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New to this forum...Just found out I'm stage 3

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Posted 10/5/2015 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Hep C genotype 1A in 2000. My labs up til now have been stage 1 with little to no scarring. Today I received the results from a new type of blood test which tells the severity of liver damage. I was informed that I am now a stage 3. My Hep C nurse told me I need to get more blood work done and then we can move forward on treatment. I feel numb like it hasn't fully sunk in yet. I guess the good news is that hopefully my medicare insurance might pay for some of it. I'm only 53 and have medicare because I was left disabled after a violent mugging which occurred in 1995. I hope while on treatment I can continue to keep my part-time job. I do respite and support work for people with traumatic brain injuries.
Posted 10/6/2015 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Again, Welcome. Good to see you started your own thread! We do have several folks that recently started treatment on the Hep forum.

You can use the search feature for Solvaldi and Harvoni to see what others who went before you posted in the last year. Some get sides with the new meds, some don't.

So sorry about the worsening tests, but this is a good time to treat. It stinks to have bad news after years of chugging along, I am sure. Big Hugs
Posted 10/8/2015 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi madj.
Don't worry. The new drugs clear the virus 95-100%, depending on type of treatment. Especially so if you are a first timer with treatment.
After the virus has been cleared, your liver will most likely REGENERATE and NORMALIZE. That's the trend.
That's great news.
Again, don't worry.
I'm not insinuating that you drink, but make sure you abstain from alcohol. Applying alcohol to a liver that is infected with HCV is like throwing gasoline onto a fire. Exercise (walk, body weight exercises) and eat healthy and you can feel great about yourself.
Take care and I hope you have a great day!
Posted 10/8/2015 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dog,
Thanks for the encouragement. I have an appointment with our local liver clinic on 11/4/15 and we will select the treatment at that time. We will have to petition the drug company and/or medicare for help in paying for the medication of choice. Alcohol will not be an issue since I quit drinking in August of 95. Presently, I'm trying to cut out sugar. Exercise and eating healthy are my biggest challenges. Lately I have not had much of an appetite. I only ate breakfast yesterday. So, I guess i need to work on that. Again thank you for the positive reply. Stay well my friend!
Posted 10/16/2015 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
i'm new here we have found out that my husband has hep c... this we have learned about a month ago...... i have got him to see a doctor on dec 9.....
Posted 10/16/2015 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
christian,

As a new member you will get more support if you start your own Topic Thread.

Call it something like: Hubby Just Diagnosed with Hep C, Need support and info.

And you will get lots of responses.

If you have appointments and labs over the next months, post about them on that same thread and your "story" will become a journey we can help you walk through.

I've been posting here since 2010 after my partner got so very sick....he had alcoholic liver disease, Hep C, liver cancer. What a journey we have had. First he had aliver transplant before the new Hep C meds were available and Interferon didn't work. Then his new liver started to be impacted by the Hep C and he got the new meds in 2014. He is now 4.5 years post TP, Hep C clear, and will be 5 years cancer free next May.

The journey isn't over either. He required ongoing care, deals with the anti=rejection meds and some other stuff...but he is glad to be sober, virus free, and ALIVE.

I have had a journey of my own as caregiver of a loved one with end stage liver disease...and trust me....the ride has twists and turns. Come see us often. Someone here will know the answer to your question.

Best to you both,

Mama Lama
Posted 11/21/2015 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I've been approved for Harvoni and received my first 28 day supply yesterday. I took my first pill just before dinner @6:00pm. I'm very excited and hopeful this stuff will work. I'm genome type 1A, and never been treated for my hep c. The nurse said I will have my first blood test in about a month. Feeling pretty darn good today. I will post again when I have more information.
Posted 11/22/2015 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Madjik68, like that handle.
great news!!!! As dog told you in october, your case looks like our next success story.

Also great news, that you are on tx, 2 months after dx. sounds like your working with a highly experienced team.
congrats
barry
Posted 11/22/2015 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome, madjik.
I am happy to hear you are on your way to clearing the virus (SVR).
With the info you presented, I assume you are on Harvoni for 12 weeks. (first timer, geno 1A, non-cirrhotic)
After the first bottle of pills, the treatment will zip by with minimal to no side effects.
Make sure you call the specialty pharmacy 10 days or so before the last pill of the bottle and try to get it delivered a few days before the last pill in the bottle is taken. Don't believe the "auto refill" BS. Just want to throw that out there as a couple of folks have had a close call with "specialty pharmacy induced noncompliance of treatment." Lol Not really funny though.
Good luck!
Posted 11/22/2015 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dog,

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. Yes I am on the 12 week plan. I'm getting my Harvoni from a Walgreen's in the San Fransisco Bay area. They called me and gave me all the info, as did my nurse. I've only taken two pills, as this is the start of my third day ( I take mine in the pm). I haven't noticed any ill effects yet beside fatigue, but I had that before taking the Harvoni. I won't have my first blood work done for about a month. Feeling pretty positive.
Posted 11/22/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ppm guy for your kind words,

My doctor is Dr, Adil Wakil from California Pacific Medical Center. My regular doctor told me that Wakil is one of the smartest men he ever met. He comes up to Eureka,CA about once a month from The bay area. I feel confident with his team. Now, I just got to do my part staying healthy by eating right and exercising.

Peace, and have a great day!
Posted 12/4/2015 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi madjik, I don't have Hep C, I have cryptogenic liver disease. Which means they don' t know. The Dr.s on my team call it something different every time I go. I believe it was fatty liver this past May. I have been getting by . I was, and still am at ESLD stage 4, I was removed from the transplant list, about 3 years after I was listed because my Meld score has been holding at 9. STILL AT ESLD STAGE 4 for at least the past 10 years. If I can survive this long at my age, YOU CAN go beyond. Wishing you the best. Lav.

Post Edited (lavendar) : 12/9/2015 8:16:06 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/11/2015 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing about your "mugging" - and the after effects on something like that. I will light sage and tobacco and ask the Great Spirit to pave a way for you to get your medicine. When I hear another person's struggles mine don't seem all that bad. Again thank you for sharing.

Respectfully
Posted 12/15/2015 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
madjik68 Hi and Welcome to the forum!! I finish Harvoni in october and Jan 7th i find out if the little devil Hep-c is gone.. I hope you do well and best of luck.. your blood tests will show you are winning and hep is gone but that what happens while you are taking Harvoni . the real marker is when they do the test 12 weeks after last pill,that test is the critical one. But as Dog LeDon said cure rate is 95% to 100% a very promising rate!! I agree that your going to be our next success story!!
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