starting number six

[neptune235]

Hi!

My first month of Harvoni (first of six) and ribavirin (1200 mg daily) arrived today and are sitting on the counter.

Drew baseline labs, and have verified that all blood orders though SVR24 are submitted.

Waiting for Procrit insurance approval, which I'll start right away, as ribavirin, especially at this dose, usually sends my HGB crashing.

My start date is this Monday, 3/2/15.

On my mark...get set...GO!

[sue4hula]

congratulations on going for gold yet again!  I am hoping to hear from the pharmacy tomorrow to schedule delivery of the Harvoni and Ribavirin combo.  My 4th attempt and also the first without Interferon.  We will be on the journey together!  Here's to a win for all of us!

[flyinlynn]

Hi Carl

Well for me as a 3 time null responder to interferon base treatment with cirrhosis for 7 years now who relapsed last year after 12 weeks of Sovaldi Olysio you can probably see why my doctor feels adding riba to my tx is a good idea. Throwing everything we have at it you could say.

Good luck on tx
Lynn

[Carlhcv]

Jules, hope you get approved soon. How come some of us are getting Riba thrown into the mix? I am starting week two of 24 weeks of Harvoni only.

[Bilrac]

Best wishes for your treatment and for an SVR.  I'm just two weeks ahead of you on the same protocol (Harvoni + 1200mg Riba).  Doing fine here.  A little tired but nothing major.  

[flyinlynn]

My doctor has said we will not use epocrit we have already dose reduced from 1200 mg to 1000 mg because my hemoglobin fell to 9.1 and they so not want to see it below 10

I was originally on 24 weeks of Harvoni but we decided to add Riba partway into my treatment finally got the riba at week 9 of Harvoni. I will be finishing week 15 of treatment on Monday 3/2 so 9 weeks to go.

Lynn

[neptune235]

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.  Mr. Goater:  interesting thinking, and I hope your experience is the norm.  The last five tx's did involve Inf and RBV, so my docs just want to be ready to act if I start to crash.  It makes for a long slog, but I see that as preferable to dose reduction.

[goater]

I remember you from long ago.  This round of treatment may not have your Hgb crashing from the Riba that you've experienced in the past.  All of your past treatments included interferon right?  

I recently finished 24 weeks of Sovaldi/Olysio plus Ribavirin (also 1200) and Hgb slowly dropped from a baseline of 16 into the 13's.  As a GT1a cirrhotic I expected the Ribavirin to cause anemia just as the two previous 48 week treatments did with interferon.  I was pleasantly surprised.   For most of the 2nd treatment with Pegasys/Riba and Victrelis I was taking 60k of Procrit weekly and Hgb never got out of the 9 range.  

You'll be taking Harvoni where I took S/O but neither of us mixed Ribavirin with interferon this time and maybe you'll not experience anemia either.  Procrit has some nasty sides so hopefully you'll not need it.

Best wishes,
Marty

    

[pooh55811]

Congratualtions on starting Harvon and Riba (soon).

Sounds like you have a great Hepa who knows his/her stuff and is setting you up for success with the Harvoni and Riba. It is great you have the Procrit ready to go  so that you can treat anemia if it appears.

You will attain SVR this time around.

Best wishes for a smooth treatment and SVR.

Keep us posted.

[jules2551]

This is your 6th attempt?  OMG I couldn't imagine.  Well I think Gilead has the cure and your gonna do it this time!!!

I will be doing Harvoni + Riba also.  Just waiting for insurance approval.

Best to you!

jules

[Ekkiemom]

Hi there!  Well it sounds like you have all your ducks in a row...yaaaaaaaay. That's good you are getting approval ahead of time for Procrit. Hoping you won't have to use it.
I remember when I first started not that long ago I thot wow 6 months seems like forever, but to my surprise it went by fairly quickly. Wishing you the best on the upcoming Tx and a speedy SVR!
Peace
Deb

[Livelife777]

This is cause for celebration as you've taken the final step that's going to change your life forever.  The time is now and we are so very fortunate to be able to be free of this virus.
I also treated with Ribavirin at 1200 mgs.  It's weight based and since I'm only 5'3 and weigh 108 I thought for sure a reduction would be needed.  My Hmg never went below 10 and kept the 1200 going throughout Tx.  Hopefully you may get lucky and keep your blood levels up to speed.
Best to you
.....Kim