Best of luck, we`re looking forward to the results as well!
(Ps - I`ve moved this thread from the `On Treatment` section...welcome to `Post Treatment`!)
Lon said
May 10, 2015
Thanks. I rechecked my next lab slip date last night and it looks like the next one will be the 4 week EOT test. I'm looking forward to the results. Have a great day!
Groupergetter said
May 10, 2015
Happy and excited for you Lon. Your experience and perseverance in obtaining and following your meds regimen should help others to stay the course. Congratulations, please keep us posted on your follow-up labs. Be well.
Cinnamon Girl said
May 10, 2015
Congratulations from me too, Lon! Well done for completing your 8 wks, it`s great to hear you`re still undetectable!
Big thanks for your informative and honest description of your treatment journey, it really is very helpful when people share their experiences like that, and your positive and upbeat attitude is wonderful!
I am rather surprised that your doctor doesn`t want to test your viral load before 6 months though, especially as an undetectable result at 12 weeks post EOT is now accepted as standard for SVR. I would definitely check with him, 6 months is a long time to wait!
Keep us posted, and in the meantime continue enjoying all that life has to offer post treatment, you deserve it!
Jaded said
May 10, 2015
Congratulations...that was a very inspiring post and appreciated it. I start 24 weeks on Thursday.
Tig said
May 9, 2015
Hey Lon,
Congratulations on finishing treatment! I'm thrilled that you have been successful this go around. You deserve this and I believe with your positive message, that this time SVR12 is but weeks away! It sounds like there have been many improvements already. Just imagine what the future holds! Good luck..
Things are looking so bright, you might want to wear shades!! Woot!!
Lon said
May 9, 2015
He didn't mention it and my next lab slip is in 6 months. I will call him on Monday and check with him. Thanks!
Lon said
May 9, 2015
Also,
Thank you everyone for the excellent information, encouragement and support during these last few years. I'm very grateful for this forum and all of it's members.
Thank you very much.
Lon
Matt Chris said
May 9, 2015
Hey Lon
Congrats on completing your 8 weeks of Harvoni. Sounds like you figured out how to handle your treatment, great job. Hoping all goes well from here out.
So your Doc. is not going to do a 4 weeks EOT viral test?
matt
Lon said
May 9, 2015
Hello,
I wanted to take a moment and leave a final post on my treatment for anyone just starting Harvoni. My viral load was about 6 million and my length of treatment was 8 weeks. Below is a brief summary of my personal experience with the drug.
In January 2015 I applied for the medicine. Between my insurance company being difficult, my doctor's office making various mistakes and the speciality pharmacy's poor communication, the entire approval process from start to finish was about 10 weeks. To keep the process moving required my putting in about 1-2 hours a day in phone calls, letters and e-mails. I was eventually approved and did receive the medicine.
Of the various side effects the insomnia and fatigue were the only one's I experienced. For the full 8 weeks of treatment I would go to bed around 10:00 PM and would wake up at 3:00 AM unable to sleep. I would get up until about 7:00 AM and then the rest of my day was working for 2 hours and sleeping for 1 hour. I lost 5 pounds during the treatment but other than the fatigue and weight loss, everything else was fine. During the full 8 week's I had to work from home because I needed to lay down every few hours. Other's haven't reported this but it was my experience so I wanted to mention it.
The Gilled coupon saved me about $2500 in co-pay. With the coupon, I had to pay nothing. I wanted to be sure and mention that.
My GI printed out a long list of drug interactions. Gilled won't admit much but the drug doesn't seem to play well with a number of medicines and chemicals. As such I stopped all supplements, anti-acids, prescriptions and herbal remedies during treatment. I didn't even take so much as a Motrin.
My mental fog improved tremendously after the first week and my skin quickly looked healthier and more radiant. My eye's were clearer and brighter as well.
I had my 8 week test last week and I'm undetectable in fact I was undetectable at 4 weeks, which I'm told is normal for 6 million viral load. My next test will be in 6 months.
My energy now is much better than before treatment. When I had Hep C I had to sleep 2 hours every afternoon to make it through the day. I don't take any naps any more an only occasionally rest for 5 minutes here and there between strenuous tasks.
I'm 62 and I work out everyday at the gym with weights, do daily cardio and I'm studying kick-boxing. I'm taking some college level courses and generally feel super.
For anyone starting the medicine, my advice would be to not give up on the battle to get the medicine. Assume everyone involved is going to fail to do their job and that you will need to ride everyone everyday to get them to follow through. Do not get discourage. Do get angry and fight as though your life depends on it, because it does.
