Hey Mike. How about an update? Carolyn has finished and is wondering how you are doing.

Thanks!

JimmyK

Tom wrote:

---

 ...September 19 (EOT + 12 wks blood test), and September 22 as I head down for my annual 10 days in Nicaragua surfing (hopefully for the first time without Hep C).

---

 I also hope you get to go to Nicaragua, especially since you'll be Hep C free for the first time.

 Keep up the good work Tom.

gojuman wrote:

---

 I hope this drug gets rid of this virus once and for all.

---

 It will, don't worry.

Thanks for posting Mike. I'm glad everything is going well. I'll hold my "I told you so" until after October 25 when you receive your EOT+12 = UND / SVR results.

Tom wrote:

---

(although a beer would be nice). Tom

---

 My gosh Tom. You live in Alabama. Look what time it is.

LOL

Jimmy

Mike, good for you partner. I was nothing but excited to start this therapy, and other than waking up hesitantly and somewhat exhausted after a night of surfing, traveling, and unexplainable weirdness, there are no side effects.  My runs with dogs are just as slow and steady as ever; if there's surf, it's still a blast; I too am getting mighty familiar with the restroom getting rid of the 3-4 L of water I'm drinking everyday (and should have my whole life!); and with 46/84 days down I'm not skipping a beat professionally or socially (although a beer would be nice). I'm looking forward to June 26 (EOT), June 27 (Day #85 blood test), September 19 (EOT + 12 wks blood test), and September 22 as I head down for my annual 10 days in Nicaragua surfing (hopefully for the first time without Hep C). Are these guys on this forum the best????????

To all y'all, THANKS.  Your kindness and grace are the second best drug I've encountered in 2016. We are sharing something very exciting and good. Be well, y'all, and hang in there, Mike. I can't believe that getting rid of Hepatitis C is so easy.

Tom

Mike I don't mind telling you the silence was concerning. You remain in Carolyn's and my prayers. We both KNOW you have the cure in your hands and recognize your anxiety has been the only wall between you and the cure.

BOTH Carolyn and I are now Undetected and your finding of the same is about 18 days out now.

I absolutely agree with Tig on this one and the best source to be honest is the Pharmacist that distributes your Harvoni.

That said, don't simply ask about the Whey / Harvoini but also mention Fibrosis 14.4.

The reason I say that is hepatic problems can be aggravated by high protein intake.

Your recovery time from workouts are nothing compared to recovery time from Hep C.

We are proud of you brother. I will hold the "I told you so" for EOT  LOL!

Go get um Brother!

JimmyK

Thanks for the update Mike. Sounds like everything is going quite well, good for you! Keep it up and keep hydrating. That's the ticket.

Have you asked your doctor about the whey protein? I think it would be worth asking. Some supplements are out but others may be permissible. Your pharmacist may have some input as well. 

Sorry about not posting lately. Day 10 today. I don't have any side affects at all from harvoni. Drinking alot of water everyday and still going to gym. My appetite is off the chain. I can't stop eating not sure if the meds doing that or not. I wish I could drink my whey protine because my recovery time after workouts is slower. I need the amino acids for fast recovery. So I am substituting with egg white everyday. My anxiety  has has gotten  alot better about harvoni. As alot of you said it's harmless and don't over think it. Thank you all and I hope this drug gets rid of this virus once and for all.

Mike

Hello Mike.

In that you started treatment 6 days ago, your silence is a little concerning. How about an update?

Your friend.

JimmyK

Mike,

See?  Piece of cake!! Anna

Hi again Mike.

 I told you on the phone this morning that I would post some screen shot images to help you get your thread started in the 'Hep C and Nutrition' section.

Click HERE for directions and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mike by the way, you now can officially take your seat with the rest of us on the Harvoni Train.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58762824/all-aboard-for-the-harvoni-treatment-train-enjoy-the-ride-fo/

Use the above thread to share with us your experiences as we do the same. We welcome you to join the ride with us as we travel together towards a common goal.

JimmyK

Well done, Mike, I`m so pleased you`ve started your treatment now, this is excellent news!

I know it`s been a struggle for you to get to this point, but you won`t regret it, I`m quite sure.  And you should be very proud of yourself for overcoming your fears and taking that first pill.

