Aa
Please Please Guide Me....
Hi All, I am 48 and just got the results of my liver biopsy today. Here is an extract from my report
"Portal Areas show mild infiltration by lymphocytes. Periportal piecemeal necrosis is mild. Lobules show mild focal degeneration. Fibrous portal expansion is not seen.
Opinion: Chronic hepatitis(Serologically HCV positive)with minimal activity and no fibrosis portal expansion Knodell histological activity index :3/18 & 3/22)"
Can someone Please guide me if I need to go on medication. How long will the medication last and would it really help. I mean if I am done with the medication would I be free of virus or would i ever need to take medication again. Also do I need to go on medication right now. Some please guide me as I am really panicking here.. ?
"Portal Areas show mild infiltration by lymphocytes. Periportal piecemeal necrosis is mild. Lobules show mild focal degeneration. Fibrous portal expansion is not seen.
Opinion: Chronic hepatitis(Serologically HCV positive)with minimal activity and no fibrosis portal expansion Knodell histological activity index :3/18 & 3/22)"
Can someone Please guide me if I need to go on medication. How long will the medication last and would it really help. I mean if I am done with the medication would I be free of virus or would i ever need to take medication again. Also do I need to go on medication right now. Some please guide me as I am really panicking here.. ?
Haey everyone. Thanks a lot for giving me valueable information and advice :). It certainly has helped me to calm down a bit and think logically. I have got my first appointment with a Hepatologist (recommended by my physician) and would inform u guys later about the progress. Once again thanks for all the support.
Welcome to the board! Lots of great advice already given to you and yes,,,Get a good dr and read and read and get all your information so you can make the best judgment on your health. Good Luck!
Hi, Winsome,
cute name.
Sorry you're dealing with Hepatitis C, but welcome.
Relax, this is a slow moving disease, and there's a lot you can do. Your biopsy scores are still quite moderate. Make sure you have a good doctor (preferably a gastro-enterologist or hepatologist) to work with you. You're going to need this doc for a while, so make sure you have good communications. Good luck, and come back here with your questions and comments.
Here are a great bunch of web sites where you can get informed.
Don't go crazy: the information on these web sites should be the same, so read just enough.
Get the basics on the FAQ's of these general HCV sites:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/ (American Liver Foundation)
http://www.natap.org
http://www.hepnet.com/hepc.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (explanation of blood cells & tests)
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
http://www.battlinghepc.com./
http://www.hepcassoc.org/links.html (many links)
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com co-infection; great info on HCV and treatment
http://www.themedicineprogram.com/info.html (helps pay for meds if you can
cute name.
Sorry you're dealing with Hepatitis C, but welcome.
Relax, this is a slow moving disease, and there's a lot you can do. Your biopsy scores are still quite moderate. Make sure you have a good doctor (preferably a gastro-enterologist or hepatologist) to work with you. You're going to need this doc for a while, so make sure you have good communications. Good luck, and come back here with your questions and comments.
Here are a great bunch of web sites where you can get informed.
Don't go crazy: the information on these web sites should be the same, so read just enough.
Get the basics on the FAQ's of these general HCV sites:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/ (American Liver Foundation)
http://www.natap.org
http://www.hepnet.com/hepc.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (explanation of blood cells & tests)
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
http://www.battlinghepc.com./
http://www.hepcassoc.org/links.html (many links)
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com co-infection; great info on HCV and treatment
http://www.themedicineprogram.com/info.html (helps pay for meds if you can
Hey mike I am 46 yrs old, male HEPC positive. About to start treatment. I am sure you have a lot of questons and the people here will provide you quality answers. First things first. Slow down buddy. We are all HepC positive here and are dealing with the virus. There is good treatment and in the majority of the cases it is curable. Do do some studing and you will feel better. We have all been exactlly where you are now. Feel free to e-mail me at ***@**** anytime. We are a team, a group here and will assit you along the way. You are NOT alone and the answers are here.
Lou
Lou
how long the teatment(tx) will last and its odds of erradicating the virus depend on your genotype. If you don't know it, ask for that test and a viral load count. these things will give some indication of your chances for a successful tx. genotypes 1 and four are the hardest to cure.
Not everyone here is HCV positive....there are loved ones of ours without the desease and a lot who have beat the dragon and are cured SVR!!!
Welcome to this forum. Sorry it's under these circumstances but you'll get help here. I think the first thing you need to do is find a hepotoligist. This type of doc specializes in liver disease. Be aware it often takes months to get your first appointment as they are typically pretty booked but this disease is very slow acting and you should have plenty oftime for that. I didn't wait for the appt since it was 4 months out and I was feaked out and ended up switching docs 3 times and still ended up with the original hepatologist I had called. If there is not one where you live try a GI doc. Many of them treat HCV patients. When you first see a doc make sure to write down and bring list of question. The first visit is somewhat overwhelming and people often have more questions after sonce they forgot to ask some. You can also prepare yourself by reading info on HCV. Hopefully majneni (or someone) will see this and post her list of HCV websites. I can't find it now and I am heading out on a business trip. I wish you the best. I know it's really hard to absorb this but it can work out. I just finished treatment and am waiting to hear my results next week. It was very tough but I worked full time and got through it. See you around. LL
Please, please, please, lose the panic. There is no reason to panic. It is scary getting the diagnosis and having this great big unknown <i>something</i> out there, but fortunately the fear of this unknown can be addressed.
Hep C can be successfully treated. "Successful" has a couple of meanings so it is important to be very clear about definitions when talking with your doctor(s). Success can certainly mean eradication of the virus - being cured - and it happens every day. Success can also mean that the virus wasn't eradicated, but liver histology improves and other markers of general liver health such as enzyme levels improve. This is called a biological response and the former a sustained virologic response.
Still, this can be a devastating and even fatal disease. You are fortunate in that it doesn't appear as if you have cirrhosis or permanent scarring of the liver. You have sufficient time to take your time, become educated about the disease and its treatment and make an informed decision about your health.
Do a bit of research and find a doctor with a good track record of treating hepc and if you can, have him or her treat you. Treatment is often doled out in a "cookie-cutter" fashion and that just doesn't make the grade anymore. Drug treatment consists of a long acting alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Treatment also includes regular bloodwork and should also involve counseling and support. A good diet and aerobic exercise are important factors for success.
Again, no need to panic. God bless! -Michael
Hep C can be successfully treated. "Successful" has a couple of meanings so it is important to be very clear about definitions when talking with your doctor(s). Success can certainly mean eradication of the virus - being cured - and it happens every day. Success can also mean that the virus wasn't eradicated, but liver histology improves and other markers of general liver health such as enzyme levels improve. This is called a biological response and the former a sustained virologic response.
Still, this can be a devastating and even fatal disease. You are fortunate in that it doesn't appear as if you have cirrhosis or permanent scarring of the liver. You have sufficient time to take your time, become educated about the disease and its treatment and make an informed decision about your health.
Do a bit of research and find a doctor with a good track record of treating hepc and if you can, have him or her treat you. Treatment is often doled out in a "cookie-cutter" fashion and that just doesn't make the grade anymore. Drug treatment consists of a long acting alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Treatment also includes regular bloodwork and should also involve counseling and support. A good diet and aerobic exercise are important factors for success.
Again, no need to panic. God bless! -Michael
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