Aa
BLOOD TEST FOR STAGING???
HELLO
I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2006, BIOPSIED IN AT STAGE 1....LATER BIOPSIED IN AT GRADE TWO STAGE TWO...
NOW IAM SEEKING TREATMENT (HARVONI)
MY Doctor SAID I DONT NEED A BIOPSY BECAUSE THEY CAN TELL FROM A BLOOD TEST....
ANY ONE OUT THERE BEEN STAGED THIS WAY????
I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2006, BIOPSIED IN AT STAGE 1....LATER BIOPSIED IN AT GRADE TWO STAGE TWO...
NOW IAM SEEKING TREATMENT (HARVONI)
MY Doctor SAID I DONT NEED A BIOPSY BECAUSE THEY CAN TELL FROM A BLOOD TEST....
ANY ONE OUT THERE BEEN STAGED THIS WAY????
Best Answer
Does anyone know the svr rate on viekira for 1a non-responders?
Insurance wants me to try viekira.
Non responded to riba/interferon 3 yrs ago,
drummerman2655
Insurance wants me to try viekira.
Non responded to riba/interferon 3 yrs ago,
drummerman2655
My insurance has not denied me yet.
they are waiting for fibro sure results, if im not at least a stage 3 its no go.
y
they are waiting for fibro sure results, if im not at least a stage 3 its no go.
y
I think you may be asking about being treated with Harvoni and Ribavirin. Yes some of us are treating with that combo because of our past history of treatment failure and also cirrhosis.
I failed 3 tx with interferon based tx, two with interferon and Ribavirin which I was a null responder. I was dx with cirrhosis in Jan 2008 on biopsy and also relapsed last year after tx for 12 weeks with Sovaldi Olysio. Currently about to finish week 18 with 6 weeks to go.
Good luck getting treatment approved and good luck on treatment
Lynn
I failed 3 tx with interferon based tx, two with interferon and Ribavirin which I was a null responder. I was dx with cirrhosis in Jan 2008 on biopsy and also relapsed last year after tx for 12 weeks with Sovaldi Olysio. Currently about to finish week 18 with 6 weeks to go.
Good luck getting treatment approved and good luck on treatment
Lynn
Hi really sorry your ins turned you down. If you are turned down twice Gilead will help you get the meds through their My Support Path.
So now that they have turned you down you would need to appeal, then when they turn you down you can ask Gilead for help to get their Harvoni
Good luck, keep in touch
Dee
So now that they have turned you down you would need to appeal, then when they turn you down you can ask Gilead for help to get their Harvoni
Good luck, keep in touch
Dee
Hi There
So cool I am from San Fran too....im not so great with typing, so I put it on caps...Thanks for the heads up. Yes indeed I will fight it if need be.
I have high cholesterol but can not take the statin because of my liver..
Here comes the dozy I am also bi polar and my doctor wants to put me on Depakote, unfortunately my liver prevents that also.
I saw you are on harvoni and riboflavin????
So cool I am from San Fran too....im not so great with typing, so I put it on caps...Thanks for the heads up. Yes indeed I will fight it if need be.
I have high cholesterol but can not take the statin because of my liver..
Here comes the dozy I am also bi polar and my doctor wants to put me on Depakote, unfortunately my liver prevents that also.
I saw you are on harvoni and riboflavin????
That just isn't right. Everyone should be treated if they have Hep C. It doesn't get better on its own
But you need to be your own advocate. There are many here who fought their insurance companies and won. You just have to be persistent and learn as much as you can about Hep C so that you come to the table fully ready to let them know that you know what you are talking about. Ask for a second opinion. Find the best liver people in your part of California.
There are some fine people at Project Inform in San Francisco who are advocates for those with HIV and HCV. They have a 24 hour hotline and their website has great information and resources:
http://www.projectinform.org/helplines/advocacy_hcv/
btw, when you type in all caps, it seems like you are yelling at us and some might miss your post because of that
Good luck and let us know how things progress
But you need to be your own advocate. There are many here who fought their insurance companies and won. You just have to be persistent and learn as much as you can about Hep C so that you come to the table fully ready to let them know that you know what you are talking about. Ask for a second opinion. Find the best liver people in your part of California.
