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My husband started his treatment today (Sovaldi and Galexos (Olisio).

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Posted 11/13/2014 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, today my husband took his first two pills in the morning . We had a very normal day, despite our fears of possible side effects. ...so far zero side effects.

Hopeful as ever,

Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 3:38:42 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/13/2014 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds as if you're doing the right things. How long has your husband had Hep C and what genotype is he?
Posted 11/14/2014 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi David, I asked my husband to find out what genotype he has as well as his viral count from his doctor (all I know is that he has stage 3 HepC). I did not know anything about that stuff until I got into this forum and read others. I might post it when I get it, as well as the progress.
Today was day 2 of Sovaldi and Galexos. He was very active, took a little nap in the afternoon, did some work in the house, run some errands with me and then went to work in the evening.
First thing in the morning we had our fresh squeeze juice; Pineapple, beets, cabbage, orange, ginger, apple, cucumber and spinach (tomorrow will add kale and carrots). Then we had an organic egg/a bit of ham for breakfast with sourdough toast w/ Jam peanut butter. Took the Sovaldi and Galexos just before 10 am. For lunch he had fresh organic grapes and a bit later a small slice of homemade spinach lasagna (with goat mozzarella cheese). For dinner, he took to work home made roasted chicken with my cranberry sauce , brown/wild rice, red quinoa and broccoli.
So far Zero side effects. He looks great, was a bit grumpy, but that was out of frustration from having to return an item we've bought earlier this year... HA!). He says he feels fine and looks great to me. I was so worry about unknown side effects, but so far it's like he has taken nothing at all... Hopefully his virus will be the only thing that will suffer. I pray the HepC will be gone for good ...with all my heart.

Good luck to all,

Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 4:44:00 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/14/2014 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Gourmet healthy cooking. He's a lucky man.
Posted 11/14/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Monik hope he sails through. This treatment, while no walk in the park, is nothing compared to the old ones.
Posted 11/14/2014 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Keep focused...Hep C can kill you.

A few headaches, a nap or two, a tummy ache...not so bad considering some of what folks have gone through at advanced liver disease phases.

Even folks who are well on their way to needing a transplant (or else...) are well served clearing the virus, as those who are transplanted virus free have longer life expectancy post TP than those who carry the virus into their new liver (like my Mike!).

Good luck to him and to your whole family, these new drugs will make a real difference int eh quality of your lives.

Hugs,
Mama Lama
Posted 11/14/2014 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hello MamaLama, Buddy blank and David, thank you for your kind words... It is challenging to avoid feeling hyper vigilant but so far it HAS been a walk in park, but I continue to wait reminded of the horrible days of interferon and ribavirin which seemed at times to be killing him rather than the virus and the time when he turned jaundiced after having a fatty take out Greek meal and a glass of wine in a party... I try not to think about his life expectancy or potential complications, but I am certain that it runs on the back of my head every waking minute... (Hugs MamaLama)...Perhaps there will be in the future a way to restore fully a damaged liver... stem cells comes to mind and ...hope is free!!!

Today is day 3 of his Galexos/Sovaldi. Still no side effects manifested in any way.


Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 4:40:42 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/14/2014 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Monik, Glad to hear your husband is on his way to getting rid of Hep C. He is on a pretty easy treatment and will have very few, if any side effects. As long as he takes his pills each day and is cautious when in the sun...he will do fine.

Let us know when his first labs come back. This has been a remarkable year for Hep C sufferers. People get results with Solvaldi combinations, and we are very grateful for that. Big Hugs
Posted 11/14/2014 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you themiz, and thanks for the hug. The treatment looking great so far, really no side effects as of today. We are in Canada, Ontario and although I normally dread the short cold days...I am very relieved that it's winter. He is still taking precautions though. I will be posting the before and after with each result once I get my hands on them.
...I was wondering today if his HepC gets cured at stage 3. Will he eventually develop cirrhosis or still need a transplant eventually? I am still hoping that they come up with a non invasive way to restore the liver...transplant sound so awfully scary...I can't imagine what it would be like waiting for a transplant then hoping that its not rejected then praying that no complications come along and all the potential concerns following the transplant itself!!! You and MamaLama most be very strong people!

Hugs,

Monik.
Posted 11/14/2014 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Monik,

Going forward, Mike was told that since he was Stage 3 fibrosis, but not cirrhosis (of his nice new liver...post TP, UGH) that there is a chance that he could do some regeneration.

They are waiting until 1 year post treatment and will do a Fibroscan or maybe another liver biopsy to see. And hope.

But unless there are new assaults on the liver, it should not get worse. However, we are all liable to have other issues with liver from NASH, the no alcoholic kind cause by too much fat in the liver. With western diets we are more and more obese...too much High Frutose Corn Syrup is as bad for you as alcohol.

So, lots of positive hope.

themiz's hubby already had cirrhosis, so though clear of the Hep C virus, he will still need a transplant at somepoint. But after TP, the fact that he has no virus to wreck that nice new liver should be a really really good outcome.

Hugs,

Mama Lama
Posted 11/15/2014 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Wow! Thanks MamaLama, this forum has been so helpful!!! There is so much we don't know because his specialist never talked about it. I know he wanted to get my husband treated before it developed into cirrhosis, but he mentioned nothing about fibrosis, nor has he had (to our knowledge) a fibroscan. Hope for the best for your husband...fingers crossed.

