Aa
TRAVEL
Thanks for all your good input on whether or not a take a week vacation while on treament... I was also looking for any web sites that would say how difficult OR NOT travelling with a cronic illness may be... Well, I have given it much thought and I will cancel my trip, BUT -- I plan on getting stronger every day and hope to do same in 6 to 12 months... i have just come off a year treatment of pegIntron and riba...Didnt pass...but, now i am on maintanence dose- weekly injection.. I must take this as I am gyno type 1 and thru biopsy stage 4 cirrhosis. but thanks to all of you for your sugestions and ideas about traveling while on hepc treatment..
WOW, you have learned so much...thanks for your detailed discription and info about all this stuff...it really helped me...
I was sorry to read that the embryo transfer did not work. I pray that this next time will be the one for you! I know it can be so hard to want a child and frustrating going through all the tests etc...I went through about 5 years that we didn't think we were going to have a child and was eventually blessed with 3 girls! That was a small time frame now that I think back but it was hard knowing I might not have kids. My prayers are with you!
Thank you both for your encouragment. I appreciate it very much. I do continue to feel hopeful that things will eventually work out for us. But the waiting is indeed hard.
Susan
Susan
Didn't get a chance to jump in below, but I want to add my voice to the rest offering you comfort. My heart goes out to you and your husband. You have courage and committment and I wish only that you get your heart's desire.
Glad you found that comment on Endoscopy many threads down.
Varices are a result of portal hypertension, which occurs because blood pressure within the portal vein builds up as liver damage (fibrosis) increases. The fibrous tissue in the liver creates a higher resistance to blood flow. The body compensates for this increase by shunting blood to other vessels, because such a high volume of blood passes through the liver, it has to go somewhere. Nearby vessels surrounding the esophagus receive much of this blood, thereby becoming enlarged. Since they are small vessels with thin walls, they are susceptible to rupture. There are generally no symptoms or warning prior to a rupture in these vessels, but if it happens, it is life-threatening. Keep in mind, we're talking about some pretty advanced fibrosis here, like stage 4. (cirrhosis)
The development of varices may be suspected in cases of moderate to severe fibrosis, and can only be confirmed by endoscopy. If varices are present, they can be graded and staged just like liver damage, with stage 1 being the mildest and stage 4 being the most likely to rupture. If they do rupture, emergency endoscopy is performed to stop the bleeding. There is a banding procedure which places bands around the ruptured vessels, just like they do with hemmorhoids. They can also use coagulation therapy through the endoscope, essentially heat-sealing the ruptured vessels.
Varices will progress along the stages unless something is done to reduce the hypertension. This can be done by using the same kinds of drugs used to treat high blood pressure in general. For portal hypertension, beta-blockers provide better protection than ACE Inhibitors or ARB's, because they act to reduce blood flow by slowing down the heart rate. It's basically like turning down the faucet on the sink. The same amount of water goes through the pipes, it just takes longer and therefore, there is less pressure inside the pipe.
Beta blockers have side effects...You can develop cold hands and feet because of slower blood flow to the extremities.
You can also develop mild shortness of breath. (something to think about if you're already short of breath from the Riba)
Look on the Web for a drug site for one of the many beta blockers out there (Toprol is the one I take) and read the prescribing info. This will give you a full list of details.
If varices are found in your endoscopy, the doc will want to recheck annually if they are not severe, maybe every six months if they are. I've got full-blown cirrhosis, but only stage 1 varices, and I've probably been cirrhotic for 5 years.
