Forum Replies Created
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Hi all,
There seems to be a bit of confusion here.
LLOQ – is the lowest level they can accurately quantify down to, so if the test assay has an LLOQ of 15 then they can accurately say you had a result of 16 or 19 or 78 etc. Below 15 they can say that you were detected or undetected but if detected they can’t say accurately what it was, just that it was <15. Now at some point below 15 is the limit at which they can detect the virus. But as they can't measure that low they can't accurately tell you what it is. From what I've read it is though to be about 5-6 in the case of <15.
But from what I understand even with a quantitisation test they check first to see if they can detect the virus and if they can't then they don't run the grading process to determine what the actual level is because that would be pointless. So for an UND it is not <15 but rather a really low number well below that where they aren't fully sure of the level. Or equivalent of an UND via qualitisation.Hope that makes sense?
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Vororo wrote:At current current rates, $66,000 AUD = 43,000 EUR. Back in 2014, the French government negotiated 41,000 EUR for 3 months of sofosbuvir.
…. Maybe the Australian govt should give a tax rebate to everyone who sources their own treatment? The saving would be massive.
“Gregg Alton has what seems like a disorienting job at Gilead Sciences Inc. He’s paid to figure out how to sell the drug Sovaldi, which infamously retails in the U.S. at $1,000 a pill, for relatively next to nothing.”
http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/his-job-is-to-sell-1000-pill-for-10.html
Thinking about these comments it occurs to me that it is highly unlikely that Gilead would give one first world country a significantly better price than the others; a few thousand here and there can be justified based on volume, competition, etc. but not tens of thousands. Hmmm, but what about rebates for certain volumes achieved or an annual safety net for volume or price? Isnt this is a common commercial practice in other fields where a supplier wants to achieve some particular aim without upsetting their other customers or general market conditions?
…..back to watching with interest.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Not scary, I found it mostly boring and the noise a bit irritating. If they allow music and headphones it would be a good way to spend the time. Have to remember that if I have another one.
edit: yeah, it is a bit small. Just tell them if that worries you, I’m sure they’ll understand and have a plan for those situations.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi LG,
That’s the machine that goes “Bang, Crash, Rat-A-Tat-Tat, Bang, Crash!”.
It doesn’t hurt but it is noisy, cramped and loud……..oh, and did I mention it was noisy?
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Chapel,
Based on the prices that Dr James quoted above (28 pills) and how most PBS scripts work I would think that 3 x $37 for a 12 week treatment is correct. That is the standard process in Australia. As an example my GP writes me a script for 6 months worth of BP tablets at a time but that consists of one original plus 5 repeats so I have to pay each time. There is a safety net $ cutoff (currently about $1450 pa) and if you exceed that any extra scripts are free. Concessional prices are about $6 with cutoff of $366.
Edit: flyingfox’s figures are correct, the prices went up a few cents on 1st Jan.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Hope, great to hear things have settled down. Not needing the diapazem at the moment is a good sign.
For the headache, many of us on Dac find that drinking lots of water helps give at least some relief. Looking forward to hearing how you progress through treatment.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi A.L.,
Something worth keeping in mind when interacting here is that that this is not a “scientific department”, “parliament” or even a winner takes all debating club (and even in those fields, measurement against other’s behaviour is rarely viewed as an appropriate excuse to reciprocate).
May I suggest that you will find others more receptive to your views if you take a similar approach to imparting information as you do when requesting it? Your recent enquiry about other’s EOT DAA experiences being a good example. You appear to have a keen mind and quick grasp of concepts so I feel sure you could add valuable knowledge and insight to this site by such an approach.
Gaj
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Well, it has been a long and winding road as I indicated above.
I have to put my hand up here and plead a little guilty as I started this thread. The original intent was to create somewhere to discuss the nature of the differing medical systems and maybe get some thoughts on how they could be improved. While starting the thread I was deliberately provocative towards one of our members and apologise for that. Split, sorry, while I don’t agree with all your ideas (though possibly more than you suspect) I do value many of your contributions and support for other members, here and elsewhere.
Anyway, when the thread started to career off track I wasn’t too fussed and left it be as I figured it gave everyone a place to blow off a bit of steam without interfering with the main purpose of this site which is helping and supporting those with HCV whether seeking, on Tx with or just curious about DAAs.
But like Mike, I suspect that there are no perfect medical systems out there (or firearms systems for that matter). It really depends on where you live and how you view the political process. Pointing out how the system you currently have first hand experience of can be improved is important but criticising other’s systems, beliefs and politics doesn’t add much value to the topic of DAAs for HCV and is likely to discourage guests and potential new members from joining us and participating to share their experiences and knowledge.
So perhaps it is time to let this thread die a natural death?
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
“It’s just another town along the road”
– Danny O’Keefe
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Well, anyway, this is all just to say that doctors sometimes do (and should) ask lots of questions about one’s health & lifestyle etc. without meaning to make judgements…
Agreed, and at the end of the day they probably go home and pour themselves a good stiff drink to help them get over their patient’s terrible health & lifestyle decisions that they haven’t cast judgement on. …….file under ‘Human beans are funny like that’.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Ken,
The recommendations on PPIs and antacids is because Led requires high acidity to be absorbed. So if waiting until EOT to recommence then you should be able to use them again within a few hours of your last pill as it will have been absorbed by then. Extreme caution would be to wait until the following day.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Well done isaing4,
SVR next!
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
I can understand how being confronted with that sort of information can throw you, had the same thing happen to me. My advice Is to make a short list of any questions before talking with either of them. Work your way through questions, adding others as they come up. The doctor has his notes to refer to and so should you, far too hard to remember everything when he is discussing something as important as your health with you.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi LG,
Between Dr F and your consultant you will get the correct advice. You have one of the most experienced clinician with DAAs in your corner and your UK consultant will know where and how to get any tests you need or can find out for you. Get as much advice as you can from both and listen to them rather than us amateurs.
And any cirrhosis would need to be very well compensated to get LFTs that low so probably just a bit of fibrosis. There is no value in worrying, you will always have options so relax and let them sort it out with you. Remember the 
and get them in a nice neat line.
Thinking of you.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
The above is assuming the specialist was the original prescribing doctor, who should be you first contact.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
