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Post Harvoni information
I am on the last 30 days of treatment with Harvoni combined with ribavirin. Although I have experienced many side effects over the course of treatment they were not dibilitating and did not last more than a few hours before resolving. The main side effect is fatigue that worsens as your day progresses. I have been tuckered out by 6 pm most days and in bed before 8 pm. I am thinking that is due to the Ribavirin. Now that I am in the last month of treatment, the fatigue is not as pronounced. I am free of virus and have been since the 4th week of treatment. My question might not be answerable as the Harvoni treatment is so new but here it is: What good health things might I experience after treatment when the hep c is gone from my body. I did not think I was symptomatic with the disease but I am tough when dealing with illness and get through most things without much distress. I am hoping for more energy and less other things that are affecting my body. I bruise so easily and get skin tears super easy. Probably not a related issue but since my platlets were so low and things like that related to Hep-C I was hoping that the bruising and skin thinness might improve. Thanks from Bill
I was diagnosed 20years ago I researched and turned down all drugs based on information given by people who walked into various programs with hope and walked out with side effects they didn't expect. This information from Sweden .Can you direct me to the source? I finally started down the road to Harvoni. I do not like this result of a false reading.. I would like to share this information with my Dr. I think I will step back and wait now.I looked up new Harvoni information from the original manufacturing company in India . They are coming out with a generic for Harvoni which should help many of us that are on Medicare or Medi-cal I'm very happy to see this post I want to use caution and check this out. Thank You!
I have had hep c for 40 years . ive done the interferon treatment when it was the first trials . it was a nightmare and still is. I did research on ribovirin years ago ... sweden did the first trials on it . they proved that ribovirin gave false positive results on hep c. making it look like you were getting better . so here we go again . beware !!!
oh gosh I do hope you don't have issues from the new drugs-will be keeping my fingers crossed for you-the reports so far have been fairly positive though so keep your ****** up! Wishing you all the best on your journey to svr and beyond!
You know, after commenting last time to you I came to the realization I might be living in a "fools paradise" as there really is not much after treatment information on Harvoni; who knows what is next for me as well. I feel the same as you though in that I am feeling much better just knowing I am no longer a threat to family and health practitioners. I am at 2 weeks and counting down until end of treatment. I do wish you well otterwatcher.
bill
bill
Thankyou for your kind words.After 8 years I have resigned myself to never regaining full health.We have to learn to live within our new limitations. I am however thankful that I no longer carry the virus and am not a threat to anybody else's health.
I am sorry for your discomfort and the limitations that imposes on your lifestyle and choices. It is amazing to me how this life may be a one time only experience. The choices we make are limited to what is available and the results of the choices we make are with us from then on; this can change not only what you are able to do but who you were working so hard to become. Second chances are a rarity; second chances can sometimes keep changing things for the worse. What a crap shoot it all really is. Otterwatcher I am seriously good vibing at you! I am sure the community is as well. Carry on and keep up the good works. I am 67 years old and merely trying to optimize my time with family and friends. My career was finished to my satisfaction before the Hep-C became serious enough to look at treatment options. I can only imagine how it must feel to have your productive life harpooned in mid stride. What can I say other than "get well soon!"
yes indeed,I also hope that interferon as a standard treatment for hcv is phased out asap. 8 years post treatment I am still in zombie limbo land.
I really do understand how fortunate I am to have been provided this cutting edge treatment. After reading these many posts from good people trying their best who end up in Interferon Zombie Land, or dealing with treatment aftershocks long after the virus has been eradicated from their body. It humbles me to have had it so easy and yet be receiving support and good thoughts from all of you who have definitely have not had it easy at all. My thanks to all out there and much gratitude to my local V.A. Clinic and S.F. V.A. Hospital Liver Clinic Staff. I feel good today and hope you all do as well.
It is fantastic news. We can only hope that Medi-Cal, Medi-Care, and other insurance providers will be as caring and nurturing as the San Francisco V.A. and immediately approve and provide this treatment for everyone they can. I know there has been some less than flattering information in the news lately about the V.A. so take this one to heart, the Veterans Administration should be applauded for providing such timely use of a medication just out of trials and just approved. Hear hear!
Bill I am happy to hear that you were able to get Harvoni, there are so many that want to treat with that.
