MB, i think it's so cool you were able to have a beach vacation during tx, and only 2 weeks to go

Home from beach... had a great time.  Hotter in Tn than it was in PCB!!!  Doc called.... lab draw this Friday.  Today ends week 6.... only two more to go!

It’s hard to beat a fresh Appalachicola oyster on the half shell! I will still make the occasional exception, especially since I live here. There is a warning for people with liver disease to avoid raw oysters, or other mollusks. Best to give them a pass, especially during treatment.

Oyster Illnesses

i couldn't bring myself to eat any raw shellfish or fish

Probably wont eat again...too scared of Hep A

Me, too.  They'll be there next time. Take a pat on the back this time.

Love raw oysters!!!  First time Ive been to beach and not eaten them....

You're rocking this, darlin'. Look at you, out at the beach with no side effects.  Just keep having a great time!

Thanks everyone!  Still in sunny Fl enjoying the beach and awesome seafood .... VERY hot here.  You guys made me feel much better about VL results.  Docs office called late yesterday and told me same thing you guys told me... UND is coming, the drastic reduction in VL after just 3 weeks and the liver enzymes prove meds are doing their job!  Unless Doc tells the Pharmacist (who called me yesterday) differently, will wait till EOT (2 weeks and 2 days more) to get next set of labs!  Slaying the dragon one dose at a time!  So thankful that Ive had no side effects and really thankful that Ive discovered how much better I feel staying hydrated!  Never have been a big water drinker but its definitely going to be one of the Forever life changes for me.  

The und is inevitable, it is coming! - you should just keep right on celebrating in the meantime, on just how spectacularly you have decimated this virus, you should have been celebrating ever since you got your first labs back!

It IS the "crashing" that counts, the Und will follow. You "crashed" your first ALT and AST so impressively, down to those amazing tiny numbers, and likewise you crashed your VL so spectacularly from millions to 40 grand, and now, next to nothing. These are the telling signs of how we win the battle - the "crashing" shows you. 

That virus was doomed, right from that first pill past your lips - and your first "crashed" ALT/AST showed this (as have all your labs now), the Und coming will just be the cherry on top. 

Ya, keep enjoying that warm sand holiday, celebrate, you gotter made fer sure.   C. 

MB, this is why they have us on the 8 weeks tx, to make sure to get all the little bugs that were last born.

are you still on vacation?

Thanks Tig & Cheddy for the encouraging words...I was a little bummed but feel better now!

Hey MrsB,

Not to worry! That is still outstanding news. Very often we will see a drastic crash in the viral load, as you have, yet there are still a few stragglers left to destroy. That usually means by the time you have received the results of <15 detected, you have already destroyed those pesky stragglers and hangers-on and when you test again in two weeks, you'll be undetected. Shoot, I have friends that were still <15 detected at the end of 12 weeks treatment, but still went on to SVR12. It's not common to go to week 8 or 12 with a detectable viral load, but it happens more often than we hear about. So don't sweat it, you're doing fine, I promise!

MissusB,

You've still got this. Just keep going and try not worry (as if that's possible).  Let us know what the doctor has to say.

Courage!

Doc hasnt called but results showed up in electronic record this am.  Still 15 VL...Im a little disappointed.  Guess I will be getting another lab draw when I get home from the beach dangit!  Anyway...gonna enjoy the rest of my vacation  and try not to worry about it! 

G’Mornin, MrsB! The time does really fly by. It doesn’t seem possible in the weeks and months before starting, but it’s true with these new treatments. Trust me, it’s a blessing. There used to be a day when treatment was 6-12 months of chemo related side effects and time stood still. Because of that, many people avoided treatment and that caused advanced damage and disease. You’re a great example of the benefits so many are witnessing!

Enjoy your visit to Florida. I can tell you, it’s hot and humid, so bring your swimsuit and flip flops, you’re going to need them! Oh and lots of sunscreen and water 

Good Morning to All...thanks for all of your positive feedback!  Im feeling pretty good about this journey and confident that I will get an UND with the lab draw from yesterday.  Week 5 almost done...cant believe how fast this time has passed.  Heading to PCB for a week of sand and salty breezes!  

