TOPIC:

Hi Alsdad
I was thinking about movimg the tx options and discussion from hamiltons posts. So cutting where we took over and moving intp drug interaction/tx. And of course the presentation can go into the media categgory. Sorry mate really busy with work atm so skimming over things a bit feom my end. Em

This is getting slightly of the main topic of this discussion but the subject has come up in the last few posts and may be of interest.Please em and aldad feel free to transfer it elsewhere.

Re Ribavirin and exercise.
Post by some unknown guy on another site

I am 5 weeks into Sovaldi/Ribavirin treatment and all is going very well. I have been undetected since week two and I feel fine. I am cross country skiing in the Vermont mountains 3-4 times a week and feel good, maybe a little off but then I have been skiing quite a bit lately. I was out yesterday with a bunch of guys 10-20 years younger than me and I was the one waiting at the top of the climbs. The nurse practitioner at the hepatology department said I should exercise all I want. The nurse who calls me every two weeks from the specialty pharmacy called today and said I should be vigilant because if I become anemic I wouldn't want to stress my heart muscle. I had an echocardiogram two weeks prior to starting treatment and was given a clean bill of health. I have always been active so skiing this much is not new to me. My hemoglobin went from 15.5 at baseline to 14.1 at 2 weeks to 13.8 at 4 weeks. 13.7 is the upper limit of anemia so I am close. I have read that hemoglobin tends to level off by 4 weeks. So I am wondering if I should be cutting back on the exercise or if I should continue. It seems to me I would feel winded and weak if there was a problem. If that did happen I would of course stop immediately. Anybody have an opinion?  I am not due for another blood draw for three weeks.

Reply by a medico
As long as you feel well enough and have no other medical restrictions you should stay as active as you can.
Anemia is hemoglobin <10 g/dL. You are not close to being anemic.
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to supply oxygen to body tissues. The symptoms of low hemoglobin and anemia are fatigue and loss of energy which can be combined with shortness of breath. So some people can feel a lack of energy as their hemoglobin get lower. They don't have to be technically anemic.
Since you are not taking peg-interferon you only have a small chance of becoming anemic taking treatment.
In the trials 650 subjects received SOVALDI + ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy for 12 weeks. 250 subjects who received SOVALDI + ribavirin combination therapy for 24 weeks.
Data from the Sovaldi/Ribavirin clinical trials showed only 8% became  <10 g/dL while treating for 12 weeks. 6% became  <10 g/dL while treating for 24 weeks and
The most common adverse events (≥ 20%) for SOVALDI + ribavirin combination therapy were Fatigue and Headache. NOT anemia. Anemia was the 6th most common side effect after Insomnia and then Pruritus (itching).

To learn more about Sovaldi/Ribavirin treatment read the label to learn about treatment and common side effect from treatment or consult with your hepatology NP.
Sovaldi label can be found here.
www.gilead.com/~/media/Files/pdfs/medici...valdi/sovaldi_pi.pdf
Live your life!

The advice of my own specialist was "keep riding,I wish i had the time to come with you"

I am having problems exercising. Just no strength doing weights and breathlessness going up hills. My research points to inefficient mitochondrion. Its been reported hep c interferes with it carry oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. Ribavirin does the same thing. So while you have the virus its a double whammy. I just accept not doing too much, for too long or too heavy. kindly

Well so what if only a small percentage of people get anemia, as in hemo < 10. The condition still needs to be respected. There's a certain type of exerciser who wants to push through the 'wall' and keep going no matter what their body is saying. Normally not a problem but with hemo < 10 it can be fatal. Yes fatal. There have been heart attacks because of this.
dt

Day 8 & no side effects from the Sof, Led or Riba.
But I have noticed that my body aches have been getting better & I'm feeling more energy.
Maybe because I had to go off Statins before treatment has something to do with the less aches.
I also had to stop taking my reflux Somac medication , which I'm getting some minor heart burn.
Over all, so far, so good. BUT it's still a long road ahead of me to get to week 24.

I to am 1a non responder and I got sof and rib from India for 12wks and then the dac became available so got 6grams from mesochem to take with another three months of India sof (hepcvir) to really knock the fucka on the head ,I'm undetectable since 6wks just done 16 wk viral waiting on results

Great news Hamilton, so good you jave limited sides on the x3. Just dont overdo it with your new energy levels hey. The riba will slow you up eventually once it takes out a few RBCs and haemoglobin. Em

Chong, youre a trail blazer mate, got the jump on most of us lol. You should create a thread so that others can hear and learn from your journey. Welcome! Em

15 days down & my liver doctor call to say my fbc was good but the reds are going down a little. My alt's have all gone down into the normal range. He said that it's obvious that these drugs are working. He also commented that my kidneys are starting to work a bit harder. Got to drinks lots of water.

I'm 5'6" , 79kg , fit for a 66 yr old.
15 days of Sof, Led & Riba 600mg BD
Only side effects would me just a little insomnia .
But I seem to have less body aches after starting treatment .

Hi Hamilton,

i always found taking the Ribas earlier, rather than later, helps with the no sleep problem.
The Ribas make you speedy.
x

Day 42 & going OK.
Had a viral load test at day 28 & a drop from pre treatment of 2000000 down to below 12.
All my ALT's are down in the normal range.
My hemoglobin is down a little but not to the stage of reducing the Ribavirin .
Side effects are some insomnia , need to keep RIBA rage under control, nausea most days.
BUT I'm not complaining,
I'm nearly 67 years old & have been retired for the past year.
So if I miss out on sleep or feel sick, I don't have to go to work.
I'm looking forward to clearing this virus at the end of the 24 week treatment.