John's Hepatitis C Type 1 Treatment 6 month on Sovaldi + Ribavirin

I will be adding more information and updating everyone on my 6 month treatment.

I will be check my forum daily and updating my experience and symptoms on the Solvaldi + Ribavirin 6 month treatment for type 1 Hep C.

Hi John,
I am themiz, and my husband, themister is the one with liver disease. Welcome to Healing Well Hep forum! Always good to meet the new dragon slayer's. Very happy to hear you are on Solvaldi/Riba combo. There are quite a few members posting threads about their journey with Solvaldi. Such good news in the Hep C world. Several members of our board have recently finished treatment with Solvaldi. You may enjoy the multiple threads from those just dx with Hep C, to those already post-liver transplant that are now working on the cure. If you have any questions on side fx or any other issues while treating, pop in. Someone here has probably been through it and can discuss it with you. Again, welcome and don't be a stranger. Big Hugs

Hi John, welcome. I too am on 24 weeks with sovaldi and ribavirin 1a. I am in week 21 and have twice shown undetected on viral load...mine was just over 800,000 when started and naive to any previous treatments. Just a couple of things I have found helpful..
Constantly drinking water...treatment can dry mouth and eyes. Always eat before ribavirin; got like an acid stomach the one time I didn't and that was all it took. This treatment is a breeze most of the time..fatigue, itching, (course I have cirrhosis) and I developed anemia which has almost resolved..just short of breath for a few days. Alt and AST normal after bout a week...amazing. Look forward to your posts and hearing some more amazing results!
👱.music

Hello John. I have been reading here for a few months and finally got registered today. Hope your treatment goes smoothly. I'm on tx for 2nd time, did riba/interferon for 48 wks back in 07/08 and was undetected when finished. Finally decided to go see my hepatologist back in March and my Hep C was back. Now it's riba/interferon and sovaldi for 6 months. Viral load at 4 wks is 15. I'm happy you could avoid the interferon. I wish you the very best of luck.

Wow. It's great to hear from so many people. Thank you.

I don't have my lab results at hand. I will tell you that my primary care physician has always informed me that my viral load is on lower part compared to most patients. In other words it elevated but on the low end. I have completed 3 liver ultrasounds in the past. The first and second ultrasounds show a normal liver. The third liver ultrasound completed in early 2014 shows a slightly enlarged liver.

This 1st month of treatment has been joyful. The first 2 weeks of treatment I felt relieved that I will be cured. A lot of stress was immediately lifted that I would not be battling this fatigue much longer. Recently I noticed cramping in my abdomen area which makes me irritable more easily. I have to remind myself constantly not to become angry easily at work or with others. I have also noticed that after an 8 hour work day I arrive home and I feel so tired that I need to go nap immediately. All this is good news since I do not have to deal with the intense treatment including interferon. I am always reminding myself that my body in curing itself from the Hep C virus for 6 months. My appetites for healthier choices of food like fresh squeezed orange juice, probiotic yogurts, a healthy sandwich, milk, lower fat (non-fried chicken) has returned. It may sound hysterical, but I am always able to tell if I feel good by what I am eating. Before treatment I was grabbing anything to eat including fried foods which is not my favorite choice. I am looking forward to going back to the gym that I am already making plans on rejoin the gym.

I completed some labs in the last couple weeks. However, the nurse did not request labs for Hep C vitals. My doctor commented that the labs show my liver enzymes are at the level of a normal healthy liver. That is a good sign.

I should be hearing from my doctor in the next few days regarding my HEP C vitals. I think I should hear some good news.

I am receiving treatment in the USA. I have insurance with BlueCross BlueShield through my workplace. My doctor requested from my insurance an approval on Sovaldi + Ribavirin since they are not covered without a request from the doctor. My copay is $0 for Sovaldi and $10 for Ribavirin.

Thank you all for the support and posts which I most enjoyed in reading. I will revisit daily.

hi john, i did treatment 3 times. the first 2 with interferon and ribavirin. brain fog and fatigue lingered on for 2-3 months post tx.
the 3rd time, i used interferon/riba/incivek. this treatment made int/riba look like baby aspirin. 1 1/2 years later i still have lingering brain fog, and joint pain. but it worked. im SVR YAY"

i am sooo happy the new txs are easy to tolerate. your ribavirin use will lower your red blood cells, so your getting less oxygen to your muscles and organs. the riba will take 6 months to wash out. so you should be up to speed in 1 to 2 months. any gi issues should clear quickly.
barry