Good to see your approved for Harvoni . I hope you get the 12 week. 1a is a little stubborn and needs more time in the fire. See you over on the Harvoni train soon. RC
wendyo said
May 6, 2016
Fabulous news Tom, you are on our way. We are here for you as you begin the dragon slaying!
Sydhanrahan said
May 5, 2016
Hi Tom,
truly exciting news after a bumpy and exasperating lead up.
I so hope that treatment will begin soon and that it will be an uneventful but fruitful journey.
Congratulations,
Syd
JimmyK said
May 3, 2016
keesotom wrote:
Typo- yes-or I just did not remember. BUT MY INSURANCE HAS APPROVED TREATMENT I will find out more soon as to the duration etc.
That is GREAT NEWS! As a 1a/b you are going to do great! Lot of options.
Jimmy
-- Edited by JimmyK on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 04:29:45 PM
keesotom said
May 3, 2016
Typo- yes-or I just did not remember. BUT MY INSURANCE HAS APPROVED TREATMENT I will find out more soon as to the duration etc.
JimmyK said
Apr 30, 2016
keesotom wrote:
Turns out I was re tested in 2013 and am 1a.
Hang in there Tom. Based on the above, is your sig line a typo?
Thanks!
JimmyK
Tig said
Apr 30, 2016
Keep us informed Tom. If Independant Health is a different provider, it's an indication that they didn't access your previous providers records. The HIPPA laws usually don't prevent different insurance providers from sharing, but there are exceptions and you may fall under one of them. I'm a big proponent of keeping copies of all records, as you did, so that information is readily available when situations like this arise.
Good luck on the reply. The denials are starting to lessen, but if that happens again, don't hesitate to appeal and get your doctor involved in it. There are avenues that can be traveled if it happens again. Stay in touch...
keesotom said
Apr 30, 2016
I got a call Thursday from Independant Health stating that my pre-approval for Harvoni was denied because they were unable to genotype using my blood sample. Wanted me to come back for new blood draw- I suggested they check their records. Turns out I was re tested in 2013 and am 1a. That info/result was faxed to the insurers. I am patient...
Sydhanrahan said
Apr 19, 2016
Hi Tom,
thats great news. With a low viral load and no cirrhosis, Harvoni should knock it on the head. ( I hope you get 12 weeks.)
syd
wendyo said
Apr 13, 2016
Glad you got the results Tom and that they are moving forward with getting the approval for Harvoni. Hopefully the approval process goes smooth and you will be on the train soon!
keesotom said
Apr 13, 2016
Went well, Do have a fibrosis score of 0.61, fibrosis stage F3.
They are putting me in for Harvoni approval, unsure yet weather it be 8 or 12 weeks
Sydhanrahan said
Apr 12, 2016
Hi Tom,
not sure where you are posting but wondering how you went at liver appointment? It's the 12th here so maybe it's only happening now in your world.
Anyway hoping that you got some answers that you wanted to hear.
Share then when you can.
Syd
wmlj1960 said
Mar 29, 2016
 Hello Tom.  I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. I'm betting with Wendy that she's at the big meeting in the sky.  I too am a recovering alkie/junky and we have more around here so you are not alone. I'm thinking a fibrosis test result will have more influence than viral load when the insurance determines your elgibility but with the lab results you have I doubt you'll get any surprises when they do your ultrasound. Your liver may be too healthy for you to get approved but that's a good thing. We've seen several of our members turned down, then approved after persistent attempts / appeals etc. so be a squeaky wheel. They'll give you some grease sooner or later. Welcome to the forum. Make yourself at home. You'll find lots of helpful information and great support here.
keesotom said
Mar 28, 2016
I wish it were April 11th !! Unsure what the very low viral load will mean as to treatment. 16200 =probally too low for insurance to accept
keesotom said
Mar 23, 2016
Thank you and Wendy !! Yea I will know more on April 11th... I am seeing a highly respected specialist now. Will have an ultrasound before visit. I was tested about 15 yrs ago and was type 1(not sure a or b). 2 yrs ago my alt and ast were in the 70s; now 47 and 45 I believe. Not a veteran but on medicare. I am sure my doctor knows the treatment allowances (per viral load and liver damage). I will keep you posted. Interestingly enough since I started changing my mental(and spiritual) outlook via lexapro and N.A. my blood pressure has gone from consistantly high to a very nice normal.
Tig said
Mar 22, 2016
Hi Tom,
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you're with us and hope to see you get started on treatment.
I'm sorry that you lost your wife to this disease, and am glad that treatments have improved to such a degree that we are seeing incredibly effective results. Hopefully we will see an end to ESLD as a result of HCV sooner than later and I believe that will happen.
