Hi Tigz,

            week 12 of the same trial ended for me on 7/7/13.

I had the same feeling in stomach like you, it have persisted for about 5 hours. When I understood you correctly,

then you take your meal after eating the pills. I received intruction to eat at first a not to small meal before taking the pills.

with regards 

Welcome Tigz

Good to hear that your having a min of sx. Doesn't sound like you have long to go with it either.

Welcome Tigz, almost got you mixed up with the other Tig. Keep us informed. Lot's of info here.

Hey Tigz! Welcome to the forum buddy! Good people with good information. Hope to see you around   Oh, I like the name too!

Tig56

Hi.

Will start week 5 of 12 on Thursday July 11 of Abbot  ABVV + Riba trial.

NO real side effects to speak of... I get a little weird feeling in stomach. I have determined it happens about 1 hour after eating pills, I do them at 6 am/ 6pm, so at around 6:45am and 6:45pm I eat a snack.. cheese or yogurt works great, and viola!!

Maybe the second week I felt like 5-10% more tired but no big deal.. worked a bunch of OT that week as well.  All in all, I feel great... the psychological adjustment of "getting cured" is a wonderful feeling!!! My 20 year old daughter is so stoked!!! lol.. my son, a eco major at Berkeley is watching the stocks for both ABVV and Gillead, and of course the wife is ecstatic. 

I go in thursday this week for blood work and hoping to get viral load results from past weeks and baseline as well, I will post results.

Tigz.

So I am down to my last pack(sleeve) of pills...Riba's are getting really low.... Just gonna stay positive on remaining UND. It will be nice to not have to take these pills...but like Matt said the pills are our security. .... I go for my EKG 6/27/13 and then I start my blood draw appts after that. Now that all of the stress of my past relationship are gone...my side effects are really nadda....squat! A lil sensitive to sun light but nothing else. I've been working out,riding my hog and just ready to bring back the Trish who had so much energy....Looking  forward to seeing that girl again!

Hey Luv2

I know what your feeling (and I only did 12), after 24 weeks of the Meds. It really becomes habit.

But I can tell you that when you are on your own without them, you won't miss the side effects but you will miss the security / protection they bring to your mind. 

One way to address this is to make sure you have a EOT strategy for keeping your immune system in top form to take over when the Meds are done.

Because (according to my Doc.) the Meds have either totally wiped out all the HCV or they are so few that a normal functioning immune system can deal with them as they should.

A healthy routine of diet, exercise and positive mental reinforcement is the key.

Also the track record for these Abbott Quad.combo Meds. has be very very high SVR rates 97.5% in non-cirrhotic study's 

Wishing you are the best

Matt

So I am come June 21st in my count done taking meds. I still have two folders left to take and I see my Dr tomorrow. I don't know what it will be like not taking meds at 815am/pm ...hmmmmm wonderful comes to mind. So far so good.....still UND and my AST/ALT levels are of normal range...yahooooo.

I had a bad sinus infection last week and was taking sinutab,amoxocillian,nyquil and nasel spray....ran it by my RN and he said that was ok. Hopefully tomorrow it's another UND and I have another visit for June 27th then I am free of meds!

Hey Luv2

Way to push on, don't let anyone detour you goal.

None of us need the extra stress, you are a new person and on your way to a better outcome.

Many more UND are in your future.

All the best only

Matt 

Hi Trish, congrats on the UND, that`s good to hear!!  Your liver enzyme levels look amazing too, very good indeed!

Sorry about the boyfriend situation but it sounds like you`re well out of it, you don`t need to be messed around by someone like that, you deserve better.  Good for you giving him the boot!! 

All the best to you, keep us posted.  Take care, Jill xx

Thanks everyone.  Just got back from Dr's and still UND.  Asked him what my AST&ALT  levels are.

Alt=40

Ast= 20

When I started my ALT was 172 and my Ast was 117

I am doing well....situation with boyfriend fixed....kicked him out...it was the for the best. Come to find out he was lying and seeing another woman...sweet! After 7yrs better I find out now then later.

