Saturday, February 1, 2014

Guest Post: "wanted to share the good news"

I've mentioned that I'm on a brand new drug therapy for Hep C. It's called Sovaldi, and it looks like it's gonna be a miracle drug. It's incredibly expensive unless you have good insurance, which I do for now.

I've had this virus for 36 years. After my transplant in 2006, my viral load doubled. I guess the little bastards saw the new liver as a buffet and started fornicating like rabbits. Anyway, viruses are incredibly small, so small that one ml of my blood contains about 1,300,000 copies of the virus - at least it did. After being on this drug for 2 weeks (one pill a day) I had my blood tested and got the news today. My viral count dropped to 114/ml. I'm in week 4 now, and probably have entirely eliminated it from my blood.

This incredible drug does this with zero side effects and no drug interactions. A true miracle invention. I will be taking it for 24 weeks if my insurance approves it for that long. They have so far. They have good reason to balk at just under $1000 per pill. I pay , not even a copay. I know, crazy isn't it? It has a 70% cure rate so far for people with my genotype which is the most common and hardest to eliminate. I'm very optimistic. This virus acts extremely slowly, but causes cancer eventually, first in the liver, but later lymphomas and others too.

If I get cured of this after 36 years, I'll be fucking stoked. I've spent so much time, energy and misery fighting it and it's effects for so long. I suppose if I do get a cure, I'll get hit by a bus the next day.

Anyway, I'm just as pleased as a boy can be, and wanted to share the good news. Have a great weekend all. I know I will.

Commenter Bagoh20

45 comments:

edutcher said...

Many congrats, bag, and the best of luck.

In my own weird little way, I know how you feel.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Sounds great Bags -Hope it comes true for you!

The Dude said...

Beats the hell out of pegolated interferon, that's for sure.

Paddy O said...

Wow. Wonderful news in so many ways. Hooray for science and the ability of doctors to get that science to help people.

I can't imagine how it must feel to have such freedom after so long.

Is this something you'll have to stay on for the rest of your life, or in getting rid of the virus, it actually entirely eradicates it?

Paddy O said...

I don't the bus thing will happen. But, I'd avoid hang-gliding for a few weeks...

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

I hope it works. I did not know you had Hep C.

Aridog said...

Bagoh20...I pray that your fortune remains good and that the viral counts continue to fall to zero. And stay there. I think you deserve it.

I was v-e-r-y lucky dealing with cancer in 2012, probably didn't deserve it after smoking for 55 years 2-3 packs a day. The cancer was defeated by a highly focused form of radiation over 4 days, every other in 8. Modern miracles. What else can I say?

deborah said...

So glad for you bags :)

Amartel said...

Yes!

Amartel said...

Yes!

chickelit said...

@Bagoh20: Sovaldi looks like a cool little molecule. I like how it monkey wrenches the enzyme. The fluorine and the methyl probably do this in tandem. Elements and moieties at work.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

is like Bags kriptonite.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

In a way.

chickelit said...

@Sixty: Pegylated interferon is for the masses.

Unknown said...

Great news, indeed. :)
Technology, innovation and science! - I'm glad you have access to them while they are still available.

I'm happy your vilified insurance company is providing the means to do this. and all without the ACA.
With ACA insurance, your deductible would be so high, you'd have to sell your truck and your liver to pay for it.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

Glad to hear it Bags.

Keep fighting the good fight.

bagoh20 said...

Wow! Thanks everyone. I'm on the road right now, heading to Vegas, and I'm at the halfway point on I 15, stopped at an abandoned rest stop at Mineola road. The dogs are exploring, and I thought I'd check in here for a second. What a surprise.
Ten years ago I was fighting this virus with Interferon injections. Back then, I had a girlfriend who also lived in Vegas. After seeing her for a weekend, I would always stop at this rest stop to take my injection, because it would make me sick most of the week, and I waited till after seeing her for that. Now I think I have the right drug and the right girl. I'm very excited about the prospects with both. I really appreciate the kind thoughts.

