diff --git a/app/api/alpha/routes.py b/app/api/alpha/routes.py
index 2e046237..bc87a4eb 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/routes.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/routes.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ from app.api.alpha.utils import get_site, post_site_block, \
                                 get_search, \
                                 get_post_list, get_post, post_post_like, put_post_save, put_post_subscribe, post_post, \
                                 put_post, post_post_delete, post_post_report, post_post_lock, post_post_feature, post_post_remove, \
-                                get_reply_list, post_reply_like, put_reply_save, put_reply_subscribe, post_reply, put_reply, \
+                                get_reply_list, post_reply_like, put_reply_save, put_reply_subscribe, post_reply, put_reply, post_reply_mark_as_read, \
                                 post_reply_delete, post_reply_report, post_reply_remove, \
                                 get_community_list, get_community, post_community_follow, post_community_block, \
-                                get_user, post_user_block
+                                get_user, post_user_block, get_user_unread_count, get_user_replies
 from app.shared.auth import log_user_in
 
 from flask import current_app, jsonify, request
@@ -354,6 +354,18 @@ def post_alpha_comment_remove():
         return jsonify({"error": str(ex)}), 400
 
 
+@bp.route('/api/alpha/comment/mark_as_read', methods=['POST'])
+def post_alpha_comment_mark_as_read():
+    if not enable_api():
+        return jsonify({'error': 'alpha api is not enabled'})
+    try:
+        auth = request.headers.get('Authorization')
+        data = request.get_json(force=True) or {}
+        return jsonify(post_reply_mark_as_read(auth, data))
+    except Exception as ex:
+        return jsonify({"error": str(ex)}), 400
+
+
 # User
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user', methods=['GET'])
 def get_alpha_user():
@@ -379,6 +391,29 @@ def post_alpha_user_login():
         return jsonify({"error": str(ex)}), 400
 
 
+@bp.route('/api/alpha/user/unread_count', methods=['GET'])
+def get_alpha_user_unread_count():
+    if not enable_api():
+        return jsonify({'error': 'alpha api is not enabled'})
+    try:
+        auth = request.headers.get('Authorization')
+        return jsonify(get_user_unread_count(auth))
+    except Exception as ex:
+        return jsonify({"error": str(ex)}), 400
+
+
+@bp.route('/api/alpha/user/replies', methods=['GET'])
+def get_alpha_user_replies():
+    if not enable_api():
+        return jsonify({'error': 'alpha api is not enabled'})
+    try:
+        auth = request.headers.get('Authorization')
+        data = request.args.to_dict() or None
+        return jsonify(get_user_replies(auth, data))
+    except Exception as ex:
+        return jsonify({"error": str(ex)}), 400
+
+
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/block', methods=['POST'])
 def post_alpha_user_block():
     if not enable_api():
@@ -426,8 +461,7 @@ def alpha_post():
     return jsonify({"error": "not_yet_implemented"}), 400
 
 # Reply - not yet implemented
-@bp.route('/api/alpha/comment', methods=['GET'])                                  # Stage 1 if needed for search
-@bp.route('/api/alpha/comment/mark_as_read', methods=['POST'])                    # No DB support
+@bp.route('/api/alpha/comment', methods=['GET'])                                  # Stage 2
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/comment/distinguish', methods=['POST'])                     # Not really used
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/comment/report/resolve', methods=['PUT'])                   # Stage 2
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/comment/report/list', methods=['GET'])                      # Stage 2
@@ -451,7 +485,6 @@ def alpha_chat():
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/get_captcha', methods=['GET'])                         # Not available in app
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/mention', methods=['GET'])                             # No DB support
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/mention/mark_as_read', methods=['POST'])               # No DB support
-@bp.route('/api/alpha/user/replies', methods=['GET'])                             # Stage 1
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/ban', methods=['POST'])                                # Admin function. No plans to implement
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/banned', methods=['GET'])                              # Admin function. No plans to implement
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/delete_account', methods=['POST'])                     # Not available in app
@@ -461,7 +494,6 @@ def alpha_chat():
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/save_user_settings', methods=['PUT'])                  # Not available in app
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/change_password', methods=['PUT'])                     # Not available in app
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/report_count', methods=['GET'])                        # Stage 2
-@bp.route('/api/alpha/user/unread_count', methods=['GET'])                        # Stage 1
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/verify_email', methods=['POST'])                       # Admin function. No plans to implement
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/leave_admin', methods=['POST'])                        # Admin function. No plans to implement
 @bp.route('/api/alpha/user/totp/generate', methods=['POST'])                      # Not available in app
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/__init__.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/__init__.py
index 8b015d27..a2dd5aee 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 from app.api.alpha.utils.site import get_site, post_site_block
 from app.api.alpha.utils.misc import get_search
 from app.api.alpha.utils.post import get_post_list, get_post, post_post_like, put_post_save, put_post_subscribe, post_post, put_post, post_post_delete, post_post_report, post_post_lock, post_post_feature, post_post_remove
-from app.api.alpha.utils.reply import get_reply_list, post_reply_like, put_reply_save, put_reply_subscribe, post_reply, put_reply, post_reply_delete, post_reply_report, post_reply_remove
+from app.api.alpha.utils.reply import get_reply_list, post_reply_like, put_reply_save, put_reply_subscribe, post_reply, put_reply, post_reply_delete, post_reply_report, post_reply_remove, post_reply_mark_as_read
 from app.api.alpha.utils.community import get_community, get_community_list, post_community_follow, post_community_block
-from app.api.alpha.utils.user import get_user, post_user_block
+from app.api.alpha.utils.user import get_user, post_user_block, get_user_unread_count, get_user_replies
 
