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Hi Zara,
I am also new to this forum and to hep c. I am on one of the new medications Mavyret. So far it's been 10 days on this med and the only side effect I'm noticing is headaches. Sounds like you've been through a lot and survived. They say after 4 weeks the new meds take the hep c away. Idk how long I've had hep c ,most prob 20+ years. It's great ur going back to finish school. I am also on other prescriptions and their not interacting badly with the Mavyret. Im on Morphine, xanex, levothroxin, and Soma. The people on this forum are knowledgeable and helpful.

First off, you're a testament to the term persistence. You're heading to this with a solid outline, so I'll help fill in the gaps I can, but it's important to note that because of the complex med list you have it's hard for me to say specifically which treatments will or won't be available. Typically they're listed when the drug is released by the FDA, but that interactions list tends to change with the general public, so a doctor would have better answers. But I can tell you which drugs are available and medicare will likely approve for Genotype 2B: Mavyret and/or Epclusa.

Both of which should be easily approved given (I had was disabled with medicare as well on my last treatment, sometimes you can get a bit of guff from 'em, but these are the two most prescribed so it has a lower likelihood of being denied by Medicare.) Also on that note, if you haven't familiarized yourself with SS Ticket To Work, it could help pay for your schooling. I should say we're following similar passions as I'm going for my Masters in Public Health. It takes an admirable courage to transform that struggle into strength, you're quite the champion!

Depending upon your level of cirrhosis it could be 8 weeks to 12 weeks, and the side effects are typically minimal, most people can resume work on treatment, so going to school might be a little more challenging, but not impossible. But if you haven't started classes, then that time frame could "easily" be done during the summer, note it can take a month or two to get started depending on how quickly Insurance decides to act.

On Epclusa and Maryvet, typically speaking between week 2-4, or 2-6 (depending on liver damage and duration of treatment) is when most patients find themselves with their first Undetected, or Zero Viral Load. The first two weeks or so of treatment are usually the most intense, regardless of treatment.

I walked into my fifth treatment with Harvoni(very similar to Epclusa) with depression, and in some ways the treatment helped, and in others it made things a little harder. It's impossible for me to say how it will affect your PTSD, but note that it affects people differently, and your doc should better have an idea how it would.

Fatigue, headaches, light sensitivity, are all common side effects, but vary in intensity not only during the treatment, but also from person to person.

As for symptoms with advanced liver disease fatigue is chief among them, starting early on, it progresses with damage; brain fog and itchiness are also common.

I hope this helps! If you have more questions, don't be a stranger.
You may also want to look over Carleen's fantastic 20 questions: https://hepatitisc.net/living/20-questions-for-your-doctor-about-treatment/

-Rick Nash Six Time Treatment Dragon Slayer and Transplant Recipient

I am new to this site and thankful for it cuz I'm learning a lot. I have a lot of symptoms and being diagnosed over 40 years ago and not having much info on symptoms of hepatitis C I have been sick for years especially the last couple of years with so many symptoms.I'm starting to realize that I think that most of my symptoms are coming from the effects of hep C like the fibromyalgia symptoms, skin, kidney, lung, and spleen. it's hard to get information on whether it is from hep C or not but I believe it is mostly. I hope this helps you and bless you.I have been told numerous different things as far as getting help paying for the hep C treatment, however I was told recently to get a part d Medicare and then it would easily be paid for so I hope and pray this is true.

Hi all, just started Mavyret 3 weeks ago. I'm excited as well as Surprised. I didn't find the cure it found me. I have a great primary physician, who put me on my way to the cure and recovery. For years since the 80s I lived in silence about this disease and I was resigned to dying from Hep c. I've stopped trying to figure out how I got it. The 80s was a time of fun and risky behaviour's. I engaged in all of it. HIV, escaped me by the grace of God. I thought, well, I have the two of the lesser evils. Crazy thinking huh ? Now, at 64 yrs young, I say " if I knew then what I know now ". Shoulda would haves could have. Just a long forgotten past. I'm more concerned for my grandkids. Kids today have a false sense of security. I've heard them say, who cares there's medicine for it. It reminds me of how immortal I thought I was. So yeah, I want to send a loud message about how easy it is to catch diseases you can't give back. Thanks for being there. I'll let you all know how I'm doing.