Sov/Riba/Peg Treatment

I posted previously on Realtors thread in regards to still being detected at week 4 (test was also a day early) I started treatment on April 24 with a vl of over 9 million. My 4 week was "count unreadable detected". My original concern was that the nurse practitioner mentioned possibly stopping treatment. I was 7.5 weeks into treatment when I received this information. After SHE spoke with the doctor, he ordered another test which i took yesterday because he wanted the results before my official 8 week test. Again nurse said that the pharmaceutical company may want me to stop. I'm totally confused about this. The pharmacy released my final package to me yesterday (i receive everything one week early in 4 week batches). I have yet to read about anybody being cut off of Sovaldi.due to their 4 week results. AND my new.results won't come in for over a week (even up to 3 weeks).
I forgot to mention I'm Gen 1.

@canadian73...well this is a new wrinkle. Keep us apprised. My partner just finished 12 weeks with Sovaldi and Olysio and was <15 detected week 4. And <15 undetected the very next week. We will want to keep up with your saga. I had not heard they were cutting folks off at 8 weeks! Oh, my. ML

Now that I've calmed down a bit, I'm actually quite optimistic...I think it's impossible for everybody to have "cleared" the virus in "exactly" 4 weeks. There has to be leeway somewhere as with all medications. Also, realistically by the time the test results are back I will be anywhere from 8-11 weeks into treatment (and the insurance company already covered the final 4 weeks of meds which are in my possession). After discussing some of this with a very close family member who is a naturopath, it would makes sense that the first few days of treatment may have been "slower" (for lack of a better word) since I was on quite the regime of antioxidants, among other things, that would still have been quite active in my system...any one thing I was taking could turn out to be a contradiction since we know so little right now. I stopped everything a day and half before I started treatment as the medication literally arrived in that period of time once my insurance provider gave the go-ahead to the clinic. Besides needing to lose a large amount of weight, overall my health wasn't too bad prior to treatment. The worst was the fatigue really and the very high viral load. My biopsy showed minimal scarring, no fatty liver, nothing with my bloodpressure. I do have depression that I finally started medication for about a year ago (been fighting it for years but the hep c diagnosis 3 years ago tipped the scales). I'm taking 300mg of Wellbutrin which has really helped with the fatigue portion (in both the hep AND this treatment). The only thing that has been bothersome is that for the past 8 months I had been religiously going to the gym minimum 3 days a week (walking on days I didn't go plus my job keeps me moving quite a bit), and that has been next to impossible. For the first 6 weeks daily life wasn't too bad, but didn't have it in me to workout. I finally went 2x last week, but could only do 20 min treadmill and about 15 min strength training each time. I just find myself SPENT when I tackle a flight of stairs and totally out of breath :(
Make no mistake...I'm SO not complaining. I'm unbelievably grateful that I have this opportunity and was able to start so quickly.

Well no news yet about last Thursday's bloodwork. I again went to the clinic today for my official 8 week full set of tests (3 days early as I start my 9th week on Thursday). Been quite bit more drained this weekend than the past few weeks so my guess is that my red count has gotten lower. Otherwise the side effects are still fairly low. My next appointment now isn't until August 2nd which will be 2 weeks post treatment.....pending no crazy test results.

Hi themiz, and thanks for the hugs :) Yes, they pulled a viral load today as well as one last Thursday. The doctor did one last week so he would have the results before my "official" 8 week tests (yesterday's)....somewhat redundant considering the tests were 4 days apart. Now it's just a matter of waiting to see if it's finally undetected. I'm really very optimistic now that I've read how quite a few people have gotten similar results to mine with their 4 week tests.

Hi Canadian, I wondered how the 2nd vl turned out. Thanks for the update! I want whatever you are taking to improve skin and be less tired looking, less wrinkles ;)

You are almost done. No more shots with enough pills per day to make one "rattle when you walk" each day. And I don't blame you for wanting the test results. It took us about 1-2 weeks for themister's vl results. Thinking the testing labs may be slammed with all the new dragon slayer's blood work to test. Keep us posted. Mama Lama has a chart she is putting together. Post your stat's there, if you can. Big Hugs

C73, I think you may be on to something! Let's hope so. Such great news on the depression, as well. Must feel like things are all flowing for you....except that missing vl report ;) Big Hugs

canadian73 said...

I actually think all the positive changes are due to my 'insides' running better as the virus is eliminated. :)

Well considering that the liver performs over 600 functions, it's little wonder!

Hope you continue to improve each day


Mae

This is great!! I remember each test and how thrilled we were when themister went undetected. Soon, this treatment is over for you. Thank you for letting us know. Big Hugs...you have a wonderful week!!

What a big, sigh of relief you must have felt. Glad the Interferon is in the rear view mirror, C73. Big Hugs

73,
Your life is beginning anew...

Glad you posted, it is encouraging to those mid-treatment to know that you started feeling better so quickly.

Hugs,

Mama Lama

Hey C73, How's it going? Are you still sleeping well?

I'm 12 days EOT and had the first good night's sleep in years! I did wake up and looked at the clock at 4am but didn't get out of bed.

Curious to hear of any of your other observations. Let me know.

HF