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SVR with Triple Therapy!
When I was actively participating in the forum while I was undergoing treatment from October 2011 through April 2012 I recall some people lamenting that we don't often hear the success stories. Well, here's a success story.
I received my 6-month post treatment viral load test result today and I can now declare SVR!
I started triple therapy (Incivek) in October 2011 with a viral load of 22,000,000. After one week on treatment my VL dropped to 65. After 2 weeks on treatment my VL was UND -- and I've been UND ever since.
Here's my advice to the new patients starting triple therapy with Incivek:
1. The first couple of weeks are absolutely critical -- make sure you take your meds like clockwork!
2. Get anti-nausea meds before starting treatment -- and proactively take them -- don't puck up your Incivek during this critical stage!! I took Ondansetron/Zofran.
3. Eat plenty of fat with your Incivek! If you have "fire in the hole," some of the Incivek is passing through your system and you probably are not eating enough fat.
4. Proactively pursue treatment for the host of side effects that may arise. I took Ambien for the insomnia, Zofran for the nausea, Gabapentin for the neurological itching, Procrit for the anemia, and probably some other meds that I don't remember.
As I am typing this I'm reminded of a line from the movie Platoon -- "The war is over for me now, but it will always be with me ......"
I'd like to thank my dear MedHelp friends: Kathy, Eileen, Judy, Marc, Susan, Faith, Linda & Bo -- plus the many others who interacted with me during this exceedingly difficult time of my life.
Wishing your treatment will be equally successful!!!
Cheers,
Glenn
I received my 6-month post treatment viral load test result today and I can now declare SVR!
I started triple therapy (Incivek) in October 2011 with a viral load of 22,000,000. After one week on treatment my VL dropped to 65. After 2 weeks on treatment my VL was UND -- and I've been UND ever since.
Here's my advice to the new patients starting triple therapy with Incivek:
1. The first couple of weeks are absolutely critical -- make sure you take your meds like clockwork!
2. Get anti-nausea meds before starting treatment -- and proactively take them -- don't puck up your Incivek during this critical stage!! I took Ondansetron/Zofran.
3. Eat plenty of fat with your Incivek! If you have "fire in the hole," some of the Incivek is passing through your system and you probably are not eating enough fat.
4. Proactively pursue treatment for the host of side effects that may arise. I took Ambien for the insomnia, Zofran for the nausea, Gabapentin for the neurological itching, Procrit for the anemia, and probably some other meds that I don't remember.
As I am typing this I'm reminded of a line from the movie Platoon -- "The war is over for me now, but it will always be with me ......"
I'd like to thank my dear MedHelp friends: Kathy, Eileen, Judy, Marc, Susan, Faith, Linda & Bo -- plus the many others who interacted with me during this exceedingly difficult time of my life.
Wishing your treatment will be equally successful!!!
Cheers,
Glenn
Wow this truly is an amazing success story! What with an decrease and fibrosis and everything. I started treatment at the tail end of your treatment so our paths have never really crossed but this story is inspirational nonetheless. Thank you for posting. It is easy to lose hope when you feel crappy!
congratulations ! enjoy your new life !
it's a wonderful feeling....
all the best gingerpal (also svr)
it's a wonderful feeling....
all the best gingerpal (also svr)
Hi Gerbils:
Congrats on your memory test results!
Most people do not get a post treatment biopsy. I asked for one because I wanted to see if being on Pegasys so long helped.
Years ago, I read that pegylated interferon helps heal the liver in about half of patients. Then I read that wasn't true and that it only reduces inflammation.
Anyway, I believed the Pegasys was helping me so I stayed on it for half of the past decade. I really wanted to know if it was worth all of those shots so I had a post treatment biopsy. Of course, I'll never know if it was definitely the Pegasys that healed my liver, but whatever it was my post treatment biopsy results were excellent. Lucky Me!
My pre treatment, and post treatment, biopsy results are posted on my personal page if you are curious.
Cheers,
Glenn
Congrats on your memory test results!
Most people do not get a post treatment biopsy. I asked for one because I wanted to see if being on Pegasys so long helped.
Years ago, I read that pegylated interferon helps heal the liver in about half of patients. Then I read that wasn't true and that it only reduces inflammation.
Anyway, I believed the Pegasys was helping me so I stayed on it for half of the past decade. I really wanted to know if it was worth all of those shots so I had a post treatment biopsy. Of course, I'll never know if it was definitely the Pegasys that healed my liver, but whatever it was my post treatment biopsy results were excellent. Lucky Me!
My pre treatment, and post treatment, biopsy results are posted on my personal page if you are curious.
Cheers,
Glenn
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Any extended post treatment issues? How is the gout?
My very best to you
bean