You`re on your way to a new life, free from Hep C, congratulations!! 

Hi Mike,

so happy you have bitten the bullet. After the first week you'll be wondering why you didn't start earlier and looking forward to a new life without this monster lurking inside you.

Big Hugs,

Syd 

 Congratulations Mike on biting the bullet and taking this chance. You'll see more and more as each day passes that your fear of the Harvoni was unfounded and this road to a healthy future will be smoother than expected. With your good habits of healthy diet and exercise I expect this ride to be a breeze for you. The bathroom every 30 minutes is a small inconvenience to have considering how good of a friend water will be for you.  Make taking your pill on time every day your top priority for the next 82 days and you'll be Hep C free and feeling like a new man before you know it. Keep us up to date on what's going on with you and if you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask. There will be someone available to give you an answer here or use the phone if needed. Welcome aboard the Harvoni train!

hi Mike,

you are on your way. If you have any sides they will be mild/tolerable. Harvoni is much easier on the body than many other treatments. I didn't miss a day of work while on it and still hit the gym 3 or 4 times a week. Many of us had a little queasiness or sleep issues but it was not bad at all. HYDRATE, listen to your body and try not to mind screw it. I know I can be my worst enemy. 

wendy

Hi Mike,

I was not going to say anything more to you because I felt I had said all there was to say.

So now I DO have something more to say.

Congratulations! You have begun the most important match of your life!

By the way I have some good news for you right off the bat.

You don't have 89 more days / pills to go.

You only have 83!

See? Better already!

JimmyK and Carolyn says she is proud of you for starting.

Hi Gojuman

Don't worry: you'll get either no side-effects or some very mild ones.  I'm into my 5th week of sof/vel (which is v. similar to Harvoni) and a 3rd experimental drug called GS-9857 and I've had an easy ride.  I had no sides for 4 weeks and in the last few days some mild nausea and hot flushes.

I've continued to work 60 hours a week including having to work nights twice a week and I've only missed one morning from work in this time.

Pablo

Hey Mike,

Congratulations on getting that first pill down! Don't sweat it and don't wait for problems that won't happen. It's very easy to imagine all sorts of things when you're new to this whole process. You're on a fabulous treatment program and you're blessed to have started now and not a couple of years ago. The differences are night and day and you're going to be just fine. I have a secret weapon that tells me so....

Again!Everyone thank you for your support. Its been really tough on me starting treatment. As some of you know I was seeing cardiologist about my heart murmur. I finally got through with the stress test and she said I have a heart of a athlete but was concerned about my heart dropping to 33 bpm when I sleep. So my cardiologist and liver doc came up with a solution this morning So I received call from them 9am today and they said start your meds. I never wanted  to post a start date and let my friends down on this site. I had a conversation with singsong early morning and it help me. Thanks all of you for answering my personal messages and phone conversations you know who you are. Anyway I took my first pill @12:30 today and immediately drove down to the nature trail around Duke university hospital just in case I had some bad reaction.. I walked 2 hrs and didn't feel anything so I came home and nothing yet thank  god. I hope it goes this way 89 more days. I have drank ton of water bathroom every 30 min. Going to the gym now. Thanks everyone you all are GOD SENT.

MIKE 

Hi Anna, just wanted to say welcome to the forum! 

Congrats on starting your Harvoni, what a relief it must have been for you not to get any sort of bad reaction!  I`m quit sure you`ve got the real deal! 

Many people find they have minimal side effects throughout this treatment.  You may find you experience things like headaches or fatigue as you go along, but drinking plenty of water, enough to keep yourself well hydrated at all times, helps a lot. 

I see you`ve found our Harvoni treatment train, I`m glad you`ve joined your fellow passengers there, you`re with very good company! 

I know you were replying to Mike, but maybe you`d like to start a new thread to introduce yourself to us, (click on `Start a New Topic` at the top right hand side), and lots of friendly people will be along to welcome you. 

Wishing you all the best of luck, this is an excellent treatment and you should do very well.  We`ll be following your progress so do keep in touch! 

(By the way, I`ve deleted your duplicate post.)

