Harvoni - Ten Months Later

Did you ever have one of those days where you just don't want anymore trouble in your life? Well, I am having one of those right now! It has been quite awhile since I have written in this blog and my life has been in a lot of turmoil. I think I am still Hep C virus free, but I still feel kind of raw inside. I have made a point of exercising at least three times per week and I have started taking vitamin D on a regular basis. I have a lot of aches and pains that I didn't have before I was diagnosed with Hep C. I still have not started smoking again...2.25 years now! That is quite a victory for me!

My job at the university did not work out and my contract ended at the end of May. In one of my earlier blog posts I said that I was not sure if I was up for the move...well, I wasn't! I had just finished two and a half years of treatment for Hep C, my gull bladder removed, and part of my uterus removed too! Sometimes I think I see myself as Superwoman, but you know what...not even close anymore. I will be 62 in March and I'm tired out. Not really sure if that is age related or if it's from the effects of the Hep C and treatment regimen.

I have relocated to Georgia and am pursuing a job in animal care. I plan on getting a new primary care and liver doctor here and will have some blood work done on me soon. Until then I am trying to slow down and enjoy life by eating right and exercising on a regular basis. Sounds boring hugh...wish me luck! I really don't feel like the Hep C has come back because I see healing going on in my body and this is all because of the new wonder drug, Harvoni, that wipes out the Hep C virus!

Try it...you'll like it!

Til' the next time...

Harvoni - Yippie...I'm in Remission!

Yes, it's true...I am in remission from the nasty Hepatitis C, type 1 virus. All thanks to Harvoni, the miracle drug. One pill once per day for 12 weeks. I am so happy, I can't even tell you how much. I spoke with a nurse at the Bio Plus pharmacy and she said that within a year my liver should be like new, too! Your liver is the only organ in your body that rejuvenates itself.

The remission part, really got me. What is the chance that the Hep C virus will resurface? The nurse I talked to said there is a very slim chance! I think I would like to say I am cured. It sounds better and the chance it will come back probably has something to do with the way I take care of myself in the next year, while my liver is rejuvenating.

I have decided to keep up a really healthy diet and not drink for another 3 months. I don't think I will ever smoke again either. When I do drink, it will only be a glass of wine or a beer with dinner. I have started taking multiple vitamins and just got a B12 shot. I plan on getting another B12 shot each month for about a year.

I have really started feeling better and my skin is starting to look really healthy too. My platelets and White Blood count are above normal, but are about 5 units above normal. Hopefully that will change soon.

If you are reading this blog and wondering about taking Harvoni to cure your Hep C...do it...it's worth it and Harvoni really works! Much love to you on your journey!

Harvoni - Two Months after Treatment

Hey there! It has been two months since I finished the Harvoni treatment for Hepatitis C, type 1 and I am feeling pretty good. I spoke with my doctor about a month ago and he was pretty sure that I am cured! I will be doing a three month Hep C test in another month and if the test is negative I will be, in fact considered cured! Amazing! And to think that just two years ago I spent nine months enduring the triple treatment only to have this nasty virus resurface...the treatment didn't work. After three months of a single pill dose, once a day...the visrus is gone. I love it!

I am now in Columbus, Ohio enjoying my new job with little to no side effects left from the treatment. This not to say that I feel great because of the effects the virus had on my body while I was living with it and from the old treatment regimen. Slowly, but surely my body is rejuvenating itself though! My energy and skin tone is much better. The brain fog, from the virus, is going away too!

There is no doubt about it...history is being made from Gilead's wonder drug, Harvoni, the newest and best treatment for Hepatitis C, type 1. It is "THE UNDISPUTED WAY" to treat this nasty virus! Please don't hesitate...get yourself treated right away!

That's all...I'll check back after my three month test and let you know the results. Later!

Harvoni - After Treatment

Blue Skies it is for me! I have kicked this nasty Hep C virus right out of my system! Yippie! Or, I should say Harvoni did it for me! It has been two weeks since I finished the treatment plan and after reviewing my blood tests, my doctor said I am virus free! The rest of my complete blood count was relatively normal except my white blood count was low. I now need to start building my energy level back up with some good vitamins and diet and I should feel like a new person...I hope.

