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Wow, Wilko that's great news so early. Good for you and hope the journey continues to bring you good health and healing

3 weeks, fantastic news wilko! My congratulations

Had a clinic visit today for 18 week bloods and CT scan results. The scan came up all clear ........so my inability to sleep last night was a complete waste of time!

The other good news was that all my bloods continue improving as treatment progresses. You can see the ALT/AST in my signature, these are below anything I've tested before even pre diagnosis (I did enjoy the occasional tipple in the distant past ) and quite reasonable considering where I started but all the others have also been trending better and better as my Tx has progressed. Everything is now within normal range with GGT and bilirubin, etc being well down. My AFP has also trended down and has now not only gone below 8 but dropped to 4.5, big sigh of relief there but will still need the 3 monthly scans for quite some time. Platelets which were in the 90s have trended upward each test and now reached 165. I am told this trend is a good positive indicator for future fibrosis regression.

No VL this time, next one will be at EOT in five weeks. Then SVR6 (what can I say? I like to be different......it also fits with my scan schedule.)

On top of all those pathology indicators I feel much healthier, happier and more positive that I have for years. If there is anyone out there reading this and you hasn't made up your mind about starting treatment, I say "go for it!". The improved quality of life is a significant payback by itself before you even factor in achieving SVR.

Hi GAJ
What an excellent report. It was amazing to read that nearly all of your indicators showed results that had clearly improved. Yes, I can only join you in saying that beginning treatment was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Good health to you GAJ .............................................. .................................................

Right on. Your liver loves you for it!

Great news Gaj. we are at a similar point in treatment, similar treatment history. I hope to celebrate some SVR's with you, meanwhile, each milestone

Hi Gaj,

"On top of all those pathology indicators I feel much healthier, happier and more positive that I have for years. If there is anyone out there reading this and you hasn't made up your mind about starting treatment, I say "go for it!". The improved quality of life is a significant payback by itself before you even factor in achieving SVR."

I get the results of my CT scan tomorrow, and I also had blood tests done which I will find out about as well. Will worry about VL at SVR12 time, or sooner if the old Hep C feelings come back or LFT's go all over the place. EOT for me is 12th April.

Your last paragraph quoted above rung some chord with me.

I an eternally optimistic about a cure,
but
eternally pessimistic that a cure for me will come anyway but the hard way,
but also
ever grateful that I had a chance to to give this virus a good case of the shits for 24 weeks and have myself feel good while doing it.



Yours


J.

Hi All, 6 week viral load test result on Mesochem Sof Dac <12iu/ml. Same as 3 week result. End of treatment 22April.

First time on a 'forum'. I'm three weeks into treatment and just trying to establish what symptoms I can attribute to the medication. I have had quite painful indigestion and a tidal wave of depression, short lived but intense. It's not a problem, had to endure way worse, but I have become used to paying attention to my body's signals and responding appropriately. Is it something I have to accept for the duration or can it be changed immediately? I was diagnosed in 1992, and it has been one hell of a ride, so the prospect of being liberated from this virus is almost too much to hope for.

Welcome Carolyn hope your treatment works out for you as it has for many others, as for side effects how long is a piece of string ?

People vary with their side effects whilst some have a rough ride others sail through without any ill effects. Dehydration was a big one for me and probably along with insomnia one of the more common side effects. Extra fluids helped a lot with me and also for many others. As for depression not sure what is causing that but we are going through a pretty big change killing of billions of viral cells which may be impacting you.

I have no idea about the indigestion as it wasn't an issue for me maybe some one else will chime in here.

Enjoy the ride.

Cheers

Hi Carolyn and welcome,

After waiting for so long many of us do experience a rollercoaster of emotions during treatment although it often settles down over tIme. I don't think I can state it better than member 'fitz' did a couple of days ago. Click on this link to see his comments: fixhepc.com/forum/generic-medication-acc...your-life.html#23310

I also suspect that the rapid physical changes to our bodies probably has something to do with this too. At three weeks into treatment you will have had a massive decline in your viral load, possibly even to the point of the virus being undetectable and your liver functions etc. will have rapidly moved back towards the 'normal' range. With all these physiological changes occurring so quickly it doesn't surprise me to find there are emotional effects as well.

For your indigestion, it would help to know a bit more about your status and treatment and many here put some basic information in their signature panels so that others can see at a glance (it doesn't have to be as long winded as mine! ) - you can find out how to do that here: fixhepc.com/forum/technical-support/977-...to-your-profile.html

I assume you are genotype 3(?) but it would also be useful to at least know your fibrosis level and which treatment you are on. For example, if you are taking Ribavirin then indigestion is not unusual but you can reduce the symptoms by making sure you take them with some fatty food (even something like a PNB sandwich will help) and for most of the others a light meal at the same time as you take the pills will often help.

Hi Carolyn and Welcome,

Gaj and Paul covered it well in that everyone's experience is different but some side effects seems to be very common - dehydration, insomnia and the emotional roller coaster. I am on ribavirin at the moment and it has thrown a couple more at me including dry skin and skin rashes.

There is some good advice on this site about addressing the physical side effects and lots of support here for the emotional ones!
In the meantime be kind to yourself and keep your eye on the goal which is pretty damn good.
Look forward to hearing about your progress.
Coral

Hi all. I thought I should let you know I finished my 12 week course (Redemption 2) on the 30th December and had a letter from my specialist yesterday to confirm that the virus is gone. It says the virus is no longer delectable (which it wasn't even at week 4), also that my liver test and blood count are very good. He wants to see me after my blood test 12 weeks post treatment. Of course this it the one that will let me know if it has stayed away. I'm over the moon It's all down to the lovely people at fixhepc and the redemption trials they made available.

Hi everyone ,good news just got my 6 month post treatment results SVR hep c undetectable Yippee

spleen still swollen platelets 49,000 WBC 1.6
ALT AST low end of normal

in attachement is photo of two fibrocan results one in 2014 and one in january 6 months after finishing treatment!!

Hi Bob in Ireland,

Just signed in and saw your post. Fabulous news. Great photo!!