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My SOVALDI/OLYSIO Treatment Experience!
Hi! I began my treatment with Sovaldi and Olysio 21 days ago, and I'm doing great. I have not had ANY side effects, and simply feel normal, or perhaps a bit more clear-headed and energetic. I had my two week labs done, and the results have absolutely amazed me -- all results (ALT, AST, etc) are within the normal range, and my viral load (formerly 789000) is undetectable!
I so hope that you all can get this or one of the newer treatments coming out this summer. I was treatment naive, having learned in 2006 that I was hep-c positive, from a blood transfusion I'd received 25 years earlier. Everyone, please remember, if you had a blood transfusion before 1992, you should be tested for Hepatitis! I'm very lucky to have a top doc and great insurance.
I so hope that you all can get this or one of the newer treatments coming out this summer. I was treatment naive, having learned in 2006 that I was hep-c positive, from a blood transfusion I'd received 25 years earlier. Everyone, please remember, if you had a blood transfusion before 1992, you should be tested for Hepatitis! I'm very lucky to have a top doc and great insurance.
HI Robin, HI Boobert -
I am genotype 1B. Robin - I agree with Boobert's reply - I've never experienced the impact of riba or interferon, but the experience of most who have taken them is pretty negative.
Maybe your doctor doesn't know how to acquire 'off-label' meds for you. Both of the drugs I take, Solvaldi and Olysio have been FDA approved, but they didn't receive any specific FDA approval to be used together, making them 'off-label' when used together. Either get a 2nd opinion from a doctor who specializes in Hepatitis from a well respected hospital in the largest city near you, or wait until later this year when the new, one pill a day therapy comes onto the market from another major pharmaceutical company. (Abbvie, I believe). My understanding is that the upcoming pill is similar in content to the two drugs I'm now taking.
Btw…. Viral load was undetectable at 2 weeks, ALT and AST were normal, and I'm feeling great! No major side effects, and I feel energetic on most days.
Good Luck!!
I am genotype 1B. Robin - I agree with Boobert's reply - I've never experienced the impact of riba or interferon, but the experience of most who have taken them is pretty negative.
Maybe your doctor doesn't know how to acquire 'off-label' meds for you. Both of the drugs I take, Solvaldi and Olysio have been FDA approved, but they didn't receive any specific FDA approval to be used together, making them 'off-label' when used together. Either get a 2nd opinion from a doctor who specializes in Hepatitis from a well respected hospital in the largest city near you, or wait until later this year when the new, one pill a day therapy comes onto the market from another major pharmaceutical company. (Abbvie, I believe). My understanding is that the upcoming pill is similar in content to the two drugs I'm now taking.
Btw…. Viral load was undetectable at 2 weeks, ALT and AST were normal, and I'm feeling great! No major side effects, and I feel energetic on most days.
Good Luck!!
Robin,
If you have a private insurance you can call Sovaldi and Olysio yourself and
they are going to pre-approve you and then just wait for your doctors' script.
get on their sites and you will find what genotypes the treatment is good for...
Don't do interferron, it is brutal!!! and leaves you sick and does not help a lot of people at all. I did it for 6 months and have had health issues for 15 years after that.....
Especially if you have never been treated. These days a lot of good and low side effects drugs are coming out this year if it is not this one...you are going to be eligible for the next one...but you can do all the leg work yourself if you doctor is reluctant. I am 1b...
If you have a private insurance you can call Sovaldi and Olysio yourself and
they are going to pre-approve you and then just wait for your doctors' script.
get on their sites and you will find what genotypes the treatment is good for...
Don't do interferron, it is brutal!!! and leaves you sick and does not help a lot of people at all. I did it for 6 months and have had health issues for 15 years after that.....
Especially if you have never been treated. These days a lot of good and low side effects drugs are coming out this year if it is not this one...you are going to be eligible for the next one...but you can do all the leg work yourself if you doctor is reluctant. I am 1b...
I am 1960 as well: read this...not sure the other port reached you:
Robin,
If you have a private insurance you can call Sovaldi and Olysio yourself and they are going to pre-approve you and then just wait for your doctors' script.
get on their sites and you will find what genotypes the treatment is good for...
Don't do interferron, it is brutal!!! and leaves you sick and does not help a lot of people at all. I did it for 6 months and have had health issues for 15 years after that.....
Especially if you have never been treated. These days a lot of good and low side effects drugs are coming out (this year and next year)if it is not this one...you are going to be eligible for the next one...but you can do all the leg work yourself if you doctor is reluctant. I am 1b...
Robin,
If you have a private insurance you can call Sovaldi and Olysio yourself and they are going to pre-approve you and then just wait for your doctors' script.
get on their sites and you will find what genotypes the treatment is good for...
Don't do interferron, it is brutal!!! and leaves you sick and does not help a lot of people at all. I did it for 6 months and have had health issues for 15 years after that.....
Especially if you have never been treated. These days a lot of good and low side effects drugs are coming out (this year and next year)if it is not this one...you are going to be eligible for the next one...but you can do all the leg work yourself if you doctor is reluctant. I am 1b...
I was 1b, for 43 years, cleared with Sovaldi and olysio 12 weeks ,end of treatment labs were undetected so i am finished with treatment,
But final SVR labs in 10 weeks to be sure it's official then
I agree I never did interferon ( can not I have auto immune disease) heard from people that did it was terrible
But final SVR labs in 10 weeks to be sure it's official then
I agree I never did interferon ( can not I have auto immune disease) heard from people that did it was terrible
I contracted hep c in the US Army due to medical malpractice and also type 2 diabetes due to agent orange. The VA refuses to accept any responsibility and denied my claims for disability. That agency is so corrupt and incompetent that I have given up on them and the rest of the country as well. I haven't voted in a single "election" in the past 10 years.....what's the use? When they're done with you; they just want you to die and go away.