My body seems to be really run down, but my complexion has improved. According to a Physician's Assistant, I should feel great in 8 - 12 weeks...we shall see! I am having some major digestive problems right now and my body feels kinda raw. I guess that is to be expected after feeding my body Harvoni for 12 weeks. Any drug that can wipe out the Hep C virus in 12 weeks has got to have some serious chemicals in it. The doctor said the drug should have been out of my system in a day or two. It feels like it's gone, but my system is raw from the effect of the drug.

On another note; I have accepted the research job that was offered to me and I will be moving on February 15th. I am excited about this, but it's really stressful moving and my body is not quite up for it. What I am trying to do is think of what the future holds for me...health and a great job. What more could you ask for...well maybe if I concentrate on my health and try to remember to relax...I will be like new in another eight weeks!

May the light shine on you and try Harvoni. The new drug that really knocks the Hepatitis C, type 1, right out of your body! I'll check back in 8 weeks. Until then be safe and relax!

Harvoni...The End of Treatment

Hey there! I made it...12 weeks of treatment for Hep C, type 1, with the new antiviral drug, Harvoni! I would really like to say that I feel great, but that is not really the case. My digestive tract is really messed up and I'm pretty weak. I do find myself sighing a lot, though. My body is really relieved to be done with the chemicals I was putting into it for 12 weeks, I suppose. Relief comes from knowing that I am done with my second round of treatment for Hep C and that I can get on with my life now. I have definitely learned patience though my Hep C fight, but you know what...I am done waiting to get on with my life...it's time to do it. Right now!

Ok...I feel better now! I am in a holding period right now and really needed to write about it! Thanks for letting me share. I had my blood drawn last Thursday and will hopefully have my final doctors appointment next Wednesday. During my visit I will find out the results of my Hep C test and complete blood count and I hope and pray they are all great results. We shall see!

On another note...I still have not signed a contract for my new job, doing research, and have a scheduled start date for February 15th, 2015. Another patience issue that I am dealing with. It's like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but can't quite get to it...not yet anyway. I think this is where faith comes in and I have not had much luck in that department for most of my life. Time to get on my knees and pray!

I'll check back in next week with results...so tune in and have faith!

Harvoni Treatment...Over the Hump

Happy Holidays! I am one happy girl here! I only have 3 weeks of treatment left for Hepatitis C, Type 1, and I have just gotten a job doing research. I will be starting my new job on February 15th of 2015 without this nasty virus in me and thanks to the Harvoni treatment that I have been taking for the past 9 weeks! I don't think I could of accepted this job with the virus as active as it was before I started treatment. I am grateful and look forward to 2015!

As the treatment goes on I find that the side effects have gotten worse, but are still not terrible like the old treatment regimen. I definitely have a bad case of insomnia and I get diarrhea almost all the time. The holiday goodies, that have been everywhere, may be a big cause of this though. I also get really frustrated at times and am pretty painful in my joints. I have found that if I take a half of Tramadol when the pain is bad I can deal with it. I also try to think of the end result...being virus free! Yippie! I am anxious as can be and I only have 3 more weeks until that time is here! I know that there is a 4% chance that the virus will not go away, but I have a lot of faith that it is gone forever and all thanks to the new antiviral drug Harvoni!

I hope that your new year is great and if you have Hep C, Type 1, start treatment with this new antiviral drug...it works great!

Harvoni - One Month into Treatment

Picture courtesy of RX List:

It's been 5 weeks since I started the new treatment for Hepatitis C, type 1, with the drug Harvoni and I am now virus free! Amazing as it may seem, I am. My recent blood results showed no detection of the virus! Now...I still have to take Harvoni for another 7 weeks, but there really are no terrible side effects like the ones you get with the old treatment regimen (Interferon, Ribavirin, & Incivek), low platelets, low red & white blood counts, and little to no energy. I have not actually looked at my blood tests, but the doctor said all was in normal range. Seven more weeks is not so bad, I am almost over the hump already! The old treatment lasted nine months and my treatment had to be terminated because my white blood got really low and my doctor lowered my dosage of Interferon ...the virus came back at that time. This new treatment is much better!

In the first month of treatment with Harvoni I have experienced some side effects, but they aren't so bad. My body has been pretty painful and I have trouble sleeping through the night. I also get pretty irrittable at times, when I am tired, hungry, or stressed. Knowing this, I try to be very conscious of my state of mind, exercise, and eat well. This works pretty well for the side effects of Harvoni...the new wonder drug of the cure of Hepatitis C, type 1!

Looks like 2015 is going to be a great year for me...yippie!
Hope it is for you too! I'll check back soon!