I sure hope my ticket for 8 weeks will be the cure for me.  My doctor doesn't test till four weeks and I have to admit that having one in two weeks would give me some hope that this is really working for me.  Fingers crossed!

Hey Matt,

Congrats buddy!! You so deserve this opportunity and I have every reason to believe that this is your time to summit the mountain top! After your previous attempts to reach the top doing it the hard way (read as IFN/Riba/PI), I think your decision to ride the Harvoni train to the top is a great idea!! Take the paved road (rail) to your destination and I hope you'll be able to enjoy some of the scenery this time. I'm going to look for some updates along the way. Your knowledge of the old SOC and now the new, will be a valuable resource for all that follow your path. Good luck Matt, you've got a lot of people rooting for you...

Tig

Hi Matt,

Glad to hear you've got your Harvoni. Interesting idea to add a dash of Riba. Looking forward to good news. Take care buddy.

Matt,

we have been waiting for you to get on board!  So happy you are here!  The RIBA theory is interesting.. Going to run it by my doctors..

positive thoughts being sent....

Ro

Matt,

What a long wait in line my friend. My hat goes off to you for being so patient along the way. What an amazing combo you're on and good on you for slipping the Riba in for 12 weeks. I feel optimistic about this trains' destination. Next stop- SVR! 

Congrats!

-Rob

Hey all

Finally caught the Harvoni train and found a comfortable cabin for the long ride. Ordered room service for coffee and danish and then a snooze.

Received my first bottle of Harvoni yesterday (little bottle of Gold) and dosed the first pill in the PM.

BTW I am adding Ribavirin for the first 12 weeks of the 24, my doctor thought it to be a good  extra precaution after veiwing the video of round table discussion of the doctors from the Nov AASLD conference. I been on Ribavirin one time before and had no issues. The strange thing is he dosed me at 800 mg per day instead of the normal 1200 per my weight. Asked him why  he said it's his "Gestalt" or belief that less anemia is better with the same results. Don't know about that reasoning but at this time not going to debate it.

I have a lot more content about treatment to add later.

matt out  

Is it just me or is the scenery from my window seat getting more and more colorful and vibrant? 

Hugs Jen

Great Matt!!

Fighting the good fight.....

let us know when you get on the "3:10 to Yuma"

I had my 4 week labs drawn yesterday. This will be a very wild and anticipatory week or so. My mind is in a very heightened state of a (hard to describe buzz) thinking of the possibilities. What a Christmas present it could be to be identified as UND. 

Whew!

All the best 

Pamigo

Alright Matt

I'm sorry you of all people had such a hard time for so long. It's gonna be a great ride. My attempt at having a quiet weekend starting my trip was stolen my commercialized Christmas shopping  and shopping for a baby shower the shower decorations. Good thing I have work to look forward to and get enough break to share your good news and check in on the train ride. All and all just happy to be on the train and that your getting soon.

Surprisingly I did get some minor side affects I was in total denial I would get any LOL. Feels like slight car sickness for  few hours little head ace sort of, and fatigue later in the day. Its kinda hard to tell with just Hep C SX and long term treatment what is normal. All I can say is it's no where near The triples with Interferon we all did. I'm expecting this will pass as the virus drops soon reclaiming strength and energy like we read about. 

I'll check in later

BS      

Thank you Beacon and good luck to you!  It's truly wonderful, we are all going to be cured!

JLynch30

No Ribavarin.  My doctor says that is not the standard of care.

Matt

Thank you.  I have been waiting years for those words...Not Detected.

Way to go BK, Monica & JL

This Harvoni train is really picking up a head of steam, 2-weeks, 4-weeks wow! that is some powerful stuff. Whatever you think don't let up. Remember you have just made the first step of three.  Adherence! Adherence! Adherence!

Step 1 - Clear your blood

Step 2 - Clear your body

Step 3 - Clear your Liver

matt

I am f4 undetected at two weeks and in for 24.  

Are you taking ribravirin?

Hey Everyone,

I just got my lab results from 4 weeks of Harvoni treatment (11/26)...NOT DETECTED!  I will be getting labs every 3 weeks and I will be on treatment for 24 weeks.  Doctor said 24 weeks will increase my chances of being cured by about 5%.  My last biopsy was in 2010 and I was F3.

Matt total congratulations to you at 4 weeks great news, may I ask at what stage and viral load you were,   my 3 labs came back normal, waiting on rna.   Taking 24 weeks.

Got 4 week test results back , Dr said GREAT REPORT..normal., waiting on rna...this stuff is a miracle from above..

I went to my Internists office 2 days ago to have blood drawn to check my red and white cells and thyroid. The MA drawing the blood told me that only 3 patients of the Doctor have been approved for Harvoni so far. The rest were turned down by their insurance.

Hey Everyone

Thank you all  for your well wishing and congrats,  now its on with dealing with the delivery and co-pay procedure.

The forum is a great place for support and help, it can help all of us feel better through our positive posts, I certainly can attest to that.

thanks

matt

Congrats Matt :)    Great news.

Oh Matt...I`m so thrilled for you!!  Finally you`ll be boarding the Harvoni train!  You must be floating on air, what brilliant news! 

Best of luck! 

Congrats Matt, so glad you won the appeal.

My wife Helen is about 3 weeks ahead on the 24 week train, she is doing amazing. You will too.

Good luck

Snart

Matt,   you deserve this, you fought and you won. Very happy 4 U . Michaele

Matt - Great news on your progress to get treatment!!  It will happen for you soon!

