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Having Liver Biopsy on 26th?
Hey Guys, I am having my liver biopsy done on the 26th with my follow up appt to see my doc on Nov. 2. When I have the biopsy done are there questions that I need to have lined up to ask the person doing this? What questions would you guys consider to be good ones to ask when I have my follow up appt. to get my results? I am pre-tx right now and they are wanting these numbers to get a baseline (?) Thanks in advance for your time.
Blessings
Blessings
My daughter had a biopsy done in May of this yr. I was a nervous wreck. They just sedated her and did not put her under all the way. THe hardest part for me, was seeing her in so much pain afterwards or just her coming off of the local stuff they gave her or a combination of both.
She just cried and cried hysterically until she cried her self to sleep for about 3 hours and then she was a lot better.
She just cried and cried hysterically until she cried her self to sleep for about 3 hours and then she was a lot better.
My biopsy was ct scan guided. I asked which is better and my doctor said both were good. Having a "picture" of the liver is supposed to give the radiologist a greater chance of not harming any organ and get the core of the liver to get the best idea of what's going on. I asked what size sample he would be obtaining, how soon the results would be available to my doctor, and I asked my dr. how soon I could call and get the results. I did not get any kind of pain reliever or sedative prior, but he numbed the area with lidocaine. I had the worst head and neck ache prior and told him I needed something after the procedure to help my headache. When it was through he said that he was prescribing Darvocet and if that didn't work, morphine. I started laughing and said "It's just a headache"
You will probably think of questions to ask as it takes place, or you can google liver biopsies and it will give you some ideas. (For me it was more to worry about) Good luck, God bless, hopw your results are good.
You will probably think of questions to ask as it takes place, or you can google liver biopsies and it will give you some ideas. (For me it was more to worry about) Good luck, God bless, hopw your results are good.
I HAVE ALREADY HAD A LIVER BIOSPY DONE IN 2001. SHOWING MY LIVER AS HEALTHY SO TO SPEAK AS POSSIBLE. I ONLY OPENED THIS NEW THREAD BECAUSE NOW MY VL IS UP AND THEY WANT TO DO ANOTHER TO SEE WHERE THINGS ARE BEFORE BEGINNING TX. SO MY POINT IS IS THAT IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE HAD ONE. THEY ARE DOING IT WITH AN ULTRASOUND ON THE LIVER AS WELL....I GUESS THIS IS PROTOCOL? BUT I AM ONE THAT IS ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS UNTIL I FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT ANYTHING....
IN CHRIST,
RICK
IN CHRIST,
RICK
OK gotcha. I'll call the hosp. and ask who is scheduled to do the bx and then get ask his stats and about pain meds etc.
My Doctor (Who is not doing it) told me they will give me something, but to make sure I stop the Vitamin E 1 week before because it thins the blood. No Motrin or Asprin either.
Thanks Scott
My Doctor (Who is not doing it) told me they will give me something, but to make sure I stop the Vitamin E 1 week before because it thins the blood. No Motrin or Asprin either.
Thanks Scott
Xenigma, my friend I knew that you weren't from your post coinfected with HIV....But that you were having to deal with more than just the HCV...my apologies.
That is a very good suggestion. I agree those tests can be valuable to the patient and add to their information regarding their liver.
A biopsy is still considered the "gold standard" for establishing liver condition, but it too has it's limitations and is imperfect and can not tell you the status of your entire liver. Multiple sample, ultrasound guided biopsy to me is the best way to go but even that has limittions.
Utilizing the blood marker tests can give the patient one more piece of the information pie to work with.
Some can not have biopsies, those with very low platelets for instance, so they can use these tests to help them determine liver status.
No test is perfect, but all together they can present a pretty good picture.
Ideally, I feel patients benefit most from having biopsy if they can tolerate it, a CT scan done with the latest tomography equipment if available and blood marker tests. If they can manage to get a Fibroscan too, all the better.
A biopsy is still considered the "gold standard" for establishing liver condition, but it too has it's limitations and is imperfect and can not tell you the status of your entire liver. Multiple sample, ultrasound guided biopsy to me is the best way to go but even that has limittions.
Utilizing the blood marker tests can give the patient one more piece of the information pie to work with.
