Thanks for the article, Mallani! I see it as encouraging, and a step toward support for treatment with Harvoni and other DAA's for patients that are in early fibrosis stages as well as later stages. It says, "the data suggest that this interferon-free regimen is associated with significant on-treatment improvement in most aspects of HRQL for patients with early stage liver disease. Moreover, although advanced hepatic fibrosis is associated with HRQL impairment, viral eradication with sofosbuvir and ledipasvir leads to HRQL improvements irrespective of fibrosis stage."
While more studies are needed as treatments become more widespread, this limited study is encouraging! My personal experience, from the standpoint of minor liver damage, is that treatment has resulted in a huge improvement in quality of life and work production. I no longer wake with feelings of doom and depression but instead I wake up and look forward to facing the day. This happened sporadically during treatment and several months after treatment it is the new norm. I still have joint pain, and while it might not be associated with HCV, I'm hoping that it was and diminishes with time.
- Tess
basser said
Jul 19, 2015
its nearly 8months since eot.am CURED.is great to be free of the dragon.am left now with picking up the pieces of life wrecked by hep c.i am alot better than i was 8months ago thanks lord.but im under no illusion there is a lot of healing to do physicaly and mentally .and it wont happen overnight.but im in a completely different place to where i was this time last year.i really thought that i was on my way out.and have been told since that i was.like most of us recovery is really up and down and i cherish the good days.i will never look at life the same way as i used to and things will never be the same.it will be better.was a good article that malcome posted in.and the after effects of hep c and post tx do have to be addressed.wish you all a speedy recovery and a healthly future william
coolheat said
Jul 18, 2015
Here ~ Hear Robin : )
Thanks Malcolm, I too appreciate the article, printed it even. Be interesting to see what time tells.
-- Edited by coolheat on Sunday 19th of July 2015 04:06:28 AM
Redbird29 said
Jul 18, 2015
Thank you for another informative article Mallani.... It makes a lot of sense to me what is said. After so many years of having HCV there are bound to be lifetime consequences even after achieving SVR. So many people look at the new "miracle" drugs with the thought that they will stop the virus and with it gone all the symptoms of HCV will be gone also. Sadly, miracles do not work that way but I will be absolutely blessed if (WHEN!!!) I achieve SVR and I know that even though the damage is done I will not be living with a time bomb in my body that gets progressively worse day by day.
Peace out~ Robin
mallani said
Jul 16, 2015
Hi all,
This article from the latest 'Journal of Hepatology', shows that some interest is now being placed on assessing quality of life (QOL) after SVR.
The whole topic of symptoms of HepC (physical, mental and emotional), has been poorly researched and documented. It is very difficult to define the effect on quality of life, before, during and after treatment. It is obvious that even those with minimal liver damage may have problems. The article attempts to distinguish problems in treatments containing Ribavirin.
Prior to the DAA's, the difficult treatments and low SVR rates caused marked decrease in all aspects of QOL. Even most of the SVR's felt worse after treatment.
The obvious advantages of SVR are cessation of viral replication, decreased liver inflammation, reduction of portal hypertension, decreased incidence of HCC etc. This should be enough for most patients to feel more optimistic. However, the extra-hepatic manifestations may persist, so physical symptoms (joint pain, brain fog etc) may remain.
What I am trying to say is that many patients may have ongoing symptoms after SVR, but put up with them and focus on the benefits. Cheers.
Thanks for the article, Mallani! I see it as encouraging, and a step toward support for treatment with Harvoni and other DAA's for patients that are in early fibrosis stages as well as later stages. It says, "the data suggest that this interferon-free regimen is associated with significant on-treatment improvement in most aspects of HRQL for patients with early stage liver disease. Moreover, although advanced hepatic fibrosis is associated with HRQL impairment, viral eradication with sofosbuvir and ledipasvir leads to HRQL improvements irrespective of fibrosis stage."
While more studies are needed as treatments become more widespread, this limited study is encouraging! My personal experience, from the standpoint of minor liver damage, is that treatment has resulted in a huge improvement in quality of life and work production. I no longer wake with feelings of doom and depression but instead I wake up and look forward to facing the day. This happened sporadically during treatment and several months after treatment it is the new norm. I still have joint pain, and while it might not be associated with HCV, I'm hoping that it was and diminishes with time.
- Tess
its nearly 8months since eot.am CURED.is great to be free of the dragon.am left now with picking up the pieces of life wrecked by hep c.i am alot better than i was 8months ago thanks lord.but im under no illusion there is a lot of healing to do physicaly and mentally .and it wont happen overnight.but im in a completely different place to where i was this time last year.i really thought that i was on my way out.and have been told since that i was.like most of us recovery is really up and down and i cherish the good days.i will never look at life the same way as i used to and things will never be the same.it will be better.was a good article that malcome posted in.and the after effects of hep c and post tx do have to be addressed.wish you all a speedy recovery and a healthly future william
Here ~ Hear Robin : )
Thanks Malcolm, I too appreciate the article, printed it even. Be interesting to see what time tells.
-- Edited by coolheat on Sunday 19th of July 2015 04:06:28 AM
Thank you for another informative article Mallani.... It makes a lot of sense to me what is said. After so many years of having HCV there are bound to be lifetime consequences even after achieving SVR. So many people look at the new "miracle" drugs with the thought that they will stop the virus and with it gone all the symptoms of HCV will be gone also. Sadly, miracles do not work that way but I will be absolutely blessed if (WHEN!!!) I achieve SVR and I know that even though the damage is done I will not be living with a time bomb in my body that gets progressively worse day by day.
Peace out~ Robin
Hi all,
This article from the latest 'Journal of Hepatology', shows that some interest is now being placed on assessing quality of life (QOL) after SVR.
http://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278%2815%2900326-8/fulltext
The whole topic of symptoms of HepC (physical, mental and emotional), has been poorly researched and documented. It is very difficult to define the effect on quality of life, before, during and after treatment. It is obvious that even those with minimal liver damage may have problems. The article attempts to distinguish problems in treatments containing Ribavirin.
Prior to the DAA's, the difficult treatments and low SVR rates caused marked decrease in all aspects of QOL. Even most of the SVR's felt worse after treatment.
The obvious advantages of SVR are cessation of viral replication, decreased liver inflammation, reduction of portal hypertension, decreased incidence of HCC etc. This should be enough for most patients to feel more optimistic. However, the extra-hepatic manifestations may persist, so physical symptoms (joint pain, brain fog etc) may remain.
What I am trying to say is that many patients may have ongoing symptoms after SVR, but put up with them and focus on the benefits. Cheers.