I am not sure I have the resilience to go through what you have gone through with your husband...Just thinking about it I feel as if I would drown in grief...You and themiz are my new champions!!! :)

Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 4:34:55 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/15/2014 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Alcohol combined with Hep C is akin to throwing gas on a fire. Also, alcohol interferes a lot of meds, such as my anti rejection meds.

If he ever needs a transplant he would have to prove he hadn't had a drink in 6 months. With the attitude he's displaying, I'll bet his doc would flip out if he knew about (even) occasional drinking.

When a doc tells me not to do something, I listen. That's not arrogance, that's an expert trying to extend my life.
Posted 11/15/2014 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I agree David with some of what you say. Just to clarify, I am not calling his specialist arrogant because he just asked him not to drink. What is arrogant on his part (and that of many doctors) is the expectation that people are supposed to blindly obey what an expert says without questions or the knowledge behind the advise. Knowing why you shouldn't do something is more likely to lead to the intrinsic motivation to stop... making informed decisions. My husband has been with this specialist for over a decade and to this day knows very little about his condition and prognosis. The doctor also responds seemingly annoyed when I ask questions or request information.

It might be worthwhile pointing out that even experts make mistakes and even though this is not the case with HepC and alcohol (no matter how infrequent), people have made terrible choices by following blindly advise from experts and those in position of authority. My grandmother for example stopped taking her blood thinner because a new doctor asked her to, she had strong doubts as to the wisdom of that advise, but dared not to question him. Soon after, she had a stroke and learned that her new doctor, had overlooked the reasons why she needed the blood thinner and failed to give her an adequate substitute. Had I just listen to my husband's liver specialist which was the expert's advise here, I would still be sitting and waiting for Health Canada to approve the treatment combination rather than appealing three times before successfully getting him 100% coverage. His specialist would not even write a letter on my husband's behalf because according to him; appealing to the insurance company would be a waist of my time and his...He said he's seen it countless times and knew better ... that I should just wait.

Children can teach us more than any one that when you are given reasons and explanations for expected behavior, they grow with a strong sense of self discipline rather than later on (on their teenage years) becoming rebellious and embracing self defeating behaviors.


Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 3:55:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/15/2014 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know how old your husband is, Monik, but many people live their entire lives with Hep C and never are diagnosed until a crisis, or end stage symptoms. Mine had a routine physical and other than some odd fatigue, he had no symptoms for likely 3-4 decades. He is 64 now, and on the transplant list. But he was never sick with liver disease until about 4 years ago. it takes about 20 plus years for the virus to get to cirrhosis. So add alcohol, and imagine what happens.

I would want to know what Hep C stage 3 means. Is this fibrosis?
I ask because Hep C is a virus. It is either compensated or decompensated. The stage and grade are based on biopsy or fibroscan. For instance, themister's biopsy in 2005 was Grade 2 Stage 4. He was compensated at that time. But he now is decompensated. I don't know which your husband had, nor how long...if he is compensated or decompensated. I presume he has fibrosis, stage 3, had a biopsy when diagnosed.

Here is some info on that:

Typically, a liver biopsy will be performed. A liver biopsy requires a needle to remove a small sample of liver tissue so that doctors can assess the extent of liver damage and stage the degree of fibrosis.

Several scales are used to stage fibrosis. One common classification is a scale from 0 to 4 where
•stage 0 indicates no fibrosis;
•stage 1 indicates enlargement of the portal areas by fibrosis;
•stage 2 indicates fibrosis extending out from the portal areas with rare bridges between portal areas;
•stage 3 indicates many bridges of fibrosis that link up portal and central areas of the liver; and
•stage 4 indicates cirrhosis.

I understand you husband feels well, and is now treating. I hope he cures the virus and continues to have a good life without the complications of ESLD. Do your research, if you are interested. Above we have a Hepatitis Resources section in a sticky. There is a lot of great info there, links to use for labs and tests. If you can get copies of his bloods, his biopsy, and medical file since dx, that is a good start. Ask for copies of all tests...not sure if he can get them in Canada, but I bet there is a way:) Big Hugs
Posted 11/16/2014 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Themiz, I will do some research starting tomorrow or I might not get any sleep tonight...I appreciate your kind words, the hugs, and the information/links.

My husband is 52. He was infected when he was 12 years old, ironically during a life saving blood transfusion after an accident. From my husband's most recent biopsy (some years ago), which landed him in emergency with fever and excruciating pain. We were told that my husband had stage 3 fibrosis... That's pretty much all I know. My husband had a scan of some sort and blood tests early last summer and I remember his doctor saying then that he hoped my husband could get treatment before he developed cirrhosis...but that was about half a year ago. I don't know if things have changed since then.

So far just a moderate head ache last night and a very short one (no need for pain killers) this morning...Other than that, still no side effects.

My best wishes for you and your husband, MamaLama and her husband, David, Buddyblank and all the hope sharing members of this awesome forum :)

Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 3:16:22 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/16/2014 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Today is day 5 of my husband treatment. Forgot the pills, took then 12 hours late, back in track. No side effects so far.


Hoping for healthy future,

Monik.

Post Edited (Myhusbandhelp) : 11/17/2014 3:11:57 PM (GMT-7)

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