Home Forums Main Forum FixHepC Admin Blood Test, Wow! Do I ever feel Stupid!

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  • #22520
    Avatar photofretboard
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @fretboard

    Hey friends,
    I’m sharing this with y’all so nobody else makes the same mistake I did. I went this morning to get my 8 week blood test results and my doctor said we don’t have them. You see, here in the US my doctor had me going every two weeks for blood tests. That’s probably standard across the board, IDK. I’m a hard stick so it’s always really embarrassing or shameful for me to get blood work done and maybe get stuck more than once or twice. Anyways, as a result, I figured hell they don’t need that much blood, it’s overkill. So I made up my mind that I would just hit what I felt were the important blood draws, like 4 weeks, 8 weeks etc. Bottom line is today I was told that I f’d up by not going every two weeks because they don’t take your viral load every single time you give blood. Ouch! :oops: As a result, I only have a 4 week UND but nothing else. Don’t let this happen to you!! If you’re a hard stick so f’kn what, go and give up the blood test. The phlebotomists get paid to deal with hard sticks, you won’t be the first and you’re definitely not the last!!

    gag.gif


    G1a dx’d in 1992, Biopsy F2 VL 8mill +. Tried tx with Interferon/Riba, back in 2008 didn’t last long it felt horribly ugly!! I stopped tx, after 5 weeks!!
    Started tx 6/1/16 with Harvoni.
    12 Month Labs= UND

    #22530
    Avatar photobeaches
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @beaches

    Don’t beat up on yourself! If your LFTs are normal chances are you’re ok.
    All I got was 4 weeks then 12 (EOT), and then 12 weeks after which is coming up.


    Genotype 1a
    Diagnosed in 2004, had HCV for all my adult life. Until 2016!!!!
    Harvoni treatment, started 19 March 2016
    4 week results Bilirubin 12 down from 14 pre treatment,
    Gamma 25 down from 52, ALT 19 down from 63, AST 19 down from 47,
    VL <15 down from a lazy 6 million or so

    EOT Results
    Bilirubin 10, GGT 18, ALT 19, AST 21, VL UND

    12 Weeks post EOT
    Bilirubin 11, GGT 16, ALT 22, AST 20, VL UND
    Cured baby

    #22531
    Avatar photoGreedfighter
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @greedfighter

    No worries Fretboard,

    If you have 4 weeks Undetected, that is the holy grail bro! You are undetected and will still treat for another 8 weeks? That is the overkill factor that locks in the cure dude. Make sure you do 12 weeks, or even 16 (or 20)! If insurance cuts you off at 8 weeks, keep taking your Generic meds for another 4 or 8 weeks.

    Personally, I would take the 20 weeks if you can, since you had some fibrosis, and have the meds. Unless you are having issues, it can only help your chances. The longer you treat, the better your chances (up to 24 weeks) You are on schedule for a cure! :cheer: :+1:

    I did 6 weeks (UND), then EOT (UND) and now SVR 16 (UND). The early UND is key, 4 weeks it is looking good for you!

    #22532
    avatar876.jpegGaj
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @gaj

    Hi Fretboard,

    If you were UND at 4 weeks don’t sweat it, you’ll be fine for the rest of treatment. Here’s what Dr James said about it.

    The new DAA medications do not require a lot of monitoring (unless Ribavirin is involved). Once you fall to UND (Undetectable) you will remain undetectable for the duration of treatment so further measurements are a waste of your time and money.

    https://fixhepc.com/forum/viral-load-and-svr/287-viral-load-on-treatment-what-to-expect.html

    Maybe try to renegotiate testing frequency with your doctor but you may need to humour them to ensure you get the important SVR tests later.


    G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
    24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
    24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
    16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
    SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
    SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
    SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
    :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

    #22541
    Avatar photofretboard
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @fretboard

    Yes, I really appreciate the comments!! I’m fairly sure I’m gonna be alright, because my hands aren’t swollen anymore. :lol: As long as my hands or my feet don’t swell up, I’m thinking I’m still UND. :cheer: Either way I’ll find out in a week or so. Thanks again!!

    lol-2.gif


    G1a dx’d in 1992, Biopsy F2 VL 8mill +. Tried tx with Interferon/Riba, back in 2008 didn’t last long it felt horribly ugly!! I stopped tx, after 5 weeks!!
    Started tx 6/1/16 with Harvoni.
    12 Month Labs= UND

    #22545
    Avatar photoSven
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @sven

    Really your not. I have only seen, personally, maybe 10% of people getting tested every 2 weeks. Why would you want to, I mean what good is it unless your really having issues otherwise every 4 weeks is good.
    Right?


    Contracted HCV 1980’s
    Geno Type 1a
    F3 ( doc says once treated I’ll be F2 maybe F1)
    Meds shipped 6/17/2016 arrived early 7/2016

    Viral count – 3,471,080

    4 week quantitative bloods: August 17, 2016. I have been diagnosed as <15 (told undetected)

    8 week quantitative bloods: September 14th. I have been diagnosed as <15 (told undetected)

    11 week PCR RNA Qualitative bloods: September 26th 2016 – Undetected

    December 19th 2016: Cured!
    Viral count: zero!!!
    2018 viral count: still zero!
    Cured!

    #22549
    Avatar photofretboard
    • Guardian Angel
    • ★★★★★
    @fretboard
    Sven wrote:

    . Why would you want to, I mean what good is it unless your really having issues otherwise every 4 weeks is good.
    Right?

    Absolutely right! Wish my doctor would read this! :lol:


    G1a dx’d in 1992, Biopsy F2 VL 8mill +. Tried tx with Interferon/Riba, back in 2008 didn’t last long it felt horribly ugly!! I stopped tx, after 5 weeks!!
    Started tx 6/1/16 with Harvoni.
    12 Month Labs= UND

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