Bottom line: Get the Endoscopy. It doesn't hurt at all, and you'll get pictures of your esophagus and stomach to look at. (I framed mine)
Much luck to you
Craig
Varices are a result of portal hypertension, which occurs because blood pressure within the portal vein builds up as liver damage (fibrosis) increases. The fibrous tissue in the liver creates a higher resistance to blood flow. The body compensates for this increase by shunting blood to other vessels, because such a high volume of blood passes through the liver, it has to go somewhere. Nearby vessels surrounding the esophagus receive much of this blood, thereby becoming enlarged. Since they are small vessels with thin walls, they are susceptible to rupture. There are generally no symptoms or warning prior to a rupture in these vessels, but if it happens, it is life-threatening. Keep in mind, we're talking about some pretty advanced fibrosis here, like stage 4. (cirrhosis)
The development of varices may be suspected in cases of moderate to severe fibrosis, and can only be confirmed by endoscopy. If varices are present, they can be graded and staged just like liver damage, with stage 1 being the mildest and stage 4 being the most likely to rupture. If they do rupture, emergency endoscopy is performed to stop the bleeding. There is a banding procedure which places bands around the ruptured vessels, just like they do with hemmorhoids. They can also use coagulation therapy through the endoscope, essentially heat-sealing the ruptured vessels.
Varices will progress along the stages unless something is done to reduce the hypertension. This can be done by using the same kinds of drugs used to treat high blood pressure in general. For portal hypertension, beta-blockers provide better protection than ACE Inhibitors or ARB's, because they act to reduce blood flow by slowing down the heart rate. It's basically like turning down the faucet on the sink. The same amount of water goes through the pipes, it just takes longer and therefore, there is less pressure inside the pipe.
Beta blockers have side effects...You can develop cold hands and feet because of slower blood flow to the extremities.
You can also develop mild shortness of breath. (something to think about if you're already short of breath from the Riba)
Look on the Web for a drug site for one of the many beta blockers out there (Toprol is the one I take) and read the prescribing info. This will give you a full list of details.
If varices are found in your endoscopy, the doc will want to recheck annually if they are not severe, maybe every six months if they are. I've got full-blown cirrhosis, but only stage 1 varices, and I've probably been cirrhotic for 5 years.
Bottom line: Get the Endoscopy. It doesn't hurt at all, and you'll get pictures of your esophagus and stomach to look at. (I framed mine)
Much luck to you
Craig
my heart and prayers go out to you "secondtime". and sorry about your cancelled trip...and i'm even more sorry that you have to settle on maintainance theropy alone at stage 4,but,it does help...but,isn't there any studies for you to join to try new stuff to stop or slow down liver progression? what does your dr. say about that? is he up on those things? can you go to a university study or something...can we help you find articles on trials or other remedies...??? what else do you take to help your liver...i know of vit e, sam-e,multi vit with no iron,vit.c,milk thistle, antioxidents, green tea,flax oil...and there are alot of other things too...nih recognizes milkthistle and sam-e...here is nih's alternative med site...but do be careful of alternatives that have no testing...they can be toxic to the liver...no kava kava for example...has caused liver failure...i took it eveynite for about a year...who knows how that may have contributed to my stage-grade 3/4...
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/
as for your vacation you will enjoy it more when you feel better i'm sure...me,i'm a glutton for punishment and have made plans in july for another camping trip to florida...this one will be full of nothing to do but lie on the beach, swim in the ocean, and take nature photography...oh i may go look at another lot or two...we'll see...take care and stay in touch, luv,lvd
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/
as for your vacation you will enjoy it more when you feel better i'm sure...me,i'm a glutton for punishment and have made plans in july for another camping trip to florida...this one will be full of nothing to do but lie on the beach, swim in the ocean, and take nature photography...oh i may go look at another lot or two...we'll see...take care and stay in touch, luv,lvd
'itsnotover' had posted a request on a thread down below (now closed) asking if you have any links to studies/papers related to cirrhosis reversal. I posted a couple, but he was wondering if you might have any more he could read? Thanks.
TnHepGuy
TnHepGuy
thanks for all your concern., Unfortuntly in 1997 the Dr.'s had no clue how to handle this illness..He just gave me a pamflet and a video on how to take the injections and sent me home. I think @ that time I did not realize what trouble I was really in. I dont believe there were any (maybe 1 or 2) web sites about this and the Dr's themselves didnt know what to do. In 1997 that dr. sd it was ok to stop the treament... BUT NOW, I know who very bad my liver is.. My current Dr. was also very very very surprised how bad the biopsy was...I'm guessing the 1st biopsy may have been read wrong...?? I never felt the same since 1997 and all the dr's knew how bad i felt (physically) and now mentally.. I dont think @ the time anyone associated by aches and tiredness with the hepc...I have to live in today, so i feel like a made the right decisson to do Maintenance Therapy - I am so tring to do as much as I can - probably tring too hard... I hope you are all having a good day - It is cold here today - I live in eastern mass. mostly I read this site I was never one to participate... I am 55 yr old female stage 4 cirrhosis and am praying I stay at least how I feel now and not much worse - thanks to all of you to let me vent like this - It feels good....