When you can get the tests repeated by a Hepatologist or Gastroenterologist, you will have a much clearer idea of where you stand. An accurate determination of your genotype and level of fibrosis is very important. Your viral load isn't significant when calculating treatment success. If your viral load is 16,200, it's quite low and may qualify you for the 8 week Harvoni protocol. You do have to meet certain requirements to obtain authorization from most insurance carriers however. If you are a US Veteran, the VA is now providing treatment on request for all Vets.
Let us know what you find out. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Here is a link to some info on the viral load testing. Good luck....
Glad you found us here. And I too am sorry to hear about your wife. Glad you both found recovery and I bet she is at the big meeting in the sky. (recovering alkie and heroin addict here)
big hug,
wendy
keesotom said
Mar 22, 2016
Thank-you Jimmy. Many people missed my wife. She had a huge heart and pretty much all she did was help people( family counselor and drug and alcohol counselor) She had been a raging alcoholic and a junkie- but had over 20 yrs clean and sober upon her death.
keesotom said
Mar 22, 2016
ok 2 more results... Aspartine Aminotran- 44
Alanine Aminotran- 51
My wife had a differant genotype. I believe I acquired hepC in 82 sharing a needle.
I am drugfree now.
JimmyK said
Mar 22, 2016
Greetings Tom and Welcome.
First and foremost I am sorry about losing your wife to this Dragon. You have my deepest condolences.
Buffalo is such a beautiful place. I was there only once, Feb of 2009. Unfortunately it was in the capacity of assisting in a tragic incident regarding a Plane that went down.
Viral Loads fluctuate daily. You really won't know until you retest.
To be honest without a Geno-type and a situation where the VL is that low, it may be difficult to be accepted. HCV RNA 10^4 IU/mL is the general rule of thumb for any of the trials out there. Now if you ask me the numerical equivalent to 10^4 IU/mL you will quickly note my mind was elsewhere during math.
Someone else here will chime in I am sure but I have no experience with number that low. I packed on better than 300k between two tests when I failed.
Again, Welcome!
JimmyK
-- Edited by JimmyK on Tuesday 22nd of March 2016 10:22:27 PM
keesotom said
Mar 22, 2016
Hi My name is Tom, I am 61. I live in Buffalo, NY. My wife had hep c and went through 3 (unsuccesful) treatments in the late 90s- early 2000s. She died of liver cancer in 2004. I was diagnosed with hepc in 2000; I believe type 1.
Anyhow with the advent of new treatments I have decided to move forward. Just got these lab results:
On 1st test: " Unable to genotype, HCA RNA was not amplified. HCA viral load is too low."
On Viral load: "HEp C pcr quantitation- viral load: 16200
I go back to my Dr. April 11th, so I am sure he will answer my questions, but I cannot help to wonder what are the implications of these results, especially that with such low readings -will I be denied treatment for Harvoni ?. I am assuming these results are good news.
Hi Tom
Good to see your approved for Harvoni . I hope you get the 12 week. 1a is a little stubborn and needs more time in the fire. See you over on the Harvoni train soon. RC
Fabulous news Tom, you are on our way. We are here for you as you begin the dragon slaying!
Hi Tom,
truly exciting news after a bumpy and exasperating lead up.
I so hope that treatment will begin soon and that it will be an uneventful but fruitful journey.
Congratulations,
Syd
That is GREAT NEWS! As a 1a/b you are going to do great! Lot of options.
Jimmy
-- Edited by JimmyK on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 04:29:45 PM
Typo- yes-or I just did not remember. BUT MY INSURANCE HAS APPROVED TREATMENT
I will find out more soon as to the duration etc.
Hang in there Tom. Based on the above, is your sig line a typo?
Thanks!
JimmyK
Keep us informed Tom. If Independant Health is a different provider, it's an indication that they didn't access your previous providers records. The HIPPA laws usually don't prevent different insurance providers from sharing, but there are exceptions and you may fall under one of them. I'm a big proponent of keeping copies of all records, as you did, so that information is readily available when situations like this arise.
Good luck on the reply. The denials are starting to lessen, but if that happens again, don't hesitate to appeal and get your doctor involved in it. There are avenues that can be traveled if it happens again. Stay in touch...
I got a call Thursday from Independant Health stating that my pre-approval for Harvoni was denied because they were unable to genotype using my blood sample. Wanted me to come back for new blood draw- I suggested they check their records. Turns out I was re tested in 2013 and am 1a. That info/result was faxed to the insurers. I am patient...
Hi Tom,
thats great news. With a low viral load and no cirrhosis, Harvoni should knock it on the head. ( I hope you get 12 weeks.)
syd
Glad you got the results Tom and that they are moving forward with getting the approval for Harvoni. Hopefully the approval process goes smooth and you will be on the train soon!
