HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

On Sovaldi/Ribavirin for hep c treatment for G2

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/9/2014 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to have found this support group ! My name is Pam. I found out thru routine blood tests, that I have hep c, genotype 2. Viral load is 10 million, stage 2 scarring. I'm 60 years young, dealing with this is hard, but I'm staying positive ! I started ribavirin & sovaldi almost 2 weeks ago. I'm drinking ginger tea for sour stomach, benadryl for insomnia. I've had an annoying headache, off & on since yesterday. I'm waiting for the doc to call me back, to find out what I can take for headaches. Stay strong everyone, kill the beast !

-----

I've enhanced your title so more folks can find your thread...post here each time so that we keep your treatment thread together. ML Moderator

Post Edited By Moderator (MamaLama) : 9/9/2014 12:52:54 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/9/2014 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Pamie, so sorry to hear that you have Hep C, but it is wonderful that you are getting treated, especially with your viral load so high. Solvaldi is new on the market and you are getting in at a good time. Did it go smoothly with your insurance coverage or did you need to do a dance to get them to agree? Some have had to. And others have gotten some help from Gilead.

The headaches are a common complaint. And we encourage those on treatment to increase their water intake to half their body wt in ounces...the more the better. And some have been careful to have their Riba with food.

My partner took a different combo, Sovaldi and Olysio, for his Genotype 1a. He cleared in 4 weeks and has been undetected 3 months post treatment...so we are thinking he is all set. Hopefully.

Other folks have complained of feeling some anxiety....so watch for that. Some of the docs will treat for side effects. With the new treatments so short, most are breezing by without much trouble.

Let us hear from you as you travel this path.

Hugs,
Mama Lama
Posted 9/9/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply Mama Lama. I was so happy when I heard about the sovaldi, but then I saw the cost, arghhhh !!!! Thank God I have insurance, Kaiser, through my employer. Office visits & meds aren't expensive. Keeping fingers crossed that your partner continues to do well.
Posted 9/27/2014 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, hope everyone is doing well. I had my 3 week viral load check, it is now at 42 ! I have had some anxiety, last few doctor visit my blood pressure was a little high. I'm wondering if it could be from the ribavirin or sovaldi ? Anyone else have high blood pressure while on the meds ? Doc says no, hmmmm. Stay strong & kill the beast.

Sovaldi should be affordable for everyone battling this disease !
Posted 9/28/2014 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Pamie congrats on a major accomplishment with the VL! I know you can get through this and come out virus free, so hang in there. I've had some anxiety too, which isn't typical for me. I also needed to take an antidepressant (for te first time ever) for some really difficult emotional stuff I started going through, much of it wasn't even directly related to the treatment, but to circumstances in my life that came along as I began treatment. The point is, that there are meds the doc can give you to help you get through this. It's a temporary thing, and for me, it's made life a lot more bearable now that I'm not alienating those I love and who are tryingto help. :). Keep us posted, we've all had different experiences and different things have worked for different people. You've found a great place to get support.
Sending you great wishes and a big hug,
Plant
Posted 9/28/2014 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Pamie,
You can normally take Tylenol for the headache. Just don't go over the safe dose per day. You did mention sour stomach in one post. Many take Omeprazole each day during treatment. This takes care of that side. Water, water, water....really will help with sides going forward. Your VL was killer!! Big Hugs
Posted 9/28/2014 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Plant eater & themiz for your support ! I haven't had headaches lately, the anxiety is tolerable. I've been more irritable lately, have to bit my tongue sometimes ! I know it's from the meds & it will be over soon. 7 weeks to go !
Posted 10/1/2014 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I am 57, genotype2 and on week 12, as of today. I know you can get through this treatment and come out great. Other than the ribavarin rage and the weepies, as I refer to my uncontrollable emotions at times, I have been blessed to fair well, over all. I get my 2nd and final viral load test next week and the results on the 14th. My first one showed my load went to undetectable. I am hoping the final results are the same. Wishing you all the best. This group is a wonderful support network.
Stay strong, Pamie.
Posted 10/1/2014 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
@ Superman's Lady, yay on your viral load check ! I'm so happy for you ! Kill the beast !!!!

