How many of you were RVR with incivek? And have any of those reached SVR?

[thatoldhobo]

I've been lurking aound here for months, and this forum has really been a lifeline for me! My doctor is not very communicative, so I had to educate myself about this tx. I'm on week 10 of triple w/ Incivek, and just got my 8 week pcr- UNDETECTABLE! Unfortunately I didn't have a 4-week pcr, my doctor was not planning to do any viral load test until week 12, so I think he is not doing as much reading as I am:). I have had fairly heavy side effects, however I noticed around the end of week 3 that the way I felt changed. I felt sick from the drugs, but I no longer felt BAD underneath them. The itching I had changed, the fatigue I felt was different, it's hard to explain, it just felt like I was no longer being "used up", if that makes any sense! I like to think that was when I went UND, though I have no proof.

I had to request for him to do triple tx, after learning about PI's here and studying the clinical trial results. I chose Incivek because of slightly better results in the trials.

It occurs to me that finding specific information here is kind of hit-or-miss, and it may be helpful for others who need to "self-guide" their treatment if many of us post our results and ongoing tx events on the same thread.
Just a thought, guys thanks for all the great info and good luck to all for SVR!

[slideman]

There are a lot of criteria that need to be met with Incevek. If you do not follow protocol you reduce your chance for SVR. Without knowing your biopsy results or geno type, its hard to say why your Dr would not want to start you on triple.

[fredpacc]

HI,
I am shocked to hear you didn't get a 4 week PCR - It is very important to determine length of tx. My Dr did PCR at: week 1,2,3,4,8,12,16,24, Post tx at week 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and I just took my final test and will gt results next week. All have been UND! I don't know why Dr's don't do more testing..It was a tremendous boost when I was told I was UND at week 2. Demand that he tests you more often. Best of luck - Fred  

[JasmineT]

Hi hobo, I was rvr.  I was und at 3 months post but have not reached 6 months post yet.  The meds were just FDA approved about 1 year ago so some of the 24 week folks are now getting near 6 months post.

Frijole keeps a spreadsheet with stats you may wish to look at.  You can find it in the photo section of her profile.  http://www.medhelp.org/personal_pages/user/223152

Sorry to hear you did not get a 4 weeks pcr.  Hoping you svr.

[thatoldhobo]

He was planning to do 48 weeks or more, I don't even know if he would have given me incivek had I not demanded it. For insurance and employment purposes it is not possible for me to do more than 24 weeks of treatment, and even that will be tight. Hopefully it will be enough. The results are certainly encouraging, but it will be in the hands of God. I'm doing what I can, the rest is up to Him. I at least have hope now, I had written my will and was prepared as I could be to die a horrible death with ascites and GI bleeds. I don't blindly trust everything the doctor says, they make mistakes too. When they are arrogant about their knowledge, it is a danger to the patient.
Sadly, in some places, if you have hep c, people just assume you are a bum and a drug addict and deserve what you get. As though you are of lower value to society.

[slideman]

Your Dr has some serious explaining to do. I would look for a different Dr right now. As can do said, the 4 wk PCR is not something to play with. He has dropped the ball already, it probably wont get any better. Was he planning for you to do 48 wks anyway?
I was und at 4wks and am SVR, with Inc. Glad you found this forum!!

[TeeTom]

Hi there, I too am on the Incivek triple therapy. Today is day 45 for me which is the 7th week. I recently went ahead and took medical leave from work as of this past friday. I feel fatigued all the time and i get about 10 to 15 hours sleep a day. I am in a Vertex trial and the Viral Load is blinded until week 12. I know I had to have a viral load of 1000 or less at week 4 in order for me to stay in the trial. By the way this is my second treatment the first was SOC and I relapsed at week 52. It really takes about  months after treatment to be declared SVR. Also, you can get a pcr test at anytime from a family practitioner.

Heres to us both achieving SVR!!!

[can-do-man]

Sorry to hear your doctor missed what might be the most important PCR at week 4. So is he going to guess you were und then and treat for only 24 weeks?

You will fine there are many that had a eRVR here (und at week 4 and 12) that is now SVR............ Best to you.