Good deal, Shemp! Glad to hear things are smoothing out, there are enough potholes along the way! Very nice to have that nurse advocate checking in on you. If you go back to work, keep the water flowing, not just coffee. I know you Truckers!

Thanks for the update. I was thinking about you earlier and wanted to check in. Keep us in the loop. Before long this will all be in the rear view mirror!

Hey Tig,

Thanks for checking up on me.Had a few rough days,had a few really good days as well.21 down,63 more to go.I have to give credit to Abbvie the makers of this fine drug I'm taking.They have a nurse advocate that actually came to my house and calls me once a week to check up on me.Picked up my second month supply yesterday,0 copay. Ya gotta love 0.Thinking about going back to work next week.I'll keep you posted.

Hey Shemp,

What‘s going on, Brother? You went silent all of a sudden! I hope you’re doing well and staying hydrated. Check in when you have a minute.

Tig wrote: they are both easily treated and dont have some of the complexities of say, geno 3. 

Hey Tig, I dont want to hijack shemps thread but Im very curious about this comment, as a geno 3 person. Can you share with these complexities are? If you want me to take this over to my thread I certainly will, please just let me know. Should I be worried? I have to be honest I do worry because of all the damn fatigue

Tig,

Thanks as always for the info and encouragement.I've been OTR for about 30 years. I was in the Carolinas when Hugo hit.Not a good time.But,truck and treatment are paid for so another week off might be in order.

Hey Shemp,

Thanks for the genotype explanation. The new testing does provide some interesting results and it’s never a surprise when the people ordering them answer your inquiry with a shrug, lol. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told, “I’m not sure, I’ll have to get back with you on that”. That day never comes, most of the time. You are right though, they are both easily treated and don’t have some of the complexities of say, geno 3. You’ll respond well.

I’m in Southwest Florida and have had some OTR truck driver buddies in the past. It’s a stressful job, no doubt about that. With the hurricane, your job just got more stressful. My daughter is in NC and sent me a road update yesterday. Most of the state is impassable, unless your rig has wings and/or high axles! Might be needing to take a week or two off. The flooding is catastrophic and getting worse.

Once you‘ve been welcomed here in the New Members section, feel free to establish a new thread in our “On Treatment” section. You’ll be able to set up a thread of your own and document your progress. That gives us a way to cheer you on, too! 

Hi Shemp.  Cheddy, here.  I'd like to add my welcome.  

As you already know, this is a really helpful and knowledgable forum.  With the treatments changing so quickly, it's hard to keep up with the science, but there are a few people here who really know their stuff and keep up on the latest.  In addition, there are some awesome listeners.  It's really hard for people to understand what having, treating, and recovering from HCV is like.  That can get a little lonely and I found it easier and more helpful to come here for information and emotional support (if you need it).

Good going on starting your treatment.  I'd like to know how it goes.  The new treatments sound easier all the time. It's a long and focused 81 days, and then -blip- you're done and on your way to some long deserved improvement. 

Best wishes for the journey.

Cheddy

Thank you all for the warm welcome.Ever since I was dx in 2000 my GT has always been just type2.After this last round of bloodwork it came back 1b/2. I don't know if this is because of newer testing procedures or hybridization.Either way,I understand these 2 are among the most easily treatable.As far as A2 F3/4 goes this is from blood tests only.I havn't had a biopsy since my dx in 2000.Back then it was type 2 stage 2. I think they got their idea for liver biopsy from the Spanish Inquisition.Hoodietree asked about high stress job.Well,I'm an independant trucker.I live in Florida and travel up the east coast to the northeast and back about every week.Almost everything I haul is time sensitive,so there is a stress factor.Ironically I usually return to Fl. with testing equipment for labs.I've probobly handled the equipment used to test my own blood somewhere along the line.I've been home a few weeks and I don't know about going back to work yet.I've only been on Mavyret 4 days.So far no real problems.staying hydrated.I do feel a little spaced out at times,hopefully this too shall pass.Thanks everyone

Welcome Shemp

I also waited for science to find a cure, luckily for me it did.

I was/am cirrhotic but even being that  advanced in damage...the treatment has changed/saved/extended my life.  All my major complaints are practically gone, or lesser  and manageable. 

Its great that you are doing treatment, the time may tick slowly , but as you said...18 years make 81 days look like pretty quick.

