Thanks Canuck -- I'm headed to the Harvoni Train area as Tiq suggested....quick preview, I feel good today!

Hi Polo,

Welcome to the club!

I see you got your start - yay! Good for you, no time like the present!

Day one, pill #1 down the hatch - you're on your way. 

Nice you came here for your start, that you had a chance to meet some of us, and shared some of your journey (thus far) with us (and, as it turned out, your start was a little earilier than even you expected)!

I found this a good place to come (when I first discovered it), I still find it a good place to come!, and I hope it will be of help to you too. A nice bunch of caring people here, as you have already experienced at the tender hand of Tig, who is so good at so many things, including mopping a worried brow, and tucking us in for the night.

Thnaks for sharing your hx, interesting - teenager, jaundice, 70's - kinda sounds like me, except wasn't hospitalized, shortly after I had recovered from that illness we ended up deducing I had had a case of hepB, that resolved without treatment. True (but wrong)! Fast forward to 2015, unbeknownst to me, or anyone, I had also contracted hepc at that time and had been packing ever since!

You were lucky to get diagnosed. (Me too.) And you are lucky to have Harvoni. It's going to be good. You'll be OK now.

Let us know how your 'morrow is.  C.

All right!!!! You're now on the Harvoni Train and you should start a new thread in the On Treatment section. We actually have a thread for you Harvoni Warriors called appropriately, The Harvoni Train (go figure, lol). Lay down and get some rest, you're on your way..........

Great, and thank you again. I just took the pill a few minutes ago, so will lay down now. I drank several ounces of water and have a full glass to put next to the bed. Appreciate the support here, I've been living with this for so many years, I'm ready to get well. I do have some anxiety about it, but it will pass.

Nothing to worry about, Polo! You're with a seasoned group here and if you have any questions, just ask. You may feel a bit weird for the first week or two, it's entirely normal. Your body will get used to the battle going on inside it, but these are powerful drugs and there is an adjustment period. It's totally manageable, so don't let that cause any unnecessary anxiety. You'll be on your way to a happy liver and a happier life! You can do it!

Thanks for the encouragement. It seems better to start on the weekend. I was supposed to start Sunday night, but I think if I have it why wait? I'm slightly nervous, yet want to get started on the cure and feel better.

If you start tonight, set an alarm so you take it at the same time everyday. We all used our phones and you should get a pill container, too. Those two devices will help assure you never miss a dose. Good luck!

Oh, DRINK WATER!!!! Without fail! 

I'm headed over to read about the warriors now, thanks Guru Wendyo

Thank you for the support! Yes, I'm lucky because 4 years ago another Dr. noted that my liver enzymes were high, had me get an ultrasound and everything looked fine, but didn't have me tested for HCV. I didn't understand at the time what that meant. The doctor had said they would keep a watch on it. I had to change providers due to changes in medical insurance for work last year and my current doctor's NP said I should be tested for HCV. Grateful for that. 

I'm tanking up on water for sure!

Hi, Thanks for the response. I am approved for 12 weeks of Harvoni and have had the virus for ~45 years.  It's amazing I am as healthy as I am. I have meditated and had healthy diet for last 20 years. I know when I got Hep C as a teenager. I was in the hospital, but the docs were not clear what was wrong since it was in the 70's. I know I was jaundiced and they had me on bed rest for a few weeks. At some point I was told I was well, and never thought much more about it. All those people, my parents and doc who had any information about it are all deceased. So I realize that was most likely when I had the Hep C. I am now 63. I am grateful that my viral load is low at 414k. Thank you for the support here and tips!

Get ready to board the train Polo. Suggestion ... hit the search bar in the forum and read about the Harvoni warriors here. You will relate, be surprised, cry and laugh. 

And the main thing to remember HYDRATE! Water is your best friend during treatment. And know that you are not alone.

Welcome polosilver,

Its great that your Dr tested for and found the HCV and it's really really great that you are starting harvoni, and smoothly and quickly too. You obviously have a darn good Dr. who knows what's what.

I know you'll have already read how important it is for you to be compliant with the timing of your pill and how very very very important it is for you to drink a gallon of water a day to avoid side effects and to help your body flush both dead virus and drug.

I'll be thinking bout cha on Sunday...welcome to the HCV warriors club

Alison

Hey Polo,

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for the introduction and the information. You did fail to mention whether you're starting 8 or 12 weeks of treatment. Since you have a relatively low viral load of 400K and are treatment naive, without cirrhosis, you qualify for 8 weeks of Harvoni. Whatever you've been prescribed, you're going to do great. These are very effective medications and will work, I'm certain of it. You're correct, the rates of success are very high and they simply do the job.

Have a look around and you'll see many personal victories across several different medications. Some old, some very new, but all effective in their own way. These new treatments are thankfully far more effective and exhibit low side effect profiles. There are some things to watch out for and your doctor should have discussed them with you by now. The use of supplements, antacids, and some medications aren't recommended during treatment and you should pay attention to those advisories. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. If I can offer one piece of advice, you MUST increase your water intake to one full gallon of water every single day! Doing so will prevent most of the headaches and fatigue that accompany these new drugs (DAA's). If you don't, you'll know it. 

Others will be along to welcome you here to the forum and I know you'll enjoy the friendship we've all made and offer you in kind. You will do fine and I look forward to following your progress. You're fortunate to have found out about this now, before the damage really tore up your liver. The screening program for Baby Boomers is helping, I just wish it had been pushed harder decades ago when they knew there was a connection. Many of us here had/have been packing the Dragon around for 30-40 years before we finally started treatment. The sooner you get this done, the sooner things will start to improve and improve they will! Good luck 

As part of a routine physical in June 2017, being a baby boomer, my blood was tested for HCV and found to be Reactive. After a series of tests I was informed that I have 400k viral load, type 1a. I have quietly felt fatigued for several years with brain fuzziness. By force of will I have continued to work, and decided my fatigue was due to age. I have Stage 2 moderate fibrosis and am now very hopeful that I can be cured and feel better. I am very encouraged by what I have read about success rates. I was approved for Harvoni last Friday, and the doc sent prescription to the pharmacy on Monday this week. I received a call today and my first 28 days of Harvoni are supposed to arrive from the specialty pharmacy tomorrow. My doctor prescribes all of his patients to start Harvoni on Sunday, so in a few days I start the cure. I am feeling encouraged to think I may end up feeling better. Hooray!