The thread below reached the maximum posts before I could thank you for your kind words. So I'm thanking you here. Hep C has robbed all of us in one way or another. I'm luckier than many, in some respects, and way less lucky in others. But I still have hope and I'm not giving up on my dreams and plans. None of us should.
Thanks again, Scott.
Susan
Thanks again, Scott.
Susan
Past? What past? I have no memory of what you're talking about, so it must be WAY behind us at this point ;)
Susan
Susan
You really should take a nice, relaxing trip when you feel like it. I just replicate my home environment, which means I have a nice place to rest, take my own tea and electic tea kettle, keep my snacks around-fruit and yogourt. When we are gone a wk or more, we take the blender and protein powder w/us. The hardest part of any trip now is the whole 'airport experience.' In fact. the 'airport experience' has us driving (leisurly 2 days) to Vegas this year. I figured that driving would actually add only 14hrs total to the complete trip.
Listen, you may not have all the time in the world. your liver is sick. Try not to deny yourself what's truly important b/c of self impossed limitations.
The worse thing about traveling is eating out, Esp in your advanced liver state, proteins, salts and fats (esp transfats) should be severly limited. B/even that's not a huge problem. My parents were diabetic and traveled extensivly. Perhaps that's why I never felt travelin' w/ meds & diet restricitons was any big deal.
I was also shocked, b/not surprised, @ the rapid decline in your liver's health. You even knew you had hep c way back when, so could have taken massive lifestyle changes. I would have given anything to have known and been able to make the changes in the late '90's. My life would have been radically different. My mind so much clearer.
Listen, you may not have all the time in the world. your liver is sick. Try not to deny yourself what's truly important b/c of self impossed limitations.
The worse thing about traveling is eating out, Esp in your advanced liver state, proteins, salts and fats (esp transfats) should be severly limited. B/even that's not a huge problem. My parents were diabetic and traveled extensivly. Perhaps that's why I never felt travelin' w/ meds & diet restricitons was any big deal.
I was also shocked, b/not surprised, @ the rapid decline in your liver's health. You even knew you had hep c way back when, so could have taken massive lifestyle changes. I would have given anything to have known and been able to make the changes in the late '90's. My life would have been radically different. My mind so much clearer.
I wish you the best of luck! I read everyone's posts on traveling and right now I'm just trying to stick close to home or go somewhere relaxing with my immediate family only. That way...if I'm not feeling great one day...I won't feel bad for letting anyone down. We love to sight see and go places but at this point.....I'm putting the money back for one big vacation next year! Hope everyone is feeling well today!
I am currently on (the box says 0.2ml - how many mcg?s is that???? I take this injection once a week and no ribatol this time around... I was diagnosed in 1997 @ that time very little was known about hepc - dr. handed my a video to watch and i took injection 3x's a week....did this for approx 4 months and couldnt take it... did nothing until 2000 - had biopsy done was grade 3 stage 2... in 2002 did pegintron and riba for 1 full year/ had another biospsy and it is now a stage 4 - cirrhosis. my dr sd not full treament again,. Maintance dose- currently on that 0.2 ml for 8 weeks... Still not good, but not as bad a full dose and riba..My mind is much clearer without the riba...I am just tring to stay aflot... anyway what does 0.2 ml breakdown to in mcg's????? I am staying on top on this and will stick to main dose until something better comes up...oh ya - I have had my labs done recently and the main dose is keeping the inflmation down (alt) per my dr. who i do like.... thanks again for all the help with my anxiety about a week away...
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.
