Everyone is equally deserving of treatment, even people who used to, or currently inject drugs. There are no undeserving patients and we must be careful not to stigmatise people whose experience is different from ours. We all suffer the stigma of hep C because of its association with injecting drug use so let’s not add to the stigma by using discriminatory language or suggesting that some people are more deserving than others because their experience is different.[/quote]

Hi Seymour,

I agree. This is very poorly worded on my part. As an ex user myself, my intent was to say that drug use or non-use did not make someone more or less deserving of treatment and that we all have something to give to society as can be seen in the valued and caring people I have interacted with on this site. And that this needed to be conveyed to anyone intending to influence, and any being influenced by, divisive tactics such as heppers vs pathology costs. But yes, in cold light of day it it could be read as almost the opposite.

G

Hi Paul,

I understand that we have become pawns in the game and I suspect that it was deliberate strategy applied for several reasons and ends. However, as heppers, we come in many political flavours and colours so some will choose to fight this at a political level and others will not.

What we do all need to ensure is that the public for whose benefit this is being played out are aware of our story so they don’t just write us off as “once junkies, always junkies” in which case everyone loses.

Edit: And part of that may include pointing out where various groups, be they political parties or professional associations or others, are using us for their own ends without regard for the impact on us.

G

Great news Dan!

Hmm, Xmas….stay away from sugar/cakes? Well we probably all should, even those without the virus, but a little bit of moderation should see us through I think.

G

No apologies needed.

But….with F3/4 fibrosis 12 weeks of Harvoni will give mid 80-90% chance of cure.. 24 weeks of harvoni will give better chance of cure. So if you don’t want to use Ribavirin then you can do 24 weeks of Harvoni to give the same or even better result than Ribavarin. But it will cost more. You could try 16 or 20 weeks too, but I can not advise which would be best for you.

Edit: I see Dr Freeman recommends.24 weeks for ~ 95%

Hi dt,

While not an expert that would fit with my experience. As I was seen as high risk I was checked via ultrasounds regularly and was also checked & considered F3 based on fibroscans. My LFTs which had been stable and only slightly high after (failed) treatment suddenly escalated leading to further investigations which resulted in a resection which confirmed me as F4 due to more scarring than expected.

G

Hi dabara,

It sounds like there is some confusion with terms. SVR12 is tested at 12 weeks after completing treatment.

It sounds like you mean doing a test at week 12 of treatment? And then deciding if you should treat longer?
If this is the case then by the time you get the new supply of meds you will have had a gap where you are not taking medication. If this is the case then you will probably need to start again and do a full retreatment which will need to be the full 24 weeks.

I’m not a doctor myself so can’t advise whether 16 weeks of continuous Harvoni treatment would be enough for you. Perhaps Dr Freeman can? But the usual advice if you have or may have cirrhosis (you are F3/4 and fit this description) is to treat for 24 weeks for very best results. I think shorter treatments are based on economics for the insurer/government/whoever is paying rather than the best for the patient.

G

Congratulations, Spook77!

G

Great news, 1folho!

G