Conflicting tests

Welcome, stu58.
If you're drinking alcohol, stop.
No varices, no ascites and no enlarged spleen, so you are not too worse for wear.
Compensated cirrhosis can be reversed with clearance of the virus.

Take a few deep breaths.
Go to Gilead dot com and click on the 'SupportPathTM for Sovaldi and Harvoni' link.
Read about the program, and when it comes time to get the Harvoni register for your copay coupon.
I paid five bucks a refill and insurance paid the rest. It's a beautiful thing considering a $2000 copay without the coupon.
You will probably be prescribed for six months since you are stage four (cirrhosis).
It's a 99% cure rate at six months.

I had geno 1a and failed two prior treatments. I have since gained SVR with Harvoni.
I have been SVR for over six months. I will do ultrasounds once a year to check for liver cancer.
It all seems pretty grave, but nothing like having cirrhosis and HCV.

So, your outlook is pretty good.
Keep in touch.
dog

hey stu,
wow!!!! blood work says stage 4, ct says no cirrhosis. hhmmmm
harvoni doesnt need ribavirin, unless there are advanced symptoms.

your dr is ordering a full spectrum of tests. He/she should be able to give you a much better evaluation of your liver condition.. i would stay with the original dx of stage 4, for insurance purposes..its prioritized by staging. for me, i would want a fibroscan

Hey Stu.
I have a better understanding of your situation now.
This is your second treatment, geno 1A, you're 57, 6'2", 274 lbs.
You are treatment experienced, so you know this is a huge mental battle.

If you study the Gilead charts, there's two treatment paths for your situation, with cirrhosis (also known as stage 4 fibrosis).
Harvoni with ribavirin for three months. If I remember correctly, about a 96% SVR rate. I forgot the relapse rate.
Harvoni alone for six months. <--- preferred, if you can influence your doctor to prescribe this option you will be happy to not deal with ribavirin. 99% SVR rate, 0% relapse rate.
However, if you decide to go the shorter ribavirin route, more power to you.
Perhaps you need a second opinion. The local university medical college is a good place to find the cutting edge of treatment.

Make sure you go to the Gilead website and check out the copay program. If you want to save money, that's the way to go. I didn't know about it when I did Sovaldi, I payed a $400 copay. I only paid a $5 copay with Harvoni.

Keep in touch, brother.
dog

ppm guy,
Thank you I guess I'm going to find out properly as I'm sure the insurance won't want to let me have Harvoni unless the proof is good. I will fight the good fight though.
Thanks bro

Thanks woofer,
I had my appt updated from 3/21 to 2/18 which is this week ! So I would appreciate any questions you guys think I should ask . Mine so far are why does my CT scan look so different from what my blood tests say, I'm curious if my genotype which they tested for says the same as 14 years ago (in case the lab is making mistakes) , what do I need to do to prepare for Harvoni approval and treatment.

Post Edited (stu58) : 2/17/2016 9:09:39 AM (GMT-7)

Stu, I have been following your posts, but have been preoccupied with the details of my own life for a bit.

So...belated, welcome to the forum, or back if you were here the last go round with treatment drugs.

I will be interested to hear your new information after your dr appt today.

My partner, Mike, had Hep C for years. He took the Riba and Inf in 2003 and to quote you, it about killed him and broke up our relationship...he had the grumpies and worse on that stuff...and was sick for the while 6 months he took them. UGH. His Hepatologist heard the horror stories from Mike and considered him treatment experienced and basically unable to take Inf or Riba again. For 1a, experienced, they prescribed Olysio and Sovaldi. He cleared in about 4 or 5 weeks, has been UNDETECTED since April 2014. Along the way he had a transplant and a heart valve replacement....so he has had a time of it. I have to say that he still and likely forever will tire easily and takes a bed nap every afternoon. He is 66, 5' 7" and 185 lbs. He is trying to drop some weight. He has difficult to control hypertension, takes prograf for antirejection, has stage 3 renal disease.

He was thrilled to skip the Riba. His nice new liver was a Stage 3 fibrosis before treatment...we are not sure now as no one has done a fibroscan or biopsy...they just go by the LFTs and say he is doing as well as can be expected.

Best to you that you get on treatment soon.

Hugs, Mama Lama

Hi again stu,
Glad to hear it went better with your doc...and no bridging!
(sounds like ~F2) and Aetna is just waiting to hear...good news all around. Hopefully, your "case" is just working its way through the bureaucratic mess.

Anyway, really happy for you...can't wait to hear that you're approved!

This treatment does take more time to work through the approval/insurance maze. Hang in there :) Big Hugs

Hi stu, Here is a link about appealing an insurance denial. Many have been denied and appealed before getting Hep C treatment. Don't give up. Big Hugs


www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=25&m=3315494

My Harvoni was approved today ! Woot Woot ! Copay is 5 dollars. They want to send the Riba and Harvoni together and my regular pharmacy already had my Riba so they have to cancel it first then I can have shipment.
It's time real soon and I'm very grateful.

Thank youthemiz,
It arrives on Monday so I will start on tuesday. I have to take Riba with it so I will have some effects but 12 weeks isn't forever . I made it 6 months on Peg and Riba in 2002 but I was nuked by the 4th month.
This will be easier I'm sure without the interferon.

. I don't understand what to do now. Not tech savvy......