With the recent Canadian approval of telaprevir (Incivek) - one of three drugs used in the new treatment of genotype 1 chronic HCV, each province and territory
may vary in how they will process each potential recipient. Here in Ontario I am told that the Ministry
of Health has received a high volume of applications for the new triple therapy.
Your doctor may be able to set you up with a representative from the company distributing one of the drug combinations. The rep from the company my specialist works with helped me with reimbursement information and coordination assistance. The rep also helped me apply to the Trillium Drug Program.
With stage 4 cirrhosis complications with my spleen,
thyroid, parathyroid, and kidneys have developed over time. This is not uncommon for some patients who
have been infected with the virus for 30+ years. Other patients can go through life with little to no symptoms.
My parathyroid levels are high with a low vitamin D count. I have been prescribed 3000 u.i. of vitamin D3 per day to see if this increases the level. Platelets are low which is also common in stage 4 cirrhosis. I am told this number will likely drop even more during the first 4 weeks of treatment. There are of course complications that come with this and I will address them in this blog if I experience them.
My parathyroid levels are high with a low vitamin D count. I have been prescribed 3000 u.i. of vitamin D3 per day to see if this increases the level. Platelets are low which is also common in stage 4 cirrhosis. I am told this number will likely drop even more during the first 4 weeks of treatment. There are of course complications that come with this and I will address them in this blog if I experience them.
I am working through some physical discomfort and pain by using
meditation techniques and/or re-directing my attention. Sometimes it works and other times…not so much. At this point I turn on a good comedy which can be the best medicine on
tough days.
Until next time,
Deborah
