The first thing I thought to say when I saw your comment, was "Reborn"! Put your finger on that... 

Hey y'all.

I have been reading through this thread some and it occurred to me.

Two things I have not been, like I am now, in the last 40 years.

1) Rid of Hep C

2) As old as I now am

When I ponder those two things, it is hard for me to put my finger on how I "should" feel.

JimmyK

Thanks Chris and Tig. I do think much is hormone related, starting to get menopause symptoms and see that doc in July. This getting old stuff is not for the birds, no spring chicken anymore. OK enough fowl references. HA

Hi Wendy,

I can relate to your situation. Toward the end of treatment, I had a lot of new energy, almost like I had found some inner speed reserve. Even with the profound fatigue and anemia, as a result from the treatment I was on, I had moments of great energy. Sadly, that was short lived and as the drugs wore off and/or their effect on my metabolism waned, so did those welcome (bizarre) episodes. I entered a repair mode after that. Once the virus is gone, the damage it caused still exists and your body is working to fix those problems. Some come faster than others. 

Years later, I'm finding things are better, but it's an ongoing project. I've got other problems I'm dealing with and a 60th birthday coming up, so some are age related as well. I was hoping for quick relief and I did see some of that, but I was infected and affected by this virus for decades. It takes it's toll on every part of our body. These issues can take time to resolve, but some may take time or not go away at all. Damage to various parts and pieces takes time to heal.

I have little doubt that you'll see welcome improvement in many areas, but it will take time to witness. You are obviously an active person and just being able to do what you're doing (now) is a testament to your drive and will. Find patience and keep up your routine. The things you're hoping for will happen on their own schedule. I find the ones that you want the most, can also be the most elusive. You'll find them, my Magic 8 Ball said so.....

Hi Wendy,  I am with you on that.  The only thing I can say is that I am just now starting to get sleep pattern back and I am a year and half almost post treatment.  I think between my hip surgery drugs, HCV treatment drugs and stopping hormone treatment at that time everything just got screwed up.  Plus RC's journey and stress.  So I guess it's just time and more patience to get everything back in line and I think with every birthday and age we just change.  So who knows what Normal is anymore and what we should feel like.  You might have Doctor check your hormones and  maybe thyroid.  My estrogen was low after treatment and that can cause sleep issues. Just a thought.   Take Care.  Chris

Does anyone have more energy than they did prior to treatment? I don't and that bums me out. I see the doc this week as I just had 24 week labs done. I am not sleeping well so that definitely could have something to do with it. I am not more tired, I still work and go to the gym, just thought I would feel better...more energy. Maybe my expectations are too high! Go figure lol. Its my expectations that always get me in trouble

From what I've read the F2 and F3 are the least accurate but both are a good place to be as improvement on these two stages are very high. It's nice to know that improvements are not only possible but likely after successful treatment. It's a whole new world.

Nice to hear from you skewed and so nice you are finally getting some improvements you notice. It was years of damage done to us, so regeneration will take awhile for sure. Good news is, it's now possible for many many more of us now.

Thanks Gracie for the description of the pings.

Next time I have a fibroscan I'll do just that and tilt my head to the side to see the scores. 

I did ask for the score after my first one, which was done recently, and it was 9.1.  I've found varying tables on the net correlating score to fibrosis stage, but this score seems to put me at just inside the F3 category.

The scan was done by the least qualified person on the trial I am on so with a little luck it may be a bit lower.  But even if it was a bit higher in reality I can live with that with all the positive post-treatment improvements I read about on this thread.

Way to go Gracie. I'm EOT+19 months now and I'm starting to feel cured. That is, most of my side effects are gone--very little of that LSD-like feeling and my heart flutters are about down to just 1 every couple of months. I'll take this any day over the way I felt before treatment.

Cheers,

This is very good information Gracie. My local hospitals dont use Fibroscan. I have to go to Philly/Jefferson Hospital this August. It's great to hear from post treatment people how they are improving!  Good stuff Gracie. Thanks.

Just a quick note about the ping. When you get a fibroscan, you lie on your back with your arm over your head and they take 10 readings of how stiff your liver is. Each reading, there is a little ping thump. Doesn't hurt. As each ping happened, if you turn your head towards the screen you can see what number comes up. I felt like I was in Vegas playing a lucky slot machine... 8.8. 8.4 8.9 Then a 12.2 (yikes) 6.2 etc. The average was 8.8 which is a F2. I know the middle numbers aren't as accurate, and I'm most likely an F3 at best, but the good news is improvement! 

It's so strange this new life. Every once and awhile I just break out in a huge smile. People must think I'm going senile. And I just feel better knowing I never have to go for another viral load test, or tell a health practitioner I have Hep C. YAHOOOO.