Don't take any crap from these bone heads. Get your medicine, get well and live a long, happy life.
That`s good, Lon, I`m glad you checked!
Best of luck, we`re looking forward to the results as well!
(Ps - I`ve moved this thread from the `On Treatment` section...welcome to `Post Treatment`!)
Thanks. I rechecked my next lab slip date last night and it looks like the next one will be the 4 week EOT test. I'm looking forward to the results. Have a great day!
Happy and excited for you Lon. Your experience and perseverance in obtaining and following your meds regimen should help others to stay the course. Congratulations, please keep us posted on your follow-up labs. Be well.
Congratulations from me too, Lon! Well done for completing your 8 wks, it`s great to hear you`re still undetectable!
Big thanks for your informative and honest description of your treatment journey, it really is very helpful when people share their experiences like that, and your positive and upbeat attitude is wonderful!
I am rather surprised that your doctor doesn`t want to test your viral load before 6 months though, especially as an undetectable result at 12 weeks post EOT is now accepted as standard for SVR. I would definitely check with him, 6 months is a long time to wait!
Keep us posted, and in the meantime continue enjoying all that life has to offer post treatment, you deserve it!
Hey Lon,
Congratulations on finishing treatment! I'm thrilled that you have been successful this go around. You deserve this and I believe with your positive message, that this time SVR12 is but weeks away! It sounds like there have been many improvements already. Just imagine what the future holds! Good luck..
Things are looking so bright, you might want to wear shades!! Woot!!
He didn't mention it and my next lab slip is in 6 months. I will call him on Monday and check with him. Thanks!
Also,
Thank you everyone for the excellent information, encouragement and support during these last few years. I'm very grateful for this forum and all of it's members.
Thank you very much.
Lon
Hey Lon
Congrats on completing your 8 weeks of Harvoni. Sounds like you figured out how to handle your treatment, great job. Hoping all goes well from here out.
So your Doc. is not going to do a 4 weeks EOT viral test?
matt
Hello,
I wanted to take a moment and leave a final post on my treatment for anyone just starting Harvoni. My viral load was about 6 million and my length of treatment was 8 weeks. Below is a brief summary of my personal experience with the drug.
In January 2015 I applied for the medicine. Between my insurance company being difficult, my doctor's office making various mistakes and the speciality pharmacy's poor communication, the entire approval process from start to finish was about 10 weeks. To keep the process moving required my putting in about 1-2 hours a day in phone calls, letters and e-mails. I was eventually approved and did receive the medicine.
Of the various side effects the insomnia and fatigue were the only one's I experienced. For the full 8 weeks of treatment I would go to bed around 10:00 PM and would wake up at 3:00 AM unable to sleep. I would get up until about 7:00 AM and then the rest of my day was working for 2 hours and sleeping for 1 hour. I lost 5 pounds during the treatment but other than the fatigue and weight loss, everything else was fine. During the full 8 week's I had to work from home because I needed to lay down every few hours. Other's haven't reported this but it was my experience so I wanted to mention it.
The Gilled coupon saved me about $2500 in co-pay. With the coupon, I had to pay nothing. I wanted to be sure and mention that.
My GI printed out a long list of drug interactions. Gilled won't admit much but the drug doesn't seem to play well with a number of medicines and chemicals. As such I stopped all supplements, anti-acids, prescriptions and herbal remedies during treatment. I didn't even take so much as a Motrin.
My mental fog improved tremendously after the first week and my skin quickly looked healthier and more radiant. My eye's were clearer and brighter as well.
I had my 8 week test last week and I'm undetectable in fact I was undetectable at 4 weeks, which I'm told is normal for 6 million viral load. My next test will be in 6 months.
My energy now is much better than before treatment. When I had Hep C I had to sleep 2 hours every afternoon to make it through the day. I don't take any naps any more an only occasionally rest for 5 minutes here and there between strenuous tasks.
I'm 62 and I work out everyday at the gym with weights, do daily cardio and I'm studying kick-boxing. I'm taking some college level courses and generally feel super.
For anyone starting the medicine, my advice would be to not give up on the battle to get the medicine. Assume everyone involved is going to fail to do their job and that you will need to ride everyone everyday to get them to follow through. Do not get discourage. Do get angry and fight as though your life depends on it, because it does.
Don't take any crap from these bone heads. Get your medicine, get well and live a long, happy life.
Best Regards,
Lon