Thanks , this sounds very good but requires a trip to the store(s) for a blender and groceries which I do not have the energy to do but I thank you and will remember this Dave!
Linuxter said
Jan 28, 2016
Hi Katie,
This is the thread Tig was referring to about green smoothies.
Greens, such as kale, spinich, celantro etc. are particularly good at helping our livers get rid of toxins.
Lemon is also very good for the liver. If our livers have any fibrosis or scarring then other fruits and vegetables help provide some of the nutrients needed to aid in healing. Low fat protein is also a requirement to help with mending our livers.
The green smoothie (blended assortment of the above) is a good way to flush and replenish our livers in an easy to make quick way.
I always add some greens and usually add a banana to sweeten it. I like to add a half pair and half apple, a carrot, cellery etc.
Some Chia seeds provide protein and provide some energy throughout the day.
Blend well with 2 cups of water and you're done. Makes enough for several tall healthy drinks.
Have a bowl of steel rolled oatmeal for breakfast, it's a very good way to start your day.
Dave
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 08:49:25 PM
Tig said
Jan 28, 2016
Hi Katie,
Here's a link to the thread here on the forum where we have been discussing these "Smoothies". It's a blenderized mix of fruits and veggies, very healthy. Kind of a fruit and vegetable milk shake!
Thank you to everyone that answered me, the support here has been overwhelmingly warm at a time when I really needed it as have been very depressed about feeling so badly after being healthy. I came online because I have no one to talk to about these things. It never occurred to me about RAVS or building resistance. I now have the impression that my Dr has had very few patients take Harvoni based on his continued responses to me.
Tig56- I was diagnosed by routine bloodworm that I requested before beginning to date after divorce. Imagine my surprise as an athlete to get this news. I lived with it for 8 years alone as my primary told me to wait for new treatment. My only real symptom was increasing deep depression. My genotype is 1a and no prior treatment. My VL was only 469,000 when I began in November and my liver was/is fine and no cirrhosis. I am disease free since Dec 24 and my ALT is 21 I think. My concern is due to feeling worse and worse as I near the end, especially my hands. I have a full time job and I am an artist. Just scared of feeling this way long term based on reading online.
Yes wmlj1960 you are correct about TMI but feeling so bad after feeling so good is scary
Wendy, any kind of exercise seems to exasperate my muscles or believe me I would be working out.
Jaded you are right and the voice of reason.
Because of all of you here I will stay the course and continue.
Thanks you all, really !!!
Katie
PS: (Linuxter) Dave , what are green smoothies ? I don't have the best diet although no fats or salts or junk.
wendyo said
Jan 28, 2016
To echo what everyone has said, PLEASE do not stop. You have come this far.....every day just tell yourself just for today. I can do this today. And before you know it the 19 days will have passed. East healthy and drink your water. Try some teas. (decaf) If you can do moderate exercise or yoga or just some of your own stretches. You got this girl!
wmlj1960 said
Jan 28, 2016
Hi Katie. Welcome from me also and I agree with what's already been said plus another thing to consider is the fact that if you discontinue treatment due to side effects that are not a significant threat to your life, then getting approved to get re-treated in the future will be harder / more complicated. Try to keep your sights on being free of this virus and being able to move on with your life. You'll be running and biking and a hiking better than ever when this is over and your almost there. 20 days is very doable considering the alternative may involve having to retreat for twice as long next time. Since you're worried about "if the long term post symptoms are worth all of this" it makes me feel like you're worrying about things that don't need to be worried about. Try to deal with this in this moment. Take it one day at a time and get involved with something to take your mind off of your treatment. And take a break from reading all the stuff that is online. The internet can be very helpful in ways but it can also defeat us if we focus on the negative information that may, or may not apply to us in particular. Hang in there Katie. A hep C free life is only 20 days away...
Tig said
Jan 27, 2016
Hi Katie,
Welcome to the forum. DO NOT STOP!! Tough it out and be done with it. You haven't provided much information other than you have 20 days left of Harvoni. Can you tell us more about yourself? Some history, genotype, pre treatment viral load, length of treatment to begin with, ever treated before, and have you had a viral load test done since you started treatment? The odds are very high that you are now undetected for the virus. The symptoms you are having are being mentioned by others, but it will improve after you're done. It takes time for these issues to subside post treatment, but if you stop and relapse, you can complicate things in the future. If your liver is "not that bad" now, finish and keep it that way. If you're cirrhotic or have advanced fibrosis, you can't afford to let it get worse.
