I just finished the 12-week combo and am Undet at this point. It was a cake walk compared to the others. I can honestly say I did not have any symptoms.
Hi Mama, I'm so glad to hear the treatment worked for you. I have heard, and researched the drugs and have seen nothing but good results. If I may ask, did your insurance give you any problems? I have Medicare / MediCal coverage in San Diego, and I know my doctor had to go to bat for me to get the Xifaxan. That $1800/month is nothing compared to the cost of these new drugs (and they were all Fast-track to the Market). I assume all I can do is wait for my Doctors to determine the best treatment course for me and then worry about the insurance coverage. I'd hate to have to fork over retirement funds, but if that's the deal, so be it. Again, Thank you for your help and concern. I wish you continued success and all the best.
Andy
I'd jump for the opportunity. Waiting is dangerous. Your symptoms make you eligible. The only other thing they require is over 6MM viral load but hey, if you can get the drugs do it. What's a brief dull headache or fatigue when the symptoms of varices, bleed-outs, portal hypertension, cirrhosis, anemia and no hope are worse than any treatment sides from new drugs. In my last 3 weeks of S/O there was no fatigue. I'm good to go. I urge you to go for it. Turning that down would be foolish. Your doc knows S/O cures people. 95% success rate.
I'm glad I went on the S/O marathon of hope train.
With all your damage I would not wait. "Slow moving" virus? That can be debated. At some point it speeds up and it's all downhill from there.
It's been a long tedious road but I'm feeling much better than I have in several years. I had to decide to wait or to jump on the S/O treatment in the middle of summer. I jumped on it. At some point there is no time to wait.
You can't believe how just the virus alone is making us all so sick. We tend to blame symptoms on the liver damage. Once this damned dirty parasite left my body I realized how sick it alone causes us.
Harvoni is iffy so far. There isn't enough of info about actual cures. S/O has had many cures. Seize the moment.
My 2 cents
The next best thing comes out in January by AbbVie. We are all getting cured one way or another. AbbVie is now taking over. I know the Pharmacists for AbbVie. 2015 is going to a good year for heppers.
You'll have to stop drinking while on treatment. Someone here says it's like pouring gasoline on a fire. That's a good way to put it.
Good luck.
Good luck.
You CAN get it like that but it' not prevelant. It must be blood to blood.
So when he writes your script and paperwork for Ins approval, you'll have to have all the tests first. All in all it takes up to 2 months to complete the tests and script and all. So don't panic if there seems to be a delay. It's part of the process. Harvoni and Abbvie may be the same. It's all a process until you actually get the meds delivered to your door. From there out your on your way to board the marathon of hope train and killing this parasite.
Hi,
Thanks for all the input and good hope. My Hepatologist is a Transplant Surgeon at UCSD Liver Center and quite a man. I trust his judgment impeccably. I moved to San Diego from Honolulu to be in his care.
And, as you said, the even newer drugs are ready to hatch as they have all been given Fast-track statues with the FDA. UCSD's Hepatology Dept. is holding a symposium in the next few weeks specifically to have round table discussions with other Liver Center Heads and the various Manufactures of the Drugs with everyone weighing in on the new Drugs. (I'd love to be a fly on that wall).
That was the only reason my Doctor is waiting till December or possibly January. He wanted to make sure the best available options were considered before starting me on a regime. I feel confident I can roll the dice another month or two. And should problems arise, the Doc would immediately shift gears. He brought me back from the dead twice so far and I am very comfortable with his choices. He got me from a MELD of 24 down to 7, and from decompensating to compensating.
I'm more afraid of the insurance companies...lol...lol...
Thanks again for all the positive insight everyone has provided. Please keep me abreast of any new developments you all may find out there on the web. I trust my doctor, but I certainly do my homework as well.
I wish everyone the best.
Andy