevir from china and what is there cost .
Do you have the name of any company from where i can buy them , i could speak to my doctor and if he agrees to the treatment , i can fly down to china and get the meds .
lastly what geno type are you !! i hear that Declatasvir is better than ledipasvir , ( as in more potenet ) so am wondering why you are on a 6 months programme instead of 3 months !! .
i am sure that others with more knoledge will chime in and help out too .
i wish you well and hope that you will be totally fine and lie a healthy and happy lfe once ure tx is over .
best wishes and god bless .
I want to let you know that the liver if not very badly damaged has the ability to regenerate and get back to nearly normal , since your virus is already undetectable , i am sure that your liver has already started to repair itself .
i am from india and i know that sofosbuvir is available here , how can one get Declatasvir and Asunaprevir from china and what is there cost .
Do you have the name of any company from where i can buy them , i could speak to my doctor and if he agrees to the treatment , i can fly down to china and get the meds .
lastly what geno type are you !! i hear that Declatasvir is better than ledipasvir , ( as in more potenet ) so am wondering why you are on a 6 months programme instead of 3 months !! .
i am sure that others with more knoledge will chime in and help out too .
i wish you well and hope that you will be totally fine and lie a healthy and happy lfe once ure tx is over .
best wishes and god bless .
That's great news that your HCV is gone! Hope you stay fit and healthy a long time!
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