There are some fine people at Project Inform in San Francisco who are advocates for those with HIV and HCV. They have a 24 hour hotline and their website has great information and resources:
http://www.projectinform.org/helplines/advocacy_hcv/
btw, when you type in all caps, it seems like you are yelling at us and some might miss your post because of that
Good luck and let us know how things progress
Lady you are right it absolutely makes "No sense". You must continue to appeal it.
I am not very familiar with the games the insurance company's play in order to qualify for insurance but this occurs all the time and can be overridden. We have some very informed insurance guru's on this site whom know how to go about it. If you post that question you will get some direction on how to proceed. I'm actually lucky that my insurance co doesn't ask and cuts the check.
You need to treat now in my opinion. Hep C creates alot of havoc in our lives physically and mentally and the sooner it's gone the better. Honestly it doesn't matter what stage your at. You must advocate for treatment and the more noise you make the better. You may be stage 2 at the moment but the aging process accelerates the destruction.
Let me know if I can help....
I am not very familiar with the games the insurance company's play in order to qualify for insurance but this occurs all the time and can be overridden. We have some very informed insurance guru's on this site whom know how to go about it. If you post that question you will get some direction on how to proceed. I'm actually lucky that my insurance co doesn't ask and cuts the check.
You need to treat now in my opinion. Hep C creates alot of havoc in our lives physically and mentally and the sooner it's gone the better. Honestly it doesn't matter what stage your at. You must advocate for treatment and the more noise you make the better. You may be stage 2 at the moment but the aging process accelerates the destruction.
Let me know if I can help....
HI KIM
I AM GENOTYPE1A, I RECENTLY HAD AN ULTRASAOUND AND MY DOC SAID MY LIVER LOOKED FINE...MY LAST BIOPSY WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.I WAS STAGE TWO GRADE TWO.
THE FIRST ONE WAS VERY PAINFUL THEY HAD TO XRAY ME AFTER.I COULDNT SIT UP.
SO I AM HAPPY ABOUT THIS NON INVASIVE TEST.
I DID RESEARCH THE BLOOD TEST AND SAW HOW THE RESULTS AARE READ. I WEENT ON THE MANUFACTURES SIGHT.
MY INSURANCE WONT PAAAY UNLESS IM A STAAAGE 3...WICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHY WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE BECOMES SICKER BEFOR TREATING.
I AM GENOTYPE1A, I RECENTLY HAD AN ULTRASAOUND AND MY DOC SAID MY LIVER LOOKED FINE...MY LAST BIOPSY WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.I WAS STAGE TWO GRADE TWO.
THE FIRST ONE WAS VERY PAINFUL THEY HAD TO XRAY ME AFTER.I COULDNT SIT UP.
SO I AM HAPPY ABOUT THIS NON INVASIVE TEST.
I DID RESEARCH THE BLOOD TEST AND SAW HOW THE RESULTS AARE READ. I WEENT ON THE MANUFACTURES SIGHT.
MY INSURANCE WONT PAAAY UNLESS IM A STAAAGE 3...WICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHY WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE BECOMES SICKER BEFOR TREATING.
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When was the last time you had your biopsy?
It appears as tho your Dr has determined thru the various tests he's done that he feels confident which stage and grade your at.
Have you had any imaging or scans done?
Personally I have never had a biopsy but it appears I have Cirrhosis or Stage 4 thru the evaluation process. They can gather enough info this way in order to decide if treatment should be started ASAP, or if there's time to wait for the best Meds that suit my genotype.
Your Dr wants to start you on Harvoni and this is an amazing drug. The sooner you can eradicate the virus the less likely you'll have liver issues down the road.
Has he told you what stage you are at? Given you your genotype?
These are important factors prior to starting treatment and I hope you have been given this information. If so, this is the appropriate way in which you would then decide to treat.
If you care to share this info we can help guide you thru the expectations and experiences you may encounter while on Harvoni.
Ridding yourself of Hep C is the most positive step you can take for future good health.
Best to you
.......Kim