Besides the fact that I am insanely thirsty all the time

Get your blood sugar checked. Finger prick or urine dipstick – there should be no sugar in your urine.

There are much higher rates of diabetes in HCV patients, and treatment can set it off in some.

Thirst is the most common symptom of diabetes.

From the SVR point of view if you are diabetic ask for metformin to start. SVR rates are better if diabetes is managed properly.

wow, 10 litres a day of water seems a HUGE amount!!

Sometimes you can drink too much water, I wonder if the doc thinks that’s excessive?

I believe the amount should be not in excess of around 3.7 liters for a bloke & a little less for a female.

If you can drink some sports drinks containing sodium, that can help to balance out all that increased water intake so one doesn’t get hypernatremia.( think that’s how it’s spelt?)

Cindi x

Yeah, Kenbadsman, as CJ pointed out there is such a thing as drinking too much water – hyponatremia which causes the sodium levels to drop too much and therefore ‘hold’ water in cells in response – apparently anything over 4 ltd a day. On average we need around 2.5 l, varies by size, sex and health factors. We get a lot of water from food and other beverages. If we’re sweating a lot, or diarrhoea, then we’re losing water and body salts which is why electrolytes are recommended.
I’m thirsty all the time too and have a water bottle constantly at hand even at night.
I don’t think i’ve been tested for diabetes, so I might get that checked.

Like everything else – Moderation – you can have too much of a Good Thing

When I had those tricky blood tests and they couldn’t get blood, I was told drinking water helped. (I have found it does) but the 1st time , I went a bit OTT just before the blood test and my sodium came up low !

An infectious deseases nurse friend of mine said “Keep hydrated but don’t over-hydrate” .

I was advised by members of another forum to drink loads of water whilst on DAA treatment. I mentioned it to my hepatologist and he said that he wasn’t aware of any medical reason why one should have to drink more fluids on DAAs but said it was generally a good thing to keep well hydrated.

My experience has been that for the first few weeks of treatment I needed to drink more fluid and I felt thirsty a lot of time. I’m not a big fan of water but I made myself drink 3 litres or more a day. But from week 4 onwards the need for water lessened and I only went back to drinking my usual amount with not ill effect or return of side-effects.

Hi everyone
I’m nine weeks past EOT and still keeping my hydration at a premium and intend on continuing same. It’s a great habit to carry a water bottle.

My skin is slightly dry from Harvoni after Peginf damage to it and I was advised by my GP to continue my water intake and I wear a moisturiser too now with spf50+ it is organic and cost a lot. The combination of good hydration and the creme has helped achieve glowing skin by comparison to b4 this tx.

Re liver health, which is the most important thing:
My ALT is <9 at mo and I truly believe that the daily water intake has helped achieved this amazing healthy function.

My gums have been affected by Harvoni. They are still sore. This may be because of my earlier tx or just the DAA I won't ever really know. Again, water rinse is soothing and cleansing.

I think it's great how the Harvoni made me thirsty.... it's improved my habits because I used to drink a lot of electrolyte drink but now just water to hydrate. So, happy H2O friends

Bottoms up!
Cheers!
Ariel