Stopping at week 36

[Tekelcat]

Hi, I can't do it any more. 24 weeks of Pegasys and Ribavirin and Gilead GS5885 and Gilead 9451. Didn't UND until week 6 which according to the trial protocols means I must continue Pegasys and Ribavirin for another 24 weeks. Now at Week 36. Still UND, but have spent the last two weeks vomiting and nauseous all the time. I can't go to work, can't do my research and write my book and the sx have been getting worse. Tried Maxolon and Zofran. No effect and just made me really sleepy or gave me blinding headaches. last night at 2 am I retching blood into the toilet and at that point I decided, enough. No more. I'm out. maybe with UND since W6, the TT allele, and the Gilead drugs, I'll stay UND, but if not, that's. Just the way life goes. I don't have serious fibrosis and I need now to get healthy again, get back to my career. thoughts?

[nygirl7]

I spent the day retching yesterday with a stomach flu for one day and night so hard I fell down a few times. I cannot imagine doing that for weeks on end. I wish you the best telecat........sometimes you know best. I have problems with my esophagus too - it's no fun at all.

[JDB1964]

It sounds to me as if you have already treated too long.Best wishes to you on your recovery from these meds and Svr is still possible for you. Why not? Proctocol is simply an average that worked! So sucess IS possible on the lower end of the curve!

[Tekelcat]

That's what I thought. We lowered the Ribavirin from 600 BD to 400 BD, but without relief. I'm waiting to hear if we can lower further and also decrease Peg.

[his3707]

cant you just take less dosage of the riba and peg?  at this point that should be ok shouldnt it? Anyboby?

[kmatucson]

Little to no fibrosis?  Hepatologist tells you to quit?  I would follow his advice..  The all orals sound promising and it sounds like you have time to wait for something better.  I wish you all the best and hoping for a quick recovery..  Who knows.. you might stay UND.. Sending positive thoughts your way!!

[Tekelcat]

What he means is that the sx are tearing up my body so much that he's worried something really major will happen. For example, the constant dry retching which must be witnessed to be believed is placing a lot of strain on both my heart and on the blood supply to my esophagus. The Pegasys has damaged the bones in my pelvis and my upper chest.They have become very frail, as though osteoporosis has set in, except it has not.

I hasten to add through, that my medical team agrees that I am having one of the worst experiences with sx they've ever seen. As you know, most people have it a bit easier than I have.

Anyway, I've missed one full dose of Ribavirin and the nausea and vomiting has already eased off a bit. I'm waiting for the hepa to call and chat about possible solutions other than ending treatment completely.