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Liver Biopsy Result
Friends, a call today says NORMAL! Wonder if GI will still want to begin Tx. Genotype still unknown. Will call tomorrow to confirm. Miracle!
Actually she called her doc and got the information that she will get her stage and grade at a later date. There's another thread floating around here.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Liver-Biopsy-Normal-/show/1391752
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Liver-Biopsy-Normal-/show/1391752
From my experience, if you are going to go the road of treatment, you want a competent dr in the realm of Hep C. It invests to much of your soul, and your body to be playing with someone that gives bad or limited information. So I ditto the others comments about a second opinion, and hopefully one from a hepotologist.
I didn’t take it they you were agreeing (or disagreeing) with them.
I don’t know what their rational is. But if they are taking this approach to G2s, It wouldn’t surprise me if one day they only do BXs on G1s if they relapse. To me it would be the using the same logic.
I don’t know what their rational is. But if they are taking this approach to G2s, It wouldn’t surprise me if one day they only do BXs on G1s if they relapse. To me it would be the using the same logic.
Ricky,
Don't get me wrong. I was not recommending for or against getting a biopsy for G2. If it was me, I think I would want one. If I knew that I had not had the virus for a long period of time, I might be satisfied without getting one, but certainly not in my present condition (I get one yearly as a matter of course).
The point of my comment was more to reflect the opinion and rationale of doctors that I have heard, first hand, and by other means. I think THEIR rationale is that there is no point in subjecting the patient to the risk (there is some) of a biopsy if it is not going to influence treatment. Of course, they don't have to live with angst of not knowing for sure how far the THEIR disease is advanced. I don't know if that enters in to their medical opinion if it doesn't influence treatment.
I WOULD want to know, too.
(pardon the caps, they are added just for emphasis)
Don't get me wrong. I was not recommending for or against getting a biopsy for G2. If it was me, I think I would want one. If I knew that I had not had the virus for a long period of time, I might be satisfied without getting one, but certainly not in my present condition (I get one yearly as a matter of course).
The point of my comment was more to reflect the opinion and rationale of doctors that I have heard, first hand, and by other means. I think THEIR rationale is that there is no point in subjecting the patient to the risk (there is some) of a biopsy if it is not going to influence treatment. Of course, they don't have to live with angst of not knowing for sure how far the THEIR disease is advanced. I don't know if that enters in to their medical opinion if it doesn't influence treatment.
I WOULD want to know, too.
(pardon the caps, they are added just for emphasis)
Yes what is normal exactly? It's not an accurate reading and certainly you should know if that doctor knows what they are talking about.
Normal would be a result perhaps of an ultrasound but not a biopsy.
Please call and ask exact what stage and grade you are and let us know cause now we are really curious!
Normal would be a result perhaps of an ultrasound but not a biopsy.
Please call and ask exact what stage and grade you are and let us know cause now we are really curious!
I couldn't agree with you more. My first GI said just start treatment, my brother in law who is a GP encouraged me to get a BX. I'm glad I did considering the results were 3 and 3.
For me, I couldn't imagine not knowing and particularly not knowing when doing treatment. A number of decisions would alter for me based on knowing how much liver damage I have. I'd rather go in with ALL the information.
Chugen - I'd get a second opinion. Your doc sounds like he's either not very communicative or isn't very knowledgeable about treating Hep C.
Chugen - I'd get a second opinion. Your doc sounds like he's either not very communicative or isn't very knowledgeable about treating Hep C.
That's my argument concerning G2 BXs. I wouldn't want to live this rest of my life worrying about my liver when a simple biopsy would tell me if I need to worry or not. I was only F1 but without BX, I wouldn't know that.
I am G2 and I wanted a biopsy. Why wouldn't I want to know the condition of my liver. It wasn't really a big deal they numb you stick you and you lay on your side.
Chugen: You pathology results sound positive, congrats.
Chugen: You pathology results sound positive, congrats.
Ricky,
I think the rationale for not doing a biopsy for genotype 2 is the question: why do a test that will not affect the recommended treatment? If the doc is going to recommend TX regardles of stage, why do the test?
