Ascites after clearing

[saraha111]

Just passed 3 months clear after treatment (sovaldi and olysio) ... Gen 1a with past variceal bleeding and ascites.... I can say so far itching is much diminished ,,,, no bleeding but a bit of ascites... Does anyone have a guess as to the likelihood that some nasty offshoots of hepc may be diminished in time ??? Thanks

[saraha111]

My meld score has not been 8-9. So far my blood levels have been improving beyond my expectations ,,, platelets for instance have gone from 60000 to about 105000. Liver enzymes are normal , wbc from 2.6 to 5. But I still have a bit of ascites and was just hospitalized for umbilical hernia that was a bit strangulated. There they said I also had pleural effusion from cirrhosis. It's maddening but underneath it all I have better expectations. These treatments should be available to all who suffer from this and they will get better ,,,, Thanks

[flyinlynn]

It does sound like you have cirrhosis. Do you know your meld score and are you under the care of a hepatologist?

The ammoung of recouvery after clearing hep c depends as Livelife said on how bad your liver damage is.

I have pitting edema and a small amount of ascities and have been taking spironolactone for those cirrhosis symptoms. I didn't have a bleed but did have varicieal banding due to enlarged varicies.

I know that even if I clear hep c I will still need to be closely monitored for cirrhocic and the possibility of HCC (Liver Cancer)

Here is a post from HectorSF from a question "can cirrhosis heal" with a lot of information:

Regarding the development of liver cancer (HCC) after achieving SVR in patients with either F3 or F4 liver disease. There still exists an increased risk in these patients. A higher risk than in someone who has never developed advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.

The current recommendations are that doctors should monitor patients (ultrasound + AFP blood test) for a number of years after achieving SVR. This is a case of "a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Since liver cancer (HCC) has no symptoms until its final and fatal stage, surveillance with imaging and tumor marker blood levels are the only way to catch the cancer early when it is still treatable.

Since we are now in a new era in regards to advanced liver disease caused by hepatitis C where now most people even with advanced liver disease can be cured and the progression of their liver disease stopped, further studies are being done to clarify the ongoing cancer risk post SVR.

Here is the current recommendations for HCC risk in post SRV patients.

From the AASLD/ ISDA Hepatitis C guidelines.
THE source for all of the latest information on hepatitis C.
"Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C"

MONITORING PATIENTS WHO ARE STARTING HEPATITIS C TREATMENT, ARE ON TREATMENT, OR HAVE COMPLETED THERAPY
....
"Patients who have advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis continue to be at risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma after achieving an SVR, although the risk in these patients is lower than the risk in persistently viremic patients. (Morisco, 2013); (Morgan, 2010); (George, 2009); (Morgan, 2013); (Singal, 2010) Patients with cirrhosis who achieve SVR experience increased survival (compared with patients with cirrhosis who are untreated or in whom treatment fails), but still may be at some risk for hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, they should continue to undergo regular surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma despite the lowered risk that results after viral eradication. (Bruix, 2011) The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with advanced fibrosis prior to treatment but who have regression to minimal fibrosis after treatment is not known. In the absence of data to the contrary, such patients remain at some risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and should be monitored at regular intervals for hepatocellular carcinoma."

Lynn

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[Livelife777]

Hi Sarah.  I think over time the liver will either improve somewhat or could remain stable.  It basically comes down to how far advanced is your liver disease.  If you are decompensated its unlikely that improvement will occur but should you have early cirrhosis you may fare better.
In saying this there are many other variables.  You also have to take into consideration your lifestyle as well.  Obviously we are all aware that alcohol will not help with reversal but other factors play a key role.
Poor nutrition, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, ect limit the bodies ability to heal.  You could also have underlying liver disease that can be managed but not reversed.  One thing for sure is that your liver is no longer attacked from the ravages of the Hep C virus.  The hope is that this will in time keep our livers healthy enough to live a relatively normal life.
.....Kim