Mrs.

We ALL agree,   , good news will keep coming for you now. Crashing ALT AST's are always telling. No secret you are killin it, an that's fer sure.

Und is inevitable!  

Good you will get another VL draw - I like your docs planning for you BTW. Nice to be able to see what is happening, when, with the lab feedback. Good testing plan, some poor folk aren't so lucky, they are just made to wait it out, with minimum testing and little lab feedback, relying on just knowing how good these DAA's are. I like/prefer seeing the frequent lab feedback. :)  C.

That is great news Missus B!! I think that peacefully coexisting with this virus and forgoing treatment is illusory. Providing that we have been lucky and never felt sick from being HepC positive it is still a good idea to treat it. I have been concerned that it is a ticking bomb. I am glad that you are responding so well and feel assured that this is going to be in your rear view mirror from now on!

Hey MB,

Thats an incredible reduction and with the VL that low at the time of testing, I’m certain it will be decimated in no time at all. I’m so glad to know you’re handling treatment with ease and experiencing no problems. That’s the brilliance of the new DAA’s! Your UND is on the way, I guarantee it

Yes.....these meds are amazing!  They work and so far, no side effects.  of course, Im still peeing all day long.  Go forward plan Id draw labs every two weeks until VL is UND and hopefully that result will come with labs being drawn today!  

Congrats MissusB

those are some pretty wonderful numbers  

Congratulations MissusB!!!

Woohoo!! 40m to 40 is mighty awesome progress! Heck, your ALT & AST numbers are better than mine..you go! Keep tipping that water jug!

ps

as sticker said a while back, you got this!

yay MB, the meds are working

At 3 week draw VL went from approx 4 million to 40.  Meds working...redraw vl lab tomorrow. Yay!!!

Some results....ALT 8; AST 19.  Hopefully will get RNA today...I emailed office this am to ask what hold up is!

excited to see your lab results MB

That does seem speedy, doesn't it.  And only 4 more.  This is very good.  It's time to start planning your act of celebration!

Half way there...first 4 weeks done!  Passed surprisingly fast...home the next 4 goes just as fast!  Feeling good and hope I finally get lab results and a call tomorrow 

Grand Cayman is one of my favorite places.  Only been once but definitely plan to go again.

I dove Grand Cayman years ago and was blown away by the staggering underwater beauty! I dove a volcanic wall that had vent chutes rising from the wall at 45 degree angles. You could see the sunlight shining through those vents and down into some very deep water. It was spiritual.

I will look forward to some photos! You deserve the celebration.

Hey Missus B, I hope PCB is great as always. I do love the beach so dearly. When I beat this nasty thing I'm going to take a week off with my sweet bride and head for Grand Cayman for some spectacular scuba diving!

Mother Nature has smiled upon us! I ask Her to snuff that thing out and spare the Bahama's and Carolina's that are still in Dorian's path. We're breathing an early sigh of relief, but as Lam mentioned, we heard this before Irma knocked us for a loop. I'll be convinced when it's gone!

Hoping for great weather in PCB week of 9th!  Looking forward to salty breezes and sand!

Looks like Dorian will not impact west Florida coast since the projected track has it turning north and staying off land going up the east coast. Good news for Tig but if I lived on the east coast I would still be nervous. All the models agree but we have seen last day changes just like with Irma two years ago. I have friends who retired to St. Petersburg who were without power for a full week.

Your doctor is a jewel! There aren't many that will go to that length. My doctor left during my treatment for 3 weeks and I was sick. I gave them hell for it, too. Didn't make any difference, but I felt better, lol. He went to Peru to mountain climb or something equally difficult. It was all I could do to just get to his office and speak with his PA. It does matter to us patients to know we have the attention of the doctor when needed and not be forgotten when the anxiety is high.

