Aa
Got liver biopsy results - ????
My GI just called and said my liver biopsy was consistent with Hep C and everything was normal (no other liver problems). I thought that was positive until he told me that I had some scar tissue already forming (not cirrhosis). I had to ask him what my geno type & viral load are (he didn't offer anymore)...I learned this just a little from this site and such. I feel so "unknowledgeable" and swimming by myself. That's just a side note.
He said I was geno type 1A and viral load greater than 5mil and that I was a definite candidate for treatment.
I am now making an appointment with a hepatologist as I felt that was the best move and a 2nd opinion to options. Anyone understand any of this? I don't and have a lump in my throat about it. I could have had this 15 years already...so what is the rush?
He said I was geno type 1A and viral load greater than 5mil and that I was a definite candidate for treatment.
I am now making an appointment with a hepatologist as I felt that was the best move and a 2nd opinion to options. Anyone understand any of this? I don't and have a lump in my throat about it. I could have had this 15 years already...so what is the rush?
hi. you need to know the STAGE and GRADE. i'm stage 2 grade 1. the stage is the fibrosis. the grade is the inflammation. i'm 1b/10 million. nice to meet ya. and don't panic. you'll learn. there's time. best of luck. tracy
I don't think going to a blood doctor makes much sense honestly = this is not a blood disease it's a LIVER disease. If you need to get a second opinion (but it doesn't really sound it to me) you should make sure your doctors are heptologists and gastroenterologists - so if you need a 2nd get a hept dr.
But honestly it doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary. You might want to call back and find out what "grade" and "stage" you are. "some" scarring doesn't really mean anything cause it's I guess his determination how much "some" is.
How much fibrosis you have will help the guys in here be able to give advice...for example if you have minimal you might not need to treat right away and could wait. Judging by the way the doc said it I'd probably just GUESS you are about a 2 but you could be anywhere at all. He just didn't seem too concerned.
Once you find out what GRADE and STAGE you are come back and post the results - that is really what you need to know right now.
One IS the most common genotype so you will treat for a minimum of 48 weeks most likely (I have to treat to 72 unfortunately so don't feel bad at all!) :)
I am a geno 1A AND 1B (two strains) and my original viral load was very low 568,000, I am a grade 2 stage 3 so I had to treat pretty much.
That's my cool info. See...once you get used to saying it it's easy as pie.
But honestly it doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary. You might want to call back and find out what "grade" and "stage" you are. "some" scarring doesn't really mean anything cause it's I guess his determination how much "some" is.
How much fibrosis you have will help the guys in here be able to give advice...for example if you have minimal you might not need to treat right away and could wait. Judging by the way the doc said it I'd probably just GUESS you are about a 2 but you could be anywhere at all. He just didn't seem too concerned.
Once you find out what GRADE and STAGE you are come back and post the results - that is really what you need to know right now.
One IS the most common genotype so you will treat for a minimum of 48 weeks most likely (I have to treat to 72 unfortunately so don't feel bad at all!) :)
I am a geno 1A AND 1B (two strains) and my original viral load was very low 568,000, I am a grade 2 stage 3 so I had to treat pretty much.
That's my cool info. See...once you get used to saying it it's easy as pie.
There really are only two options for you right now...there is no 2nd opinion needed for that
1. Treat
2. Wait
This IS all contingent on how bad the liver damage is which is why you need to know grade and stage.
NOTHING else besides interferon / ribavirin will cure this disease.
I'd make the hep appt and forget a 2nd opinion because the hep doc will be it (I have a GI as my primary hep doc and now only because we are deciding if I should in fact go to 72 weeks will I go to the specialists specialist hep doc. But...I'm a confusing case so I have to).
Pretty much this disease is VERY cut and dried and follows regular protocols. Dn't make yourself nuts going to too many doctors right now...you will get sick to death of it all later on.
1. Treat
2. Wait
This IS all contingent on how bad the liver damage is which is why you need to know grade and stage.
NOTHING else besides interferon / ribavirin will cure this disease.
I'd make the hep appt and forget a 2nd opinion because the hep doc will be it (I have a GI as my primary hep doc and now only because we are deciding if I should in fact go to 72 weeks will I go to the specialists specialist hep doc. But...I'm a confusing case so I have to).
Pretty much this disease is VERY cut and dried and follows regular protocols. Dn't make yourself nuts going to too many doctors right now...you will get sick to death of it all later on.
Since you're considering a hepatologist (good thing) you should start a collection of test results inluding biopsy report, lab results and stuff like that. Those things will be helpful to the hepdoc to plan next steps with you.
This site http://janis7hepc.com/ has a good, and understandable, section on biopsy, results and fibrosis. Good luck. You'll feel like an expert in no time.
This site http://janis7hepc.com/ has a good, and understandable, section on biopsy, results and fibrosis. Good luck. You'll feel like an expert in no time.
thank you for your reply. I read that there is a liquid acidophilus. Do you think that would be better than the pill or it doesn't matter. Is vitamin shoppe only a store or do they have their own brands?