Just taking everything one day at a time.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Hey Luv2

Sounds like you are dealing with RIBA Rage, it's a side effect of the Ribavirin 

I had the same issue. Try to keep yourself from situations and conversations that are inflammatory. You could also just stay in your man / woman's cave. (lol)

Really as soon as you are off the Meds. You will gain a lot more patience but the energy is slower to come back, at least in my case it seems that way,

The worst for me wife my did not understand how Ribavirin does this

try to explain or try to avoid, sometimes it just happens

Matt

Still UND as of my last visit on 5/16...I see my RN again on 5/30

So on another note I have been a beast to live with. My boyfriend and I are working through an issue....but non the less we will work through that.

Can any of these meds make me into this not so nice person to be with?

So I am wondering if this is why for the past four or five weeks I have been intolerable. I didn't even think my meds could be making me "not so nice". My boyfriend last night said I went from Dr. Jeckle to Mr. Hyde...WTH????

The more I got to think about it he was right. Going to call my RN (who is heading my trial) and see what he has to say. I am thankful that my last meds will be in the end of June.....but what about from now till then...gotta do something.....don't want to be the monster in the house

Just finishing up my 7th week of meds ...not much longer.

Hey Luv2

Sorry I'm late on the Congrats, but that news about you being "Undetected" is "Super Fantastic" and you will hear many more of the same in the coming weeks.

Just keep on truckin, with a goal to keep your immunity system up to the highest level for EOT.

Matt 

. Prayin its the first of 12.

The time will fly

So happy 4 U.

Trish, I am so happy for you, you`ve got your UND at last!!  Congrats!! 

Good for you - well done.

Another GLORIOUS VICTORY!....Congradulations!

Great news, Let the sun shine in !!

Guess what??????? Got the fantastic news this morning at my Dr's appt that I am UND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!! I'm so happy I could cry...actually am. I want to yell it from the roof tops....and hope to stay on this path till my next news of SVR. Didn't get to see my normal RN of my trial he double booked himself and I had his right hand girl. When her and I ge together we go non stop gabbing...I told her "Sandi ya gotta stop talking and tell me what my numbers are" LOL...She laughs and say you my dear are UND. Had to run home after telling the few in my family that know and share it with my family here.

It's a cloudy day here in FL and all I can see is sunshine!

The sun helps to convert indirect bilirubin to direct bilirubin so it's natural to feel a little worse after being in the sun. The good news is that you're getting that bilirubin out of your body and cleansing it. Ride and enjoy!

Great news about  your numbers Trish,

We're all behind you, wishing you a nice easy ride through this 

Bill S

Take it easy then, Trish, sensible to stay off your bike for now, even though it must be tempting at times.  A nice relaxing stroll along the beach sounds perfect.  Your boyfriend sounds a real treasure!

Hope the queasiness wears off soon, I used to find that sipping ginger tea or sucking peppermints helped when I was feeling like that on tx, or having a bowl of natural yogurt.

Take care..and keep going! 

Well not so much on any ride. Last night I got the pukes at 12:30-3:30. My stomach still feels queezy.

Matt and Iris thanks for the support. Nope I am going to stay off the bike for now. Just ready for these twelve weeks to blow by. My boyfriend is being such a sweetheart through all of this. It's a beautiful day down here too. Guess I will enojy it ....maybe a walk on the beach to watch the sun set. Kinda like Matt's photo......I love the water!

Hey luv2

Know the feeling, mine comes nearly every day about 6-7 PM 

Your body is telling you to take a break or nap, please don't ride then your reactions won't be as good. It's the Ribavirin and it can also cause being short tempered. 

Just chill and find your spot,  when you feel like this because it lasts the whole 12 weeks.

I am finishing my 11th week and sometimes the moods swings can be hard to deal with but they don't seem to last more than a day.

But these Abbot / Abbvie Meds do the job

Hoping all the best for you

Matt

Hi Trish,...well here you go again huh? Gosh hun, what a ride...and not the good kind. 

That's a real sweet horse you have there, be good to her rider, eh? Many blessings, Iris

House fever is right!....I was under the weather today plus we had snow of all things (in Mich.)...so I laid low all day. Cannot wait to see the sunshine and get outside and play.. That bike looks like fun!

