Getting my results soon

More of a comment, not question.

I'm completing my 24th week of tx and went to the doc today for blood work.  I'm feeling better today as the misery begins again on Fridays and Thursdays are often my best day (as with most of us).  I'd expected today to get my dates of UND and progress reports throughout the course of my treatment from the beginning until now as it is not revealed until week 24 in my study.  I was told that perhaps in a week, after my blood draw today, that it will all be revealed.  We discussed the different arms of the Telapravir study and the chance that I was in the arm where Telapravir was administered during the fist 12-weeks.  That arm is showing UND by week 4 and treatment ending after only 28-weeks.  I don't know about y'all but I have not been a happy camper (sick all of the time and tired of it).  The thought of maybe being able to stop putting this poison in my body and feeling better in another month almost made me cry.  And then, there are thoughts of concern over ending treatment too early and relapsing...blah blah blah.  Anyway, I just needed to post this.
Joey

[Tippyclubb]

I'm in the Vertex trial but it was a no placebo trial so I did get the Telaprevir and was Und and RVR by week 4.  I did a private pcr as the trial would not release that information until the 24th visit.  On my 21st visit I was placed into the 6 months group.

This Monday will be the 24th week visit and they will tell me if I am UND, but not when I became UND.  If you are not UND by week 4 you have no chance of being placed into the 6 month group.  RVR is the criteria for 6 months.

Yes, I understand the thought of you wanting to cry thinking of stopping.  I did my last shot Monday and I did cry--hard, long joyful tears.

[thegypsy9164]

That is so cool Tippy.  Seems like sometimes a long hard cry would cleanse all of the inner funk.
Joey

[Larry57]

I am in the ILLUMINATE Trial also (everybody gets Telaprevir for the 1st 12 weeks).  Just finished week 24 today...YIPEE...half way there.  Tippy is right.  We will not now the results of our VL, only that if we are UND or not.  And if you are randomized to the 24 week arm, then of course you were UND by week 4, and stayed that way.  If you are in the 48 week arm, you do not know if you are there because A) you were UND at week 4, but got randomized into 48 week are, or B) if you were not a RVR, so therefore automatically got placed in the 48 week arm.

I, myself am happy to be in the 48 week arm.  I say that because I am doing pretty well on the adverse events side of things, and the PROVE 2 trial showed an absolute difference of 6% in the SVR on 48 versus 24 weeks of therapy.  That study did have a small number of patients though, and was conducted slightly different.  

Bottom line is I am willing to stay on therapy for an additional 24 weeks if it will possibly increase my chances of SVR.  But if I was not doing so well, I am sure I would feel different about that.

[thegypsy9164]

I was told that if I went UND then back to active viral load (partial responder/relapser) that the study would allow me to do the "real" Telapravir.  There were several other promising options discussed too.  However, I am so _ _ cking ready to be done with this bleeping virus that I could scream and swing at somebody.
Joey

[Larry57]

All I can say is "Hang in there bro".  

Let your providers know how you are feeling, and see if they have any suggestions as to how they can help you get through this dragon slaying.  Maybe you just need a little more armor to fight a good fight.

One day soon, you will be looking back at these crazy times :-)

Larry