RAV's are known as Resistance Associated Variants. If you start a treatment drug and fail to respond or you quit, you can develop a mutated virus that is then resistant to treatment. There are always new drugs in the pipeline that will continue to address the potential RAV's from one protocol to the next, but assuming you quit now and develop RAV's to your current treatment, you will have to wait for the next protocol to do it and then start all over again. Instead of 12 weeks, you may then have no choice but to do 24 weeks. Some RAV's go away quickly, some might last a very long time.
Your doctor IMO should be encouraging you to finish, not giving you a choice to quit when you're so close. Quitting to avoid further side effects (temporary discomfort) isn't a good reason. Some side effects are life threatening or might cause permanent problems and that's a reason that warrants stopping treatment. The side effects can be miserable, but so can end stage liver disease, which cirrhosis and hepatic cell carcinoma are associated with. Three weeks and you'll be done. Do your best to stick it out.
We are here to support you, no matter what, but we're also here to tell it to you straight. You won't hear anyone from this forum encourage you to quit. FIGHT to the finish, just do it!!
Jaded said
Jan 27, 2016
KatieSch wrote:
Hello to anyone that has advice or an opinion. ( I know you are not Drs but I have no support) I have 20 days left of Harvoni alone but the symptoms are so bad I think I should quit. Extreme fatigue, my wrists and fingers are just about useless and I had zero symptoms before I started. Just got an earache 3 days ago as well. Weirdly I am sleeping fine with meds. No Cirrhosis and a viral load of 469,000 . Virus undetected after one month. I was a runner and biker and a hiker and now I can hardly move or even work. Last week I got lost going to a familiar destination. I am hydrating but based on what I have read I wonder if the long term post symptoms are worth all of this?
My Dr really has no opinion other than asking me if I want to stop ?
Please someone weigh in here?
Well...if you don't clear the virus the long term effects of that situation is much worse. Right now you may not appreciate that but you would not remained asymptomatic with a relatively well functioning liver forever. However...you have been luckily to have started tx before the nastiness of liver disease has had significant impact on you life. You will be able to carry on with a perfectly normal liver after it's all over...unlike many who still have to deal with compromised livers even after successful tx. You are going through...and will continue to go through some side-effects for awhile...but when it passes you won't have to worry about Hep C side-effects and likely much worse in the years to come. I'd say it's definitely worth it and don't stop now...20 day is nothing...stick with it.
Linuxter said
Jan 27, 2016
Hi Katie,
Welcome to the forum ...
KatieSch wrote:
Thanks so much Gracie! What are Ravs?
RAV: Resistance-Associated Variant. Drug resistant mutaion of HCV to a class of DAA's.
DAA's are Direct Acting Antiviral (for example: Harvoni)
RAV's are when the HCV virus becomes resistant to a particular drug (e.g. Harvoni). This can happen when a treatment regimen is only partially completed. With only 20 days left you should definitely stick with it unless, as Gracie mentioned, you are told to stop by your physician.
I've been using blended green smoothies to help remove toxins during my treatment. Lots of water (a minimum of 8 large glasses per day) helps also. You can do this, hang in there ... three short weeks and you're done.
Dave
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 03:24:17 AM
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 03:27:08 AM
KatieSch said
Jan 27, 2016
Thanks so much Gracie! What are Ravs?
Gracie said
Jan 27, 2016
20 days left, keep going. You can develop Ravs if you stop. If it's working, finish it out. I had very bad pains in my hands and feet. I'm 5 weeks past and feet only hurt now and again. Hands still do but not as much. Sides should subside with time, and since your mostly finished, just get er done! Unless your doctor recommends it as a medical necessity of course.
I found some on-line hand exercises that really helped when my pain was bad. All kinds of stretching and flexing etc. Might be worth trying some to help with that.