I think you could make an argument that you need to know stage in case of very advanced disease, but perhaps in newly eiagnosed persons with short history of the virus this would really not be necessary.
Chugen: I have never heard of anyone going for treatment not knowing genotype. That just isn't right. Would the doctor be assuming genotype 1 because it is the most common in N.A.? That is ridiculous.
Brent
I think the rationale for not doing a biopsy for genotype 2 is the question: why do a test that will not affect the recommended treatment? If the doc is going to recommend TX regardles of stage, why do the test?
I think you could make an argument that you need to know stage in case of very advanced disease, but perhaps in newly eiagnosed persons with short history of the virus this would really not be necessary.
Chugen: I have never heard of anyone going for treatment not knowing genotype. That just isn't right. Would the doctor be assuming genotype 1 because it is the most common in N.A.? That is ridiculous.
Brent
I’m not trying to be a wet blanket but I’ve never heard of doing a BX without knowing Gen Type. Some won’t do a BX if you are G2 (never understood that).
Congratulations on your results but I must be honest, after reading through your posts, I am concerned about your GI. This is serious business and if I was in your shoes, I would be seeking a 2nd opinion. You are taking care of you 90 Y.O. Mother and if you find out you are G1 and no Liver Damage, there is no reason to rush into this or consider to wait for the new meds. This is just my opinion and I am not trying to persuade you to not tx but I am trying to persuade you to get another opinion.
What ever you decide, we will be here for you.
Congratulations on your results but I must be honest, after reading through your posts, I am concerned about your GI. This is serious business and if I was in your shoes, I would be seeking a 2nd opinion. You are taking care of you 90 Y.O. Mother and if you find out you are G1 and no Liver Damage, there is no reason to rush into this or consider to wait for the new meds. This is just my opinion and I am not trying to persuade you to not tx but I am trying to persuade you to get another opinion.
What ever you decide, we will be here for you.
Did you talk to the doctor or the nurse? That's great news if it is correct. Maybe the person you talked to thought you wouldn't understand the pathology terminology.
The genotype and viral load are discovered by a blood test, not the biopsy, and it seems to me that the doctor would have done that test before they even thought of the biopsy.
You might consider asking this GI how many HCV patients he has treated in the past. Just doesn't sound right to me.
Diane
The genotype and viral load are discovered by a blood test, not the biopsy, and it seems to me that the doctor would have done that test before they even thought of the biopsy.
You might consider asking this GI how many HCV patients he has treated in the past. Just doesn't sound right to me.
Diane
Hopefully your doctor is using "normal" to describe Stage 0, which indeed would be wonderful news. Life's natural anti-depressant! Certainly a life to the spirits!
With no measurable damage, I think you're in a good position to call the shots, regardless of what your GI's position is on treatment. Best wishes moving forward. ~eureka
With no measurable damage, I think you're in a good position to call the shots, regardless of what your GI's position is on treatment. Best wishes moving forward. ~eureka
"Normal" sounds like it could be good news,however it is not a term used to assess the degree of liver damage.For the purpose of knowing if starting treatment or not the "stage of fibrosis is one of the key factors.
As the others have said,that is the info.you must get from the dr. ..and hey lets hope that what they meant by normal that their was stage 0 fibrosis ,then tx.can wait for another day! Good luck.
As the others have said,that is the info.you must get from the dr. ..and hey lets hope that what they meant by normal that their was stage 0 fibrosis ,then tx.can wait for another day! Good luck.
Yes I agree. You should call you doctor and ask for the stage and grade of your disease. It sounds like your liver is likely in good condition.
I still wouldn't be comfortable with "normal" as a diagnosis and you should ask for a copy of every lab and report that is done and keep them in a file or folder. That is your right and any good doctor will not question that request.
It sounds like you had some good news.
Congrats,
Dave
I still wouldn't be comfortable with "normal" as a diagnosis and you should ask for a copy of every lab and report that is done and keep them in a file or folder. That is your right and any good doctor will not question that request.
It sounds like you had some good news.
Congrats,
Dave
"Normal" is not a reading! You need to talk to the doctor and ask what stage and what grade you are. What the heck does normal mean? Do you have HepC are you zero stage and zero grade? Confused.
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