I have been checking this thread lately. How is it going, Anne? How are you? I hope you keep feeling good. 

hey Anne, How are you doing?

bb, Iris

HI Annie, i had many improvements and still having them. 

I was getting liver ultrasounds every 6 months after treatment and had them yearly before tx from my family doc to keep an eye on things ; now yearly due to covid.

Somewhere along the line I developed gallstones....after a few attacks I decided I rather have it out than risk a blow up. It wasn't a pleasant recovery but no more attacks!!

I still have a sensitive stomach that developed in my early 60's, now at 69 I just have to pay attention to what my stomach doesn't like but I still get to eat plenty of tasty foods.

I'm so glad you are on the last bottle of  your tx and will continue enjoying  the benefits of killing off the virus :)

5

Hi Annie,

There have been a lot of improvements following successful treatment for me. Less joint pain, much better health in general, and I think I'm getting younger by the day, lol! I wish, ha! One thing that has really stood out, is my mental health. Back in the day, we had little to no options to treat this dreaded disease. To say it was depressing, wouldn't begin to explain it. Many of us tried unsuccessfully during the 90s and early to mid 20s, using some of the harshest chemicals known. Our rates of success were in the 20 percentile. We suffered for a year, in some cases, on drugs that made you feel worse than words can describe, only to be told that we relapsed. The stories, that can be found here, are mind-numbing. So, with that being said, it has been a gift from the Higher Power of your choice to now have these incredible DAA's. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that you will continue to witness improvements across the board.

Hiya,

I noticed my complexion improve and my hair was healthier looking when I was partway through treatment...

When I was finished...my debilitating fatigue was greatly reduced (I was on ribivaron which caused my platelets to drop so I was extra fatigued while on the meds) , a lot of other issues faded slowly...it wasnt like flicking a switch but it sure is wonderful to have a bit of ..almost ... normal 

congrats on being on your last bottle

Hi Annie,

I hadn't heard about the gall bladder/duct issues before either. What I find oddly interesting, is I had my gall bladder removed in 2001, after approximately 20 years of chronic HCV. The reason for the removal, my GB wouldn't squeeze, releasing bile. On ultrasound, they found a large internal polyp inside. No doctor ever mentioned HCV as a contributing factor, so there is that!

You're right to be cautious searching Doctor Google. We used to always tell our members to forgo it and if you had a question, to ask us first. There is so much garbage information out there, and it doesn't help when you're dealing with conflicting research. Always talk to your health provider about such things.

Congrats on your continuing success in destroying the Dragon!

Excellent!  You are doing great. I had gall polyp that was removed (whole gall bladder unfortunately,  at the time they weren't sure what is was) but I don't think there was an enlarged duct relating to the problem.

Good to hear you are tolerating the meds well.

I'll check in on ya later, blessings,  Iris 

Hi Annie,

Thanks for sharing your history. I understand the reason for some anxiety, treatment was and is stressful. I went through two courses of treatment, and the first attempt failed. That was during the Interferon days. It was difficult at best. You’re very fortunate to have received Epclusa.

Congratulations on the new baby!  Maternal transfer is relatively low. The fact he has tested negative twice is great news. 

Stay committed to your routine, and you’ll be pulling into the end of treatment station very soon! Please keep us informed.

Hi Annie,

You are off to a great start! Lookin good, breath easy this should be behind you soon.

Hope you don't mind me asking... was your baby born with the virus?

See you soon best wishes,

Iris

Hi Annie,

That’s fantastic news! You have every reason to be pleased with those early results. You’re right, some people are undetected at the 4 week mark, but certainly not everyone. I’d say about 30-40% clear the virus early. I have several friends that were still detected at the end of treatment, which brought great concern to them as you would expect. When they tested at 12 weeks post treatment, they were all undetected and continue to be. It‘s uncommon, but it occurs. Stay the course!

The fact that your enzymes have returned to normal, is the best news possible! That means you are responding correctly to treatment. These DAAs are incredibly effective and Epclusa is one of the best in my opinion. Your pre-treatment viral load is insignificant. It can rise and fall at will. I have seen VLs drop below a million one week and the next it’ll be 10 million or higher. That just means the virus is spiking in activity. Your own immune system is responsible for that. Once you start treatment it’s going to steadily decrease. I have no doubt that you will succeed. 

I‘m pleased that any side effects have been minimal. Are you drinking lots of water each day? That habit is so important in keeping them at bay. Keep up the good work and this will be gone before you know it. The time on treatment can really drag on, but in reality goes by quickly. None of our members have relapsed on these DAAs. Stay positive and keep your eyes on the prize coming your way. SVR12 will be in your future! 

There was a glitch in the notices for this thread, which is why the notices in the Chatbox are missing. This message should return it to normal.

Hi Annie,

I'd like to welcome you to the forum, too! You are definitely among friends and we will do our best to reduce your concerns.

First, congratulations on getting the ball rolling. For so many of us, that was a big obstacle to achieving the cure, or SVR (Sustained Viral Response) of Hep C. The insurance companies were difficult, if not impossible to work with. When I took my last round of treatment in 2013, the drugs were pretty rough on those that tried them. The rates of success compared to the new drugs, like Epclusa, were much lower and far longer courses of treatment. I'm so glad you've secured your first prescription. You're on the road to success!

We have a lot of data on the website regarding the drugs themselves, as well as anecdotal information from fellow members that all beat the Dragon back into its cave. The new DAA medications are so effective, they're almost foolproof. The most important piece of advice is to read some of our stories, and you'll gain vast amounts of insight into treatment. As our friend and long time member, 5, mentioned below, the way to reduce or eliminate side effects is to drink a gallon of water every day. I can't stress how important that is! Get a refillable container and carry it with you throughout the day, refilling often. You may learn to hate plain water for a while, but you'll see from other's experiences here and the medical reports, it's a sure way to ride through treatment feeling few, if any, side effects. Always take your medication at the same time each day and once you start, stick to that schedule. Many report sleeping like a baby on these medications, so you can choose to take it in the evening if that fits your schedule best. Very often any fatigue associated with it is experienced at night. I have two small grandchildren, so I know what chasing after them is like! They can keep you moving!

The Search function is top center of the page. Use a keyword or two, you'll find several discussions on the topic. You can always ask for help in finding the information you seek. That's what we're here for, and I encourage you to ask any and all questions you may have. Keep your chin up and don't let the side effects worry you. They are totally manageable with that gallon of water, good diet and rest. I know you can do it!

Hello everyone, thanks for having me here.