-- Edited by Gracie on Thursday 28th of January 2016 02:58:11 AM
KatieSch said
Jan 27, 2016
Hello to anyone that has advice or an opinion. ( I know you are not Drs but I have no support) I have 20 days left of Harvoni alone but the symptoms are so bad I think I should quit. Extreme fatigue, my wrists and fingers are just about useless and I had zero symptoms before I started. Just got an earache 3 days ago as well. Weirdly I am sleeping fine with meds. No Cirrhosis and a viral load of 469,000 . Virus undetected after one month. I was a runner and biker and a hiker and now I can hardly move or even work. Last week I got lost going to a familiar destination. I am hydrating but based on what I have read I wonder if the long term post symptoms are worth all of this?
My Dr really has no opinion other than asking me if I want to stop ?
Thanks , this sounds very good but requires a trip to the store(s) for a blender and groceries which I do not have the energy to do but I thank you and will remember this Dave!
Hi Katie,
This is the thread Tig was referring to about green smoothies.
http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t61537375/green-smoothies-need-suggestions-matt-and-others/
Greens, such as kale, spinich, celantro etc. are particularly good at helping our livers get rid of toxins.
Lemon is also very good for the liver. If our livers have any fibrosis or scarring then other fruits and vegetables help provide some of the nutrients needed to aid in healing. Low fat protein is also a requirement to help with mending our livers.
The green smoothie (blended assortment of the above) is a good way to flush and replenish our livers in an easy to make quick way.
I always add some greens and usually add a banana to sweeten it. I like to add a half pair and half apple, a carrot, cellery etc.
Some Chia seeds provide protein and provide some energy throughout the day.
Blend well with 2 cups of water and you're done. Makes enough for several tall healthy drinks.
Have a bowl of steel rolled oatmeal for breakfast, it's a very good way to start your day.
Dave
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 08:49:25 PM
Hi Katie,
Here's a link to the thread here on the forum where we have been discussing these "Smoothies". It's a blenderized mix of fruits and veggies, very healthy. Kind of a fruit and vegetable milk shake!
http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t61537375/green-smoothies-
Thank you to everyone that answered me, the support here has been overwhelmingly warm at a time when I really needed it as have been very depressed about feeling so badly after being healthy. I came online because I have no one to talk to about these things. It never occurred to me about RAVS or building resistance. I now have the impression that my Dr has had very few patients take Harvoni based on his continued responses to me.
Tig56- I was diagnosed by routine bloodworm that I requested before beginning to date after divorce. Imagine my surprise as an athlete to get this news. I lived with it for 8 years alone as my primary told me to wait for new treatment. My only real symptom was increasing deep depression. My genotype is 1a and no prior treatment. My VL was only 469,000 when I began in November and my liver was/is fine and no cirrhosis. I am disease free since Dec 24 and my ALT is 21 I think. My concern is due to feeling worse and worse as I near the end, especially my hands. I have a full time job and I am an artist. Just scared of feeling this way long term based on reading online.
Yes wmlj1960 you are correct about TMI but feeling so bad after feeling so good is scary
Wendy, any kind of exercise seems to exasperate my muscles or believe me I would be working out.
Jaded you are right and the voice of reason.
Because of all of you here I will stay the course and continue.
Thanks you all, really !!!
Katie
PS: (Linuxter) Dave , what are green smoothies ? I don't have the best diet although no fats or salts or junk.
To echo what everyone has said, PLEASE do not stop. You have come this far.....every day just tell yourself just for today. I can do this today. And before you know it the 19 days will have passed. East healthy and drink your water. Try some teas. (decaf) If you can do moderate exercise or yoga or just some of your own stretches. You got this girl!
Hi Katie.
Welcome from me also and I agree with what's already been said plus another thing to consider is the fact that if you discontinue treatment due to side effects that are not a significant threat to your life, then getting approved to get re-treated in the future will be harder / more complicated. Try to keep your sights on being free of this virus and being able to move on with your life. You'll be running and biking and a hiking better than ever when this is over and your almost there. 20 days is very doable considering the alternative may involve having to retreat for twice as long next time. Since you're worried about "if the long term post symptoms are worth all of this" it makes me feel like you're worrying about things that don't need to be worried about. Try to deal with this in this moment. Take it one day at a time and get involved with something to take your mind off of your treatment. And take a break from reading all the stuff that is online. The internet can be very helpful in ways but it can also defeat us if we focus on the negative information that may, or may not apply to us in particular. Hang in there Katie. A hep C free life is only 20 days away...