I'll be checking in later. I hacked my Android phone so that it's a hotspot now for my tablet at my girl's internet free home. Even a beautiful girl can't keep me from you guys. You are that good.

rcocean said...

Good luck. Its nice to know medical science - at least - is advancing and making life better for all of us.

$1000 a pill? Wow. More expensive than gold dust.

bagoh20 said...

So the dogs were running wild through the desert while I was typing that. Of course they came back covered in mud. This is why we can't have nice things.

Valentine Smith said...

I know more than a couple of people with Hep C.

Bags you're one of the most upbeat positive and intelligent guys on this or any other board. Not easy with a potential death sentence looming over your head. You set a very powerful example.

God bless.

deborah said...

I understand that the big problem with finding a cure for the HIV virus is that it mutates. I hope the work they're doing on HepC will eventually work with HIV.

The Dude said...

We all have a real death sentence hanging over our heads, for some of us it presents itself in a more dramatic, less abstract fashion than it does for others.

Darcy said...

Very encouraging news, Bagoh. So nice to read.

Rabel said...

Good news bags.

I take it that the 5 second rule does not apply when dealing with a $1000 pill.

rcocean said...

"Of course they came back covered in mud."

Our dogs, usually they have a knack for finding some cow patties or horse dung to roll in.

Even when there isn't a cow/horse within sight. Its amazing.

bagoh20 said...

Exactly right, sixty. That's why I consider my diagnosis to really be a blessing, but now that I have gained the perspective, the source has worn out its welcome. Meanwhile, I'm not wasting a single day.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Easy on the game bets... Bags

ndspinelli said...

Bagoh, My prayers for your victory over this disease. Your positive attitude is key.

ndspinelli said...

Sixty is being very Scottish today. Reading him when he's like that is akin to listening to a dirge

Michael Haz said...

Wahoo! Very good news, Bags!

Dad Bones said...

A 73 yr old friend of mine with a recycled liver and Hep C is on that drug and it knocked his virus count down to zero and he still has several weeks left on the trial. It's definitely good news.

Leland said...

Congratulations Bags, and keep up the good work! July 4th may be a very special Independence Day.

bagoh20 said...

I'm just a country boy without angels.
I'm just a country boy without gold.
I've been to silver cities, loaded rainbows.
Where they say I pillaged, I killed, and I stole.
Riding on that New Delhi freight train.
Riding on that new delhi: line.
Riding on that New Delhi freight train,and I left my life behind

Lydia said...

Happy for you, bagoh.

I like that the company that makes Solvadi is named Gilead, after the Biblical balm:
...There is a balm in Gilead,
To make the wounded whole...

XRay said...

That is great news, bags. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Trooper York said...

Good news bags. I am sure you will beat this finally and be able to back to destroying your liver with bad habits like the rest of us.

Mazel Tov!

Trooper York said...

Good news bags. I am sure you will beat this finally and be able to back to destroying your liver with bad habits like the rest of us.

Mazel Tov!

Birches said...

The miracles of modern medicine and science.

Good luck!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I have a soft spot in my hart for Bags, whom, in addition to being a wonderful commenter, Bags is also a top supporter of this blog.

Bags reaches into his pocket for us. He doesn't brag about it, he just does it.

Thanks again Bagosh20.

chickelit said...

Bags reaches into his pocket for us. He doesn't brag about it, he just does it.

Now that just makes me sorry I'm missing out.

Palladian said...

Great to hear dear bago!

Sorry, though, to hear that you've chosen the heterosexual lifestyle.

JAL said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JAL said...

All the best to you Bags!!

Awesome!

Hallelujah!

Keep us posted.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Now that just makes me sorry I'm missing out.

That didn't come out right.

I have to be on my guard with you guys.

bagoh20 said...

Thank you all again for your very kind and encouraging words. It really means a lot to me. I'm here trying to explain how I have such dear friends who I never even met in person. It's really amazing and very special. I'm a pretty private person, and yet I open up to you guys like I do to nobody else in my life. Nobody here has ever made me regret that. What a special place this is. I just love you people.