And Shadowfax .. You hit the double jackpot! Love the good news thread. We earned this thread my peeps! 

Yes thank you Canuck,

I saw it and replied about 8 hours ago. I miss so many things here but the recent and post in the signature button helps to find things.

I hope you are feeling great and just so happy for you as well.

Wow, lot's of good news on this thread!! 

Hey SF!!!!, I posted you about your good news, but over/in/under "Harvoni".  C.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hey Pablo, I posted you about below, but over/in/under "I'M IN!! - Started the 8 week SOF/VEL/GS-9857 Trial".  C.

Pablito wrote:

It does seem strange that VLs can't be given out during the trial?  Is it open label or blinded?  The only reason I can think of as to why they couldn't give them out is if participants and researchers are blinded to the arm you have been allocated to.  But then it wouldn't make sense that they would give out other blood tests like LFTs.

There'll be some scientific or practical reason why they can't give VLs, but must be frustrating for you.

Pablito wrote:

---

It does seem strange that VLs can't be given out during the trial?  Is it open label or blinded?  The only reason I can think of as to why they couldn't give them out is if participants and researchers are blinded to the arm you have been allocated to.  But then it wouldn't make sense that they would give out other blood tests like LFTs.

There'll be some scientific or practical reason why they can't give VLs, but must be frustrating for you.

---

 Greetings,

Because the Pharmaceutical Companies own the trial and it's data. The testing is paid for by them. Given the way large Corporations conduct business, my guess would be they are protecting the data from competitors.  Information is power. There is a lot of paperwork to sign when you are in a trial. Much of it is a simple matter of forfeiture of rights.

Nothing Personal. It's just Business.

Thank you once again!

I will certainly post my 12 week results but will have more labs before then to ensure things are on track. I will update in a few weeks when that is done as well.

SF

This is fabulous news!  I read your stats and it must be great to finally move in a better direction mentally and physically.

It does seem strange that VLs can't be given out during the trial?  Is it open label or blinded?  The only reason I can think of as to why they couldn't give them out is if participants and researchers are blinded to the arm you have been allocated to.  But then it wouldn't make sense that they would give out other blood tests like LFTs.

There'll be some scientific or practical reason why they can't give VLs, but must be frustrating for you.

winner winner. A double bonus round for SF!

SF,

everything does come to those who wait. Congrats on SVR and also on amazing improvements in Alt and Asp measurements. post week 12 and another fibrous can will be the icing on the cake.

So happy for you.

Syd

Thank you everybody and I do feel better now that at least I got that result. Jimmy. my lft's moving up still concerns me a bit but I will have more labs done in a few weeks and I hope to see them stabilized and not elevating because that elevation was one week after EOT. There is this nagging doubt about what transpired in that week but hoping just fluctuations.

Really this great thread needs to be inspiration for others to start TX and not put it off. Catch this A.S.A.P. and do not wait until you get sicker. Knowledge is power. Use this forums combined knowledge to muster up the courage to get it done and be healthy.

SF 

Hi SF... double congrats on your double undetected results!!      That is such brilliant news, I`m very happy for you indeed!! 

Hi Tom.. your lab results are looking great, and an improvement in memory, even if small, makes a big difference to your quality of life!  Enjoy your trip, it sounds very exciting!! 

Hi Cheddy... congrats on your last dose!  We`ll be looking forward to celebrating your SVR!! 

Gracie wrote:

---

I just had my post treatment fibroscan done and it went from 15.5 to 8.8.

It's all good so keep on trucking my peeps!

 

---

 That's great news Gracie! And I'm glad your feeling better right along with the fibrosis regression. Keep it up and I'll continue to be "trucking" right behind you, as usual. 

========================

Shadowfax wrote:

---

My Signature say`s it all but here it is HVC VL RNA UND HVB VL RNA UND

---

That's great news for you too SF. I had a good feeling that 'B' would behave during your 'C' Tx. I'm the only one around here taking Viread and I wasn't looking to share anyway. Lol

=========================

Cheddy wrote:

---

I JUST TOOK MY LAST DOSE bringing a 12 week treatment of sovaldi and ribavirin to a close.

---

Way to go Cheddar! Congrats on making it to EOT. 12 weeks until your freedom party.

SF!

That is fantastic news. You were pretty concerned just the other day and now just look at ya!

WhoooooHoooo!

Congrats my friend!

JimmyK

Thank you Tig,

The B was undetected from the start and did not relapse in the absence of C. This was the fear and viread was going to be the drug I would have had to take to control the B. I am thrilled it seems gone, resolved. We will still monitor it just in case a few more times.

Congrats SF! I couldn't be happier for you! Not only one undetected, but TWO!!!!

