Thanks for all your message. What a wonderful group of people 

Hi Miriam, welcome to the forum.   This is a great family and you will have all the support you need.   Your doctor is just a formality right now.... Lucky for the doctor you are not on RIBA.!!  Hang in there and enjoy your ride to freedom.   God Bless.    CC

marjim48 wrote:

---

 

Personality wise this doc is not right for me. Seems more interested in colonoscopies-office is packed. 

   

---

 Tell you what. At the end of the 12 weeks, when you are cured, tell your Doctor you know where her New York License Plates are located.

Was going to say if you made it this far south (FL) let me know. But Myrtle Beach sounds lovely. Good for you! Wish you didn't have to keep going back and forth, but still you will have a nice little adventure and the surprise party will be great.

Well, I don't like her just from what you wrote LOL. Call the new guy sooner rather than later as it may take 12 weeks just to get in! 

We drive from NY to Myrtle Beach,SC.  We originally planned on leaving this week but I have to be here for bloodwork at end of week 4. So we will leave then.  Since week 12 comes out while we are down south, we will drive back (800 miles) get bloodwork done and then turn around and go back down south. I need to be down there in Oct for holidays and family flying in for surprise party for hubbie.

Personality wise this doc is not right for me. Seems more interested in colonoscopies-office is packed. 

      a) when the doc comes in and greets you by name, it should be the correct name. I am Miriam, NOT MaryAnn.

      b) Don't tell me that there is no issue with Acifax being taken with Harvoni.  You say you looked it up? Really, where?  Your office was asked twice to call the specialty pharmacy because they had a clarification problem. It was the Acifax interferring with the Harvoni.  Your office insisted they called. Specialty lab says nobody called. I finally was able to deal with it. I let your office know what pharmacy said. Basically they were NOT shipping the Harvoni until this issue was settled. And you seemed quite annoyed.

     c)don't roll your eyes and tell me I am perfectly able to understand when I bring my husband into the meeting with me.  It's always good to have another pair of ears.  Also he has worked in t he pharma industry for over 40 years and comes up with good questions.

    d) just don't make me feel like I am wasting your time.  I did not ask for this meeting.   Your office called and said you want to meet with me.

    Will stay with her at least for the 12 weeks.  There is a new gastro/hepatologist from NYC in our area. Wish I had known about him a month ago. Credentials look very impressive. Will look to get an appointment with him for the after followups.   Will call his office and see what they say.

Congrats on starting Miriam.

I recently had a similar experience with the PCP that replaced mine whom retired. She was rude, talking over me, interrupting me and dismissing my concerns. I went in as my blood pressure was high, she blew it off and now my new doc has me on meds! So it was a legitimate concern. And any time a doc offers a recovering addict/alkie drugs (it is clearly in my chart, that was my PCP office for years) you know they aint right! (pardon my non proper grammar) So do whats right for you. Maybe give it another visit before you make a decision. After your treatment, in all reality how often will you have to see this person? I always pray and meditate before I make a decision. Try to align the head and heart

PS, where are you driving to? 

wendy

JimmyK wrote:

---

OMG you read all that? LOL

 

JimmyK

 

---

 With bated breath, no less, to see the outcome of that chess game ... that dance betwixt the two.

Greetings again.

I have thought about your comment regarding your Doctor.

With regard to Gastroenterology, many of the Doctors these days act like they are in the Cattle Business. The treatment is very mechanical in nature. No excitement regarding new findings or intrigue found with the next new case.

The true research being done, is in laboratories with well paid sequestered scientists, working for the Pharmaceutical Companies.

We as folks who have strolled with The Dragon are excited to hear so much talk regarding Hep C, where in times past, word of it was relegated to the dark corners of knowledge,... and but a chilling whisper.

That has all changed now and it is all thanks to the almighty Dollar.

Hep C is now big business, and as such, you bet it will be spoken of frequently and loudly so long as it remains big business.

It is simply a chess game between the Pharmaceutical Companies and the Insurance Companies.

The average gastroenterologist is simply working on a routine paint by numbers masterpiece, that is the brainchild of another, and he or she dare not change the color of any given number.

