Congratulations, Karyl!!! I'm sooo glad you got this done. How are you feeling post treatment?
I agree completely with the advice below to get follow ups labs. Your GP will probably comply as it is the norm.
Enjoy your HepC free life! You've just produced some major benefits. You should be proud of yourself.
Now CELEBRATE!! It's another important marker.
Hoodietree said
Dec 22, 2018
Congrats Kary!! Im doing a little happy dance for you
Please do follow up in February so we can do the BIG happy dance with you
-- Edited by Hoodietree on Saturday 22nd of December 2018 09:26:24 AM
Canuck said
Dec 22, 2018
Great news, that your latest labs are all good and your doc says you are "cured"! Yahoo! I too believe you are cured, but it is correct (as both Tig and Lam have outlined for you) that (technically) you HAVE to have a SVR12 UND result to be "officially" deemed cured.
Actually, i think we already had this same sort of "when is SVR" conversation on the last thread you opened up called "SVR" something.
I know I have in the past, and so has Tig, and Lam, we have all gone back to add up your EOT date, so we can estimate your SVR12 date. With your SOT at Sep 23, and if EOT was a Nov 18, then your SVR 12 date should be expected on Feb 10.
You had one UND (aprox) halfway through your 8 week treatment (late I think, at 5 weeks versus 4 weeks). And going back in your threads you did not have bloods drawn or another UND showing for your EOT date on Nov 18.
The labs you have just had done, (what date were they drawn?) are far too late to be considered EOT labs (which would have been Nov 18), and way too early for SVR12 labs (which are not due until Feb 10), but all the same, it's very good news that they are all "perfect", especially if they did, in fact, included a VL which was UND, we are all assuming that these perfect labs must have included another UND, thus why your doc was happily exclaiming your'e cured!
5 is right, if your hep doc has cut you loose and is not planning on calling you in for anymore testing or following, then go to your GP and ask for your LFT's and a VL to be done for your SVR12 on aprox. Feb 10. 5 is also right about your GP being able to follow you from now on for ongoing LFT's, VL's, AFP's, fibroscans or U/S's.
How are you, and kitty and daughter and grandson doing? All good and getting better i hope. : ) C.
5-1-18 said
Dec 21, 2018
yay karyl, you could have your reg. doctor do yearly blood work for viral load and afp marker, and liver scan yearly or 18 mo.
maybe the low fibrosis score is the reason your doc said no further tests needed.
i'm so happy for you
lilbrownie said
Dec 21, 2018
Wow, what a wonderful feeling that must be! Seeing posts like this gives me hope that one day I will be rid of this as well. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!
Tig said
Dec 21, 2018
Congratulations Carol!! Big WOOHOO on your success. I am a little confused by your doctor’s statement that no further testing is required. To be considered cured (SVR) you must have the EOT+12 week viral load completed. That’s the AASLD guideline, as Lam pointed out. I’m confident you’ll continue to be undetected, but the only way to prove that is by having that test. If for nothing else, you need record of it to indicate treatment success. Your insurance provider, whomever it is, usually requires it. If you should need further care in the future, HCV related, scans, blood work etc., that needs to be documented. If you were treated for cancer, wouldn’t you want proof it was gone? I admire your doctor’s confidence, but the proof is in the testing protocol. Just food for thought...
lamassu said
Dec 21, 2018
Hi Karyl,
So glad to hear you are undetected! What a nice Xmas present:) I am curious about why your Dr says no further tests though. It is standard of care to also get an HCV viral load at end of treatment plus 12 weeks (even with the new DAAs) according to the AASLD Guidelines.
For patients receiving hepatitis C therapy, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and Infectious Diseases Society of America (AASLD-IDSA) guidance recommends obtaining a quantitative HCV RNA level at baseline, at 4 weeks after starting therapy, and at 12 weeks after completing therapy; in addition, providers may consider obtaining HCV RNA levels at the end of treatment and 24 weeks after completing therapy.
I think that would be around Valentine's day in February for you? Also I would add it is really a good idea to abstain from alcohol completely even though your F score was low.
Because of the guidelines the most important viral load is at end of treatment plus 12 weeks, which is why some Drs are skipping the EOT viral load even though it can upset patients who are anxious to know the results. Even though I was undetected at 12 weeks I had to insist on the 24 week test also for my piece of mind. Medicare covered it so no problem, even though my Dr told me it was not really necessary.
