Think you could add pi's later in treatment?

[Upbeat]

I have often wondered if a person was already doing SOC and the pi's became availible could you then throw them into the mix?  I know a lot of people are putting off treatment waiting on the pi's but if you could add it later it might make since to go ahead and start early.

[viaduk]

So, I took the Alinia  Rx to the pharmacy and, to my surprise,  it was covered by my insurance!  I have two refills on this script, and will wait to get one refill before starting. Just hedging my bet, so that I have one month of back up in case it's denied in the future and I have to go to the online sources.  If it seems that I'm overthinking this, you're probably right

I also have a visit with Dr. D. in three weeks --- a last attempt to see if any new trials are looming before I fully commit to this.   I'll also get his opinion about this approach and post it here.  

[viaduk]

I am planning to add vitamin D ( recent bloodwork shows that I'm deficient) and Omega 3.  I'm also considering continuing with the SAMe and wheat grass juice that I have been taking, but stopping everything else.   I would add PPC, but when I tried it earlier my LFTs went up considerably.  I'm prettty sure that I'll need neupogen, as I needed it during previous treatment. Hopefully my platelets won't tank (currently 79).

I received my Rx for NTZ by mail today and will see what happens when I try to fill it.  Regardless of what happens with the PIs, my hepatologist thinks that I should predose NTZ for a month and continue treatment for 48 weeks AFTER undetectible status.  I responded pretty quickly last time, and hope to do so again.

[willing]

Trish: eh. no problem, I post mistakes all the time (but thanks for the  kind response;  the usual response to an acknowledgement is "duh.. took you a while" ). Anyway I still haven't had a chance to read through the recent statins papers but agree there might well be something promising there.

Viaduk: good question. I've been wondering whether there  might be good reasons to *not* have a w4 VL test in my chart. Are you planning on adding anything to SOC during the (long) lead-in?

Cory/Moahunter: I could be way off on this, but believe the two recent modeling papers in the post to Bali above do a very good job of capturing vl decline in the presence of different tx regimes.

[Trish77]

Isn't it possible that adding PI's later in treatment would tackle any of those harder to die virii ?  That would be my reason for adding a PI if it became available later in treatment.  I'd want to hit it with whatever firepower I had to make sure this is a one-shot deal.  It would depend on when the PI became available and how early I'd cleared, however.  

[moahunter]

I did monothearpy (as acute), and when that failed, the doctors took me off, then restarted a month later with Riba. It was explained to me that the most critical time is the first few weeks, that's when you have to get a response. Adding PI's later in treatment probably isn't going to do anything but maybe make you imune to them. If treatment isn't working, then stop and try something else.

[viaduk]

I appreciate your comment. It ois I who should be embarrased. The question was only addressed to willing because he/she is also considering this approach. I was hoping to get opinions on the possibility  of problems with insurance. As the kids say these days: "My bad!"