Was really tired today. I'm thinking of taking my bike out this weekend for a little mind therapy.....I have noticed too much time in the sun makes me feel dizzy and sick to my tummy....so gonna go for a VERY short ride. I have been a hermit....and am having house fever.

-- Edited by LUV2RYDE on Thursday 25th of April 2013 12:32:08 AM

Great news! Can't wait until you get those magic words that say you are undetectable. It sounds like you are responding well to the treatment. Waiting for new results is one of the hardest parts!

I just heard that new results will be out in a couple of weeks from the EASL Conference at which Abbott is presenting a paper. It sounds like the drugs are continuing to produce SVR even 48 weeks after treatment.

There may be some side effects as you go through the trial, but it's great that your bilirubin is not elevated.

We're rooting for you.

Alan

Matt Chris wrote:

---

Matt ,

Thanks for posting that. Yeah I am happy to follow into the UND then SVR club. It's so cool when I think about how much good these drugs will do for everyone. I go see my RN again in 2wks so I should have some news then.

 

 

Hey Luv2

Great news welcome to the Abbott Labs great response club.

Looks like you are responding to the Meds like everyone else has, that is real good news.

Keep on truckin , and before you know it you will be UND like the rest of us.

Notice below a chart to encourage positive thinking regarding your weeks ahead.

This was the phase II results without the extra Med ABT-267 

Matt

 

---

hugs everyone ... thanks for sharing your info... best of luck to all on thier " study " drugs... you are paving the way for the next chapter in treatment .. P & L MJ

Hey Luv2

Great news welcome to the Abbott Labs great response club.

Looks like you are responding to the Meds like everyone else has, that is real good news.

Keep on truckin , and before you know it you will be UND like the rest of us.

Notice below a chart to encourage positive thinking regarding your weeks ahead.

This was the phase II results without the extra Med ABT-267 

Matt

Thats sum awesome news, on your way.

That is great, Trish, congrats on that amazing result after only 1 week!  Looking good so far, wow, that was worth waiting for!

wonderful news! Congratulations

Just got back from my doctors(trial study).....When I started this trial my viral load was at 4.5 million my 1 weeks numbers are 25  . After one week to go from 475 million to 25 makes me so happy. My RN said by next week we will have your 2nd week results in and you should be UND(which he said was 15) My billirubuin has always been normal . He said next week he will share all numbers with me.....I'm so happy. I'm on the right road to being free of this dragon!!!

I hugged my RN so hard I thought I was going to break him! 

Had to edit my viarl number it wasnt 475 million it was 4.5 million

Awhhh don't be sorry...hey I am on the real stuff now and thats all that matters. Ok so I went to the Dr's on 4/4/13 and found out I am on blinded started the real meds on 4/5/13 and here are my side effects as of today. I am thirsty a lot and I get increased heart beats about an hour after I take the meds and it lasts for about an hour. Other then that I am good to go. I am on day 5 of the meds...only 11 weeks and 2 days to go...lol. I have to keep a sence of humor in all of this or it gets too serious for me. I rode my motorcycle Sunday and felt good. I am back to work and went through re training after taking a medical break from my job. So far so good with that....I don't seem to be as focused as usual but got alot on my mind. I will know my results at the end of the 12 weeksAfter the next 12 weeks I start the post-dosing period.I will be monitored for an additional 48 wks following the last dose of the study drugs to see if the HCV cans till be detected.I am hoping at the end of this 12 week tunnel I join all of you that are UND...Then SVR. I will check in once a week. I see my doc this Thursday.

Hey LUV.  Interested to hear how day one of the meds went for you.  

Sorry, Trish I have been following you,  I just started day 2 of my meds for the 4th week, so will finish week 4 next Thurs.  I won't know if they are real or not 8 weeks.  Actually, this week hasnt been too bad, except the fatigue is bad, I think I will fall asleep at my desk. But, you were inspiration, I figured if you could work out, so could I.  So, when the treadmill called every night I listened. Tonight, is the first night I haven't done anything.  I did have headaches about day 4, and quite a bit after that. Yes nausea too.  I wish you and everyone in trials the best

valerie

Best of luck with your new journey, Trish.  Don`t forget that you`ve played an important role during those weeks on the placebo arm, it all counts towards the supporting data and results of the trial as a whole.  