Mike,

You can set all of your signature info and picture by going to your Profile page and on the left you will see all of the sections under "Profile". Click on Avatar and add a photo or avatar graphic as instructed. Use a .jpg format and it should upload easily. High Res photos are often too big to use as an avatar. Try to keep it under 200X200. If you need additional help, let us know.

Thanks mike how do you add profile picture?

Hi again Mike.

The threads I told you about on the phone tonight are to show you what the members signatures are about and also a link to definitions for all the abbreviations we use around here.

How To Create Your Signature

and

Forum abbreviations

I hope that helps. I'll be back on here in about 1 1/2 hours.

Later...

No problem on the support here, that is what we do. We hold each other up and we all need that from time to time.

Just as an observation I tend to agree with your wife on this one. I believe you are doing the same thing Carolyn did before she finally started. She too made a couple of appointments just before her start date a couple of times which pushed the date a little further down the road.

There are a couple of things to think about however including of course progression of damage.

1) A good Hep Doctor is faced with rejections from Insurance Companies with regard to Harvoni. They are often in the position to really fight for approval. Some very deserving folks get rejected and it is hard for a Doctor who cares and know that there is in fact a cure but just out of reach for some. They tend to not look favorably to folks that are blessed with the approval yet do not comply with instructions on when and how to take the drugs.

2) Insurance Companies work to a Pre Authorization that is time sensitive. By now they are wondering at the very least what your two week blood work looks like and they do have a right to that information.

3) This one should probably be number one. Your wife. You have been married for 32 years and she counts on you. How do you think she feels knowing you have a cure right there at your fingertips but are more afraid of the cure than the disease? The former pretty much assures you will be there for her while the latter will kill you leaving her grieving and alone.

4) A heart Murmur is a non issue and that is a fact. They are found using a stethoscope and if your family doctor "thinks" you might have one then is surely falls under the category of an innocent Murmur, which you may wonder how I know and you may have guessed it by now, that's right Carol has one and that trip to the doctor was two of three while approaching the SOT. (LOL you two are so alike it is a trip to watch. Except for one thing. She did it and just like she told you last night, she waited and waited after the first pill for "something" to happen and nothing did. That is why she wanted to talk to you.)

5) Insurance can cut you off if you fail to follow the program. They send a package worth $30k to your door and therefore have a vested interest.

 http://www.mysupportpath.com/

If you have not yet done so contact these folks. They can help you along the way as will we. But the fact is we cannot help you if you don't help yourself and in so doing show your wife that SHE is more important to you than any fear.

I would jump in a Shark Tank to save Carolyn without batting an eye knowing full well I would get my ass eaten.

This is nothing to fear. What you will go through if your F4 continues to degenerate is. If you are afraid of a pill you are not likely a good candidate to get in line for a transplant. Think about that.

We are here for you!

JimmyK

Want to thank all of you for your support. Thank you Jimmy and your wife for contacting me and the phone conversation. I cant tell how much it means to me it gives me hope and comfort. I seem to do better when I talk with people. I want to thank Mike also for calling me yesterday and talking with me. I really appreciate it.  If it was up to my doctor I would have started 10 days ago. I feel like I bother my doctor because I call him all the time. I feel like the "what about Bob" patient. If you have ever seen that movie. I have an appointment with a cardiologist next week.  My regular doctor thinks I might have a heart murmur.  I'm going to try and start harvoni after that if I can get my nerve up. My wife says I'm just percrastanating , maybe I am. I will do this. There is no other options. I hope my liver hasn't progressed since I had the med. If so it's  my own fault 

Hello Mike it is a brand new day my friend!

Carolyn was extremely excited about the conversation you guys had. We took our dose this morning at 5:55a as is our routine and she just started talking about you and how amazing it is that the two of you shared in many of the exact same concerns. Frankly that helped her as well and she feels less alone in her concerns so thanks goes to YOU as well as her.

Please keep this thread alive. I personally think it would be helpful and healthy for you to commit to a start date that both you and your Doctor agree on. Put it in writing and then follow through brother. Then one step at a time.

My guess is it will take you 5 days after starting to finally realize all of your concerns were for nothing. At that point there will be no stopping you and then YOU will be in the position to help someone else who comes in here with like concerns. And like Carol you will be able to speak from experience!

