thank you for your response. It would be nice to feel better. It is dificult not to be depressed when I feel so badly. But the dr. did say I can continue to take my anti depressant. Wuick and painless? Wonderful!!! Thx again

Everything you are going thru, we ALL have gone through.

The end result is NO HEP C - it really is GONE!!

I told my Specialist yesterday that I can't believe it is still gone and he says he still is in wonder that we are all being cured.

The treatment is nothing like the old ones at all (I did the old ones and could not handle it)
LIsten to the others as you will have a much better emotional outlook and everything changes - just watch and see.

The new drugs are a cakewalk compared to the past and a very short time period.
Good luck!!

Hi Briste. Welcome. Is this your first time being treated? What is your fibrosis level and genotype? Do you know if they would be treating you with Ribavirin also?

I suffer from depression and anxiety too. Harvoni is extremely easy to take compared to the older drugs. I barely had any side effects at all until they started me on Ribavirin at week 6. My moods in the last 10 days have been extremely up and down and I'm not sure if it's the Ribavirin (which can cause anxiety) or if it's other things in my life overwhelming me. At any rate, I would make sure you are stabilized before you begin treatment.

My nurse told me that Viekira pak interacts with a lot of medications and it would not be the first choice of treatment for me. Do not let the insurance company intimidate you into taking what they want you to take. You need to carefully consider what is best for your depression and any drug interactions and for this reason Harvoni may be justified. You are your own best advocate so you will need to research this a bit.

Best of luck.

You would be wise to avoid alcohol, sugar, salt and fat if you want to feel better and maintain a healthy diet also. Once you are on treatment, you will notice a big difference after a few weeks. I can't believe sometimes how ill I felt and how long I felt that way. Now at least my body is starting to feel better (but my mind is another thing)!

Try for Harvoni ! I did previous tx with interferon, riba, inceivex and did not make it through due to sides . The tx with Harvoni is amazing !! Like you I was scared to death due to sides with previous tx and I can promise you, it is a cake walk . I have had NO sides even to speak of and after two wks my energy level was unbelievable VL after two wks was 15 detected. Week seven and Undeteced ! It is truly amazing and I feel great and no side effects !!!! Amazing !! Congrats on starting tx

I can't even imagine what it would be like to feel "good" again. I don't know which treatment yet. The dr. told me it would either be Harvoni or the Viekira pak. I am genotype 1a with a viral load of over 19 million. My biggest problem right now is the depression. And the fact that my family, which, I have to depend on, treat me like I am a hypochondriac. They can't see the disease so they don't believe me about the issue's I'm having. That's what I worry about. Not having any emotional support. I am the one they depend on, for everything. I care for my 92 yr. old father and my 20 yr. old son (who won't get a job). This is hard to deal with. Especially when I am so depressed and afraid. I feel so alone.

All I can add to this is that the treatments you are about to embark on have proven success. I urge you to try and think of the times to come when you will be free of this disease, and able to live your life without this huge worry. I would also urge you to try and look at a series of small and attainable goals starting with pushing your insurance company and doctor to speed the process up as much as possible. Also I would suggest you try and do something for yourself each day. Not your son or parent, but for you. Just something small that you can think would make you feel a little better. Those little things add up in the long run!

Briste, I know what it's like to be sick and not get the support you need. The last 8 years have been an emotional roller coaster for me, but that is all in the past. I am taking Harvoni. Week 7 of 12. No side effects. I mean other than the good ones. I'm feeling better physically and emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as well. Don't be afraid of these direct acting anti-virals. Harvoni interrupts the reproduction cycle of the virus. Interferon messed with your immune system and your body fought with it.

So, Harvoni, it's like an expert sniper, an accurate assassin. Interferon was more like the atom bomb.

Harvoni attacks two very small pieces of the virus, NS5A and NS5B. You can watch the video on You Tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ0wQ4sTAwQ

These parts are so very small!! Yet the medicine interferes with this process of them attaching to the host protein. The host would be US with HCV. So in effect, it neuters and kills the virus.

I'm sure Viekera does something similar.

I am on vie 28s very tired some headaches and vertigo and bloating but honestly not bad at all get on them as soon as possible so you will be cured in 3 months hugs prayers and we are all scared at first but you are not alone and it is curable which is great and meds are a breeze now but keep coming here all here are great and they will all help you get thru it