 
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/community.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/community.py
index 1a410446..8cc89405 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/community.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/community.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def get_community_list(auth, data):
 
 def get_community(auth, data):
     if not data or ('id' not in data and 'name' not in data):
-        raise Exception('missing_parameters')
+        raise Exception('missing parameters for community')
     if 'id' in data:
         community = int(data['id'])
     elif 'name' in data:
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/misc.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/misc.py
index 1d9f86e5..0f800669 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/misc.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/misc.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from app.api.alpha.views import search_view
 
 def get_search(auth, data):
     if not data or ('q' not in data and 'type_' not in data):
-        raise Exception('missing_parameters')
+        raise Exception('missing parameters for search')
 
     type = data['type_']
     listing_type = data['listing_type'] if 'listing_type' in data else 'Local'
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/post.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/post.py
index ce168e4c..c9b5542d 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/post.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/post.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def cached_post_list(type, sort, user_id, community_id, community_name, person_i
     # change when polls are supported
     posts = posts.filter(Post.type != POST_TYPE_POLL)
 
-    if user_id is not None:
+    if user_id and user_id != person_id:
         blocked_person_ids = blocked_users(user_id)
         if blocked_person_ids:
             posts = posts.filter(Post.user_id.not_in(blocked_person_ids))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def get_post_list(auth, data, user_id=None, search_type='Posts'):
 
 def get_post(auth, data):
     if not data or 'id' not in data:
-        raise Exception('missing_parameters')
+        raise Exception('missing parameters for post')
 
     id = int(data['id'])
 
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/reply.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/reply.py
index ea598269..ac9cb545 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/reply.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/reply.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-from app import cache
+from app import cache, db
 from app.api.alpha.utils.validators import required, integer_expected, boolean_expected, string_expected
 from app.api.alpha.views import reply_view, reply_report_view
-from app.models import PostReply, Post
+from app.models import Notification, PostReply, Post
 from app.shared.reply import vote_for_reply, bookmark_the_post_reply, remove_the_bookmark_from_post_reply, toggle_post_reply_notification, make_reply, edit_reply, \
                              delete_reply, restore_reply, report_reply, mod_remove_reply, mod_restore_reply
 from app.utils import authorise_api_user, blocked_users, blocked_instances
 
-from sqlalchemy import desc
+from sqlalchemy import desc, or_
 
 # person_id param: the author of the reply; user_id param: the current logged-in user
 @cache.memoize(timeout=3)
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def cached_reply_list(post_id, person_id, sort, max_depth, user_id):
     if person_id:
         replies = PostReply.query.filter_by(user_id=person_id)
 