Hi Katie,
Welcome to the forum. DO NOT STOP!! Tough it out and be done with it. You haven't provided much information other than you have 20 days left of Harvoni. Can you tell us more about yourself? Some history, genotype, pre treatment viral load, length of treatment to begin with, ever treated before, and have you had a viral load test done since you started treatment? The odds are very high that you are now undetected for the virus. The symptoms you are having are being mentioned by others, but it will improve after you're done. It takes time for these issues to subside post treatment, but if you stop and relapse, you can complicate things in the future. If your liver is "not that bad" now, finish and keep it that way. If you're cirrhotic or have advanced fibrosis, you can't afford to let it get worse.
RAV's are known as Resistance Associated Variants. If you start a treatment drug and fail to respond or you quit, you can develop a mutated virus that is then resistant to treatment. There are always new drugs in the pipeline that will continue to address the potential RAV's from one protocol to the next, but assuming you quit now and develop RAV's to your current treatment, you will have to wait for the next protocol to do it and then start all over again. Instead of 12 weeks, you may then have no choice but to do 24 weeks. Some RAV's go away quickly, some might last a very long time.
Your doctor IMO should be encouraging you to finish, not giving you a choice to quit when you're so close. Quitting to avoid further side effects (temporary discomfort) isn't a good reason. Some side effects are life threatening or might cause permanent problems and that's a reason that warrants stopping treatment. The side effects can be miserable, but so can end stage liver disease, which cirrhosis and hepatic cell carcinoma are associated with. Three weeks and you'll be done. Do your best to stick it out.
We are here to support you, no matter what, but we're also here to tell it to you straight. You won't hear anyone from this forum encourage you to quit. FIGHT to the finish, just do it!!
Well...if you don't clear the virus the long term effects of that situation is much worse. Right now you may not appreciate that but you would not remained asymptomatic with a relatively well functioning liver forever. However...you have been luckily to have started tx before the nastiness of liver disease has had significant impact on you life. You will be able to carry on with a perfectly normal liver after it's all over...unlike many who still have to deal with compromised livers even after successful tx. You are going through...and will continue to go through some side-effects for awhile...but when it passes you won't have to worry about Hep C side-effects and likely much worse in the years to come. I'd say it's definitely worth it and don't stop now...20 day is nothing...stick with it.
RAV: Resistance-Associated Variant. Drug resistant mutaion of HCV to a class of DAA's.
DAA's are Direct Acting Antiviral (for example: Harvoni)
Here's a link to abbreviations used on this site.
RAV's are when the HCV virus becomes resistant to a particular drug (e.g. Harvoni). This can happen when a treatment regimen is only partially completed. With only 20 days left you should definitely stick with it unless, as Gracie mentioned, you are told to stop by your physician.
I've been using blended green smoothies to help remove toxins during my treatment. Lots of water (a minimum of 8 large glasses per day) helps also. You can do this, hang in there ... three short weeks and you're done.
Dave
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 03:24:17 AM
-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 28th of January 2016 03:27:08 AM
Thanks so much Gracie! What are Ravs?
20 days left, keep going. You can develop Ravs if you stop. If it's working, finish it out. I had very bad pains in my hands and feet. I'm 5 weeks past and feet only hurt now and again. Hands still do but not as much. Sides should subside with time, and since your mostly finished, just get er done! Unless your doctor recommends it as a medical necessity of course.
I found some on-line hand exercises that really helped when my pain was bad. All kinds of stretching and flexing etc. Might be worth trying some to help with that.
-- Edited by Gracie on Thursday 28th of January 2016 02:58:11 AM
Hello to anyone that has advice or an opinion. ( I know you are not Drs but I have no support) I have 20 days left of Harvoni alone but the symptoms are so bad I think I should quit. Extreme fatigue, my wrists and fingers are just about useless and I had zero symptoms before I started. Just got an earache 3 days ago as well. Weirdly I am sleeping fine with meds. No Cirrhosis and a viral load of 469,000 . Virus undetected after one month. I was a runner and biker and a hiker and now I can hardly move or even work. Last week I got lost going to a familiar destination. I am hydrating but based on what I have read I wonder if the long term post symptoms are worth all of this?
My Dr really has no opinion other than asking me if I want to stop ?
Please someone weigh in here?