Some can not have biopsies, those with very low platelets for instance, so they can use these tests to help them determine liver status.
No test is perfect, but all together they can present a pretty good picture.
Ideally, I feel patients benefit most from having biopsy if they can tolerate it, a CT scan done with the latest tomography equipment if available and blood marker tests. If they can manage to get a Fibroscan too, all the better.
I am in Davie/Cooper City area. You're not alone down here.
I'm sure there are more here in Broward but they don't post. We have "Snook" who is Miami-Dade County and he comes around every so often. He is very knowlegable about the virus and the docs down here.
You misunderstood, I am not co-infected with HIV
but I had HAV and HBV. HBV I have cleared (that was back in 1979) Now I have to deal with the C and many health issues which have been in my way from tx'ing. Hopefully I will get my chance soon to try and rid myself of the virus. Let us know how your bx turns out and I will do the same...
enigma
I'm sure there are more here in Broward but they don't post. We have "Snook" who is Miami-Dade County and he comes around every so often. He is very knowlegable about the virus and the docs down here.
You misunderstood, I am not co-infected with HIV
but I had HAV and HBV. HBV I have cleared (that was back in 1979) Now I have to deal with the C and many health issues which have been in my way from tx'ing. Hopefully I will get my chance soon to try and rid myself of the virus. Let us know how your bx turns out and I will do the same...
enigma
Xenigma, Did you say Broward? I live in South Florida. Ft Lauderdale to be exact. I just saw your post and I got happy to see that I might not be alone down here. I too am coinfected only with HIV.....and that by God and His grace alone is and has been under control. This HCV thing is driving me insane I feel sometimes. If I can refer you to anyone or possibly through this website/forum encourage you then it would be my pleasure. Thanks to all who have responded. I have and been blessed with all of your responses to my other posts.
In Christ
Rick
In Christ
Rick
Somebody mentioned that there are drugs you can ask for before your biopsy, one they commonly use is VERSED (the date-rape drug). You are still a bit awake so you can respond to the doctor's instructions but there is no pain and it wears of quickly. Works like a charm (so I was told). I am definitley going to try it next month when I am scheduled to have my biopsy as I had a very painful experience the last time and have no wish to ever repeat it.
They can give you somethingn to ease the biopsy. Bring a book or something because I had to lay on my side for 3 hours. Rather boring. Bring a book or crossword puzzle or something.
Rick-
No need to apologize. No harm.
I just wanted to clarify for you Rick.
Scott- How do you find out how many bx's the Radiologist has done prior to asking him face to face while you are ready to be
jabbed?
If he say's 50 do I just rip the IV out and get up and leave?
Seriously, How do you go about finding out his stats?
No need to apologize. No harm.
I just wanted to clarify for you Rick.
Scott- How do you find out how many bx's the Radiologist has done prior to asking him face to face while you are ready to be
jabbed?
If he say's 50 do I just rip the IV out and get up and leave?
Seriously, How do you go about finding out his stats?
I believe they will be asking all the questions.
What I asked about is the new treatments in development. All I got was yes there are new things in the works with shorter terms and side effects that work better. But that is all.
I will be going in Nov 1st for my follow up and will hear lots of stuff then. I see Dr. Gitlin of Atlantagastro.xxx. See his credentials in the "our physicians" link there.
I will report all I can get.
What I asked about is the new treatments in development. All I got was yes there are new things in the works with shorter terms and side effects that work better. But that is all.
I will be going in Nov 1st for my follow up and will hear lots of stuff then. I see Dr. Gitlin of Atlantagastro.xxx. See his credentials in the "our physicians" link there.
I will report all I can get.
Did your doctor ever mention these 2 blood tests to you Fibro & Acti test? Supposedly they are non-invasive tests to check for damage cirr. & fib. according to some studies they are pretty accurate in assessing the damage and you do not have to go thru with a biopsy.
I never had a biopsy before treatment, they were afraid to try it because I am a fainter, but if I would have known about these other tests I might have checked that out to have them done instead.
Good luck Jordie47
I never had a biopsy before treatment, they were afraid to try it because I am a fainter, but if I would have known about these other tests I might have checked that out to have them done instead.
