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Hi there. I wrote my first post tonight on this forum, but it seems that there are two places specifically for new members' postings, and this one could be a slightly better fit. The other sub-category is Welcome! in the FixHepC Admin category & I posted in there because it said Welcome and there some similar postings there already. So, I've cut and pasted my post from there and I'm feeling more nervous about making a lame start on this Forum than I am about starting treatment.

I'm a complete novice to online forums and chat rooms etc. So far, this seems like an excellent place to start; everyone sounds welcoming and supportive, and after all, the underlying reason that everyone is here is a hell of a lot more important than just a bit of embarassment about sounding a bit naff!

So today I started generic treatment obtained through fixHepC for Genotype 3 HCV. Daclatasvir/Sofusbovir/Ribavirin.

This is my third attempt at treatment. I had Interferon injections 3 times week for a year, then Peg-Interferon/Ribavirin for a year and I was getting a bit desperate not being able to get on any trials or afford to live in the UK or have the New Zealand MoH fund any treatment until the Buyers Club became available.

I am really deeply grateful to Dr Freeman and everyone involved in this programme and I'm incredibly excited about the prospect of living a normal life for maybe many years to come!

I probably contracted hep C around 1980 in Sydney, so that's 37 years now. I have cirrhosis of course, but it seems reasonably well compensated. I have the usual symptoms - interesting how only recently I have begun attributing them to Hep C - I used to think that there was something wrong with me. Heh.

I have only just completed treatment for a rather aggressive case of prostate cancer and so far so good. I had radiation treatment and a couple of years of hormone therapy (the effects are only just starting to wear off). In my lowest moments, I imagined that if the prostate cancer didn't kill me, the cirrhosis or future hepatic carcinoma surely would.

But now, there's hope!

I'll check in again soon, as there is a wealth of information on this forum. Thanks for reading this and I look forward to chatting to some of the people that might read this.

Awesome. I just started retreatment 3 days ago with Sof/Vel. This is my 2nd time around. I'm also G3.
Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Hi and welcome,
no such thing as naff. Glad you got here! I did similar treatment to you, the year of every 2nd day then the peg. Makes us pretty tough. It is been exactly 2 years since I heard of fixhepc- and a bit over a year since that sof/dac did the trick for my geno 3 and cirrhosis- which is rapidly retreating like a glacier in modern times. Good luck, keep in touch

Hi Splitdog
glad to hear you've started at last I know you been waiting a long time, good luck

Hi Sandcountry and Welcome,

You have quite a story - thanks for sharing it. You've fought a long, hard battle with your virus and as if that wasn't enough, I'm sorry to hear you've been battling prostate cancer as well.

Don't worry about the technology - I still bumble my way through the site. Your forum colleagues totally understand!

I'm so happy that you've started this HepC treatment because you are now on the best path to a cure. Sometimes it takes a little longer to find the right formula but I am now officially cured after having the virus for decades. There are usually minimal side effects for most people especially compared to what you have gone through with your other treatment regimes.

I found Ribavirin knocked me around a little more than the other medications. A lot of us have found that very simply drinking lots of water, trying to get enough sleep, eating well and generally being kind to ourselves during the treatment can ease any side effects.

Good luck - looking forward to reading your updates.

Coral

Hi Splitdog,

I've been keeping an eye out for your retreatment so I'm really pleased to hear that you have started.

Coral

Yes, it's been a year since my failed first round. So I figured now is the time. I wanted to wait for Vox, but I suppose it will come out sooner or later. If it comes out soon, I'll pick it up for the 12-24 weeks. Thanks you guys.

Good Luck Splitdog!

Good Luck also to you Sandcountry

Welcome Sandcountry, and I have removed your other post for you.