All the best brother!

Jimmy

Hi Mike,

just to add another voice of encouragement. I took RIBA for 12 weeks finishing on March 4th.

That did have side effects but nothing like the slow deterioration caused by Hep C. I have decompensated cirrhosis and it affects a lot more than your liver. I too drank no alcohol for the last three years but once the virus well and truly gets the upper hand the deterioration happens quite quickly. You also become harder to treat.

i really hope you take Jimmy and his wife up on their kind offer, they are great people. 

Now is the time. You can do it.

We're all sending out positive vibes.....

Syd

So glad to see how this is flowing. Thank you Jimmy for being you. And everyone else here that helps us all daily get through a day and sometimes a minute at a time.

Hello Mike, I haven`t spoken to you before, just because I`m not always around these days. 

After reading your thread, and especially the last few comments I just had to say that your luck changed for the better the day you joined this forum and stumbled across this great group of genuinely caring people.  To have such wholehearted support offered to you by our friend Jimmy and his wife is a truly wonderful gift, you`ve found an angel who will hold your hand and guide you all the way throughout your Harvoni treatment, and please, please trust him and his guidance. 

I lost my husband to Hep C, and he died because he was in denial about his state of health and was too scared to accept that he needed treatment.  I`m not telling you this to frighten you, but just to try and add a bit more encouragement for you to start your treatment.  Your health is so important, for yourself, your family and friends, and to all of us here.

Very best of luck to you with overcoming your fear...  we know it`s not easy, but believe me, with our help you can do this!  We care, and we`re all here to help!  

Mike,

Many of us are and have come from a place you are talking about right now. Please understand this and hopefully it will help. I personally am really hypersensitive to medications. The side fx that you may be most afraid of might have been caused by drugs to treat anxiety and other such things.

It was for that reason that I was afraid to take Harvoni as well. I can promise you from my experience and from everything else I have ever read you should never have anything like that from this cure. I have 13 more to go on an 84 day treatment. Please do not wait until you are sick, do it now and we will be here for the gentle ride with you. If you get any side effect at all, it will be minimal and likely nothing more than we all get from time to time anyway. Ie. A bit of a headache etc. Nothing trippy ... nothing scary and certainly nothing you can't say, is this it? Bah, so what.

Get healthy! Do it! Get well and do not wait. Take care

SF

Mike it was great speaking to you just now. This place is for real and the fact is people here really do care.

As I mentioned Carol is at work. I am arranging for her to also speak with you tonight about 8:00 PM your time give or take a few minutes.

Her experience and shared concerns may well be the ticket you need. If you need daily calls, then daily calls it will be. Whatever it takes to help you is a blessing for us.

All that said timing is important. The blood tests post start of treatment are very important. 

You mentioned you prayed this morning. Listen to the answer to that prayer, a "stranger" you have never met was sent your way and will stay with you every inch of this walk.

You have my word.

JimmyK

As I read all your positive  post with tears rolling  down face I'm just scared. Nothing esle. Some people  just don't do good please feel free to call me. I really need help.

I removed your phone number Mike, it's not a good idea to post that kind of personal contact information on a global forum. If you would like to speak with Jimmy by phone, as he mentioned, please send that information to him in a private message. He can respond to you that way. Hang in there, you'll get through this.......

One more post just because.

+1 Jimmy!  

Mike, listen to that great advice and get onboard the treatment train. You've got a long life ahead of you, don't allow complications from Hep C to screw that up for you. Life is good and will only get better after you've slayed your Dragon. Allow us to walk the path of success with you. Have no fear...

Greetings Mike,

Anxiety is not something anyone here can help you with. Only you can do that. Only you can make the decision to set it aside and begin the treatment that will save your life.

You are not the only F4 here, there are many including my wife. You also share with her the anxiety factor. No one is more hypersensitive to medications than her. The thought of taking anything is something that terrifies her.

I am not making that up to try and help you right now either.

I have it laid out here ~~> http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t61373210/the-wife/?page=1&sort=oldestFirst

It was very hard for her to swallow the first pill. She cried in fear and we prayed together through her tears.

