Hi LondonR mate
I was also really 'fit' pre diagnosis and very toned muscles. I suddenly developed severe hip, lower back and joint pain and was sent for an x-ray. as I could I could hardly walk. I went to a party one night with old friends and drank wine, the next day the pain had spread to my whole pelvic area. Short story is the Doc said she wanted to run some tests and there it was. My muscles had wasted and could not support my joints and I started to rapidly lose weight and other problems. I was also permenantly exhausted and pretty depressed, I knew the suggested triple tx at that time was Interferon Riba and the even more ugly Boc or Telap
Thankfully, I found hope. First by reading Greg Jeffereys blog, then on discovering MonkMed on Twitter and FixHepC here - What a revelation ! My London Dr had been very supportive & said I needed to treat soon, but then he suddenly retired and was replaced by another Dr who just said 'you can wait' which was devastating, he also said he wouldn't monitor me if I took 'the private route'. I found him arrogant, patronising and also told me a few porkie-pies, I was devastated. I had spent over a year in bed mostly depressed and with joint pain which didn't stop on resting and which I couldn't take pain kilkers for, just researching. I waited for the licensed Indian generics to come out at the start of this year and started treatment Jan.
Within weeks I actually had a spring in my step and was more energised - Totally Amazing! I was one of 4 % that with a slow responder to Harvoni, but the under advise of Dr Debasis & Dr Freeman I extended with Sofo/DAC and Dr Freeman added a 3rd med for the last 4 weeks. I've now been undetected for 10 weeks and I'm waiting on final SVR 12 results to come through.
I am so improved, have gained weight and started to engage with life again. joints and muscle strength will need building up again, but really, although I am cautiously hopeful, even if the result was not perfect this time, my quality of life is so improved and my fibrosis score much lowered. If I had to treat again, I would take the same path, without question. If I had been given NHS treatment, it most likely would have been 8 weeks treatment with no extention, I believe the advise and treatment here is superior, without doubt. NHS are restricted by bureacracy and cost and will try the cheapest option first in many cases. As you are a previous relapser, You have landed ithe best place here for treatment advise and support.
Some London hospitals are totally supportive of patients taking generic medicines via a trusted supply chain such as Redemption, others not. I have learned over time not to say too much until you know their policy on this, but ultimately they do have a 'duty of care' and as my current (and only!) lovely Specialist nurse said 'you have saved the NHS thousands, it's the least we can do' but it took me a while to get there via a few ups and downs :-/
If there is a 'good' time to arrive here, it's right now, with the first trial results in and more health authorities supporting, you've come to the right place - If you want to PM me for any NHS London advise please feel free, I've been around the block a few times with this! good luck and keep us posted , I'm pretty sure you will be starting to feel better soon.
LondonG