In Canada, the drug was recently approved. This by no means necessarily speaks to any superior efficacy, merely different timelines and different standards. (California has three million more citizens than Canada, smaller governments can act faster.)
Normally we would proceed with an off label prescription, however Zepatier is a new drug not a new combo of drugs.
Sometimes with Hep C (HCV) meds combination uses are FDA recommended. If they're not, then it can be harder to get them approved from an insurance company. In 2014 Sovaldi and Olysio were approved separately, however their use to treat HCV as a combination took an additional set of studies which was approved later. I took the combo two months prior to its FDA approval because of the 'off label' option.
In the case of Zepatier it has not been approved and since it is not a combo therapy it cannot be prescribed 'off label'. I can hope for a trial while I wait, but other than that I really have no options yet.
Treatment is part of what I need to do to get healthy. Treatment can cure me but it can't heal me, the exhaustive damage to my liver I've already sustained is enough to very nearly kill me. My liver doesn't have long, maybe a year or two if I'm lucky. So treatment is really only part of what I have to do to survive this.
This is an outline of the major sectors I'll be focusing on as I go through treatment:
Nutrition- Low Sodium, High protein diet with liver friendly foods.
Exercise- 1-2 hours per day 1/2 cardio, tone down existing program: P90X.
P90x is workout regimen for those already in shape. I have spent the last 3 months doing a combination of low impact work-outs and walking (at first only about a mile a day, but now near three months later I average 5 miles per day.) Even though I'm better off than I was a few months ago, doing P90X is no cakewalk. It is an intense as you need it to be, which is why I like it.
Social- Connect deeper with friends by learning more about them.
Emotional- Talk to others about experiences, and complete goals.
As I implement these changes in my life I will be logging my physical and emotional state during treatment.
The doctor's visit was not without good news however, as my MRI results are fine: thankfully no cancer. Most everything else seems to be in good health, which is always relieving to hear.
With no knowledge of when I start treatment, it's going to make dating with Hep C that much more complicated.
Wait, what? Dating? What about health, treatment and focusing on all of that....
Yea, Dating. I'm 29, so it's part of my life and one I shouldn't ignore. I've learned from the emotional stress and depression of my prior treatments.
It's important to keep close the people and things that make us feel alive.
What composes us makes us wonderful but definition is found at the edges, in differences and limitations. Edges are the best place to build, it may require a little more balance but to expand the horizon is something uniquely human.
It's important to keep close the people and things that make us feel alive.
What composes us makes us wonderful but definition is found at the edges, in differences and limitations. Edges are the best place to build, it may require a little more balance but to expand the horizon is something uniquely human.
