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I am 70 years old and got Hep C from a blood transfusion in 1978 while treating me for Acute Leukemia (AML). I had 3 liver biopsies over the years with little damage. Then about 6 months ago I had a biopsy after 4 years and I was stage 3 with some decompensation. I asked my doctor if he thought I could qualify for Solvadi and Olysio treatment. I am on Medicare and have United Health Supplemental Insurance. But the supplement coverage does not cover anything UNLESS medicare covers the treatment first. My doctor was successful in getting my treatment covered for Solvadi and Olysio. We went through Premier Pharmacy in CA who told me I had a $4,000 copay but they opted to apply to Patient Access Network who because I have a low income gave me a grant for $10,000 to use for anything and everything related to treatment for Hep C. They gave me an option to apply again in a year if I need it. I recommend Premier pharmacy highly. I started treatment Sept 1st and I am starting on my last 28 days of 84 total. I have had 2 blood tests both showing no viral load (I was Viral Load 6 million when I started. I have had few side effects but watch out for sun sensitivity. I also have some sleeplessness for 2 or 3 days at a time and then sometimes where I am really tired. None of it comes close to Interferon and Ribavirin side effects. I committed to exercising on my treadmill for 30 minutes 5 times a week when I started my treatment which I have been able to do. I will complete the treatment on October 23, 2014. Then I understand blood work must continue to show no viral load or elevated enzymes for 6 months until May to be sure the treatment worked. It appears to me if your doctor works with a specialty pharmacy like Premier and he keeps fighting for you coverage is possible. It took my doctor about 5 weeks to get authorization. I will continue to post as I treatment progresses. Hope this information helps anyone out there with Hep C.
Hi Mary - Will these tests be conclusive enough to determine if or what my course of treatment should be? - It depends on what the goal is - if it is to treat now, then no. If it is to wait for the new meds that are coming out, perhaps. A lot depends on what genotype you are. Is a primary care doctor qualified to make the call on HCV treatment or a gastroenterologist? - Maybe, but I think a GI referral is a good idea. Are there any other test necessary (liver biopsy?) before evaluating and deciding on treatment? - Maybe. Again, it depends. However, there are noninvasive tests that may be just as good.
I was diagnosed with HCV six months ago, and after waiting many months to get Medi Cal, have seen a primary care physician. She ordered the following blood tests(fasting): HIV, comp maps tabloid/lipid/tsh/CBC, rpr/reflex tppa, Hep C viral RNA Quan by pcr, Hep C genotype lipa, Hep B surface AB w/rfx, and Hep A antibody total/reflex. I also had a complete abdominal ultrasound. Will these tests be conclusive enough to determine if or what my course of treatment should be? Is a primary care doctor qualified to make the call on HCV treatment or a gastroenterologist? Are there any other test necessary (liver biopsy?) before evaluating and deciding on treatment? I am a 61 year old woman, very healthy (well, I thought I was) and a thankful form finding Hep Magazine. This is all new territory for me.
Treatment is improving as we speak, thank God! I was treated 48 wks I/R geno 1a. Achieved SVR, Then relapse. It is an epidemic!
Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Sherri - This is a fantastic post - filled with info and hope for patients. Wishing you smooth sailing to freedom from hepatitis C.
October 1, 2014