Most Doctors at one time had higher dreams and aspirations. Now they draw blood, read, and fill in the appropriate color on the pre-programmed canvas that is our treatment plan.

Your Doctor is likely bored with what she does.

Always remember that you are not dating her, so it really does not matter if she lacks the spark that creates chemistry.

So long as she knows how to apply the proper colors and stay within the proven lines, it should be remembered in the simple adage indicating that all material conditions, positive or negative, are temporary, ahhhh yes, this too shall pass.

OMG you read all that? LOL

JimmyK

Will do.

I concur!

Congrats on starting and just stick this out with her for the time being and until svr.

It is not easy to find new ones and she started this with you. Welcome aboard.

SF

Hi again,

I think as you have her for such a short time, smile and carry on. I wouldn't tip the balance for such a short period. Not all Doctors have a great bedside manner, but if they do their job and keep us healthy, I guess we should at least respect them (unless they are really unprofessional.)

Things are going in the right way, so I look forward to hearing more about your personal journey. :D

I.M.O.- Stick with her for the next 12 weeks. She will order up all the blood work, if anything comes back off kelter, we will be here to answer your questions.Glad to see you started your R/X today. 12 weeks will go by before you know it!   RC

I took my first pills at 6 am today.  Feeling fine (knock wood).

I think that early time will work for me.  When we drive down south, we usually  leave around 5 ish to avoid traffic.  There are tons of spots for me to pull into on I-95 to take my pills.

Btw....I had seen  my  new gastroenterologist  (last one retired ) for a basic meeting. Wasn't too impressed.  Two days ago I met with her again. Found I really  dislike her. She makes it seem like I am bothering  her. Probably  very competent.  I don't  think it's a good match. Brought  hubby along as an extra set of ears since he has worked in pharmaceutical  for 40 year.  He wasn't too impressed.  But I guess I am stuck with  her at least for the 12 weeks. What are your thoughts?  I really want this to work. Will do whatever it  takes. 

Welcome.

Because you take Omeprazol and have to do this empty stomach it only makes sense to do an alarm when you wake up.

I picked 5:55 am because it fits the normal time to start the day around here. It is also a fantastic way to stay compliant. You do not have to remember to take a pill or if you did if you have an alarm going off telling you to get up and do so.

It has worked fantastic for me and my wife and she is done with treatment now and she never once took her pill with a one minute varience in 24 hours over the course of 12 weeks.

She is UND and so am I so it works.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t60384058/reflections-on-harvoni-before-during-after/#lastPostAnchor

Re: "Question. .when told take pill same time each day.....exactly  same? Roughly same time?  Reason is...4 times during the next 12 weeks we will be driving around 6am. Do I pull over and take pill? Can it wait a little bit (next exit/rest stop)?  Hope that doesn't sound too stupid."

I am going to say YES exactly the same time every day so pick an early morning alarm time and do it. This way you will never forget to do so. Hey what's 12 weeks to knock out a Dragon? You can do it!

JimmyK

Hi Miriam, welcome aboard!   I have done 2 R/X.   On the first one I set my cell phone alarm to go off at 5-am and 5-pm.    I never missed the time by more than 5 min. 

On the second treatment I switched the ring tone reminder and time to 7-am and 7-pm. Once I was on a road trip and when it was time for my peg-shot we were stuck in a traffic jam on freeway because of a wreck, I was returning from a blood draw for the trial I was on and had my peg on ice in the truck. I pulled to the side of the road and gave my self the shot!! Took my pills and that was that.

Try to get it close each day, ya know- like throwing horse shoes and hand grenaids, get them in close and they work!!   RC

Got it. Thanks to all

Hi Miriam,

Nice to see you here. And what a nice day it will be for you tomorrow!. You will succeed this time!

That does NOT sound stupid (at all) about the logistics in the timing of your daily dose.

Always strive for the same time each day, but, the occasional unavoidable short delay can happen due to unforeseen circumstance, if that occurs, just make sure you take your pill asap. But ask your doc to tell you when too late is "too late", he can advise you about "if you forget to take a pill entirely" (how many hours you can be late before you may have no choice but to skip a dose) - hopefully that will never happen to you. 