Sovaldi should be affordable to everyone battling this disease
Posted 10/2/2014 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Dragons getting slayed right and left. Great news SL...keep it up. Hugs, ML
Posted 10/29/2014 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, hope all is well. I've been reading about the new med from Gilead, harvoni. Arggggghhh !!! makes me so angry that they can charge $1125 per pill ! Hep C meds should be affordable for anyone battling this disease. Hopefully prices will come down soon. I had viral load check a few weeks ago, it's 0, undetectable ! about 3 more weeks on the meds, then they will check viral load again. I've been tired lately, been sleeping lots. My appetite is really good, I want to eat everything. Teeny bit of anemia, but not drastic. I'm so thankful for the hep c docs, great support & knowledge. The nurse told me the other day that they are hiring more nurses because more people are being tested for hep c, and want treatment. Kill the beast !!! Stay strong everyone !
Posted 11/7/2014 10:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Pamie,
I've been looking for a forum group to be comfortable with and I saw your thread. I'm taking Sovaldi / Riba combo for 24 weeks protocol; but I'm a G-3.... I started tx back in July on 16th and I think that puts me at 17 weeks with 7 weeks to go!! Yippee Ki yay!
It seems that you're tolerating the combo well with little sx "big high five" in your reduced viral load too. That's great news. I wish I could say the same. It must be the Ribavirin but I was good for the first coiple weeks but things went sour after that. And to make it I'm going to school seeking degree in Psych and there couldn't have been a worst time to start. My doc's specialist (in Sovaldi) said my sx will get worse as the medicine builds up...and they did! Nausea, itching, skin break-outs (recall once calling them Zits), anxiety, anemia, and the one's that caused me to reduce my school workload and ultimately led to dropping one of my classes. So, it seems like it affects different people in different ways with some things in common. I am not working, I think I'll wait until protocol is finished. It's so new that I was finding contradictions in many...but how can we afford to be anything but grateful..these meds are saving my life...so there's no room for resentment when a gratitude. So, I hope I am work-ready when the times right...Oh, btw, are getting any confusion or inability to remain focused?

Psyched
Posted 11/7/2014 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Psyched,

I see you are new and posted into an active thread/discussion.

We'd love to learn more about you and have you open your own thread/discussion.

As you have seen, we are a group of patients and loved ones of those affected by various forms of liver disease.

I am partner to a man who HAD Hep C, liver cancer, and decompensated cirrhosis. He had a transplant 3.5 years ago that took care of the cirrhosis and tumor, and was successfully treated with Olysio and Sovaldi this spring. He waited for the new meds because of severe reaction in 2003 to Interferon and Ribavirin...he was taking procrit and neupogen injections just to keep his red and white counts in some kind of check.

Most here on the Riba and Sovaldi do pretty well, though the Riba is still hard. Some report fatigue, some rageful thoughts and sometimes actions, anxiety, headache and anemia. Most sides can be mitigated with lots of fluids and sleep, and some find meditation or talk therapy helpful, others have been prescribed anti nausea or anxiety meds. Because liver disease can be terminal in its worst stages, we are encouraging folks to find a way to make it through...tough it out, see a counselor, whatever. The success rates are really high with the new regimens.

If this one doesn't work, there are still newer meds coming to market....

Let us hear how you are doing.

Hugs,
Mama Lama
Posted 11/7/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
@ Psyched, I'm sorry to hear your having difficult side effects from the meds. Has your doctor suggested anything that will help ? I hear benadryl is good for insomnia & itchy skin. Eating small meals & ginger tea can reduce upset stomach.Has your viral load gone down ? You're genotype 3 ? I'm surprised the doc prescribed ribavirin & sovaldi for you. Yes,I lose focus sometimes, especially at work & not a lot of energy. The good news there are new meds coming out & I read that they're working on a vaccine for hep c. Let us know how you're doing, & stay strong ! Kill the beast !
Posted 11/8/2014 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

Thanks y'all for the encouragement, thanks also Mama Lama; I'll start a thread, I have lots of concerns. Wow, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear that there is something called; "ribavirin rage" and those horrible thoughts; I thought it was me... I wasn't seeing how I was acting until afterwards and by then, it was too late. I hate taking all these pills but it's the lessor of two evil's.
Doc prescribed me "Elavil" for sleep, thanks for your comments Pamie. I forgot about benadryl for the itchies and I have some in the cabinet. Doc said to report to him if I loose appetite....I'm happy to report this is not a problem! I've gained 10 lbs so looks like the gym is gettin a new member soon
Yes, I'm a G3; why are you surprised of the Sov/Riba protocol? I remember reading that this combo formula did 80 percent in clinicals but then I read somewhere else that it's more like 60-65. I just put everything that's out of my control into His control.
Yeah, I heard about Harvoni...that's great! I hope it turns out to be everything they promised. If so, it should draw many people out for treatment...Well, I feel another wave of nausea coming on so I think I'll lie down for a minute...thanks again everyone!
Posted 11/8/2014 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
@ Psyched, yes this is a great support group ! A co-workers husband was diagnosed with hep c, genotype 3, several years ago. At the time, the only treatment was ribavirin & interferon ( injection) He had terrible side effects from the interferon. The virus is back, and he's seeking treatment again. The doc told him ( we have the same doc), that he could take the ribavirin, sovaldi & interferon. He didn't want to take the interferon again, doc said he could wait because there is new treatment coming for genotype 3 ! Hopefully everyone that has this disease can be cured soon !
Posted 11/8/2014 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Instead of paying a premium for benadryl, buy diphenhydramine. This is the ingredient in many allergy meds, and it costs almost nothing. A bottle of 100 is less than $10.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply