2 weeks left of solvaldi and ribiviron

Greetings all, I'm about in the home stretch of my 24 week solvaldi/ribiv treatment. I was diagnosed in 94 though pretty sure i contracted hep c in the mid to late 80s, as i was told i had elevated liver functions but hep c was not identified until the 90s. I have genotype 1a and am a single mother of a 12 year old.

I have not breezed through the treatment though i have been able to get through it especially thanks to the support of my family, doctor and friends. I also have been on temp disability though i lost my position in the middle of treatment and will need to find a new job once i finish treatment in 2 weeks. It is worrisome as disability does not cover all my basic living expenses and I will have a very tight window to obtain a good position comparable to where i left off before treatment. I am trying to not let that get to me and focus on feeling better. It will all be worth it, To cure this disease, feel normal, vibrant and better again even if my career and finances take a hit. The best is yet to come I'm sure.

Before posting this official intro to the group, I replied to another single mother's so much of my story is under iamhmanley's post/reply. To summarize my experience, I've felt pretty bad/ lousy about 85-90% of this treatment to where I have been bed ridden on many days. some days worse then others. My side effects/experience has been with extreme fatigue, weakness, nausea, insomnia, some shortness of breath, crazy dreams, serious irritability/snapping at people, just wanting to stay to myself. I have also been very forgetful and can not focus on much including any type of work, paperwork, ect.

The good news/side is that on the good days, i feel like i haven't felt in years and i can see that I look much better on these good days. That horrible hangover, very tired feeling i've been dealing with for at least 15 years and getting more dibilitating over the past 5 years or so, seems to be lifted.

However i can't tell for sure yet because I still feel lousy on more days then the good days. I took my first set of labs/blood work 4 weeks after my first dose and had a rapid response which has remained the same throughout treatment. My AST/ALT, liver funtions have been normal for the first time in 20 years and my viral load went from 1 million to undetectable, less then 15. My doc orders the ultra sensitive viral load test under 15 copies. my doctor is optmistic that i will achieve svr/cure due to the excellent response in my blood work, my svr/cure status will be confirmed in Jan. I've waited for years for an interferon free treatment to become available and really hope I achieve svr w this one time treatment

My main question to the group and veterans of solvaldi/ribiviron treatment, though it is pretty new, can anyone tell me about how long it took for the side effects like insomnia, bad memory, lack of focus, fatigue, ect to subside after your last dose. I really need to start hustling to find a new job and am still not myself and weary to start scheduling interviews and blowing an opportunity.

Thanks for letting me share my experience. I wish everyone out there fighting this disease or caring for someone all the best.

Mia 333

thanks for reaching out and the boost of inspiration. I read your first post from april. I'm guessing you're in Canada? I live in the US, metro NYC area, sounds like Canada is doing the blood work differently. My doctor takes labs every 4-6 weeks to monitor my red blood cell count, liver functions, viral load and lipid panel. He wants to make sure i don't get anemia and keep tabs on everything. I would think they should be monitoring your blood counts thoughout treatment not just at the beginning and end. Maybe you can ask your doctor about it.

You have the same genotype and fibrosis levels as I though I think i may be f4, i forget. I know it's moderate f3 or f4. they did recommend that i take interferon w the solvaldi and ribi but i was very uneasy with it because of the anticipated downtime and side effects. I had intended to work throughout the treatment and i also have a child to take care of.

I'm in sales so you pretty much have to be on the ball, high energy and look presentable. Unfortunately i wasn't able to maintain that w these meds. I do always remind myself how lucky i am and how bad it could be when hearing about others.

I waited all these years to take an interferon free treatment and noticed in the clinical study results that there was a group of about 120 under my demographic who took just solvaldi and ribi for 24 weeks and achieved about an 79% success/svr so i decided to go for it. then a few months into treatment read a new treatment is coming out for geno 1 w 99%/100% cure rate. it should be fda approved around fall/winter time. It's solvaldi and ledipsvir though now they're saying to ensure perfect cure rate you need ribivirin.

Anyway, i really appreciate your words of inspiration and welcome you to keep in touch and/or compare notes.

Bye for now, Mia

Hi Mama, hope your partner beats it this time. I've been reading others who also say side effects from meds never subsided or took months sometimes more. That's concerning but as you know everyone is different so I'm praying all goes well, i cure this and bounce back quickly. I read one person who said they went through treatment in 08, was given a svr/cure status and that hep c just resurfaced this past year. that is very odd and scary. I was under the impression once it's gone/cured it does not come back if it's within that year window.

Also sorry to hear Mike can't go in the sun for the rest of his life, that would really upset me, as i'm a sun lover myself and especially living in Fla. I guess a small price to pay when saving your life.

All the best,
Mia

Mia

How are things going with treatment?

Mae

Hi Mae, it's up and down. The past few days i felt terrible, basically in bed the last 2 days. Today I felt better, actually got to take my son to nyc. thank god, i feel so bad when I am basically in bed for days at a time and he just hangs out on the couch next to me. I really want to make this up to him and my family.

I pray i will be cured and feel normal with stamina not to long after treatment. Thanks for asking.

I have to check out your posts, are you also on treatment?

Oops I'm sorry, that was for Hold Fast! Lol, Hang in there both of you! And thanks for leading the way.
Plant

Mia, I also am not a juicing fan but I'm gonna try because I have read a lot about the detox benefits. I inheirited an old juicer from my dad. It's so loud that in the past, my neighbors joked it was their alarm clock. Perhaps you could borrow one from a neighbor or a friend for a few weeks and see how it goes. I'm planning on juicing mainly greens, especially celery, cucumber and kale, as the greens are highly recommended for liver detox.

If you are feeling low, don't push yourself as far as exercise. Try for a walk around a park or something that gets you outside and gently moving. You'll know when you can start pushing yourself harder.

I hope NYC put a smile on you and your son's faces. I lived there for years and still miss it mucho.

Plant Eater, Good to have a fellow trainer aboard. Prior to treating, I was very conflicted as to whether I should continue working believing I'd be a poor example to my clients and they'd lose faith in me but for me the first two months were very easy and my biggest side effect was boredom! Of course, I couldn't have known but if you have a way of working part-time or at will, I'd look into the possibility. Some people doing treatment now describe feeling better in the first few weeks, but everyone's different. Good luck begininng -- it's gonna fly by, you'll see.

Be well everybody!!

rduvall thanks for the support and inspiration. I am hopeful and though I'm still experiencing side effects and symptoms my doc is saying he's pretty optimistic that i'll achieve svr in Oct.

That's great you're tolerating this treatment w/o to much trouble and am sure you'll conquer and defeat this time. God Bless to you too!!