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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
Congrats on your SVR! It is incredible isn't it? I am so happy for you. I hope the gout moves out soon. You liver biopsy is awesome too. I hadn't heard anything about redoing the biopsy post tx. Is this something most people do? I was a 1 or 2 prior to tx.
I think your memory will return. I am 10 months out and my mind and memory are great. I just took a computer memory test and mine was exceptional so yours may return too. Again congrats on your SVR!
I think your memory will return. I am 10 months out and my mind and memory are great. I just took a computer memory test and mine was exceptional so yours may return too. Again congrats on your SVR!
Hi Bean:
Over the past decade I was on weekly Pegylated Interferon injections for about 5 years. That amounted to over 300 shots. Often the full dose -- sometimes a half dose. Fortunately, I tolerate Pegasys very well.
On the bright side, when I had my post treatment liver biopsy last April my liver had improved from G3/S3 (prior to treatment) to a grade/stage between 0 and 1. That was 6 months ago. I think it's safe to say my grade & stage is both 0 now. :-)
My memory still is not what it used to be. It did improve immensely over the past 6 months. Maybe I'm just getting old or maybe the months of being oxygen deficient during treatment took a permanent toll.
I'm on maintenance meds for my gout (Allopurinal and Colcrys). I'll never know for sure, but I suspect the prolonged high uric acid level I experienced during treatment, which was caused by my rapid turnover of red blood cells, resulting in terrible gout, may have affected me forever. Seems like many of us have a treatment side effect that stays with us for a long, long time. Guess the gout is mine.
Well, it's time to go to the office ......... hope I can remember where it is. ;-)
Cheers,
Glenn
Over the past decade I was on weekly Pegylated Interferon injections for about 5 years. That amounted to over 300 shots. Often the full dose -- sometimes a half dose. Fortunately, I tolerate Pegasys very well.
On the bright side, when I had my post treatment liver biopsy last April my liver had improved from G3/S3 (prior to treatment) to a grade/stage between 0 and 1. That was 6 months ago. I think it's safe to say my grade & stage is both 0 now. :-)
My memory still is not what it used to be. It did improve immensely over the past 6 months. Maybe I'm just getting old or maybe the months of being oxygen deficient during treatment took a permanent toll.
I'm on maintenance meds for my gout (Allopurinal and Colcrys). I'll never know for sure, but I suspect the prolonged high uric acid level I experienced during treatment, which was caused by my rapid turnover of red blood cells, resulting in terrible gout, may have affected me forever. Seems like many of us have a treatment side effect that stays with us for a long, long time. Guess the gout is mine.
Well, it's time to go to the office ......... hope I can remember where it is. ;-)
Cheers,
Glenn
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Any extended post treatment issues? How is the gout?
My very best to you
bean