She passed the half way mark, (6 weeks) this past Friday and when I read your post to her she asked me to step in and assure you the fears are unfounded. She has had a little feeling of tiredness, a few days of a dull headache that she describes as "you know it is there but can't really call it a headache."

My self, I am on day 5 of Harvoni. Exactly what she said is how I feel and no worse and I understand about the "you know it's there but.." aspect.

Mike you need to start and to coordinate that start date to coincide with blood tests that must be scheduled. ( 2 weeks 4 weeks etc.)

You have the meds and as such are blessed as there are many that would give anything to be in that same position. My brother in Law, Carols brother died from HepC and the liver failure it caused. I had to fly out to Colorado to authorize the Hospital to remove him from life support as my Mother in Law could not do it. That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

I remember before he died how alone he felt, no job no insurance and basically no hope. What he would have given to be in your place Mike I cannot describe.

Mike you have my word. I will be here for you during treatment start to finish. I will do whatever it takes right down to phone calls if you need them. That would be via a PM as it is unwise to post a phone number here or anywhere in public.

I have six months to go so no running out on you. That is my word.

You need to start treatment Mike. You are an F4 and that is nothing to play with. PM me or whatever it takes. I will treat you as a Brother, you have my word, this treatment is nothing nor are the side affects. It may never become a recreational drug, but it is also not a problematic one to take.

How about we agree you start Friday the 22nd? This way you can properly get your blood work scheduled as well.

Take my hand Mike. Let's do this!

Regards

JimmyK

-- Edited by JimmyK on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 10:03:28 AM

Get out of your head Mike. Harvoni is a cake walk compared to some of the others. You have a cure arms length away, don't mind screw this to death. IF you get any side effects, they are manageable and you have a host of friends here to help you with that. Just do it!

Hi again Mike. I too have a problem with anxiety and have been treated for it for years and I was also anxious about taking the HCV medicine. Here is the post I made in THIS THREAD the minute I received my first medicine:

Wow, UPS just now brought my Sov/Riba. I'm about to open the box and I don't know if I'm more like a kid on xmas morning or a bomb squad technician about to open a suitcase. LOL

I just got through with 24 weeks Harvoni and it was a very smooth ride for me. No significant side effects and I certainly know what side effects are from doing 24 weeks of Sovaldi / Ribavirin in 2014.

 Once you start taking Harvoni you'll see that your anxiety is all for nothing. Keep yourself adequately hydrated and you'll do fine. I didn't really expect to achieve SVR with Harvoni because it didn't feel like it was doing anything. I had failed treatment after the hard to tolerate Sov / Riba and I just wouldn't believe this easy to take pill was the answer but I breezed through right to SVR as of 2 weeks ago.

 Remember this: that after you get started and are about half way through treatment I'm going to come back to this thread and say "I Told You So, I Told You So" Lol.

Hey Mike,

Relax buddy, Harvoni is a piece of cake! If you were including Interferon or Ribavirin to the mix, then you'd have reason for some pre treatment anxiety. Harvoni by itself offers minimal side effects and I want to think you've been reading about some of the older protocols that had unpleasant sides. Many people don't have any issues at all. If you pay close attention to drinking an adequate amount of water daily, 3-4 liters and eat a balanced diet, you shouldn't have any problems.

This is the right time to treat, Mike. It has never offered the rates of success like it does now. Don't be afraid of it. Look at it like a super vitamin that will only bring a quick end to a disease that is best defeated early. Don't allow nerves to deny you a Hep free life. You can do this brother! Just get up and pop the first one, wash it down with a big glass of water and some breakfast. You'll find that nothing happens but a new found confidence to keep moving forward! Believe in yourself! 

Hey guys thought  I would drop my lstest info. Harvoni arrived about 8 days ago and still have not started  treatment. I know all of you have said it would be a fairly  easy ride. However  my anxiety  level hits pretty high when I think about starting. I have had anxiety  attacks  all my life. But learned to manage it on my own. I never have anxiety unless I think about taking it. I don't know how I'm gonna get through this. I should feel greatful I have the meds. I went talk to a counselor but that didn't  do much good. So I think I'm gonna make appointment with shrink. Only thing I can think about is side affects and wish I never have read them. I don't even take advil. Hope I can get through  this. Pretty damn sad coming from a grown man. Fear is a awful thing. I guess if I get sick enough I'll swollow that pill.

