GOOD NEWS! SVR12!

[hepc4Sandi]

Dear Fellow Dragon Slayers—The Dragon is Dead!

I wanted to let you all know that I got "THE CALL" (earlier than they told me) from gastroenterology a few minutes ago, and my 12 week EOT HCV RNA QN test came back UNDETECTABLE! I am cured—no further follow-up needed (her exact words). They are not going to do a 24 week follow-up test.

I did the triple Tx Sovaldi/Interferon/Ribavirin for 12 weeks from Feb. 7 until May1. I was UND during the whole Tx, and at 4 weeks EOT. My Ribavirin dosage was 1,000 a day the first month, reduced to 600 the second month (after 2 days off, then 2 days at 200 after an ER visit) then up to 800 the third month.

I want to thank all of you who have been such a wonderful support for me through all of this—I don't know what I would have done without all of your cheering and knowledge. I will post a scan of the report after I pick it up tomorrow for you all to see.

Sandi

[Buba1962]

Great news ! Very happy for you!

[hepc4Sandi]

Thank you for all the good wishes—and right back at you! I hope to be seeing more good news from you all in the near future as this first graduating class of Sovaldi completes it's Tx, and gets the 12 week EOT results. I have changed my photo to a dragon slayer. Also if you go to my profile page, I have posted a scan of my LAST HCV RNA QN Test! It just makes it all the more real for me now to share it with you. Now for the 1st time in 30+ years, my liver can repair itself and be healthy. So keep on fighting fellow Slayers!

[susan400]

Wooohooo.  Congrats!  I am so thrilled for you.  I, of course, HOPE to be following you.  Susan400

[cheflady]

FANTASTIC NEWS!!! well done love Jules

[hepc4Sandi]

September 1st, four months EOT. Can't believe it has been 4 months since then. The treatment was such an important milestone of my life. It gave me a mortality wake-up call. I am feeling fine physically, my hair is growing back, sort of a reverse perm, like my hairdresser said. The new hair is coming back wavy at the bottom of my straight damaged hair, plus I have a 1/2" fringe that has grown in too. Went to see a movie in a theater last night, the first time in a long time, and I had a hard time with anxiety, it was too over whelming and I had to close my eyes several times, so that is a little left over from Tx I think. I am still watching the forum, because I want all of my friends here to achieve SVR too. It seems incomplete without that happening, but I know it is soon for most everyone. Feeling blessed.

[Livelife777]

Sandi.  I so understand and get what you are feeling.  When you think about it, other then clinical trials we were the first group to ever start this miracle Tx.  I'm going on 5 months since EOT, and as you have stated it has been a game changer in my life as well.
I also feel connected with everyone who started Tx together with us.  We entered uncharted waters, without advice or warning as to what could, or shall we say, would be the outcome.  It was so great to be able to share with others Sx such as emotional issues, expectations, fears, uncertainty, depression, rage, encouragement,  physical limitations, even your hair loss.  
For that, I am so grateful to be a part of this community as we have supported each other with compassion and hope.
When some of us relapsed, it felt as tho I relapsed along with them.  This is why I am not going anywhere until all of our fellow friends reach SVR, and I know you feel the same way.  Sadness does not even express how it felt when some of us became detected once again.
I'm so excited for the newest meds to hit the shelves.  We are all on the verge of making history, as Hepatitis C will finally see its downfall.  In the meantime, I sit and wait until that day.
Again, Congragulations my fellow warrior!
...Kim