Four Week VL

[DougV]

Labs not good but who cares about those....

Viral load, 320 @ week 2
Undetectable @ week 4

Just maybe I gotta shot.

Doug

[Helen]

Thats great news Doug! 
 Thanks for keeping us updated.
 I try to check in a few times a week at least but am still so busy with my brothers estaste that Im pretty much to tired to do a whole lot when Im home. Hoping that it will all wind down in the next few weeks. Plus I gave notice at my job for the end of the month ( If I can last  ) so hopefully I'll be popping in more often.

 Keeping my fingers crossed for ya, Helen 

[MissyMouse]

THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mouse

[Snowflake]

Congrats Doug..fingers crossed to stay undetectable!

Helen,  Bless your heart, i can't imagen..Wishing the best in finishing up your brothers estate..
So, you are retiring, i take it? Good for you! Any plans on what you are going to do now, like hobbies, travel..?

Take Care
 Winona

[DougV]

What's this retirement nonsense?  And pray tell when did they lower retirement age to 25?

Rest of story on labs....

Hemoglobin took surprising up tic from 11.0 at end of week four to 11.8 at end of week 5.  It has never gone uo excepting after infusion, never.  Probably does not mean a thing and GI and I assume they will go back down, but still...

Platelets circling the drain, from 123 at start, currently 71.  No issues yet though.

Alt/Ast down, 45/53, not normal but improved.

Nothing else stood out and today I was focused on VL and nothing else so sure might have missed something.

Little tired at the moment but it is possible the four hours sleep, doctor's visit, four hours in sun and water with my son and grandtwins, followed by chili dog, baked beans and fries (for 20g fat only of course), just might have something to do with it....

I have to say though I am starting to believe and as two time relapser I really don't want to believe, 'cause if I do and I relapse again it will even worse.

Doug

[Stronzo1950]

Doug, glad to hear the good news and understand completely.   I started yesterday and on week they will add the Victrelis (boceprevir).
This is treatment #4 for me and I sure hope it works this time.

[DougV]

Alright Stronzo,

Best of luck.  Guess in a way it's my fourth too but one was clinical maintenance trial and was pill only so I don't count it. 

Why Boceprivir if I may ask?

BTW I did lie, was not uptic in hemoglobin, was 12.0 to 11.8 or only fell 0.2 in a week.  So while I put wrong start number it is stll the least drop I ever had.

Doug

[Stronzo1950]

My Heptoligist said because of my Eczema, the boceprevir had less issues with skin flareup/rashes than the other one during studies.  One big plus is I don't have to eat anything special or at all when I take it.  Boceprevir starts with 4 pills every 8 hours on the 5th week.  All I can do now is wait and see, after all, I am 61 and glad to be healthy enough for the treatment. 

I'll post my numbers and we can see how they differ, got an appt next Tues 8/9. Here's my baseline

Potassiumm   3.3L  (range 3.5 - 5.3)
Calcium  8.2 (range8.6 - 10.2)
Bilirubin total   .9L  (range 0.2 - 1.2)
AST  193H  (range 10 - 35)
ALT   119H  (range 38 - 98)
CBC (includes Diff/Plt)  12.6H (range 9.0 - 11.5)
Globulin   4.4H (range 2.1 - 2.1 - 3.7)
Vitamin A     23L  (range 38 - 98)
Vitamin E     24.3  (range 5.7 - 19.9)
White Blood count    2.8L (range - 3.8 - 10.

[Stronzo1950]

VL is almost 2 million

[DougV]

If I might suggest milk or cheese or calcium fortified OJ.  You are only slightly low but you increase fluids on treatment you will head lower.  I take potassium and magnesium (my calcium is good) to avoid cramps, especially lower legs and with your levels wouldn't hurt you either.  I would think with exema your doc would want A up too.  Come on Stronzo I am not huge supplement fan but don't look like a good vitamin would kill ya. 

Good luck.  Kinda nice to have another shot.

Doug

[Stronzo1950]

Doug, I do take a multivitamin everyday, but guess I'll add potassium and magnesium to my regiment. 

Take care,
Steve

[willy]

Stronzo, whew, those LFT's a re a little bit high.  I'll bet that they come down soon.

I'm not sure if you have heard, but Vit D has been in the news lately.  Many of us have low Vit D, so it may also be worth checking that out.  Vit D has been shown to improve viral response to TX.  It either may be antiviral or have an immuno-modulator function, but it has been shown to improve response.

Many of us w/ HCV (seems to be true for HIV as well) seem to be low on some of our vitamins/and or trace minerals.  I think i would recommend to anyone starting to have ones levels up to snuff before TX.  It is less common but I think an iron panel is also worth at least a one time read.  Pre-menopausal women are often low on iron.

willy

[rayc2001]

Doug,
Congratulations, and may you achieve a svr!!!!  I will be thinking of you.  Did shot 4 on Tuesday, was exhaused after 12 hour day yesterday.  No new issues, no real issues.  The butt burn is back with generel discomfort for about the first 4-6 hours daily.  Stay well my friend.

Ray

[DougV]

Yeah find I can do whatever but the reserves are not there.

Good luck with 4 week VL, will keep fingers crossed for you!

Doug