I just plain forgot one day! Instead of taking my pill as I normally did at 12:00 (with food - my drug regime was dif. than yours), I realized (about a couple hours after lunch) I had just outright "forgotten" to take my pill! I just took it immediately instead (as soon as I caught my oversight). But (almost) exclusively, my lunch-time and pill-time for me was always at noon (and on occasion, it was a wee bit late). I ALWAYS tried to (and nearly did) manage take it very close to the same time everyday, sometimes at 12:30 if lunch was unavoidably late for some reason, like when I was fasting for blood draws at the docs office, delayed at a restaurant one day. Not the end of the world, if, on "occasion" the timing is off just a wee bit, but of course it is best if you take it exactly as prescribed. One of my nurses said to me, unofficially, not to stress about it, as long as I was taking within the SAME hour, everyday - but the idea (and the ideal) is to take it at the same time each day. Strive for that. Like the others suggested, alarms and pill-counter boxes are good, and I bet you will manage to get your pill down on time each day, and you won't "forget" like I did!

Happy day tomorrow!  C.

Hi Miriam,

You ask a question like that and you will get many different answers. We have our brother Jimmy that sets an alarm and takes it the same time every day. Me, I took it with my breakfast. So on work days it was one time and weekends a tiny bit later. I am SVR. So my experience tells me around the same time. But like I said, however many folks read this will give you their opinion lol 

welcome

wendy

Thanks for all your good wishes.   Am sitting here, pill in hand.  Will take at 6

Question. .when told take pill same time each day.....exactly  same? Roughly same time?  Reason is...4 times during the next 12 weeks we will be driving around 6am. Do I pull over and take pill? Can it wait a little bit (next exit/rest stop)?  Hope that doesn't sound too stupid.

Hi Miriam.  Can you believe what a great place this is with all of these people happily chiming in to help?  I, too, am glad you got started and wish you the best in your treatment and thereafter.

Hello Miriam,

Welcome to the club! You'll do fine on this wonderful treatment. We've got one success story after another and they just keep coming! You're so fortunate to be treated with these great medications. Awfully expensive, but incredibly effective. You get what you're paying for with this stuff. If's a the silver bullet or magic dust as some call it for Hep C treatment!

You're correct, you must take the Omeprazole 20 at the same time, on an empty stomach, at the same time everyday. Compliance and water intake are the keys to success with this treatment.

If you have any questions, please ask. We're all thrilled you've started and are looking forward to following your progress and celebrating with you along the way. Good lucik!

Hi Marjim,

Welcome aboard the treatment train. There are a few of us on treatment ( Libby and I are on Sof/Dak for genotype 3) and others on Havoni or trial medications or other combos. I've had no problems so far in fact, I wondered if they are doing anything because I don't feel much - how about that. ;)

Havoni is a different combo, but what I've read people cope well on it, but it needs flushing with plenty of water to stop any headaches that can occur if you become dehydrated. Its recommend 3 litres plus depending on your size.

Anyway, keep us up-to date on how you are faring, you are one step away from curing for life. Now what could be better than that!

L :D

Welcome and you did find a great place.

It's wonderful you have your meds and don't have that battle to fight.

Harvoni is easy so you should sail through this.

Please keep us posted and visit as often as you can.

Once again, Congrats on the start of your TX

SF

Greetings Miriam,

Welcome to the forum, we're glad you're here!

How great that you are already approved with meds in hand, YAHOO to that (No easy task in many cases).

Make yourself at home, lots of great folks here to greet and help along the way and a ton of great information.

As Pablo has already pointed out, staying compliant and drinking 3-4 liters of water per day is essential.

It's good idea to get a weekly pill dispenser to help you keep track of your meds as well as using an alarm to take them at the same time every day.

Again, Welcome

Dave

Hi Miriam

Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting treatment.

You've probably heard it already but take the medication at the same time every day.  And drink loads of water. 

You may have 3 days of mild sides and then it should be plain sailing to SVR.

Good luck.

Pablo