Yes, the liquid acidophilus is good, but these things can get kinda pricey...I hate to get this intimate with you, and maybe you'll hate it as well, ha ha ha! But I am so in tune with my own, shall we say, *problems" there? That if I don't take my probiotic pills, I can tell a difference...
The Vitamin Shoppe works fine with me, they have a product called Ultimate "10" Probiotic that's fairly cheap...they have stores all over, or you can order it online...
There are other places that have good probiotics as well...and if he's more comfortable, he can go the yogurt route..there's one that advertizes on TV all the time, two women talking about there bad diets while they are studying or something, but dang if I can remember it's name...anyway, my younger sis tried that and she said it worked great! But she didn't see the difference till about a week...
It's always good to see soooo many women trying to help their hubbies and boyfriends out with their hep c and treatments...I did see a guy trying to help his wife out once or twice, not as often, but it happens!!!! ha ha ha! Good luck to you both, hope this helps...
The Vitamin Shoppe works fine with me, they have a product called Ultimate "10" Probiotic that's fairly cheap...they have stores all over, or you can order it online...
There are other places that have good probiotics as well...and if he's more comfortable, he can go the yogurt route..there's one that advertizes on TV all the time, two women talking about there bad diets while they are studying or something, but dang if I can remember it's name...anyway, my younger sis tried that and she said it worked great! But she didn't see the difference till about a week...
It's always good to see soooo many women trying to help their hubbies and boyfriends out with their hep c and treatments...I did see a guy trying to help his wife out once or twice, not as often, but it happens!!!! ha ha ha! Good luck to you both, hope this helps...
I should point out that I'm not on treatment, so my case is a bit different, I just think anyone on meds could benefit from replacing the flora there in the intestines, meds to tend to effect this...hopefully, it will make a difference, but there are other things to be looked at as well, most probably...
You call that Intimate?!? Your flavor of intimacy is an interesting one indeed!
As far a replacing the flora, my garden is in full bloom in June. D'ya think I could just shove a couple nasturtiums up there and call it a day?
More seriously - some probiotics say take any time, some between meals, and some with meals. Some say keep refrigerated (generally the expensive ones) and others don't. What gives, Oh Tutor of the Colon?
As far a replacing the flora, my garden is in full bloom in June. D'ya think I could just shove a couple nasturtiums up there and call it a day?
More seriously - some probiotics say take any time, some between meals, and some with meals. Some say keep refrigerated (generally the expensive ones) and others don't. What gives, Oh Tutor of the Colon?
Sometimes I think I am the one on meds and not him. I thought I had posted about the liquid but couldnt find it so I thought I had cancelled it. So I reposted it. Holy ****. No pun or anything intended.
Curious - months ago there was a lady called cajun lady. she started treatment and was having a rough go of it. Has anyone heard from her?
Curious - months ago there was a lady called cajun lady. she started treatment and was having a rough go of it. Has anyone heard from her?
Based on what you said, you are correct that your next step is to make an appointment with a liver specialist (hepatologist). You may want to just have a one-time consultation, or if you feel comfortable with him/her, you may want to switch doctors and have the hepatologist treat you. In general, I find heaptologists are much more up to speed on treatment protocols, rescue drugs, etc, than your average GI. The fact that you didn't get grade and stage, and he didn't discuss genotype without prompting, tells me you may have an average GI.
You will want to bring all your original biopsy slides with you to the hepaptologist, not just the biopsy report. In general, there are 4-6 slides in a complete set, so don't just accept one slike, like I did the first time I asked for them. You can usually just get them direct from the hospital's pathology department that did the biopsy, it is your property. If not, have your doctor's office get them to you. Better still, you might want to send them to his office in advance so he'll have time to review before your visit. You will also want to bring copies of all your blood results and any other tests like liver scans, etc.
As already stated, your stage plus all the other test results will help you and your doctor decide on a course of action, be it to treat now, to wait, or possibly to even enter a trial with a newer drug. Those are basically your three main options to discuss with the hepatologist.
Good luck!
-- Jim
You will want to bring all your original biopsy slides with you to the hepaptologist, not just the biopsy report. In general, there are 4-6 slides in a complete set, so don't just accept one slike, like I did the first time I asked for them. You can usually just get them direct from the hospital's pathology department that did the biopsy, it is your property. If not, have your doctor's office get them to you. Better still, you might want to send them to his office in advance so he'll have time to review before your visit. You will also want to bring copies of all your blood results and any other tests like liver scans, etc.
As already stated, your stage plus all the other test results will help you and your doctor decide on a course of action, be it to treat now, to wait, or possibly to even enter a trial with a newer drug. Those are basically your three main options to discuss with the hepatologist.
Good luck!
-- Jim
aaaaah Mannnn!!!! Just as I was getting off a here...I thought I'd take a quick little peak, and whodathunk it, my old pal is asking about his colon....again....ay carumba!!!!
Here's a cheat sheet, or part of one...copyright probs ya know...
