I feel much better ( and other posts )

[Soleus]

Hello all,

I haven

[hep62pj]

what is a heptimax?

[Dale_Ray]

I like your logic of waiting. Sometime I think what is going on in our heads is worse than what is going on in our bodies. Either way its a pip. I'm glad for you. Dale

[hep62pj]

oh never mind answered my own ?? test for pcr (viral load) right?

[Algernon]

Congratulations and money well spent!  I've only been here for 13 weeks.  Happy endings like yours are a big boost for us.

[Moniker]

Congratulations! Wonderful! I too am 1a and was undetectable at 12 weeks. I'm coming up on week 37 now.

I think that a less sensitive PCR would have cost less, and would have also shown SVR. If the virus comes back, it's going to come back in large numbers, and be easy to detect with any sort of PCR.

Good luck. Enjoy your new life.

Bob

[cuteus]

my fellow ex-1a, you can go back to not thinking about hcv, you are done! you won!
you can spend the money on a cruise and lounge around, they get real cheap in the winter months, in the Caribbean.
Enjoy!

[rudy222]

Sorry to break in but I just got my week 44 lab report.  Still clear.  I'm in the283 trial for GT1 non-responders.  I cleared by week 8, so I've been undetected for 36 weeks. I'm now in week 46 with two weeks to go.  After the EOT PCR, I will get PCRs at 1 month, three months and six months post.  Whew.  We'll see what happens in six months, eh?

I'm finding these last few weeks/months of the trial very difficult.  I started ADs last week for the first time since I ended 60 weeks of regular tx.  It seems the sides and mental disconnect gets worse as the week goes by.  I actually think I feel better for a couple days after I do my shot.  Could be psychological with the end of the trial drawing near, but I seem to remember similar pattern when I was finishing peg/riba.  But that is buried in the murky memory and I had stopped keeping a journal long before I finished treatment.  Overall, the sides have been much easier without riba.  Of course.

There's hope for the non-responders and relapsers.  

Rudy

[rudy222]

I had you in mind when i posted.

rudy

[NYgirl]

WOW that is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!  Congrats on such wonderful news...you deserve it!   :)

Thanks for the good news as you know we can ALWAYS use good news on trials! It helps perpetuate the HOPE that keeps us alive!

[stc1993]

Another 1A bites the dust. I'm 7 mths. post tx undetectable. finished tx last August. This site helped me alot during tx even though I didn't have any bad sx. just tired all the time.

Thanks everyone,

Monte

[cuteus]

what phased are you in? if you are nearing the 48 wks and then follow up PCRs, post tx, is this a complete phase? trying to achieve SVR now, not just  measuring safety? Now is testing full efficacy that includes svr not just viral clearance?
are you one of the first ones to end tx? are any of the subjects going longer or less?
much luck in this try to you!

[hep62pj]

that is GREAT news, i wish i could get on one of those non-responder trials somewhere...

[rudy222]

This is PhaseIIb for non-responders, Geno 1.  And  I'm stage 4 with esophageal varices, 59 y/o, enzymes almost 5X upper normal, 5 million VL.  They weren't cherry picking the patients.

The trial started at 24 weeks.  They used the data from the ongoing phase one and primate trials to extend Phase IIb to 48 weeks It's now being extended to 72 weeks to qualified px, I assume to allow slow responders the 36 weeks after clearing.  I do not qualify for the extension (thank you lord) because I cleared early (thank you lord).  

The protocol right from the start, when the trial duration was only approved for 24 weeks, included the 24 week post tx period, with PCRs at four, 12 and 24 weeks post.  The goal was specifically to achieve SVR.  The extensions to 48 and 72 weeks also included 24 week follow-up.

I expect I'll be one of the early ones to finish the trial.  The total trial was for approx 170 patients in 5 arms.  Two arms were 800 mg/day plus peg, one was 400 mg/day plus peg, one was mono therapy and one was the peg/riba control.  I'm in  the 400 mg plus peg arm.  The docs and nurses are very tight-lipped about other people or other arms.

Thanks for the good wishes.  The proof will be 24 weeks down the road.  Right now, that looks like 24 looooong stony weeks.  But hey, I'm clear.  Wow.

Rudy

[cuteus]

thanks for the summary, and for gathering the energy to do so. It does get very tiring to get trough the last stretch, almost like slow motion at times.  you have 4 more wks to go, they do a 4 wk post tx PCR, that is only 8 wks from now! the one month has a strong correlation to the 3 and 6 month as seen in this one single precious study
http://hcvadvocate.org/news/reports/AASLD_2004/Posters_AASLD_2004.htm#A62
I wonder how the 800mg arm did? I wish they would post preliminary results.
thanks

[GoofyDad]

I think it's the TMA portion of the heptimax that adds to the cost. I don't have numbers, but I think a PCR is quite a bit cheaper, though not quite as sensitive.

My inclination would be that a TMA is indicated during TX, but in most cases PCR would be adequate pre or post tx. That's just my theory.

[rudy222]

Man, you got that right...the last weeks are slow motion to the point of freeze frame.  But you made my day with the 4 week post study.  Whole new perspective.  i can handle 6 weeks.  Unfortunately, all the data is for peg/riba.  

Rudy

[lilmoma]

I could not post to that thread, it maxed out, so hopefully you see this one.
Hey,...I am fine. I am glad to see you post.
so it sounds like Im trying to rush you through tx huh, I guess I dont have the best re-call these day, Im sure you understand.
I do shot 6 thursday, I didnt realize you were only 7 ahead of me. Hope you continue to be in good health.
lilmoma

[can-do-man]

Nope didn't miss your post. See i have to keep an eye out on some of these people here. Try my darnest to keep them in line, but i can only do so much you know. Goof helps out alot to. But theres so many here that just have to act up.

So hows lilmoma doing today? Out showing some skin you bad girl you. See your on my list to have to keep a eye or two on.

[lilmoma]

OOOOhhh,.I wish I had it in me to be bad............
My life is pretty boring these days.
Does ANYBODY have a sex life on tx??????????
I dont think I have ever read a post about that yet.
lilmoma

[can-do-man]

Well id like to say can-do-can but really can-do-don't much have the desire to often. But as long as my ticker is ticking can-do-can still dream about it.

[dyce]

I too wondered about this before starting tx ,the desire is not quite as strong but the love machine is still working.

Dyce

[can-do-man]

Well i thought you were feeling better but after reading your post to lilmoma i see your still full of it.

[Soleus]

Thanks for the well wishes right back at ya. Had myself a great day today, friends from work took me out for a cocktail lunch, only had one though my livers going to continue to be treated like royalty. Sure tasted good though. Anyway no that I know I beat it I don’t I would like to drop in and help out if I can from time to time.

Looking very good Rudy, the Lord be with you.

  

[lilmoma]

Your better than me, I dont want to do anything these days unless i have to. I ask myself" Do I have to do this? Will I be fired if I fail to do this? Is this life or death? Then I go back to watching tv or taking my nap.(hehehehe)
lilmoma         I have really turned into a bump on a log.