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.
I just started TX yesterday, I'm putting this thread here for anyone else who has tried, is trying, or will be trying this combo for us to share our experience. If there is already a thread on this please point me, but I didn't see one.
Me: Stage 4 cirrhosis, long term hcv/hiv, Isentress and Truvada.
A few years ago I tried Pegasys/Riba but only made it through 24 of 48 weeks, never went fully undetectable but almost. This time, going for 12 week TX with Sovaldi added. High dose of Riba, 1200mg, and 180 mcg of Pegasys. Hitting it hard going in. My platelets are already low, 50k or so, and liver function tests are elevated. Varices but no bleeding, take propronalol as a beta blocker. This will probably be my last shot at stopping the cirrhosis and curing the hcv. So I'm all in, and very thankful for the opportunity. Do or die. Literally.
Like I said I just started yesterday, and I'll update with side effects and bloodwork as we go along for hopefully the next 12 weeks.
Anyone else have experience with this combo?
Me: Stage 4 cirrhosis, long term hcv/hiv, Isentress and Truvada.
A few years ago I tried Pegasys/Riba but only made it through 24 of 48 weeks, never went fully undetectable but almost. This time, going for 12 week TX with Sovaldi added. High dose of Riba, 1200mg, and 180 mcg of Pegasys. Hitting it hard going in. My platelets are already low, 50k or so, and liver function tests are elevated. Varices but no bleeding, take propronalol as a beta blocker. This will probably be my last shot at stopping the cirrhosis and curing the hcv. So I'm all in, and very thankful for the opportunity. Do or die. Literally.
Like I said I just started yesterday, and I'll update with side effects and bloodwork as we go along for hopefully the next 12 weeks.
Anyone else have experience with this combo?
Bob
Of course it sucked for the most part, but 12 weeks is doable, as long as your levels hold on. Good luck, and take it slow and easy.
I don't think the Sovaldi added anymore duress, and if it did the other 2 drugs covered it up :)
allaboutliving, to answer a question, the Sovaldi/Olysio combo isn't FDA approved yet for co-infected individuals and so even with appeals I can't get it yet. BUT thankfully I can get Sovaldi, and this is the 2nd best combo for me since I can't get the super combo. Hoping this works, I can't afford to wait any longer.
awmil, your experience adds hope for me and I've been reading that this combo has about a 90% success rate for svr.
mamba72 I'[ll be following your progress. You are more than halfway through!! Are you undie and if so at what week did you reach it?
Again nice to meet you all! I think it was MLTTexas who told me about this group, from the cirrhosis group, so a big thanks to her.
I seem to remember the name shivermeliver from another hcv support group site from a few years ago when I did my first tx... Is that you? I didn't stay on the site too long, and quit (soc) tx after 6 mos. I completed triple tx 14 mos ago & am svr.
I've been on the cirrhosis support group here since last year. Frankly I didn't think I even had a shot at tx again. For the past year the doctors were telling me my liver was too damaged for another round of tx, and then they said that a new drug was coming down the pike in December, and then they said no, and then yes, and somehow my liver function improved in January enough that they let me do this. They already told me I might need transfusions during the tx, and they will have to do labs at least once a week, maybe twice, and so it's gonna be tricky for me.
I'm glad you're able to give tx another go. this might be the one. I had to do blood work every wk for all but about the last couple of months w/my 48 wk tx. Had blood trans. once. I got very anemic. You just have to go with the flow. I was very thankful to have this support group. It was my social life. lol. Even when things got hairy - as in fights - it was still better than sitting & staring into space, which was where my strength was at half the time. I did go to a p/t job during part of my tx.
Basically I'm saying, it's doable. Especially since you've treated before and have an idea what to expect.
xo
I am on day 11 of the same tx, only 800 riba tho. I'm 1a and early stage of cirrhosis and have never done tx. When it was offered to me in 2002 I didn't think 30% chance of svr was worth it, but I have faith in this new tx. I guess I'm extremely blessed because so far I have no side effects and I just did my first labs yesterday so when I get my results I'll post them to encourage those on the same tx. If I did have some of the gnarly sides, I would still go with it, it couldn't be any worse than the effects and symptoms I have because of what the virus is doing to my liver. I will be praying for you.