I agree with above posters, I used to bruise very easily and had these red spots all over my legs. The spots are gone, I rarely bruise and my platelets are in the normal range.
Before tx they were 67 so to go up to 140 is a good thing for me.
I think you will feel better, especially since you are doing so well right now.
It does take up to 6 months for the riba to leave your body however based on how you are doing now; I do think you are going to get your energy back in no time.
I wish you the best.
I am glad you waited to tx with one of the non-interferon.
As someone else on here said, Just say no to Interferon LOL
I agree with above posters, I used to bruise very easily and had these red spots all over my legs. The spots are gone, I rarely bruise and my platelets are in the normal range.
Before tx they were 67 so to go up to 140 is a good thing for me.
I think you will feel better, especially since you are doing so well right now.
It does take up to 6 months for the riba to leave your body however based on how you are doing now; I do think you are going to get your energy back in no time.
I wish you the best.
I am glad you waited to tx with one of the non-interferon.
As someone else on here said, Just say no to Interferon LOL
Fantastic news that the new treatments are so much easier for patients at long last!
I started this quest for treatment over 2 years ago at the San Francisco VA Hospital Liver Clinic. Staff were very caring and informative but I could never get my head around the severity and after effects of the treatment at that time. Finally after much vacillation I decided (since I am type A genome) to wait for better science. It was a crap shoot as the VA was telling me that I was stage 3 cirrhotic and anemic. Finally I requested treatment again and it was provided. I am grateful to the VA and liver clinic for their forbearance and tolerance in my case. I feel fortunate, after reading many of the posts, to have been given the VA's very first treatment with Harvoni. The side effects of treatment were not severe and I was able to do everything I normally had to do each day even if a bit more tired at the end of day. My last day of treatment is March 5 and at present my platelet count is 115 which is pretty good for where I am at. I thank the poster and the community for the helpful information and I will continue to check in and post about how things are going with my recovery.
It's been 9 months since Tx ended for me and everyday I feel more energized then the day before. The ability to bounce back has alot to do with how far advanced your liver disease has progressed. From my understanding it typically takes 2 years to see a significant change. I'm early cirrhotic and my platelet count has risen from 118 to 134. Bruising is no longer a concern and bleeding seems to occur less frequently.
I see nothing but uphill events happening since becoming SVR. Just keep in mind tho that post. Tx you may not feel your best for a few months as it takes time for the drugs to leave our systems..
Good luck and keep us posted
.....Kim
I see nothing but uphill events happening since becoming SVR. Just keep in mind tho that post. Tx you may not feel your best for a few months as it takes time for the drugs to leave our systems..
Good luck and keep us posted
.....Kim
I consider your comment very helpful. The thin skin is one of my major concerns and until now I only guessed it might be related to Hep-C and treatment. A bit of renewed enthusiasm for me and thank you!
This is a post treatment question before post treatment. You too know that
this Harvoni is so new and post treatment hasn't really surfaced. But we can talk about Ribavirin.
It takes about 6 months to get this drug out of your system. So you my have to deal with the fading results of taking this drug. What I can tell you is I too
was bruising easily and my skin was tearing. Mostly on the back of my hands. I wore half gloves while working. This has gone away to some degree
with time. So this my be a benefit after treatment. I'll be honest... this did really concern me too. My platelets went to 70 during treatment and over 18 month period after treatment they went up to 200 plus.
It does take a bit to get your groove back after treatment. Its different for everyone. So just stay positive and give yourself time to heal. These are
strong drugs. Some days I thought I would never get better even tho I didn't have hep c. Then the bad days got fewer and the good days increased.
I hope this is helpful
this Harvoni is so new and post treatment hasn't really surfaced. But we can talk about Ribavirin.
It takes about 6 months to get this drug out of your system. So you my have to deal with the fading results of taking this drug. What I can tell you is I too
was bruising easily and my skin was tearing. Mostly on the back of my hands. I wore half gloves while working. This has gone away to some degree
with time. So this my be a benefit after treatment. I'll be honest... this did really concern me too. My platelets went to 70 during treatment and over 18 month period after treatment they went up to 200 plus.
It does take a bit to get your groove back after treatment. Its different for everyone. So just stay positive and give yourself time to heal. These are
strong drugs. Some days I thought I would never get better even tho I didn't have hep c. Then the bad days got fewer and the good days increased.
I hope this is helpful
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