Liver Biopsy Thursday

I'm getting my biopsy Thursday (ultrasound guided). My GI doctor didn't even recommend me get one but I insisted that I get one after taking advice from some of you.

I'm pretty nervous about the whole procedure - I know the odds of having something go wrong are rare but I'm a hypochondriac to begin with. The hospital called me and said that they're going to give me a mild sedative (yea!).

Anyways, just really nervous (not about any pain, just about complications I hear about) ...

Just venting I guess.

Oh, I do have a question: I could have had a blood transfusion in 1985, when I was one I had surgery on my lung because it was underdeveloped. If indeed I did get a blood transfusion in 85' I'm assuming this is where I contracted this. If this is true - since it could be 23 years after I contracted this ... what are the chances that I could already be in the cirrhosis category at just age 23? I know there is no definite answer here but has anyone here ever gotten (or assumed they got) hepc at birth and still had a 90%-100% healthy liver at age 30-35+ without getting rid of the virus?

BTW, I just found out that I had hepc about a month ago. I'm a genotype 1 with a VL of about 370,000

Thanks for all your responses and help thus far!

[Trish77]

Drew....I wouldn't even conjecture about cirrhosis.  No matter what you fear or no matter what you hope for, it is what it is.  Wait for your results and deal with your reality.  You're already doing that so well.  I have no doubt that you'll continue to do that.  

Don't sweat the biopsy.  It is an easy procedure.  Some discomfort, very little pain.  Just don't do anything too strenuous for 48 hours after...take it easy.  It's not because you will feel pain so much as you will CAUSE yourself to feel pain if you strain yourself prematurely.  You'll be okay.

I'm starting in a drug trial and I was reading up on one of the risk factors and I scared myself sh!tless for awhile by reading about the rare situation that COULD happen....took me a few days to calm down about it.  I finally had to tell myself that we'll all be giving it our best effort and beyond that it is out of my control, so what will be will be.  Sort of like everyday life in general, isn't it.

I hope you'll post your biopsy results...all the best to you.

Trish

[oyasin]

My biopsy was easier than going to the dentist. 10 min. prep, Doc walks in, IV starts, 3-5 min later I hear a little 'pop' (the gizmo they use) and it's over. I didn't feel a thing. bummer is, you gotta wait like 6 hrs. before you leave, in case you bleed internally (very unlikely) or show signs of infection. No pain at puncture site or liver.

I 'may' have had C1b for 32 yrs., just found out 1.5 yrs ago.  very mild liver dammage/inflamation, no symptoms.
You have a better chance of clearing virus with a VL that low.

David

[scratchinghead]

Yeah, I felt cheated. Biopsy didn't hurt, was over before I knew it. All that worry for nothing.

[mar148]

I had a biopsy last March and while it was a long boring day waiting for the procedure it was painless and without incident.  

In terms of your fears, I personally would be as positive as  possible.  There are as many reasons to think you are not stage four then not.  You have many options and alot is going on in this field of disease with lots of support.

[drew1985]

Well I just got my back from the biopsy. The doctor ended up doing the incision through the center of my chest just under the rib cage.

They took two samples - I felt a little pain but it was nothing unbearable.

I asked the doctor if I could look at the two pieces they took from me afterwards - they were very thin... resembles a thin thread of string. Since they went into the center of my chest they said I could lay on my back for the 4 hour recovery period so that was good.

I feel pretty good - only mild discomfort around the incision area.

Thanks for all your support,
-Drew

[merryBe]

yup the meds will help....it didn't hurt....they took 3 core samples, went in from the side but I still got to lay on my back to recover.

they watch your blood levels for several hours....to make sure you got a good clot and have no internal bleeding.

Unfortunately the girl watching my blood got all concerned that I was bleeding......

she had forgottn to factor in the 2 quarts of fluid through my IV and the quart I drank.....
so as my blood thinned she got all worried and started to worry me....

but it was nothing......I started praying for her  (having visions of them wheeling me into ER for some emergency repair.....

and soon after she came back in and did a big OH DUH........kinda thought something like that was up......that nurse just didn't look like shed been to sleep the night befre...

so anyway.......99.9 percent of these g fine so why worry. It's like worrying you'll be in a fatal accident every day you get in your car.........kinda senseless and unlikely.
good luck.

my son contracted the disease from me, either a birth 30 years ago, or when he was 5 frm a surgery.  Either way his liver is still fine and his VL is undetectable.
when you are young, and assuming in good health and not drinking/smoking pot, you can go that many years with minimal or no damage to the liver.  However the real only way to find out for certain if that is the case is to have a biopsy done.
Let us know how it goes.