That is a good plan. If you're not undetected at week 4, then another draw in two weeks. I guarantee you, if it's not undetected already, the reduction will be very substantial and shows you the direction things are headed. Some of our members actually went through 12 weeks of treatment, only to find out they were still detected at the end of treatment. They all went on to SVR12. These drugs work very peculiarly, but very effective. Don't sweat it, you'll do great!

We're getting prepared for the storm here in southwest Florida. We had a direct hit from Irma in Sept. 2017 and we're still recovering and rebuilding from that. This one is going to be a rainmaker and they're anticipating it to stall over the state for a couple days. That's bad news for flooding. We're getting very hurricane weary down here!

Yep, guys....I have an awesome Doc.  I was scared to death when I was diagnosed and my Primary MD called me with the news and to tell me she was referring me to Infectious Disease Doc.  Took a couple weeks to het appt and by the time I went to my first appt I was a nervous wreck...he spent an hour with me and I left his clinic with a new outlook.  Took over a year to get meds approved, but he kept me positive...2 visits, monitored my labs every 3 month, numerous emails, phone calls.  When my meds werent delivered on day scheduled (they were riding around country on Fed Ex truck) he tracked them down, called me and said if they werent there on new scheduled day, he would have pharmacy replace and he would send by private courier.  He had the hospital pharmacy make sure my second  4 week script was ready when I went to clinic Wednesday so I could pick up.  Yep..he told me that the early lab draw might show und vl...but if not...labs in two weeks.  He told me some of his pts are worried about him being out of pocket for 10 days but for me not to worry...his specialty pharmacist, his nurse, and the resident training with him all know the plan for me.  Told him I wasnt worried cause I have a support group of hep c friends!!  Hope I get those other labs today cause Im heading to Fl on Sept 10 for a week of sun & sand if that nasty hurricane is gone.

Missus,

I like your doc! - the way he leaves you (for 10 days) reassured. (1) that he is keeping good tabs on your kidney function AND (2) that he also told you ... "if VL is anything but und he will redraw that lab in 2 week".

Good you had your labs at 3 1/2 weeks and I like his treatment of you. : ) C. 

You think your BUN is low?!  Both of mine are agreeing with gravity!

Seriously, I'm so glad that the results you do have are so good. These are exciting times.

Still waiting on the hep c specific labs.  All my comprehensive results have been posted in my chart and they are all good!  BUN a little low but thats probably due to over hydration since I drink a boatload of water. hopefully the Hep ones will come today...doc said they will call me as soon as get results..will also go electronic chart so I should know before they even call.  He explained why he did the early draw..hes going out of town for 10 days and wanted to make sure Meds not having effect on kidney function and Ive got those results and all is good there .  He did tell me if VL is anything but und he will redraw that lab in 2 week.  Anxiously awaiting results and will post immediately when I get them!!

Drumroll please!   Here's hoping for some bouying early results, I bet something good is going to reveal itself, even at this early draw.

I am so glad things have been going as smoothly as they are for you. Nice.  : )  C.

did you get a nice person to draw you blood? hope to see results soon

MSB,  Let us know as soon as you do, please.  I'm excited for you.

MissusB - Hope all went smooth today! Sending good thoughts and vibes - 

ps

Tomorrow is my first lab visit & MD appt after starting treatment!  Nervous, but excited too!

MissusB

Wow, you get your first labs next Wednesday!! Moving right along to HepC free..you are riding the dragon fiercely, sword in one hand, water in the other and m&m's with peanuts in your pocket. I'm a savoury gal,,like my salty treats, but these posts having me thinking of a piece of that cake of Canuck's or handful of peanut m&m's...throw a few my way, eh? Keep drinking your water and taking those pills girl...you got this dragon! Sweet dreams! (now has another meaning, teehee)

ps

i'm excited for you missusB and sticker for getting your first labs next week

Will be anxiously awaiting your lab results.  I will be seeing my ID doc for followup and labs next week...Wednesday Aug 28...cant wait!

Missus B, I will keep you updated since I am just slightly ahead of you on the Mavyret. Labs drawn today for the midpoint numbers. 

Keep doing what youre doing! I am happy that you are doing so well!