-- Edited by lamassu on Friday 21st of December 2018 10:39:20 PM
Karyl said
Dec 21, 2018
My most recent labs were again perfect in every aspect. My dr said "you are CURED!" and told me no need to go back. She said no need for most tests for SVR proof and I was good to go on anything. Except tattoos and piecrings. She said don't put yourself at risk for getting it again. From what others say, this isn't normal protocol but perhaps things are different with the new DAAs.
Congratulations, Karyl!!! I'm sooo glad you got this done. How are you feeling post treatment?
I agree completely with the advice below to get follow ups labs. Your GP will probably comply as it is the norm.
Enjoy your HepC free life! You've just produced some major benefits. You should be proud of yourself.
Now CELEBRATE!! It's another important marker.
Congrats Kary!! Im doing a little happy dance for you
Please do follow up in February so we can do the BIG happy dance with you
-- Edited by Hoodietree on Saturday 22nd of December 2018 09:26:24 AM
Great news, that your latest labs are all good and your doc says you are "cured"! Yahoo! I too believe you are cured, but it is correct (as both Tig and Lam have outlined for you) that (technically) you HAVE to have a SVR12 UND result to be "officially" deemed cured.
Actually, i think we already had this same sort of "when is SVR" conversation on the last thread you opened up called "SVR" something.
I know I have in the past, and so has Tig, and Lam, we have all gone back to add up your EOT date, so we can estimate your SVR12 date. With your SOT at Sep 23, and if EOT was a Nov 18, then your SVR 12 date should be expected on Feb 10.
You had one UND (aprox) halfway through your 8 week treatment (late I think, at 5 weeks versus 4 weeks). And going back in your threads you did not have bloods drawn or another UND showing for your EOT date on Nov 18.
The labs you have just had done, (what date were they drawn?) are far too late to be considered EOT labs (which would have been Nov 18), and way too early for SVR12 labs (which are not due until Feb 10), but all the same, it's very good news that they are all "perfect", especially if they did, in fact, included a VL which was UND, we are all assuming that these perfect labs must have included another UND, thus why your doc was happily exclaiming your'e cured!
5 is right, if your hep doc has cut you loose and is not planning on calling you in for anymore testing or following, then go to your GP and ask for your LFT's and a VL to be done for your SVR12 on aprox. Feb 10. 5 is also right about your GP being able to follow you from now on for ongoing LFT's, VL's, AFP's, fibroscans or U/S's.
How are you, and kitty and daughter and grandson doing? All good and getting better i hope. : ) C.
yay karyl, you could have your reg. doctor do yearly blood work for viral load and afp marker, and liver scan yearly or 18 mo.
maybe the low fibrosis score is the reason your doc said no further tests needed.
i'm so happy for you
Wow, what a wonderful feeling that must be! Seeing posts like this gives me hope that one day I will be rid of this as well. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Carol!! Big WOOHOO
on your success. I am a little confused by your doctor’s statement that no further testing is required. To be considered cured (SVR) you must have the EOT+12 week viral load completed. That’s the AASLD guideline, as Lam pointed out. I’m confident you’ll continue to be undetected, but the only way to prove that is by having that test. If for nothing else, you need record of it to indicate treatment success. Your insurance provider, whomever it is, usually requires it. If you should need further care in the future, HCV related, scans, blood work etc., that needs to be documented. If you were treated for cancer, wouldn’t you want proof it was gone? I admire your doctor’s confidence, but the proof is in the testing protocol. Just food for thought...
Hi Karyl,
So glad to hear you are undetected! What a nice Xmas present:) I am curious about why your Dr says no further tests though. It is standard of care to also get an HCV viral load at end of treatment plus 12 weeks (even with the new DAAs) according to the AASLD Guidelines.
I think that would be around Valentine's day in February for you? Also I would add it is really a good idea to abstain from alcohol completely even though your F score was low.
Because of the guidelines the most important viral load is at end of treatment plus 12 weeks, which is why some Drs are skipping the EOT viral load even though it can upset patients who are anxious to know the results. Even though I was undetected at 12 weeks I had to insist on the 24 week test also for my piece of mind. Medicare covered it so no problem, even though my Dr told me it was not really necessary.
-- Edited by lamassu on Friday 21st of December 2018 10:39:20 PM
My most recent labs were again perfect in every aspect. My dr said "you are CURED!" and told me no need to go back. She said no need for most tests for SVR proof and I was good to go on anything. Except tattoos and piecrings. She said don't put yourself at risk for getting it again. From what others say, this isn't normal protocol but perhaps things are different with the new DAAs.