-    if user_id is not None:
+    if user_id and user_id != person_id:
         blocked_person_ids = blocked_users(user_id)
         if blocked_person_ids:
             replies = replies.filter(PostReply.user_id.not_in(blocked_person_ids))
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def get_reply_list(auth, data, user_id=None):
     person_id = data['person_id'] if data and 'person_id' in data else None
 
     if data and not post_id and not person_id:
-        raise Exception('missing_parameters')
+        raise Exception('missing parameters for reply')
     else:
         if auth:
             user_id = authorise_api_user(auth)
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def get_reply_list(auth, data, user_id=None):
             replylist.append(reply_view(reply=reply, variant=2, user_id=user_id))
         except:
             continue
+        break
     list_json = {
         "comments": replylist
     }
@@ -210,3 +211,33 @@ def post_reply_remove(auth, data):
 
     reply_json = reply_view(reply=reply, variant=4, user_id=user_id)
     return reply_json
+
+
+def post_reply_mark_as_read(auth, data):
+    required(['comment_reply_id', 'read'], data)
+    integer_expected(['comment_reply_id'], data)
+    boolean_expected(['read'], data)
+
+    reply_id = data['comment_reply_id']
+    read = data['read']
+
+    user_id = authorise_api_user(auth)
+
+    # no real support for this. Just marking the Notification for the reply really
+    # notification has its own id, which would be handy, but reply_view is currently just returning the reply.id for that
+    reply = PostReply.query.filter_by(id=reply_id).one()
+
+    reply_url = '#comment_' + str(reply.id)
+    mention_url = '/comment/' + str(reply.id)
+    notification = Notification.query.filter(Notification.user_id == user_id, or_(Notification.url.ilike(f"%{reply_url}%"), Notification.url.ilike(f"%{mention_url}%"))).first()
+    if notification:
+        notification.read = read
+        db.session.commit()
+
+    reply_json = {'comment_reply_view': reply_view(reply=reply, variant=5, user_id=user_id, read=True)}
+    return reply_json
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/utils/user.py b/app/api/alpha/utils/user.py
index 39e668d8..fc429f42 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/utils/user.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/utils/user.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-from app.api.alpha.views import user_view
+from app import db
+from app.api.alpha.views import user_view, reply_view
 from app.utils import authorise_api_user
 from app.api.alpha.utils.post import get_post_list
 from app.api.alpha.utils.reply import get_reply_list
 from app.api.alpha.utils.validators import required, integer_expected, boolean_expected
-from app.models import User
+from app.models import PostReply, User
 from app.shared.user import block_another_user, unblock_another_user
 
+from sqlalchemy import text, desc
+
 
 def get_user(auth, data):
     if not data or ('person_id' not in data and 'username' not in data):
@@ -27,8 +30,9 @@ def get_user(auth, data):
         auth = None                 # avoid authenticating user again in get_post_list and get_reply_list
 
     # bit unusual. have to help construct the json here rather than in views, to avoid circular dependencies
-    post_list = get_post_list(auth, data, user_id)
-    reply_list = get_reply_list(auth, data, user_id)
+    # lists are empty when viewing own account, to deal with a bug I've yet to identify
+    post_list = get_post_list(auth, data, user_id) if not user_id == person_id else {'posts': []}
+    reply_list = get_reply_list(auth, data, user_id) if not user_id == person_id else {'comments': []}
 
     user_json = user_view(user=person_id, variant=3)
     user_json['posts'] = post_list['posts']
@@ -81,3 +85,50 @@ def post_user_block(auth, data):
     user_id = block_another_user(person_id, SRC_API, auth) if block else unblock_another_user(person_id, SRC_API, auth)
     user_json = user_view(user=person_id, variant=4, user_id=user_id)
     return user_json
+
+
+def get_user_unread_count(auth):
+    user_id = authorise_api_user(auth)
+
+    # Mentions are just included in replies
+
+    unread_notifications = db.session.execute(text("SELECT COUNT(id) as c FROM notification WHERE user_id = :user_id AND read = false"), {'user_id': user_id}).scalar()
+    unread_messages = db.session.execute(text("SELECT * from chat_message AS cm INNER JOIN conversation c ON cm.conversation_id =c.id WHERE c.read = false AND cm.recipient_id = :user_id"), {'user_id': user_id}).scalar()
+    if not unread_messages:
+        unread_messages = 0
+
+    unread_count = {
+        "replies": unread_notifications - unread_messages,
+        "mentions": 0,
+        "private_messages": unread_messages
+    }
+
+    return unread_count
+
+
+def get_user_replies(auth, data):
+    page = int(data['page']) if data and 'page' in data else 1
+    limit = int(data['limit']) if data and 'limit' in data else 10
+
+    user_id = authorise_api_user(auth)
+
+    unread_urls = db.session.execute(text("select url from notification where user_id = :user_id and read = false and url ilike '%comment%'"), {'user_id': user_id}).scalars()
+    unread_ids = []
+    for url in unread_urls:
+        if '#comment_' in url:                                  # reply format
+            unread_ids.append(url.rpartition('_')[-1])
+        elif '/comment/' in url:                                # mention format
+            unread_ids.append(url.rpartition('/')[-1])
+
+    replies = PostReply.query.filter(PostReply.id.in_(unread_ids)).order_by(desc(PostReply.posted_at)).paginate(page=page, per_page=limit, error_out=False)
+
+    reply_list = []
+    for reply in replies:
+        reply_list.append(reply_view(reply=reply, variant=5, user_id=user_id))
+    list_json = {
+        "replies": reply_list
+    }
+
+    return list_json
+
+
diff --git a/app/api/alpha/views.py b/app/api/alpha/views.py
index ce2d301d..7ddb73c6 100644
--- a/app/api/alpha/views.py
+++ b/app/api/alpha/views.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def calculate_if_has_children(reply):    # result used as True / False
     return db.session.execute(text('SELECT COUNT(id) AS c FROM "post_reply" WHERE parent_id = :id'), {'id': reply.id}).scalar()
 
