Thanks everybody. 3 more days and I'll be starting it... I'll be in touch. I appreciate your suggested you've offered already!
Susan400
Yay!!! Isn't it a burst of hope and excitement, as well as awe to see those meds! I felt like I should keep the Sovaldi in a vault! For me, drinking lots of water when I'm swallowing the pills helps them move down. Come hell or high water, they are going after that dragon!!! ;)
Linda5758, thanks for your good report. Keep us posted and I hope we all will become and stay dragon free!
Copenhagen23, welcome and I know just what you mean about the coffee. I had to switch to decaf. The "stimmed" feeling plus the emotional highs and lows from the RIBA make for interesting times. Nice to see you here!
I hope everyone has a good week and happy slaying!
Genotype: 1a. 28Male. Been infected about 5 years.
A. Started May 30, 2014.
B. Going into my 3rd week.
C. N/A
D. Minor weight loss from drinking tons of water and increased bowel.
E. No nausea but I have increased bowel movements.
F. No rashes
G. Yes fatigue varies. It's the worst side effect for me.
H. No
When I started treatment I had a decreased appetite but increased my water intake which leveled out any noticeable weight loss. My appetite returned to normal on the second week. Headache and fatigue are the most pronounced side effects for me. I developed an aversion to coffee. I was a 3-4 cup a day drinker and now caffeine gives me awful muscle pain and headaches so I drink one decaff in the morning and that is it. I don't know why this is, but I'm sure it has to do with Ribavirin because I feel "stimmed out" even though I had fatigue.
Hi Susan, I didn't have a problem most of the time. I took it after breakfast, after the Riba pills. There was no after taste either. I don't think there would be any problem cutting it in half and swallowing the 2 halves separately. Make sure you are not thirsty before you swallow it either so your throat isn't dry. Congrats on starting Tx!
Hi everybody! Good news, good news. I have received my meds. They came in yesterday, it's now official! I WILL definitely be starting next Wed. June 18. I was fortunate in that my insurance is excellent and additionally I qualified for the foundation from the drug company that helps w/co-pays so I ended up paying NO co-pay. What an absolute blessing after having literally spent thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs over the years with all these treatments. I just feel like everything is looking real positive for me this time. I had to look at the Solvaldi to see what it looked like. Those are monster sized pills! Has anybody noticed a problem with swallowing such a large pill? Do they ave any after taste? Any suggestions on getting such a large pill down your throat? I know that I have no problems with swallowing pills normally when they are a smaller size, but have had problems before when trying to swallow large tablets, for example like an OTC calcium/vit D pill.
Susan400
I finished tx lmonth ago, I'm geno 1, second try. Iam und. for the first time, it wasn't esay, but because the treatment is shorter I didn't need any rescue drugs which I did need the last time. still not 100% but way better than i was a month ago.
I'm just trying to figure out how to post to the conversation. This is a test. :). Foggy moment! :)
Thanks, I am so positive feeling going into this one. Still waiting for the drugs to be scheduled for delivery. Everything approved and that part has taken the better part of a month. Everything is a hurry up and wait, as I'm sure you're familiar with! I will still in touch! Thanks! Susan400
I had to have my RIBA reduced and go on Procrit last tx , but not until week 10/24. I'm hoping to stay in a good range this time. :).
HepcSandi, it's so reassuring to see another with great outcomes! You guys give me courage and hope!
Hi Susan
Genotype 1a, dx in 1998, probably had since the early 80s. 3rd attempt to cure. First being interferon 3x a week with RIBA, second the Victrelis regime. Never reached UD.
Stage 3-4/3-4 on biopsy 2/12 before V/I\R tx.
VL. 2.9M start of this tx.
Started S/R/I May 16, 2014
I'm in the middle of week 4. 4 week VL check this week on Friday. Excited and scared to death all at the same time.
Weight loss of about 4 pounds, but I am trying to lose.
No real rashes, but I did get beet red after going in and out of stores this weekend in 100+heat. I won't be doing that again. :)
I take my Sovaldi and 600 RIBA at 6am and 600 RIBA at 5:00 pm. I am a troubled sleeper too. I have taken Ambien for years. I now take the Ambien and a Benadryl about 9:30 and am sleeping by 10:30. The first couple weeks I had restless sleep, but the last week or so I've been sleeping well again.
Minimal sides and this treatment seems SO much more tolerable than the last triple tx. Many less pills, the "timing factor" is much less stressful. I told my doc I almost feel better, as I know what the side effects are and how to manage them.... As I'm sure you do too! Especially after your many attempts! You are an inspiration to me!
I've never noticed my eyelashes growing, but had other changes before. First time, my towhead blonde hair went to brown after 6 months, 2nd time around I went from wavy to curly! I'm hoping this time I get my blonde back! :)
Good luck on your treatment start! I anticipate as the weeks progress the sides may increase, but so far, I can't complain and feel so blessed!
My Hepatologist wouldn't give me the S/Omcombo due to my response to the V/I/R combo. Due to my status and present great insurance we decided to go for it. It's also a relief knowing that more and better treatments will be here soon. Hopefully we won't need them! Let's shoot for the results that jpfitzer has!
I would love to keep in touch with everyone. We seem to be the few on this combo.
A. When did you start? 2/7/14
B. What week are you on? Finished 5/1/14
C. If finished are you still undetected? Yes—UND as of 4 week EOT
D. Weight loss or gain? Stayed the same throughout, have lost 4 lbs after. I did get in shape and lost 20 lbs before starting Tx. Stayed at 144 lbs.
E. Did you have any stomach issues on treatment, i.e. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea? NO, but had no appetite on Tx.
F. Did you have a rash? If so, was it as bad as a Telaprevir type of rash, or more like a Riba type of rash? Yes, I had pretty bad rash, but it went away when my doc reduced the Ribavirin because of anemia. Rash came back post EOT, had to have a medium strength steroid cream to clear it up.
G. Did you notice any times when the fatigue hit you harder than others? The last 2 weeks were the worst for me. Very tired, felt saturated by the Tx.
H. Have any of you needed Procrit or Neupogen for rescue drugs? No, but like I wrote, doctor reduced Ribavirin after a month from 1,000 to 600 for the second month to 800 for the third month.
Hope that helps!
Type 1b, infected about 30 years ago, treatment naïve, stage 2/3
Began 12 weeks of Sov+RBV+Peg on 03/21/2014,
Last day of treatment = 06/12/2014
wk 2: UND
wk 4: UND
Post EOT: blood work will be wk 1, 12, & 24
5-10 lbs weight gain.
rashes were mild and distributed - no real problems
abdominal cramps and muscle aches began around week 8 or 9, persistent throughout the day, but most pronounced following each dose of Ribavarin.
no nausea or vomiting, stools have been soft, but not loose.
level of fatigue varied throughout, sometimes interfered with work, sometimes accompanied with irritability. Fatigue increased during the last four weeks - most persistent in the afternoons
no need for rescue drugs
ONE DAY OF Tx remaining! :-)
I hope this helps