Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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Dr. Advises Wait A Little Longer

allaboutliving
allaboutliving
Gave doc the 2 wks he asked for & today was my follow-up. He is very excited about the future of HCV treatments. His recommendation is for me to wait 6 mo. & tx with the Gilead combo Solvadi/Ledispavir for 12 wks when it is approved later this yr. He was so pleased to tell me that I will not have to do tx again with IFN or riba. He said that he would prescribe the new standard of care Solvadi/IFN/Riba for 12 weeks if I really wanted to go through that hell but he strongly urged me to not take him up on that. He told me that my condition is fine to wait 6 mo. We discussed the off-label tx of Solvadi/Olysio & he told me he cannot prescribe off-label but he will see if he can get me into a trial of these drugs since I'm interested.

My doc has zero bedside manner & I've never seen him smile but today he was very pleased, excited & all smiles telling me this news & he was so happy to present a viable cure. Nice affirmation of what we already know. Back to waiting.
catmagic
catmagic
Great! If you can wait, and you can, do so - because that Sovaldi/Ledipasvir is the total nuke on this virus. Thousands of people on trials are now SVR24 - even cirrhotics. I will be doing off-label Sovaldi/Olysio starting next week - if for some reason it doesn't do the job I can do the Sovaldi/Ledipasvir later this year - but my doc wants to try this because my "waiting time" for treatment and getting rid of this beast is getting short.

Won't my insurance just love it if I end up asking them to approve Sova/Led after they paid out the wazoo for Sova/Oly? :) I hope it doesn't come to that.
Trissa01
Trissa01
Thank you! that is the combo I'm holding out for, too. Happy that his conference indicates it really will be later this year. You know how long we've hearing 'soon, soon".
packedsand
packedsand
Allabout - this is great news ! I've got my fingers crossed for you ;) Yeah the docs are pretty happy about the new meds. I saw mine yesterday and he was also smiling and suggested that I ma have a new life ahead ! Yay for all of us !!!!
allaboutliving
allaboutliving
I am geno 1a, last VL 971,304, elevated ALT 47 & AST 60. Don't know condition since never had bx but ultrasounds, ct scans & other labs all good. No cirrhosis. GI thinks maybe 0-2 fibrosis. Even though 2 tx failures I figure they gave my liver a break & slowed the virus down. I will be given Solvadi/Ledispavir for 12 wks & it should be here within 6 mo. BMS & AbbeVie will have new meds fast tracked & approved within the next yr. Lots of options coming soon but if your condition is not good I would jump on anything with Solvadi right now. It's an incredible DAA & if your circumstances warrant it off-label IFN-free tx is Solvadi/Olysio an excellent alternative tx. Just need your Dr. to prescribe it & ins. to approve it.
MrOSO
MrOSO
Yes indeed, we seem to be on the cusp of yet another breakthrough. Your doctor is wise to suggest you wait a bit longer.

We've gone a long ways from only having Interferon. One day you will get a genetic makeup and get sent home with a handful of pills with no sides.

This board will no longer be needed then, but I will always remember the hope and support I found here.
dillytime
dillytime
Exactly mroso ...hep c will be cured and no need for this support group no more...i said this a long time ago....yippee...praise god