Regular ingestion of probiotic bacteria may help prevent vaginal yeast infection.10 11 A review of the research concluded that both topical and oral use of acidophilus can prevent yeast infection caused by candida overgrowth.12
Diarrhea flushes intestinal microorganisms out of the gastrointestinal tract, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Replenishing the beneficial bacteria with probiotic supplements can help prevent new infections. The incidence of "traveler’s diarrhea," caused by pathogenic bacteria in drinking water or undercooked foods, can be reduced by the preventive use of probiotics.13
Most people associate lactobacilli with L. acidophilus, the most popular species in this group of probiotic bacteria. However, research shows that other Lactobacillus species may be beneficial as well. For example, L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum appear to be protective intestinal bacteria. They are involved in the production of several "gut nutrients," such as short-chain fatty acids, and the amino acids, arginine, cysteine, and glutamine.14 These beneficial bacteria may also help remove toxins from the gut and exert a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.15
In a double-blind trial, administration of a preparation containing L. plantarum to people with acute pancreatitis reduced the number of complications severe enough to require surgery.16
One probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii, has prevented diarrhea in several human trials.17 Double-blind research studying critically ill patients found this strain of yeast to prevent diarrhea when 500 mg is taken four times per day.18
Probiotics are important in recolonizing the intestine during and after antibiotic use. Probiotic supplements replenish the beneficial bacteria, preventing up to 50% of infections occurring after antibiotic use.19
Probiotics also promote healthy digestion. Enzymes secreted by probiotic bacteria aid digestion. Acidophilus is a source of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar, which is lacking in lactose-intolerant people.20
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally occurring carbohydrates that cannot be digested or absorbed by humans. They support the growth of bifidobacteria, one of the beneficial bacterial strains.21 Due to this effect, some doctors recommend that patients taking bifidobacteria also supplement with FOS. Several trials have used 8 grams per day. However, a review of the research has suggested that 4 grams per day appears to be enough to significantly increase the amount of bifidobacteria in the gut.22
If youre still with me, in answer to your question(s) I'd go with a probiotic that had as many types of friendly bacteria possible, and with the most "amounts".....that Ultimate 10 I talked about has a whole bunch...some are freeze dried and not in need of refrigeration, as this one is...I take two a day, (one in the morning, one at night) with meals, and it does me right! If you wanna go with the liquid refrigerated kind at first, to build up fast, this could be a good idea, but so much is variable with all these issues, etc...and I'm not expert, I just act like one...
Here's a cheat sheet, or part of one...copyright probs ya know...
Regular ingestion of probiotic bacteria may help prevent vaginal yeast infection.10 11 A review of the research concluded that both topical and oral use of acidophilus can prevent yeast infection caused by candida overgrowth.12
Diarrhea flushes intestinal microorganisms out of the gastrointestinal tract, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Replenishing the beneficial bacteria with probiotic supplements can help prevent new infections. The incidence of "traveler’s diarrhea," caused by pathogenic bacteria in drinking water or undercooked foods, can be reduced by the preventive use of probiotics.13
Most people associate lactobacilli with L. acidophilus, the most popular species in this group of probiotic bacteria. However, research shows that other Lactobacillus species may be beneficial as well. For example, L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum appear to be protective intestinal bacteria. They are involved in the production of several "gut nutrients," such as short-chain fatty acids, and the amino acids, arginine, cysteine, and glutamine.14 These beneficial bacteria may also help remove toxins from the gut and exert a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.15
In a double-blind trial, administration of a preparation containing L. plantarum to people with acute pancreatitis reduced the number of complications severe enough to require surgery.16
One probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii, has prevented diarrhea in several human trials.17 Double-blind research studying critically ill patients found this strain of yeast to prevent diarrhea when 500 mg is taken four times per day.18
Probiotics are important in recolonizing the intestine during and after antibiotic use. Probiotic supplements replenish the beneficial bacteria, preventing up to 50% of infections occurring after antibiotic use.19
Probiotics also promote healthy digestion. Enzymes secreted by probiotic bacteria aid digestion. Acidophilus is a source of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar, which is lacking in lactose-intolerant people.20
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally occurring carbohydrates that cannot be digested or absorbed by humans. They support the growth of bifidobacteria, one of the beneficial bacterial strains.21 Due to this effect, some doctors recommend that patients taking bifidobacteria also supplement with FOS. Several trials have used 8 grams per day. However, a review of the research has suggested that 4 grams per day appears to be enough to significantly increase the amount of bifidobacteria in the gut.22
If youre still with me, in answer to your question(s) I'd go with a probiotic that had as many types of friendly bacteria possible, and with the most "amounts".....that Ultimate 10 I talked about has a whole bunch...some are freeze dried and not in need of refrigeration, as this one is...I take two a day, (one in the morning, one at night) with meals, and it does me right! If you wanna go with the liquid refrigerated kind at first, to build up fast, this could be a good idea, but so much is variable with all these issues, etc...and I'm not expert, I just act like one...
yeah, youre right, Cajun Lady is a very nice lady, haven't seen her lately, maybe if she's reading, she could pop in and give us an update, hope she's okay, and she doesn't live to far away from me from what I remember...
Get a copy of the lab. I called my doctors office and went and signed for it. Later on you won't get confused as to what was what when. Also if you have a copy you can show your heptologist.
You don't sound bad
You don't sound bad
You said something about getting the slides of your bx. How long do the keep them do you think before they are destroyed?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
