Starting Sovaldi/Ribavirin for Type 2

Thanks for the info David and Themiz. I wouldn't have made it through that headache last week without something for pain. Since I shouldn't take Ibuprofen and Tylenol never helps, I'm in a real pickle. Guess I will have to pray and think positive that I don't have anymore bad headaches. My doctor doesn't want me to take any herbals but would like to know what herbals you take David, for headaches. I can ask her about it. I'm thinking that perhaps the reason she said ok to Ibuprofen is because my alt and ast was normal even though my v/l was through the roof. I will certainly be bringing some questions for her at my appt. Tuesday. Thank you for the article Themiz. There is so much conflicting information about it on the net, I trust that you gave me the most recent and accurate info.

Yes, in CA we can get it in many different forms. No need to smoke it anymore. (Although I haven't even tried that yet)

Your doctor sounds a little out of touch. Ibuprofen isn't good for anyone with liver problems. No doctor in the know would ever suggest that. As far as medical marijuana, her take of "no data" is totally incorrect.

Mass General Hospital has a transplant handbook. You can find it on their website. It has a page on mj use. I can't remember if it also has info on ibuprofen. If you search here of HW, there are a number of references about not using ibuprofen.

I found this about transplant lists and MMJ.

Since many folks with liver disease may one day need a transplant, we need to always be aware of the changing climate on MMJ use as it applies to liver transplant listing.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/marijuana-organ-transplant_n_6736672.html

We do have treating folks that use MMJ while treating and they have obtained SVR. I have never heard of a contradiction with MMJ with Hep C treatment, but have no personal experience to share.

Big Hugs

Thanks for the web sites to check out. And thanks getcured for helping me feel a little better about having taken the Ibuprofen. I think the nurse said my platelets were fine but I will be getting copies of my blood work Tuesday. MMJ has helped me in the past with several things and I was asking because I thought it might help if I got the riba rage everyone talks about, but thankfully I have not had. I have heard it can help migraines, but like you getcured, I think it would only make it worse for me. I've heard about Imitrex but am just too scared to try it. I don't have heart trouble but do have irregular heartbeat and occasional flutters from a mitro valve prolapse. The bad headache I had was not a migraine and knock wood, have not had a migraine since starting treatment. Hope my luck holds out. Don't want to press my luck, but since that bad headache my sides have really leveled out. Of coarse there is the fatigue, but I can easily deal with that. I just pace myself and rest when need to. Might have taken me a week but got my veggies planted and citrus fertilized so I am a happy camper. If I continue to feel this good I may even be able to oil paint a picture. Wishing the best for all of you.

Arizona, don't lose faith...there are newer drugs that Sovaldi and Ribavirin....if this does not work, they can tr Harvoni...that is w hat they told Mike....if he had a relapse they would move on to the next better drug!

Hoping for the best..this time or next,

Hugs,

Mama Lama

One more point...at one time they were going to try Mike on Sovaldi and Riba in a human trial. He had a horrible experience with Inf and Riba in 2003....almost died to be more exact.

We were very anxious about the Riba last year. His hep doc told him that the Sovaldi was the key...that in future he suspected Sovaldi could be enough by itself, but the manufacturers were doing the trials with Riba in an abundance of caution. He also said that if Mike were in distress that he would pull back on the Riba dose until he felt okay and was certain it would not mess up being successful. That was a lot of confidence in Sovaldi talking.

Within a couple of months of this conversation (Mike didn't get into that trial as he was not cirrhotic and they only had places left in the cirrhotic arm of the trial) the Sovaldi and Olysio was approved for Genotype 1a where Inf/Riba was counterindicated.

I'm certain the lower does will be okay....cause YOU have to be okay, even if they have to change meds mid course.

Hugs,

Mama Lama

Okay, then...I've got my money on the Sovaldi!!!!!

ML

Hi Getcured, Wow, that is really strange that they start everyone on the same dose of Riba. I thought they went by your weight. I hover around 132-135 pounds and my hemoglobin at start of treatment was 113 so it seems they would have thought the dose a little much for me. My dose has been lowered now for 3 days and I think I am feeling somewhat better. At least I'm not out of breath all the time. It's a good thing they retested you or you might have been on the wrong treatment for type 2. I doubt my doctor will retest as I had a hard enough time getting her to agree to the v/l test. However if I don't clear the virus by end of treatment I am going to make sure they retest me. I'm reasonably sure I am type 2 but is sure wouldn't hurt to double check. Thanks for sharing what happened to you.

Hi everyone. Just posting an update. Got my lab back. One week after my 1 month lab and the reduction of Riba from 1000mg to 600 mg, my test went from 9.9 to 9.7. Doctor says they consider that stable so they are doing another lab in 2 weeks.

I hope my information is helpful. I try to let everyone know how my treatment journey is going, as before I joined I read Allen's posts and hearing about his journey helped me a lot, in many ways.