New Hep C Drug

[Vintagechix]

I have hepatitis C with beginning stage cirrhosis and supposed to be starting treatment with Pegasys, Ribavirin and the new drug Sovaldi as soon as the medication gets approved.  Has anyone been on the treatment with the new drug and what are the side effects like?  

[gibsongal]

thanks for sharing sandi, vintage

i will be starting soon.. i am not afraid anymore. i already suffer pain, horrible fatigue,  don't go out except every few days for errands and docs. no appetite,  for over 2 years i have not been able , can't do what i used to do, barely can do light housework…
so if i treat perhaps i will feel better..when it is all over.if i SVR
and 12 weeks! i can do it...

i think of the people doing chemo for cancer..my mom for one., the kids ...how brave.

i can't be afraid. one day i'll look back and say.. hey i feel great!

[hepc4Sandi]

Hi, I am on day 40 of 84 (almost half done!). Was undetectable at 28 days, next viral load test will be at 56 days.

Doctor reduced my Ribavirin to 600 mg a day (from 1,000) as my Hemoglobin levels dropped below 10 (9.7, and the 9.6), it has now stabilized at around 10. Rash is pretty much gone at the lower level, but still have the sun sensitivity, appetite is off—nothing sounds good—but am hungry, go figure. So I am feeling pretty good overall. Just get tired, so am staying in and working at home most days, and not going out more than twice a week for short errands. I find it I get overly tired I get heart palpitations, spoke with my cardiologist, but it seems to calm down after 30 seconds or so if I lay down and rest. Am achy and get headaches a little in the evening, but not too bad. Take 1 motrin and half a benadryl at night to help me sleep which seems to work. Am finding if I keep eating little meals throughout the day, and drink enough water I am generally ok. Hopefully things will stay as they are right now. The things I am feeling now may be more of the Pegasus then before. Though my shots weekends seem to be about the same. I get bruises and rashes around the injection sites that seem to last a long time, as well as a burning and welts the evening of the shot (around injection site, but calendula seems to take care of that) and get feverish and really tired for a day or so, but generally feel recovered within 2 days.

I can put up with all this if I get SVR!

Hope everyone else is doing ok on their meds.

[tcrodg30]

How's your treatment going?  I'm 12 days in and not bad at all so far!

[Sofosbuvir]

Most side effect come from Pegasys - which is interferon. These include flu-like symptoms like headaches and fever. These effects are completely natural and you don't have to worry about them - the only problem is that treatment us long (12-24 weeks) so the side effects also last long.

You can read more about Pegasys or interferon treament at http://esofosbuvir.com/hepatitis-c-treatment/interferon-treatment/

[chatchat32]

that was really helpful. I'm starting my treatment next week so your 8 days ahead me. thanks for the heads up. I will be watching your post.

[Vintagechix]

Hey Sandi,
It has been a few weeks of the treatment for you...how are you doing?  Still have not started as it is taking a while for the medication to be approved.  Hope that you are doing well.  I thought that I had responded before but must not know what I am doing on here.  Hope that you are well.
Tammy