Hi Shadowfax. 

   I do not have Hep C but was the primary caregiver for my father who had it. He took Harvoni and had only fatigue as a side affect. The only other one listed on the prescription insert that I have seen is fatigue. While I agree with everyone else that you should definitely consult with your doctor before taking any supplements, the only one listed on the insert as a contradiction is St. John's wart. It apparently interferes with the drug in an adverse way, although I couldn't tell you exactly how. Protein however can be a bad thing if you have any cirrhosis. I know that my dad's gastro suggested only very small amounts of clean protein, such as salmon, maybe a little chicken here and there, but red meat was a no-no. Keep in mind that while encephalopathy is not fully understood, researchers believe that at least part of this condition starts with the digestion of protein, so keeping protein intake low and clean is probably a really good idea. Ammonia is one by-product of protein digestion that is believed to contribute to the manifestation of this condition, which is of course a result of cirrhosis. Encephalopathy is not pretty, and definitely not something you want to undergo, especially if you are this close to being cured. Be careful with any heavy protein intake. 

-Rhi

Hey Mike,

I agree that taking any supplements, even protein supps aren't advised during treatment. One thing to consider is the acidic effect whey isolates have in your digestive tract. If you're over acidifying, some components of Harvoni will absorb readily, but it may also cause abnormal levels of absorption. High acid levels can leech minerals out of your system and if you find that you require an alkalizing agent to calm things down, you just affected the Harvoni absorption again. It also depends on the quantity of it you're consuming daily. Whatever you do, check with your doctor before continuing.

My suggestion is to give it a pass during treatment and concentrate on low impact workouts, a balanced diet and copious amounts of water. The time you'll be on treatment is short, concentrate on defeating Hep C, there will be time after you're successful to pick up where your weight training left off. Good luck...

Probably NOT a good idea to take any supplements, herbs etc while on Tx (treatment), check with your doctor but unless they specifically approve it probably not.

You will want to let your doctor know anything you take. You'll want to give the meds the best chance possible to fight the virus.

Be Well,

Dave

Welcome Mike, great group of folks here.  Glad to hear you're getting started on the Harvoni.  It worked for me, and I'm confident it will slay the dragon for you.  I had some headaches along the way but all in all it's not a bad ride.  Just remember to take your meds every day and things will work out.  Be well.

Hi Mike,

Welcome aboard!

This is a great place, you'll like it here!

Ditto on everyones comments below, Harvoni will be a breeze and as our moderator Mike pointed out the one thing you'll want to do is drink LOTS of good fresh water ... like Mike said 3-4 liters per day throughout treatment.

In case you need it HERE's a Link to Abbreviations used on this site.

Dave

Hi Mike and welcome from me also. I just got through with 24 weeks of Harvoni and had no significant side effects so don't worry yourself, you'll do fine too. Keep up the good work with staying away from alcohol. While you are treating with Harvoni you'll want to drink 3-4 liters of good water daily without fail. Working out will be an advantage for you but don't over do it. One side effect of Harvoni can be fatigue so listen to your body and give it the rest it needs. If you are taking any herbal supplements then they need to be discontinued until after you finish treatment.

 We've got some really knowledgeable and caring members here who can help make this ride smooth and successful for you. We're glad you are here and look forward to seeing you achieve SVR and move on with a long healthy life.

Hi Mike,

Welcome Brother, you found a great place! I won't repeat what you've been told already, just enough to say Harvoni will be easy compared to anything in years past. 

It would be helpful to know a little more about you. Here's a link that will help you set up your signature line (it helps us provide better opinions knowing your circumstances at a glance). There is also some abbreviations that you see us use frequently.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58862021/how-to-create-your-signature-forum-abbreviation-definitions/

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! 

Howdy Mike, Welcome.

Harvoni is a fairly easy ride. My wife is into her third week and is doing GREAT and she is hypersensitive to any kind of Meds.

I am looking forward to it once approved.

Honest Mike this one will be a breeze no worries!

JimmyK