Aa
Victrelis Vic-tory
I had my long- awaited appointment with the heppo on Thursday, Oct 20. I had a PCR (8-week) and CBC done the same day so I knew the doctor would not have those results. Yet I was hoping he would have the results from the PCR done 2 weeks previously. I was l ready to explain how put out I was that he was not calling me immediately on my labs but, as it turned out, they had input his name wrong and he never got them. Anyway I left that appointment not knowing where I stood and feeling pretty down. It is an all day affair to fly to Dallas and get to the hospital and back to the airport, not to mention costly, and I left without any answers. He did tell me that if my hemoglobin was under 10 on the 10/20 test he would order procrit.
Today - Tuesday - I got the call with all my labs. For background, my pretreatment vl was over 2,000,000 and my 4-week lead in PCR was 3900.
After 2 weeks on Victrelis ---- QuantaSure (sensitive to 2IU/mL) -- Less than 2 IU/mL
After 4 weeks on Victrelis --- HCV RT-PCR (quantifiable to 25 iu/ML with a limit of detection to 7.1IU/mL) -- HCV Not Detected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Victrelis has done it. It has pushed the virus over the edge. On my first treatment I had detectable virus of 40 IU/mL at week 12, was UND by week 20, and UND thru 56 week end of treatment but relapsed. It is because I had such low virus at week 12 the first time that it is important for me to have the most sensitive test possible -- I need to know if I am truly clear, and you can't beat the QuantaSure for that. It takes over 2 weeks to obtain the results of the Quanta Sure since they have to be sent to California, but there does not seem to be any more flack over the Victrelis by the insurance company so since we are not waiting on approval I have requested the doctor order the Quanta Sure for the rest of treatment.
Today I feel good. Some days are hard. I am always tired. But at least now I have reason for joy. We celebrated with my favorite kind of icecream tonight. My hemoglobin was 10.1 and the doctor is beginning the process to get the procrit approved.
frijole
Today - Tuesday - I got the call with all my labs. For background, my pretreatment vl was over 2,000,000 and my 4-week lead in PCR was 3900.
After 2 weeks on Victrelis ---- QuantaSure (sensitive to 2IU/mL) -- Less than 2 IU/mL
After 4 weeks on Victrelis --- HCV RT-PCR (quantifiable to 25 iu/ML with a limit of detection to 7.1IU/mL) -- HCV Not Detected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Victrelis has done it. It has pushed the virus over the edge. On my first treatment I had detectable virus of 40 IU/mL at week 12, was UND by week 20, and UND thru 56 week end of treatment but relapsed. It is because I had such low virus at week 12 the first time that it is important for me to have the most sensitive test possible -- I need to know if I am truly clear, and you can't beat the QuantaSure for that. It takes over 2 weeks to obtain the results of the Quanta Sure since they have to be sent to California, but there does not seem to be any more flack over the Victrelis by the insurance company so since we are not waiting on approval I have requested the doctor order the Quanta Sure for the rest of treatment.
Today I feel good. Some days are hard. I am always tired. But at least now I have reason for joy. We celebrated with my favorite kind of icecream tonight. My hemoglobin was 10.1 and the doctor is beginning the process to get the procrit approved.
frijole
GREAT NEWS, frijole,
I am so happy for you, I am sure this time youll beat the dragon!
I am so happy for you, I am sure this time youll beat the dragon!
Congratulations, frijole! I am so thrilled to hear of your success with VIC! I too will be starting VIC next week and hearing such great news truly inspires me and gives me great hope that this work for me also. I hope you had to two helpings of your favorite ice cream! :-) Way to goooo!!!
Sincerely, Anita
Sincerely, Anita
I am in Abilene home of the world record for most churches and highest teen pregnancy! Lol
Wow, I see some old names here. Thanks Andiamo and ProActive and some others who treated when I did before. And a big thanks to all you guys treating with me. We are really doing it, aren't we. This is so exciting. As much as I hate these drugs, I am happy to be a part of this fist wave.
Special note to goofydad
Yeah -- what is it about you Californians, holding my QuantaSure hostige? I mean, if it comes back smelling of pot and walking in Birkenstocks, all the better, but can't you fly the results back instead of walk them?
On the labs, the 2 week VIC Quanta Sure was a special request. Willing suggested I get it and I was surprised the doc okay'ed it. The level of the test is 2 IU so I suppose I might have had 1 1/2 IU or so, but I would call that UND. The 4-week VIC lab was the originally scheduled HCV RT-PCR which is not as sensitive but has a faster turn around (Done right here in good old Texas). The test only can detect down to 7.1 IU. The wording "HCV Not Detected" was printed on the test results. If there was virus under 7.1 it would not be detected. I think I am pretty safe to say both were UND but the QS gives me a better sense of security.
By the way, they are cutting all new lab orders for the QuantaSure for the rest of treatment. I don't care if California eats them for a couple of weeks. I still like that test.
brianmo __ A Ferry????? Holy cow, hope your stomach does not have issues on tx. That might be tough.
babs - how funny, cooking with no sense of taste. Glad you made it thru that. What a cool job
nygirl - glad they got the system fixed and you can post. I had to break out the Medicated Gold Bond this morning (itchy hot spots) and thought of you!
ninja - I am in Midland -- the heart of the Permian Basin oil field and in the middle of a horrendous drought. Where are you?
