Not detectable

[notsoeasy]

I received Friday latest result, and the good news is I am still UND. Anemy is decrising slowly, so I should be able to finish my tx without further reduce drugs. Liver panel ok, GGT still out of range (82), my hep says they will probably stay out of range for long time/forever due to severe fibrosis. Before I started they were around 380.
Bad news is I was wrongfully thinking the therapy will finish after 48 from the start of interferon, but is 48 after I added Victrelis that is, 4 weeks more, in middle March :-(
Well, I can do this.
Have to report a bit of lack of enthusiasm, along with some tiredness/extraenergy, but I am not sure whether to blame tx. In fact, I have been fighting hard throughout the terapy to reach some personal achievements which I succeded and that was really great, but untill now this did not bring the hoped results.
So I feel a bit demotivated, with some spare time to enjoy but also to think about me as a "poor thing" if I can explain it, LOL.
The other reason being is terribly hot at this time you barely move outside, is nearly Christmas and my family is so far away. Ugh.
Suggestions?

Thanks

[notsoeasy]

Thanks for sharing this moment.
Nan, you can't imagine how much I am missing a white Christmas.... :-)
Hrsepwrguy, I think pooh is right.
My protocol is still 400 + 400 + 600 mg of Victrelis and 400 + 400 mg of Ribavirin plus 90 mg of INF, so this is probably the reason. I don't know for sure, I just asked if I will finish in Feb and he said no, 48 weeks' in March.
BTW, I found a little project (restoring a little old cupboard) so to keep myself busy on my days off, and trying not to be a pain in the a..
Whishing everyone a Happier and Healthier Christmas and New Year!

Laurie

[pooh55811]

I agree with hrsepwrguy  that the treatment protocol states the treatment time would be 48 weeks total, not 48 weeks in addition to the 4 week lead in.

I cannot remember all of your treatment details and liver fibrosis stage, but I do recall that you started Boceprevir, took it 2 weeks, then stopped Boceprevir for 2 weeks, and then restarted it. Plus, when you restarted the Bocepravir, it was at a lower dose than the protocol calls for. You were also DET at week 8. Perhaps those factors are why your doctor wants you to do the extra 4 weeks.

It is great that you are still UND and hopefully you will stay that way. Wishing you SVR.

[hrsepwrguy]

"Bad news is I was wrongfully thinking the therapy will finish after 48 from the start of interferon, but is 48 after I added Victrelis that is, 4 weeks more,"

You were thinking right in the first place, treatment duration is 48 wks from the start of interferon = 4 wks inf/riba followed by 44 wks of inf/riba/vic.

Not sure why you have to do 48 wks but protocol for all 48 wk duration patients is the same
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victrelis Dosage and Administration

Initiate therapy with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 4 weeks
(Treatment Weeks 1–4).
    
Add Victrelis 800 mg (four 200-mg capsules) orally three times daily (every 7 to 9 hours) to peginterferon alfa and ribavirin regimen after 4 weeks of treatment. Based on the patient's HCV-RNA levels at Treatment Week (TW) 8, TW12 and TW24, use the following guidelines to determine duration of treatment

Consideration should be given to treating previously untreated patients who are poorly interferon responsive (as determined at TW4) with 4 weeks peginterferon alfa and ribavirin followed by 44 weeks of Victrelis 800 mg orally three times daily (every 7 to 9 hours) in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin in order to maximize rates of SVR.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/victrelis.html