(actually more like 39 years because it was silently casting its evil damage before your diagnosis, it started attacking as soon as you were transfused or as one of my Dr.s said hit with an HCV bomb) 

Anyhoo, great to meet you,

drink water 

welcome shemp  . this is the place to be on treatment and after; the time goes by faster and you find ppl in the know and who have traveled the road.

merry christmas

Welcome Shemp! Are you juggling a high stress job with lots of hours along with this treatment? In my experience, that may contribute to the fatigue side effect. On the weekends when Im recovering from the work week I end up sleeping in more, and Im not doing my usual routine of drinking about a quart of water upon awakening at 7. That sets me back in terms of my energy for the day. I just figured that out on day 51 of Epclusa so I thought Id pass it along to you in case its helpful. Hang on and enjoy the ride

Hi Shemp,

Big welcome here. Glad you got Mav and that you have started it. All will be OK now. That was a long time you had to wait for it, but, you are here now together with the Mav - hooray. It is a very good day (or I should say it's a very good Day 3)!

You are no stranger to waiting, but this "part" of the waiting is different - the time will pass a little faster than you think though, some parts quite fast, at times, at other points it will feel too slow, but ... when you are done and cured and looking back at all of this, you will be glad and better and will not find this part of the wait as hard as it may look right now.  I found this was a VERY good place to be indeed when you are waiting! 

You may not experience any sides, or, experience very little of what could be considered sides, especially if you proactively drink water (like Tig said) - we have found from experience here that keeping yourself well flushed with water helps a lot to prevent sides like headaches (I found this so) and keeping your water intake maximized may also help if you are feeling just yuck/fatigued. Water can actually prevent sides! So please do heed Tigs water drinking advice, and, as per the monograph, take your meds with food.

I also immediately noticed your GT1b/2 status - like Tig says, it happens - one fellow here had his GT listed with having multiple "sub-types" (as in being a GT 2a/c) which didn't have any further info available about it - but we do have some articles about that here on the site as well, about people who have had more than one GT - it happens. 

I see you listed A2 and F3/4 in your sig. line, would you mind indicating what gave you those results - by which test(s)? Have you had blood testing only?, have you had any fibroscans? Any past biopsies?

Did you have a recent abd. ultrasound, and how do things look? Do you have any other issues or conditions going on?

I am glad you came here, glad to meet you and if we can help in any way we will.  C.

Hey Shemp,

I noticed in your signature that you have your genotype listed as a 1B and 2. Are you packing dual genotypes? Very uncommon if true. It does happen however, but you’ll only be the second (if memory serves me anymore) that we’ve had here in recent years. Either way, Mavyret will do the job!

Outstanding! Thanks for doing that. You’re so right, it’s all worth it!  

Thanks for the reply and the tips.I've added my info on the signature line.Whatever the side effects are,it's a small price to pay.

Hi Shemp,

Hey bud, welcome to the forum! Glad to have you onboard and even happier to know you’re on treatment. You’re on one of the best protocols available, you can be assured of that. The side effects profile is quite low, but the first week or two, you may noticed some mild changes, but IF you do, they should be completely manageable and mild. Most often some fatigue or mild headaches have been mentioned, but even those can be reduced or prevented by a simple solution, water. Lots and lots of water! These drugs respond very positively to proper hydration. You should be drinking at least 3-4 liters of water daily, WITHOUT FAIL!

If you would like, please add some of your history (brief) into your signature line. There is a link in mine that will explain it if needed. You can see what most of us have added to ours. It helps when replying to you when we know a few basic things. Genotype, treatment and start date, fibrosis level is useful, too. Whatever you can think of helps us Hepatitis nerds know you better.

If you need any help or information, just let me or anyone here know. We’re here to make things easier for you. Stay compliant, hydrated and these drugs will decimate the Dragon, for good! 

I'm 3 days into 12 weeks of mavyret. I got hep C after a car accident in 1979. Five surgeries lots of blood kinda like unlucky lottery.I was diagnosed in 2000 but didn't go through treatment because of the side effects.Science has come a long way.and it's time.I feel like a little kid Christmas morning.I don't know how bad the side effects will be,but so far I'm good.I've read some of the posts here and they are truly inspiring.One in particular I read before I started was from Tig.He said waiting is the hardest part.I get it now,I've never wanted days to fly by more quickly.But I figure i waited 18 years for treatment,81 days is a walk in the park.Thank you all for all our help.