Nan, just came across this feed. Im in the habit of reading old post an trying to apply the suggestions of others mainly side affect help. Came across your recent feed. I'm so excited for you an your husband to be close to finishing his treatment. Since he did 24 wks, will you know if treatment worked in 12 wks or do you have to 24 wks also. I'm hoping for you the 3 mths. Take care an my prayers are with everyone every night. Mary
Thank you, Jo. Time will tell how this goes. Just looking forward to his ending treatment right now. He has been incredible throughout. I don't know many who could go through what he has gone through and keep fighting.
Prayers and positive thoughts would be appreciated.
Nan
You guys really have been through it all. I imagine when he has bouts with his HE (as I recall, infections tend to exacerbate HE), you don't get any rest at all. I know what HE and caring for someone full time can encompass. I sure hope you have support. It can make you sick.
I admire you and I know that your husband must as well (sometimes when dependent and ill - it is difficult to express continued gratitude to your caregivers even when it is felt - I know you know this...).
I know you are right that his liver has likely kept working because of treatment and that in itself is something to be grateful for, but...I still want SVR for him this round (of course) so perhaps there can be a break where your husband (and you) can recover (and make sure he is infection-free) prior to re-transplantation (which reportedly sounds like the inevitable next step). I have heard from the docs that treatments post transplant are more effective than they have ever been and that, though they still like to see SVR prior to transplant, its not as important as it used to be. I know you know this.
Thanks for your well wishes...I am fortunate and I know this.
I am humbled by those who have endured and continue to endure... The human spirit is never tested more than when we need to live and accept those things that we can't control that can cause havoc in our lives and we can only do our best with what we can control. Not all of us can rise to that challenge...you do...
7 more days...wow...a long 6 mos have passed for you guys...
Respectfully...Jo.
Hi Jo
Its been while since I posted on this thread. At the start of the thread, I posted how excited we were to get started on treatment (Sovaldi + Ribavirin). My husband is now starting his last week (24) tomorrow. He is gt 1a and was interferon ineligible.
It has been a long and difficult 6 months on treatment for the both of us. (He is post transplant with signs of decompensation of the new liver due to severe recurrent Hep C and bile duct damage.) He has had bouts of HE throughout treatment leading to 5 falls and 5 hospitalizations due to infections. So needless to say, we are happy that he has only 7 days left on treatment. It was still worth it as all his labwork shows great improvement and the progression of the damage to his liver was stopped. Had he not been on treatment, he may have suffered graft loss by now.
Will he relapse or reach SVR? That's the remaining question now. Either way.
we will continue the fight.
Jo - Hope the remaining days on treatment will go well and wishing you SVR in the near future.
Nan
Good Luck. I am wishing you the best and SVR of course!
This thread is pretty old. I finally started with Sovaldi and Ribavirin and am on day 61 of 84 days. There are alot of folks on the forum that have and or are currently treating with sovaldi, ribavirin and interferon.
Regards, Jo
I
Today I started solvaldi and ribaviran for the 24 week protocol. I have geno 3 so I guess I have to go with the long treatment but it will be worth it I hope! For those who are having troulble getting insurance approval, I hope you fight it. My BCBS turned me down initially, then only approved 12 weeks, but finally gave me the full approval. Also, Giliad (solvadi maker) has a program for those who need the drug but can't get it due to cost.
Good luck to everyone. Know that we are blessed to have been around for this treatment.