does the liver regenerates ??

hi everyone, just had my liver scan becouse my afp was little high I did ask the nurse tech. if she saw anything on the montor she would not tell me at first but came back in and say she did'nt see anything alarming but that my doc would get results today, still scared hope he doesnt call me, my alt and other counts are normal but the "S" virus is still 3290000 so I'm going on the max with peg, my question is when the virus is undetectable does your liver regenerates itself ????

[MichaelT]

There is evidence that when the viral assault on the liver (and/or other offenses to the liver) is put in check, the liver makes attempts to regenerate. Obviously the more scarring the more difficult the job is. This is why you will read that people on treatment can benefit from the treatment even if the virus is not eliminated.

[eagles5]

Thanks, I'm going to make a big fight in reaching my goal I'm 57 year young I want to go on with my life,familyand friends

[poolcue]

Sorry, Eagles5 to jump in on your Post forgive me...Diana


The 28th this Tuesday it will be 3 weeks that I have been off my Peg-intron injection & Riba.  I'm still on Procrit once a week (tuesdays).
The first couple of weeks I have been wired to the max....I made each day feel like 48 hours or more.  I cleaned,cleaned and cleaned, worked in the yard, moved stuff from here to there, up and down all night long, up every morning at 5am.

My point is:
I feel like my red & white blood count may be dropping again.  ( I feel like I'm back on my meds )

Is this normal?
  
Last blood count taken on the 13th
RBC 14
WBC 2.3
Viro up to 200,000 from 100,000

I'm still bruising,not healing from cuts, wanting to rest more all day long.
If this is normal how long will it last? Or should I go to my family Dr. and have him do my blood work?
Smles,
Diana

[jane777]

My doctor said the liver does regenerate.  But how does he really know?  Do they give us another biops a few years after successfully finishing tx to see how we are doing?  I don't know.

[snook_man]

The liver does regenerate. There are many testimonials to that around the web. Just run a google, and many articles will come up on the subject.
I have been told by my Dr on a few occasions how patients have gone from stage 3 to stage 1, after tx.

[Bill1954]

Eagles:
If you get a moment, give this a look - It discusses reversal of fibrosis in depth. Bunch of technical stuff, but read between lines....It's some good info.

http://www.smj.org.uk/0204/fibrosis.htm

Best, Bill

[lovingwife711]

Study search starting to pay off.  Only 1 problem, the only study that has got back to us is in MD and we are in FL, but if it is the only one that can help, come He77 or high water I will make it work.  Again thank you all for your wonderful advice.  Without you I would have not even found this place.
May God Shine Many Blessings Apond ALL of you!!
LW

Will keep you posted........

[susan400]

Many times the liver regenerates, but not always.  I've been treating for years and I've had 3 biopsies.  Despite all my treatments, each biopsy shows worsening of fibrosis.  I have to look at it positively in that if I hadn't treated, perhaps my liver biopsy may be showing end stage cirrhosis. So, that the way I see it.  I'm not autoimmune, so that's not an issue.  Just a really aggressive, non-responsive case of hep C, I suppose.

Susan

[honey1616]

Hi Chev,,,,Yeah we sure could have saved us alot of aggravation if we only knew about the miracle drug.  I did think kinda weird when says heals dogs ears, cancer, kidney problems,,hep! Ha  Sounds like a household product we can put in our medicine cabinet and live forever!  LOL Would be nice,,,

[honey1616]

Has anyone heard of Del-Immune V?  There was a big write it up a few weeks ago in the denver paper. Says it has defeated cancer, hepatitis and other health related problems.  Says a woman that had been battling hepatitis c,,,,took this for 6 months and now she has not only beat it but her liver is healthy....

[Tony-z]

Here is some good reading about liver regeneration.

Fibrosis and Cirrohsis are reversible states.


          God Bless

               TonyZ

<a href="http://janis7hepc.com/learning_about_liver_fibrosis2.htm#is%20liver%20fibrosis%20reversable">Liver Regeneration</a>


http://janis7hepc.com/learning_about_liver_fibrosis2.htm#is%20liver%20fibrosis%20reversable

[Tony-z]

<p><b><font size="7" color="#80080">Thank-YOU!!!</font></b></p><BR>

I have been so blessed to have found you both.


               Love and Blessings


                    TonyZ

[Brien]

People can go from stage 3 cirrhosis to stage 2?

[cuteus]

stage 3 is not cirrhosis as i understand it, it is severe fibrosis, and it can be reversed. stage 4 is cirrhosis. of course i could be wrong and stage 3 grade 4 is cirrhosis, I'll check janis7hepc.com...

[jmjm530]

Yes, stage 3 liver disease is fibrosis characterized by interportal bridging. Stage 4 is cirrhosis. But there are also three different stages of cirrhosis -- "A", "B" and "C".  

But in general, cirrhosis without the marked symptons (acites (ascites)/varices/portal hypertension, etc) is called compensated cirrhosis. Cirrhosis ith those symptons it is called decompensated cirrhosis. Many people with compensated cirrhosis have no symptons at all.

Not sure about decompensated cirrhosis, but studies suggest that those with compensated cirrhosis and fibrosis can reverse liver damage with SVR. The long term benefit is less clear if they do not achieve SVR. So, yes, you can potentially go from stage 3 to stage 2, even down to stage 1 or 0.

[jmjm530]

I wasn't quite sure when I first posted, but I didn't think it was as black and white as you suggest. When it comes to "long term" there is still a lot we don't know. The follow study suggests some long term benefits. Link to citation follows.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

"recent reports suggest that pretransplantation clearance of HCV RNA from blood may reduce the risk of HCV recurrence after transplantation. In the absence of a virologic cure, maintenance therapy with peginterferon may slow disease progression and reduce the rate of clinical decompensation."

http://tinyurl.com/8qfle

[Miss604]

You know...somtimes(most of the time) after reading all this hep C and Cirrhosis stuff, I feel so tense and upset all day and night.I know this is a help web site and I am on it too, but living in S jersey where we have NOTHING compared to other states that when I ask my Dr about things I read here,( trails, meds) he doesn't even know what I am talking about.??? I have been told after the last biopsy I now have early Cirrhosis,great?? I have seen 3 different Dr's. none of them did anything, They all put me on the meds, and I suffered this last time, awful, felt like I was doing more damage to my organs(which can happen) than helping the liver. I read everything I can on this disease, I am all alone too, husband after 18 years walked out when I needed him the most, he's HIV positive with undetectable Hep, he's healthy as a horse, he has had HIV for 14 yr's and just stopped taking his meds 3 years ago!! Unreal, well some people can some can't. Thank God I didn't get his HIV!! Anyway there seems to be nothing I can do except TRY to remain positive and get a will in order, OH does anyone really know (not speculate) if because I am still legally married, can I leave everything to some-one else? Without fear he can step in? Otherwords I have no money just stuff, and he left me 2 yr's ago, adultry and abandoment..