Now it`s your turn with the real drugs!     Keep us updated... Jill

Ouch

news like that brings anyone down. then I thought I wish I had been on a placebo I would still be in game with a chance to pass. This news is alot alot better than ( it didn't work or you relapsed ) Your SRV is still achivable. Hope you get a second wind and keep up the fight 

BillS

Hi Trish...

Sorry to hear the news...Just keep moving in a forward directions and you will be virus free in no time at all...

Trish,

I know you must be let down. How could you be anything but.

But there are more than a few of us seeing unheard of results on OUR trials. I know you are going to be so stoked when they tell you UNDETeCTable!!!!

Good news. I had no side effects whatsover my first 3 weeks. I thought I had a ribo rash but it was from just being out in the sun and getting over heated.

Im now in the beginning of my 10th week (very important you read this. still undectable at 8 weeks!!)

This week I have been getting the fog and sleep is becoming evasive, which I think may be contributing to some fatigue. The fog is worse up to 4 hours after my a.m. dose, not so bad with the p.m. one.

My resting HR has gone up to between 78-82. normally between 68-72. BP is WNL

All my labs have been in range but the HGB has dropped to 13.2. The Nurse told me they dont get concerned unless it gets > 10.

What am I doing about it? I am forcing myself to go the gym and putting just 15 miins on the treadmill.

Drinking water and adding EmERN C for electrolyte replacement and trying not to eat cereal at night  (My big vice)

You have my number....  Anytime...

Sorry, I was a day off.  Bummer on the placebo but good that you'll now be knowing what you are getting.

You asked about how somebody feels after taking the first dose.  Within 2-3 hours of taking my first dose I gat a heavy spacey  feeling followed by a low grade headache which lasted all evening.  Currently in week 8 and dealing with fatigue.  But there is that nagging feeling that my mind is making this happen and I am really on the placebo.  The wife tells me that if I am getting the placebo then something else is going on because I am not usually like this.

Time will tell.

Good luck to you LUV.

Trish

I feel for you. expectation postponed is deflating, but now knowing that these Meds really work is exciting to say the least.

My first week was a whirlwind of events which I wish wasn't the case, because if I had to do over I would have taken alot more days off work and other social events.

I could tell I was on the Meds, but the side effects were not that debillating.

Trish you already have the habit of twice a day taking the Meds so remembering what Balagan51 said he did after taking his Meds might be useful.

He mentioned finding a quiet place to meditate after dosing to uptake not only the physical metabloic aspect but the body mind power of intention aspect.

From the physical metabloic side,  remember that these drugs are going to render millions of HCV dead because it does not allow them to repicate.

The first two weeks you will be expunging millions of old HCV so drink plenty of high quality filtered water. So give your body only the best quailty foods and drink to do its job.

Of cousre this is from only my perspective, but I wish I could have known these insights.  Also if your billirubin elevates do be alarmed it seems to be normal in some participants

To Me its seems weird that Abbott won't be sharing your lab results, what does your consent form say about that trish?

Matt   

Just got back and I was on placebo. I was ok at first then starting crying or tears were building up in my eyes.

Then my RN handed me the real drugs....and said you will start these tomorrow. And he goes Trish we talked about this and I said ya know what Daily your right....I am going to keep a positive attitude like I have been this whole twelve weeks. I see him again next Thurs ,following thurs then every two weeks till June 27th. So my new journey starts tomorrow and I wont find out where my vl is till the end of the 12 weeks...ughhhh but he did say no news is good news. Did anyone feel anything after taking the first dose?  I hope I feel as good as I did this last 12 wks.

Good luck tomorrow LUV.  4 1/2 weeks until I find out.

Luv2

Wow! only three more days.  Either way your in a good place.

Hope you can get some sleep and your study nurse treats you good.

Matt

Matt,

It isn't that bad not knowing.....I just keep up the positive attitude. Plus now taking these meds in the AM&PM ....Is like ritual for me...lol. I have one more visit this week and then two more weeks left....I am now starting the count down....tic,tic,tic.

Listeneing to your guys on the real meds put a smile on my face....Even if I am placebo....everyones encouragement and great attitudes will keep me going. I am glad I have you guys!