TOPIC: New from Costa Rica

Greetings All:
I've had Hep C a long time and my health really sucks, esp the last 5 years. When I was in US I was denied access to treatment by insurance because my liver still had some life in it, even though my general health kept declining. I read here many similar stories.
So, I am very excited to get the treatment started here. I am new to this site and appreciate ANY help/wisdom/info/encouragement I can get as I start.
One quick question...does anyone have experience or info specific to shipping to Costa Rica?
I did ask a doc here if she would support this effort with whatever she needs to do and she said "Sure". So that is good. Though I have only a general idea of the blood tests that may be necessary.
Glad to be here and get to know you folks!

Maz

Welcome Maz! It is so good that you have got this far. Now, go to the tab at the top of the page headed GP Cheat Sheet. That will answer your basic question. Once you have read that come back here and ask your next question.

Hi Maz,

Getting the meds to Costa Rica is doable.

The suggested workup tests are listed here: fixhepc.com/forum/forum-gp-cheat-sheet.html

For a person in reasonable health simply taking the medication and checking for SVR is not unreasonable. They are, in the scheme of things, very clean medications with minimal side effects in most people.

Patients who are unwell need all the workup listed.

Thank you for the responses. I had read, and read again, the cheat sheet. A very clear explanation. And hearing that limited testing may be possible sounds good too. I will most likely get most tests done, and of course the check for SVR, but who knows what testing limitations I may encounter. Though the medical here is pretty good if one has access or mucho dinero .

I was concerned with mail and imports and customs here in Costa Rica. I have been here a little over a year and have heard many unhappy stories. Just don't want things to get hung up or sidetracked if I can prevent it. Another option many people do is ship stuff to another country and have someone fly it in. Works good for small stuff. Sometimes car parts, electronics, etc. Need to figure it out. I'll be asking folks with more experience here in CR.

I also went through the drug combo chooser and came up with 2 choices. Wow, this place is solid.

Hi Maz, I too had two DAA treatment options, so difficulty deciding which option I would prefer All the drugs available here are good, so I might as well have flipped a coin to decide. It could have saved a lot of time if I'd gone that route. Instead I read every recent relevant study I could find. One of them that showed a 1% better chance of SVR. Now that 1% in my situation is infinitesimal, but it was the decider. So my advice to you ... flip a coin!

Hi Maz,

Dr. Freeman said getting the meds to Costa Rica is doable.

Therefore, I suggest you apply for the Redemption trials (link at top of the page) they offer a money back guarantee if you do not receive the meds. That is your best bet.

Hi Maz,
I know of another in CR who got the meds with no problem. REDEMPTION will make sure they arrive.
The Doc says "doable",
It's doable.
Good Luck & Get Well!
m