I started Harvoni on 10/29 and had my first viral load test on 11/26 and received my results yesterday, 12/12,  NOT DETECTED.  My doctor said the goal is to be undetected at 4 weeks.  I will be having tests every 3 weeks and I will be on treatment for 24 weeks.  He is going by my last biopsy in 2010 that came back as F3, G3.  He said hepatitis usually makes a leap every 5 years and to be on the safe side he wants me to go the full 24 weeks.  He also said that would increase my chances of a cure by around 5%.

Mallani - the test was performed using the COBAS (R) AmpliPrep/COBAS (R) TaqMan (R) HCV Test, v2.0. 

My absolute lymphocytes are a little low, but everything else came back within normal ranges.

Matt, your news just made my weekend! No one is more deserving to slay the dragon. Good luck my friend. I know you will keep us posted.

Excellent news!!! SVR here you come! What a great feeling for you to wake up to today!

We don't have an double blind study to support it, but in at least one case, it looks like the old Vulcan Mind Meld was pretty effective! 

~ mind meld master, Roo

Hi Matt,

Great news buddy. About time! Looking forward to hearing great results. Cheers.

Such wonderful news and I am so pleased another HCV dragon will soon bite the dust!

Yay! Finally! Congratulations, you have been waiting a long time!

Matt,

Very Nice! That's awesome news and you have been extremely patient through all this. I can't wait to hear SVR from you.

Congrats!

-Rob

Great news Matt, I hope this does it for you once and for all, Prayers coming your way from Duane!

Hey Matt,

WOOT!! That's fantastic news Brother! It's amazing, these days I can log off my forum connection and wait 30 minutes, log back on and someone's life has been improved by leaps and bounds, wow! The good news keeps coming and I believe will continue to improve for all searching for it! I'm so glad that this protocol has become available for you. Now my wish is to make it easily available for anyone that needs it.

One day at a time and with each day, one more success achieved! Congratulations buddy, you really have worked hard to get to this point. I wish you the best of luck, fast results and a speedy recovery. Something tells me that's exactly how it's going to happen too...

Tig

Thanks Matt and fourlocos!

Matt congratulations on winning your appeal. I know that must be like an 800 lb gorilla

just stepped off your chest. Great great news my friend. I know you are already

packed so see you on the train.

Tig,

Thanks for the info and the support. I took the first pill at 5pm pst. So now on with the train ride.

I do plan on posting my journey so others may benefit.

Good going Matt!

Matt,

Your seat awaits you!

Ro

Hey All

I received some very good news regarding my appeal for Harvoni today Friday 12-12-14

BCBS has retracted, reversed, turned around my denial for 24 weeks of Harvoni. It simply means that I won my appeal, and now my doctor and I can follow through in facilitating the prescription through Prime Therapeutics Pharmacy. If all goes without a hitch (ha ha ha LOL) I might have the meds by late next week. I guess its time to cross my legs, arms, hands and fingers that nothing else gets in the way. The 2nd highest hurdle has been accomplished now its on to the 24 weeks and getting my body, mind and spirit focused on clearing the unwanted viral parasites. 

I am getting my ticket for the train,  Yaaaahhhooooo !

matt

Have a good ride!  I am on day 4 and adjusting to my new routine.  Highs and lows but all in all I appreciate the chance to take the trip.

Hey Bruce

Congrats on starting the journey, you will do great on this treatment and be UND very soon. Your contributions to the forum are appreciated, we look forward to your added content in the coming weeks.

matt 

Hi Bruce,

Congratulations on getting started!! You have just began the most sought out treatment available and your odds for success have never been better. You may experience some minor differences in the next day or two, all expected. I'm sure you've read up on what our members have been dealing with, so you know any SFX will be manageable, if you have any at all. Concentrate on the positive outcome just around the corner! Stay rested and hydrated and you're going to finally beat the dragon at its own game!! Good luck....

Tig

Glad you are aboard, Bills. We have plenty of room for everyone going to SVR land!

Ahhh, It's a beautiful day for a trip. The train feels warm. it's noisy but i can't hear anything. 167 more stops, 167 more riders? getting on and off? No place id rather be. thanks whoever put this train into motion. Thank you so much.

Bills  

Matt, Matt, Matt..... That's good! Congrats Patrick and Snart, excellent numbers or lack thereof!!! Good luck...

Tig

Just to firm up that these types of numbers are attainable, we just got my wife Helen's two week viral load, from 8.5 million to now just 214 now just waiting for UD on the 4 week results.

Harvoni is truly a miracle.  Good luck to all.

Snart

Wow

Patrick that's amazing

we'll i'm still packing for my ride Saturday and was deciding on how to deal with the suggested wait of 4-5 weeks to see viral load  You just made up my mind

I'm back-door-ing  my doc  in the past i went to my normal MD and got a preview VL from him or another round about way

Its a sneakey trick but I can't not do it LOL  Stay up there Pat must feel great

BS

Great news, Patrick, no wonder you`re floating on air with such a drastic reduction in your viral load after only 2 weeks! 

This is powerful medicine!  Keep us posted..

Ps- Lol Matt!! 

Hey Patrick

That some real great reduction in VL, shows that your body is responding weel to the meds.

Whatever your doing on the train keep it up and keep it going. (sounds like an advertisement for Viagra) LOL

matt

Heading in the right direction. 

Got 2 week labs. 

Viral load went from ~6,800,000 to 70..... That's right 70!

i am kinda walking with my feet 10 feet off the ground!

more later 

Pamigo