Good luck Jordie47
Please don't get yourself in a tizzy worrying about your biopsy. The first bx I had (2004)was a piece of cake. It was done by my current doc who is very experienced in it, and after It was done, my husband & I went out for lunch and then motorcycle shopping. I felt fine.
My 2nd biopsy (in 2006) was another story. I live in a small town with a small hospital. At this point I had found another doc in my home town (for convenience). He had a anestiolgist or a radiologist (I forget which one)do my biopsy. It went really well until after he pulled out the needle. Evidently, some bile seeped out and caused me alot of pain in my right shoulder & collarbone area. It was awful and I think I also had an anxiety attack when that happened. I felt like I couldn't breathe (looking back now I'm sure it was anxiety) They had to give me morphine and eventually I calmed down & the pain went away.
My advice is to make sure you have a Hep C specialist who "knows his salt" when having your bx. In my experience, it was a difference between night and day.
And by the way...I am back with my first Hep C Dr.
Best of luck to you guys.
E
My 2nd biopsy (in 2006) was another story. I live in a small town with a small hospital. At this point I had found another doc in my home town (for convenience). He had a anestiolgist or a radiologist (I forget which one)do my biopsy. It went really well until after he pulled out the needle. Evidently, some bile seeped out and caused me alot of pain in my right shoulder & collarbone area. It was awful and I think I also had an anxiety attack when that happened. I felt like I couldn't breathe (looking back now I'm sure it was anxiety) They had to give me morphine and eventually I calmed down & the pain went away.
My advice is to make sure you have a Hep C specialist who "knows his salt" when having your bx. In my experience, it was a difference between night and day.
And by the way...I am back with my first Hep C Dr.
Best of luck to you guys.
E
AMERIBOI2003-I'm sorry, I have no answer for you as I will be checking back for answers to your post for myself...
I (finally) found a good doc (I hope) up here in Broward and am scheduled to have my liver biopsy in 2 weeks. We're just gonna take my case step by step. After almost 4 years I finally feel that I am getting moved along in the right direction.
I do know that it will be an US guided bx and my doc said it will be a painful. They will give me something for that.
(I hope LOL)
I also have to get a CT scan beforehand of the gallbladder liver and pancreas so I need to be at the hospital 3 and a half hours before the bx. (Maybe that's normal for everyone?)
I have to take off from work for 5 days (at least) but that's just my situation. (I do heavy lifting - and am on my feet all day)
My Doc told me my case is going to be hard to treat and hard to cure but he's willing to to take the steps with me to rid me of the virus. So I will just take it one step at a time.
I am a 1b with (a latest) VL of 4.75 Million. Last year it was 700,000. I know it means nothing but I don't like it. I also have had HAV & HBV. I cleared the HBV on my own.
Have a good day all & I will be checking back for answers to
AMERIBOI2003's ? for myself and will let you know my results of the bx in a few weeks.
Good luck with your bx, hope all goes well you (and for me too! LOL) And YES, I'm scared...
enigma
I (finally) found a good doc (I hope) up here in Broward and am scheduled to have my liver biopsy in 2 weeks. We're just gonna take my case step by step. After almost 4 years I finally feel that I am getting moved along in the right direction.
I do know that it will be an US guided bx and my doc said it will be a painful. They will give me something for that.
(I hope LOL)
I also have to get a CT scan beforehand of the gallbladder liver and pancreas so I need to be at the hospital 3 and a half hours before the bx. (Maybe that's normal for everyone?)
I have to take off from work for 5 days (at least) but that's just my situation. (I do heavy lifting - and am on my feet all day)
My Doc told me my case is going to be hard to treat and hard to cure but he's willing to to take the steps with me to rid me of the virus. So I will just take it one step at a time.
I am a 1b with (a latest) VL of 4.75 Million. Last year it was 700,000. I know it means nothing but I don't like it. I also have had HAV & HBV. I cleared the HBV on my own.
Have a good day all & I will be checking back for answers to
AMERIBOI2003's ? for myself and will let you know my results of the bx in a few weeks.
Good luck with your bx, hope all goes well you (and for me too! LOL) And YES, I'm scared...
enigma
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