Went well, Do have a fibrosis score of 0.61, fibrosis stage F3.
They are putting me in for Harvoni approval, unsure yet weather it be 8 or 12 weeks
Hi Tom,
not sure where you are posting but wondering how you went at liver appointment? It's the 12th here so maybe it's only happening now in your world.
Anyway hoping that you got some answers that you wanted to hear.
Share then when you can.
Syd
 Hello Tom.
 I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. I'm betting with Wendy that she's at the big meeting in the sky.
 I too am a recovering alkie/junky and we have more around here so you are not alone. I'm thinking a fibrosis test result will have more influence than viral load when the insurance determines your elgibility but with the lab results you have I doubt you'll get any surprises when they do your ultrasound. Your liver may be too healthy for you to get approved but that's a good thing. We've seen several of our members turned down, then approved after persistent attempts / appeals etc. so be a squeaky wheel. They'll give you some grease sooner or later. Welcome to the forum. Make yourself at home. You'll find lots of helpful information and great support here.
I wish it were April 11th !!
Unsure what the very low viral load will mean as to treatment. 16200 =probally too low for insurance to accept
Thank you and Wendy !! Yea I will know more on April 11th... I am seeing a highly respected specialist now. Will have an ultrasound before visit. I was tested about 15 yrs ago and was type 1(not sure a or b). 2 yrs ago my alt and ast were in the 70s; now 47 and 45 I believe. Not a veteran but on medicare. I am sure my doctor knows the treatment allowances (per viral load and liver damage). I will keep you posted. Interestingly enough since I started changing my mental(and spiritual) outlook via lexapro and N.A. my blood pressure has gone from consistantly high to a very nice normal.
Hi Tom,
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you're with us and hope to see you get started on treatment.
I'm sorry that you lost your wife to this disease, and am glad that treatments have improved to such a degree that we are seeing incredibly effective results. Hopefully we will see an end to ESLD as a result of HCV sooner than later and I believe that will happen.
When you can get the tests repeated by a Hepatologist or Gastroenterologist, you will have a much clearer idea of where you stand. An accurate determination of your genotype and level of fibrosis is very important. Your viral load isn't significant when calculating treatment success. If your viral load is 16,200, it's quite low and may qualify you for the 8 week Harvoni protocol. You do have to meet certain requirements to obtain authorization from most insurance carriers however. If you are a US Veteran, the VA is now providing treatment on request for all Vets.
Let us know what you find out. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Here is a link to some info on the viral load testing. Good luck....
http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/viralload.pdf
Hi Tom,
Glad you found us here. And I too am sorry to hear about your wife. Glad you both found recovery and I bet she is at the big meeting in the sky. (recovering alkie and heroin addict here)
big hug,
wendy
Thank-you Jimmy. Many people missed my wife. She had a huge heart and pretty much all she did was help people( family counselor and drug and alcohol counselor) She had been a raging alcoholic and a junkie- but had over 20 yrs clean and sober upon her death.
Alanine Aminotran- 51
My wife had a differant genotype. I believe I acquired hepC in 82 sharing a needle.
I am drugfree now.
Greetings Tom and Welcome.
First and foremost I am sorry about losing your wife to this Dragon. You have my deepest condolences.
Buffalo is such a beautiful place. I was there only once, Feb of 2009. Unfortunately it was in the capacity of assisting in a tragic incident regarding a Plane that went down.
Viral Loads fluctuate daily. You really won't know until you retest.
To be honest without a Geno-type and a situation where the VL is that low, it may be difficult to be accepted. HCV RNA 10^4 IU/mL is the general rule of thumb for any of the trials out there. Now if you ask me the numerical equivalent to
10^4 IU/mL you will quickly note my mind was elsewhere during math.
Someone else here will chime in I am sure but I have no experience with number that low. I packed on better than 300k between two tests when I failed.
Again, Welcome!
JimmyK
-- Edited by JimmyK on Tuesday 22nd of March 2016 10:22:27 PM
Hi My name is Tom, I am 61. I live in Buffalo, NY. My wife had hep c and went through 3 (unsuccesful) treatments in the late 90s- early 2000s. She died of liver cancer in 2004. I was diagnosed with hepc in 2000; I believe type 1.
Anyhow with the advent of new treatments I have decided to move forward. Just got these lab results:
On 1st test: " Unable to genotype, HCA RNA was not amplified. HCA viral load is too low."
On Viral load: "HEp C pcr quantitation- viral load: 16200
I go back to my Dr. April 11th, so I am sure he will answer my questions, but I cannot help to wonder what are the implications of these results, especially that with such low readings -will I be denied treatment for Harvoni ?. I am assuming these results are good news.
Thanks in advance for any help etc,
Tom Williams