Thanks Doc,

I’m not on my backside financially, so I’m not looking to cut any corners on this. But I have to work for a living, so I don’t want to waste hundreds of pounds on unnecessary tests.

Would it be advisable to get another test done during or at the completion of treatment?

Maybe if all of us going down the generics route in the UK play dumb on our return to NHS clinics, the rash of unexplained miracle cures will become newsworthy. Then we could spring the lowdown on them, and make the NHS clinics publicly look like the bunch of Big Pharma-addicted ****s and medical dinosaurs that a lot of them are

Thanks Chester & Emilio.

My GP wrote to my NHS Hepatology Consultant explaining my course of action and requesting a prescription for my generics (declined), and for the Hepatology Clinic to monitor my bloods (declined).

So my GP offered to to all the blood tests going forward apart from the viral load tests, which are tested at said Hepatology Clinic. They also asked to be kept in the loop with my private treatment and tests (I’d given the private clinic permission to contact my GP anyway), so I dropped off copies of the letters from the clinic and the extensive set of baseline blood tests I’d had done at the clinic a few weeks ago.

I’m due an annual appointment at my NHS Hepatology Clinic next April. If I achieve SVR, I’m tempted to go along and play dumb for a while (assuming that my GP hasn’t bothered to keep them in the loop) and let them scratch their heads, before informing the Consultant that some fake third world generics have cured me no thanks to him and for him to go and try the anatomically impossible.

Got my (now 15 day) viral load test back by email this morning. Opening these files is like being a teenager again going on my first date : Stomach churning, hands trembling slightly, I opened the file: Virus not detected . No mistake with the test this time too.

First couple of days on the meds had been uneventful, followed by about 8 or 9 days feeling like I had a mild dose of the flu, with lots of headaches (odd considering how much Naproxen and Paracetamol I take). All that cleared up about half-way through the second week, And I started to feel more clear-of-mind than I had done in years. A couple of work colleagues commented that I looked different in some way. I think my eyes looked brighter, and my face didn’t look fatigued all the time.

Myalgia and arthralgia haven’t cleared up. Maybe that will come later, or maybe they’re unrelated to the HCV.

What’s the consensus on when I should get my next viral load test done? I’m paying for them myself and they aint cheap.

Had my first NHS blood-drawing for the current treatment this morning.

Before I went into my GP’s I decided to give my treatment clinic a ring to see if they’d got my 10 day vl result through yet. Yes they had, and they’d email it to me straight away.

So I booked in at the GP’s and got onto the internet on my phone. Email with PDF attachment from the clinic arrived, so I opened the PDF, which was far too big for the phone screen. Scrolled straight down to the result to see ‘Not Detected’. Wow!!! Sheesh!!! After a few seconds I scrolled across and saw ‘Hepatitis B DNA Viral Load’. Huh? Must be a mis-print! Went in to have some blood drawn, routine blood pressure check higher reading than usual!

Back out to car, and on the phote to the clinic. “Yes, Mr ‘Alsdad’ it was a HBV vl test that was requested. Wasn’t that what you wanted?” Why on earth would I want one of those? I’m being treated for HCV. “Practice manager’s not in ’till 10.30. I’ll get her to phone you.” Practice manager phoned a 11.00, after reviewing what had gone on. Couldn’t apologise enough. “When can you get back in for another blood sample?” This afternoon.

So, feeling a bit like a dartboard , I’m about to head back down there.

My ‘treatment’ under the NHS had turned into a soap opera, and made me bite the bullet and go private. Hoping that this course isn’t going to go the same way!

Yes, ultrasound, Emilio. The Consultant who is overseeing my current treatment privately was astonished when he found out I hadn’t had a fibroscan. We tried, unsuccessfully, betwwen us, to find a local private clinic that ofeers the service.

I’ve attached the letter (with all names and references redacted) that my GP practice and myself received from my NHS Consultant wrt this.

The last letter from said Consultant, which I was informed about by phone call from my GP practice, was his declining their request to monitor my bloods during the current treatment. My GP practice have agreed to do blood tests for liver and kidney function (first drawing on Tuesday). But their viral load tests are done at Dr Helpful’s clinic, so I will continue to have those done privately at £225 a go.

Like you said, I’ll find out where my liver is up to in a few weeks.

Ok, thanks for that.

I’m going to update this thread as my treatment progresses if that’s ok.

Thanks for that info Dr Freeman.

I’m in the UK, and this set of tests are being done at a private lab because my NHS Consultant declined to get involved in this treatment in any way, shape or form. The clinic said up to five days for viral load result, but the Phlebotomist (sp?) said sometimes it’s much quicker.

I stopped drinking alcohol Easter 2014. Would it still be a factor?

My pre-treatment levels were:

ALT 28
AST 26
Biluribin 8
ALP 89

Anxiously waiting for my viral load result now