My liver enzymes and such look OK. there are some small fatty areas but no liver damage or cerosis. sorry bout the spelling....spell check don't know either!?
About 10 years ago I started on Pegasys and interferon injections. The doctor I had at the time refused to treat the bone pain and extreme nausea. After 3 weeks I told him I would rather die than continue with that level of suffering with such a low probability of a successful outcome.
8 weeks ago my new doctor told me about Solvaldi and Ribavrin and the real possibility of a cure with minimal side effects.
My viral load before treatment was 1,600,000+. I was a little on the anemic side before I started but my red blood cell count is still at an acceptable level. My platelets were a little low before treatment, 8 weeks in they have risen modestly, which typically go down.
My viral load after 8 weeks is less than 15 and undetectable in some tests.
I can't say I feel "great". The insomnia is 3 and more nights a week. I have no problem falling asleep as I am totally exhausted by 2PM every day. I just wake up a odd hours between midnight and 2AM, and can't go back to sleep.
I am still trying to go to work. About 3 days a week is all I can muster.
There are very few bouts of nausea and vomiting. When it comes; there is hell to pay.
Before I started treatment I was injecting 20 units of 75/25 humulin in the am and 15 units in the PM. I have halved my insulin dosage and still crashed today with a blood glucose level of 60. I guess I'll have to cut back some more.
I am experiencing a certain level of unexplained anxiety and general nervousness in the AM. usually by lunch time it is gone and exhaustion begins to set in. My doctor said this is one of the side effects. Some patients are showing some aggressive behaviour. He said I can call him at any time if I get concerned.....Great Doctor!
As the only patient in this practice who is an insulin dependent diabetic, my doctor can only assume the Solvaldi might be the reason I need less insulin at this time.
It's not a walk in the park by any means. This is one I can tough out because a real cure is right around the corner. I end treatment in September. I should know if the cure is successful right around Christmas time! I couldn't think of a better gift!
I am a 66 year old male in fairly good shape except for a few blown disks in my neck and lower back. I also suffer from "low T" and inject doctor prescribed testosterone on a weekly schedule which helps my energy level. When I add 2 extra mg to my prescribed dose I can work a few more hours a week.
I can't afford to retire and must work till I either get run off or drop dead on the job. Social Security is not a liveable income. For any guy that's been through a nasty divorce.....you know what I'm talking about!
My liver enzymes and such look OK. there are some small fatty areas but no liver damage or cerosis. sorry bout the spelling....spell check don't know either!?
About 10 years ago I started on Pegasys and interferon injections. The doctor I had at the time refused to treat the bone pain and extreme nausea. After 3 weeks I told him I would rather die than continue with that level of suffering with such a low probability of a successful outcome.
8 weeks ago my new doctor told me about Solvaldi and Ribavrin and the real possibility of a cure with minimal side effects.
My viral load before treatment was 1,600,000+. I was a little on the anemic side before I started but my red blood cell count is still at an acceptable level. My platelets were a little low before treatment, 8 weeks in they have risen modestly, which typically go down.
My viral load after 8 weeks is less than 15 and undetectable in some tests.
I can't say I feel "great". The insomnia is 3 and more nights a week. I have no problem falling asleep as I am totally exhausted by 2PM every day. I just wake up a odd hours between midnight and 2AM, and can't go back to sleep.
I am still trying to go to work. About 3 days a week is all I can muster.
There are very few bouts of nausea and vomiting. When it comes; there is hell to pay.
Before I started treatment I was injecting 20 units of 75/25 humulin in the am and 15 units in the PM. I have halved my insulin dosage and still crashed today with a blood glucose level of 60. I guess I'll have to cut back some more.
I am experiencing a certain level of unexplained anxiety and general nervousness in the AM. usually by lunch time it is gone and exhaustion begins to set in. My doctor said this is one of the side effects. Some patients are showing some aggressive behaviour. He said I can call him at any time if I get concerned.....Great Doctor!
As the only patient in this practice who is an insulin dependent diabetic, my doctor can only assume the Solvaldi might be the reason I need less insulin at this time.
It's not a walk in the park by any means. This is one I can tough out because a real cure is right around the corner. I end treatment in September. I should know if the cure is successful right around Christmas time! I couldn't think of a better gift!
I am a 66 year old male in fairly good shape except for a few blown disks in my neck and lower back. I also suffer from "low T" and inject doctor prescribed testosterone on a weekly schedule which helps my energy level. When I add 2 extra mg to my prescribed dose I can work a few more hours a week.
I can't afford to retire and must work till I either get run off or drop dead on the job. Social Security is not a liveable income. For any guy that's been through a nasty divorce.....you know what I'm talking about!
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the VA. I am always left stunned and speechless when I hear examples about how our vets have been treated in the past 15 years.
I hope that this will be the treatment that works for you! I don't have to take riba, just olysio and solvaldi, so our treatments are a bit different, but I'll be hoping that yours will cure you completely and be easy enough to see it through until September.
It's great that you have a good doctor now, and that you two have such a good rapport!
Fingers crossed that all goes optimally for you!!
I hope that this will be the treatment that works for you! I don't have to take riba, just olysio and solvaldi, so our treatments are a bit different, but I'll be hoping that yours will cure you completely and be easy enough to see it through until September.
It's great that you have a good doctor now, and that you two have such a good rapport!
Fingers crossed that all goes optimally for you!!
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