Special note to goofydad
Yeah -- what is it about you Californians, holding my QuantaSure hostige? I mean, if it comes back smelling of pot and walking in Birkenstocks, all the better, but can't you fly the results back instead of walk them?
On the labs, the 2 week VIC Quanta Sure was a special request. Willing suggested I get it and I was surprised the doc okay'ed it. The level of the test is 2 IU so I suppose I might have had 1 1/2 IU or so, but I would call that UND. The 4-week VIC lab was the originally scheduled HCV RT-PCR which is not as sensitive but has a faster turn around (Done right here in good old Texas). The test only can detect down to 7.1 IU. The wording "HCV Not Detected" was printed on the test results. If there was virus under 7.1 it would not be detected. I think I am pretty safe to say both were UND but the QS gives me a better sense of security.
By the way, they are cutting all new lab orders for the QuantaSure for the rest of treatment. I don't care if California eats them for a couple of weeks. I still like that test.
brianmo __ A Ferry????? Holy cow, hope your stomach does not have issues on tx. That might be tough.
babs - how funny, cooking with no sense of taste. Glad you made it thru that. What a cool job
nygirl - glad they got the system fixed and you can post. I had to break out the Medicated Gold Bond this morning (itchy hot spots) and thought of you!
ninja - I am in Midland -- the heart of the Permian Basin oil field and in the middle of a horrendous drought. Where are you?
I am so thrilled to hear your news. The stuff is working and that extra shove was just what you needed. Congratulations on your wonderful news and on to SVR!
-Dave
-Dave
You go girl!!! The next time I head out for my three hour trip to doc (includes a ferry ride) I will think of you and if you can do it, I can do it...I was found to be und at four weeks, it feels good...
i did work out side the home as a private chef cooking for a family of four during tx. i would shop and go to their home 4x weekly and cook for about 3 hours. a few times i had to sit down and the other employees in the house were worried about me as i looked real sick. now the tell me! it was wierd cuz every thing tasted nasty! i would not have been able to go to a real job 8 hr days with the low numbers so i sure hope you are covered for the procrit. u are a great inspiration! keep up the good work dear. best, babs
" It takes over 2 weeks to obtain the results of the Quanta Sure since they have to be sent to California,"
WTF? And I s'pose you allege that once here they put on Birkenstocks and start puffin on the medical marijuana, right? More left coast bashing. And from TEXAS for christsakes?
" We celebrated with my favorite kind of icecream tonight. "
Mmmmm... And would that be Black bean or Pinto?
Congratulations Kiddo! You know we're all pulling for you. So, help me understand.... both tests were UND, right? With the 2 week on Vic being a stronger UND than the 4 week on Vic. Is that right?
WTF? And I s'pose you allege that once here they put on Birkenstocks and start puffin on the medical marijuana, right? More left coast bashing. And from TEXAS for christsakes?
" We celebrated with my favorite kind of icecream tonight. "
Mmmmm... And would that be Black bean or Pinto?
Congratulations Kiddo! You know we're all pulling for you. So, help me understand.... both tests were UND, right? With the 2 week on Vic being a stronger UND than the 4 week on Vic. Is that right?
Hello this is wonderful new congratulations, I am very happy for you
It sounds like many are experiencing good news with the new meds
Take CAre
Dee
It sounds like many are experiencing good news with the new meds
Take CAre
Dee
I am happy for you and so relieved to see the new treatments are really working! I just wish they were easier for people to get through.
I travelled 3 hours each way to my physician and would not have stopped seeing her for anything, but the whole day trip was definitely a big event every time I went.
Looks like this is the beginning of the end of the struggle with hepatitis c for you. Good Luck as you continue on your way to SVR.
I travelled 3 hours each way to my physician and would not have stopped seeing her for anything, but the whole day trip was definitely a big event every time I went.
Looks like this is the beginning of the end of the struggle with hepatitis c for you. Good Luck as you continue on your way to SVR.
Hey it worked! I just want to say when I first started on here you were one of the most constant sources of support of them all, it's no doubt you are finally on your way at last to SVR. you never whined nor complainned and always are such a great friend to have.
I'm so glad at last I got to post on your happy thread!
I'm so glad at last I got to post on your happy thread!
I knew it..!..What did i tell you..Awsom news..very happy for you..keep up the good fight.
Good news! Congrats! Where exactly are u frijole if u don't mind me asking I lice in Texas too!
I am so happy for you. Those of you that have been through this before and relapsed are amazing!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I wanted to congratulate Frijole and hate not being able to! From Nygirl, she's having problems posting.
I also would like to send you a hearty Congrats!!!
I also would like to send you a hearty Congrats!!!
Yeah Bean!!! Great to hear this good news for you. Sounds very promising and all continues on this great path. It sounds like you're tolerating well and have a great positive attitude. Best of luck to you.
It is great news to hear that so far your doctor is seeing 100% cure/UND rate (except for the 3 dropouts). Do you know how many patients he has on triple treatment? I am just wondering if it is a large number or a small number. My case manager said that so far all of their patients have become UND except one who had a severe dermatological reaction to the Incivek. My doctor only uses Incivek. I asked how many patients they had (that are far enough into treatment for testing the viral load) and she said six that became UND and the one they had to discontinue due to the severe reaction (so total 7), so not a huge number but still encouraging that all who actually were able to do the triple treatment are now UND. They have more patients like me who have not yet been tested for viral load since starting tratment. (I actually had blood drawn Monday for my 4 week test and am anxiously awaiting the results.) I just hope that the good news continues.
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