Hey Chloe,

So, how goes your first days on epclusa? How is the stomache feeling now, and did you increase your water intake to be a gal per day?

You mentioned you hadn't seen your doc for a while and were going to book an appointment to check in with him. Did your doc know you had started your epclusa? - if not, be sure to tell them when you phone to book your appointment with him. When you do get an appointment with him, you should inquire what lab test schedule he requires from you, so you know what to expect and when and be available to have these labs done on time - likely (at minimum) you should be getting a blood draw at week 4, and then at week 12 at your end of treatment (EOT), and then again 12 weeks after EOT. He may want more office visits with you near or after these times as well.

When you have time, do try to create a signature line, they are a helpful things for communications.

Hope your feeling good! C.

Hi Clover,

Love the gif but I had to put it in icon form, sorry! It was so large a gif file, it presented a format problem.  If possible, use icons for gifs and HD photos. Thanks for understanding 

There's nothing quite like this album. It was quality before quality digital recording was cool! You should cue up a good play list and use it to relax your way through treatment. Nothing works quite like Floyd to take your mind out of the game. Temporarily anyway!

That is so cool Tig.. Holy ****..!! That would truly one of the coolest gifts in the world. If not the coolest. Your right though!! It will be exiled there!!! You know!!!!!

My favorite LP is the Master Recording of the Dark Side of the Moon. Received as a gift in 79. A cherished memory of when I was your age, Clover. Epclusa and the coming demise of your Dragon is certain. You'll find it exiled there...

Thank you so much Alison! Thanks lol I love Floyd and Crimson. It was crazy that they were playing in the same month around the Seattle area.. Those were some of the most amazing experiences of my life. Especially the Roger Waters concert, it was the most incredible configuration of visuals and music combined.. 

Welcome from me too Chloe,

Im so glad you are here and are doing the cure!

I like...well love...your taste in music.

xox Alison

Hey Chloe, I see our posts just crossed. Nice to know you're a GT3, epclusa is perfect for you, as it was for me, (note my BIG emphasis on "WAS"), it won't be long and you will soon be an X-3 too!  C.

Hi Chloe,

Welcome here. Glad to meet you and very glad you got epclusa. As Tig was inquiring, what GT are you?, and if you can share some of your lab work and other tests, that would be great info to know. 

Stick to taking your med at the same time everyday, but, if you find you are noticing a stomache thing after taking it, then you might try taking it with food, epclusa can be taken with or without food. Sometimes it helps (with taking many kinds of meds) if you take it with a meal (when it is a drug that can be with or with out food - such as epclusa is), maybe this will help you with the stomache thing you have noted.  Water, all day long, is is going to be your best friend, along with rest, good diet, and minimized stressors. 

Like everyone said already ...you SHOULD be drinking this magic gal of water per day, and be sure to wash each pill down with lots of water, that as well should help you digest them through, and in general, your water intake can actually prevent a headache.

I was on epclusa and another drug, but unlike you, my other drug dictated that I had to take my med with food, (you do not have to) I found I had burgling/gurgling stomache for a while after each pill, but that did dissipate as I got further along in the course of treatment, and it did help to eat my meal first, the pill right after, washed down with lots of water. 

I learned the "water lesson" the hard way at times, i could get a headache if I did not drink a gal per day, it was a very easy thing to do (to not want to want to drink a gal), it was hard for me to believe I needed to, not feeling thirsty. Believe us when we say to drink a lot, just do it - you need to keep your body and kidneys well flushed of the metabolized drugs.

That was a nice informational post you made (about Harvoni in Washington), I was not aware of a suit or how any of that increased access may have come down, but do note so many in the USA have been getting Harvoni. 

I don't know your GT, but was Harvoni one of the regimes you were after (prior)?

Fire away for any burning questions you may have - we will all try to help.  C. 

Thank you so much to you guys, I cannot express how grateful I am that you replied with so much support and welcome. I am almost in tears because of how nice you all are!! Thank you so much. Tig, the dragon is so empowering, like you said, expressing it's unhappiness over the eviction notice!! I love that so much!! That is the most badass take I have ever seen on getting cured!! I have genotype 3, and my viral load is 160,000 I believe. I think thats the correct terminology.. I will update my bio so everyone can know a bit more about me :) Thank you all for the advice about drinking water. I didn't know that was a key factor in feeling better but I will be sure to drink a gallon a day. I seriously appreciate all of you so much! Thank you :)

And a warm welcome from me as well.

The hydration you are hearing about is absolutely the key to minimizing any side effects. It cannot be stressed enough which is why you will hear it again and again from those of us who have treated before you.

This is a great site because of the people here. In most cases cured but still hanging around to help others.

Make yourself at home.

JimmyK

Hi Chloe,

I want to welcome you here as well! I believe you may be our youngest member and I'm happy you found the group. It's important for everyone reading these messages to know that this disease isn't just for us Baby Boomers. It can and does affect all age groups. We need to make sure the word gets out, this silent and sometimes not so silent disease hides amongst us all. They are seeing a fast uptick in 20-30 year olds and we'll never get ahead of it unless the word gets out. 

You are among a group that is low in numbers, because the rate of vertical transmission is so low. Unfortunately you are one of the lucky recipients of the HCV prize. Not to worry though. Your youth and hopefully minimal health related problems bode well for you going forward. If you had waited as long as I did, more problems tend to develop,  primarily because I didn't know to begin with and then the treatments were poor and unreliable. That has all changed with the new oral drugs.

The side effects profile of Epclusa is very low. Most common are fatigue and headaches. By getting plenty of rest and as Wendy mentioned, you should be drinking a gallon of water everyday, without fail! We aren't kidding, ONE GALLON PER DAY... These drugs dehydrate you without knowing and increasing your normal intake of fluids is the key. That doesn't include sugary and caffeinated drinks. Stick to water, flavor with fruit or those little squirt bottles, like MIO. Start early and sip all day makes it easy! If you follow that routine and take your Epclusa faithfully, you'll sail through this. You may notice a few changes the first couple of weeks, that's the Dragon expressing it's unhappiness over the eviction notice!

Share some information when you have a chance. Let us know what genotype you are and any test results you might have. Be sure to get and keep copies of your lab tests. They are important to retain for future reference.

Stay in touch! 

Welcome Chloe and congrats on starting treatment. You need to be drinking water, at least a gallon a day to flush your system and hydrate yourself. This will help with any side effects that you get. I would recommend reading the other threads with Epclusa in the subject line and you will meet others on your same path. Also if you could tell us more about yourself that would help everyone here help you! That;s what we are here for. 

Hello, i'm Chloe. I have had Hep C since birth and today was my first day taking Epclusa. I have had a series of stomach aches throughout the day so far but nothing too serious. What side effects have others had with this medication? I have severe anxiety about starting this treatment and I was wondering if others felt the same way when starting. Should I be prepared to feel sick a lot? Thanks everyone