 
-def reply_view(reply: PostReply | int, variant, user_id=None, my_vote=0):
+def reply_view(reply: PostReply | int, variant, user_id=None, my_vote=0, read=False):
     if isinstance(reply, int):
         reply = PostReply.query.filter_by(id=reply).one()
 
@@ -330,6 +330,38 @@ def reply_view(reply: PostReply | int, variant, user_id=None, my_vote=0):
 
         return v4
 
+    # Variant 5 - views/comment_reply_view.dart - /user/replies api endpoint
+    if variant == 5:
+        bookmarked = db.session.execute(text('SELECT user_id FROM "post_reply_bookmark" WHERE post_reply_id = :post_reply_id and user_id = :user_id'), {'post_reply_id': reply.id, 'user_id': user_id}).scalar()
+        reply_sub = db.session.execute(text('SELECT user_id FROM "notification_subscription" WHERE type = :type and entity_id = :entity_id and user_id = :user_id'), {'type': NOTIF_REPLY, 'entity_id': reply.id, 'user_id': user_id}).scalar()
+        banned = db.session.execute(text('SELECT user_id FROM "community_ban" WHERE user_id = :user_id and community_id = :community_id'), {'user_id': reply.user_id, 'community_id': reply.community_id}).scalar()
+        moderator = db.session.execute(text('SELECT is_moderator FROM "community_member" WHERE user_id = :user_id and community_id = :community_id'), {'user_id': reply.user_id, 'community_id': reply.community_id}).scalar()
+        admin = db.session.execute(text('SELECT user_id FROM "user_role" WHERE user_id = :user_id and role_id = 4'), {'user_id': reply.user_id}).scalar()
+
+        saved = True if bookmarked else False
+        activity_alert = True if reply_sub else False
+        creator_banned_from_community = True if banned else False
+        creator_is_moderator = True if moderator else False
+        creator_is_admin = True if admin else False
+
+        v5 = {'comment_reply': {'id': reply.id, 'recipient_id': user_id, 'comment_id': reply.id, 'read': read, 'published': reply.posted_at.isoformat() + 'Z'},
+              'comment': reply_view(reply=reply, variant=1),
+              'creator': user_view(user=reply.author, variant=1),
+              'post': post_view(post=reply.post, variant=1),
+              'community': community_view(community=reply.community, variant=1),
+              'recipient': user_view(user=user_id, variant=1),
+              'counts': {'comment_id': reply.id, 'score': reply.score, 'upvotes': reply.up_votes, 'downvotes': reply.down_votes, 'published': reply.posted_at.isoformat() + 'Z', 'child_count': 0},
+              'activity_alert': activity_alert,
+              'creator_banned_from_community': creator_banned_from_community,
+              'creator_is_moderator': creator_is_moderator,
+              'creator_is_admin': creator_is_admin,
+              'subscribed': 'NotSubscribed',
+              'saved': saved,
+              'creator_blocked': False
+             }
+
+        return v5
+
 
 def reply_report_view(report, reply_id, user_id):
     # views/comment_report_view.dart - /comment/report api endpoint