 WOOT  

Excellent News Gracie,

This is a great thread you started especially for those still sitting on the fence about tx and afraid to start as I was.

I would like to add to your great news. My EOT Lab work was done May 3rd and although my LFT`s were up a bit one week after the end of TX, I finally got this news today and needed to share it.

My Signature say`s it all but here it is HVC VL RNA UND      HVB VL RNA UND

I feel quite good that the B is as the hospital said, resolved as the C had been removed and it did not barge back in as we hoped. Of course now I wait 10 more weeks for my lab work and two more for results. I also had a u;tra sound done and I will get those results on May 30th. I would love to get another Fibroscan sometime after I reach SVR since mine was just so high. Any regression would be great but for now, this is great news.

***** Friends, if you are waiting to take these new protocols, please do it. We want to see you post something in here as well and you will. The only thing you have to fear is NOT doing it. Jump aboard the train reserved for you.

SF

Movebo

this will be the sweetest holiday ever.

so happy for you.

Syd

Thanks so much for sharing your fantastic news Gracie. We are so happy for you and that sort of news is really uplifting for people in all categories here.

So happy for you.

Syd

Gracie wrote:

---

Hi All,

Thought I'd start a thread for good news for those starting treatment to see the potential after treatment.

I just had my post treatment fibroscan done and it went from 15.5 to 8.8. I watched every ping. All were in the 8's except one 6 and one 12. Amazing really. I know my liver has a way to go yet as far as damage reversal but I am for sure heading in the right direction.

I feel stronger and healthier every day. Less pain in hands, hardly ever in my feet. And the occasional liver area pain, but that's lessening too. 

It's all good so keep on trucking my peeps!

 

---

Hi Gracie, how wonderful to hear how far you`ve come since your EOT, that really is a very significant improvement in your fibroscan score!  I`m sure you`ll feel even better as the weeks and months go by, it must feel like a new life for you!

Thanks for starting this `good news` thread, what a great idea!  We all love hearing that people are making a good recovery, and stories of post treatment improvement are always very welcome and give so much hope and encouragement to members still on tx or about to start. 

Hi Dave, very good news that you`re feeling so much better now! 

Let`s hear from more people who are feeling better post treatment, we want to hear from you!! 

Oh Gracie, more wonderful changes for the good for you. Exciting to have/see something like that! I vaguely recall a writing by Lucinda, wherein what might have seemed a trialing time, she looked at things differently, and was speaking to relief and a change in her life for the better, which went something to effect of "drop by drop, moment by moment, layer by layer" - that is how I think you must feel with this good news, (at least I would) ... another lovely thick soft warm layer of relief. Nevermind sundaes, what you got right there is the very best kind of sweet.   C.

Congratulations, Gracie.  Really good news.  I'm interested in the pings also

That's substantial Gracie! Good for you and even better for that liver of yours. I can just see you laying there, like a Sonar Technician, >>>>ping>>>>ping>>>>ping....  These are the things in life that really make such a difference. We can be truly thankful for the advances we're witnessing every day now. So much good news flowing through this forum now. It has really become a place of celebration. Congratulations my friend!

That's terrific Gracie! 

Hi Gracie,

Wonderful News!! WOW, that's a REAL change ... how nice it is to hear of improvements like this ... encouraging for Those Pre-Tx, Those On Tx and Those who've finished Tx (and those with all stages of liver damage) ... Thanks for posting the great news, it's appreciated!! 

Dave

p.s. I'm Post Tx (EOT 04/12/16) but waiting on SVR and actually starting to feel much better already. If I had to guess, I'd say I feel better at times than I have for 20 years ... others days the Riba still in my system puts a little damper on that but I know that will go away. 

That is incredible! Thanks for the awesome news!

JimmyK

Hi Gracie

That's great to know about your fibroscan score drop.  And good to know for someone who is half way through a trial (8 weeks sof/vel-GS-9857) with a pre-trial fibroscan score of 9.1.

But can you explain the 'ping' thing to me please?  Is each ping a recording of the elasticity reading for various moments the fibroscan is done, and then the average ping score is the result?  Or are different ping readings taken at various places on the liver?  I've only had one fibroscan so my memory maybe poor but I don't remember the technician moving the device around.

Thanks

Pablo

Hi All,

Thought I'd start a thread for good news for those starting treatment to see the potential after treatment.

I just had my post treatment fibroscan done and it went from 15.5 to 8.8. I watched every ping. All were in the 8's except one 6 and one 12. Amazing really. I know my liver has a way to go yet as far as damage reversal but I am for sure heading in the right direction.

I feel stronger and healthier every day. Less pain in hands, hardly ever in my feet. And the occasional liver area pain, but that's lessening too. 

It's all good so keep on trucking my peeps!