endoscopy results

Hi all, I,m a male 43yrs, stage 4 taking weekly interferon maintenance shots,My doctor did an endoscopy yesterday. He said that I had very small variaces that would need monitoring. another endoscopy in 1 year he said. So my Question is How sick am I? thanks all. giddyup

[giddyup]

Thanks angle.sometimes I just get confused.I used to always ask my np if I was going to die shed say no don;t worry .I guess my feet just arent on the ground right now so I kinda need insight on this from fellow heppers.

[sallyo]

They will monitor the varices and perhaps as you regain your liver health through treatment they will go away.  If they worsen, they will "band" them.  That is done via endoscopy and is relatively non invassive.  I had it done and worse part was a back ache the next day as the esophagus lays next to the spine.  Eating and drinking the next day.  Try not to worry too much and keep up on it with your doctor.

[GoofyDad]

I  was diagnosed with early cirrhosis. The doc actually seemed surprised that my endo was completely clean. So, I would venture that while stage 4 ain't a good thing, the presence of varicies themselves probably doesn't worsen your overall prognosis by much at all. You do need to watch them though.

Take good care.

[somuchmore]

Just be careful and very aware of signs of bleeding such as: low blood pressure, low hemo numbers, DARK/Tarry stool. It is a good thing that you have already done a endoscopy. Very important to watch.....

I too was thinking overall my health was good even with stage 2/3 and each time I asked about a endoscopy the DR, PA and NP told I was not that sick, yet.

And then, BAM I thought I was coming down with the stomach bug and next I knew I fell out. The EMS got me to emergency room pressuse was 65/33, sugar 425 and yes tarry stool. From there it was ICU and thank God they saved my life so I am verily blessed.

Now I'm taking blood pressue meds, acid reducer and was on sugar lowering which with weight loss I got sugar under control and off of the sugar med.

[GoofyDad]

FWIW - They did mine while I was on TX. And you don't want to see that bill....

[GoofyDad]

In my post to Giddy I tried to make the point that the discovery of varicies doesn't suddenly mean the liver has headed to hell in a handcart. I could be wrong, but my sense is that given 2 stage 4's, one w/ varicies, one w/o, you couldn't neccessarily use the varicies to say one liver was worse that the other.

I did NOT mean to say that varidies were nothing to worry about - but maybe it sounded that way. As others have stated so well, varicies are certainly nothing to turn your back on.

[orphanedhawk]

Now I'm confused(yet again).  My doc in Bangkok who originally diagnosed me with HCV and cirrhosis, put me on beta blockers, propanlol, as a preventive messure as he didn't want to do any invasive procedures. My current doc wants me to get an endoscopy after I finish tx. He said if I have varices then they'd do the rubber band procedure and I wouldn't have to take the beta blockers anymore.
     I don't mind taking the propanlol, no side effects, problems or otherwise and they're cheap.

[Kalio1]

I agree with somuchmore, you need to be carefully monitored. I too was diagnosed with early cirrhosis. Varices are caused by portal hypertension which is caused by advanced liver damage. According a lot I have read about it if you have been diagnosed with them, certain treatments are necessary and medication should be considered. Does your doctor have you on beta blockers?
Here is some info about esophagus varices I have in my files:

"Portal hypertension may lead to the formation of varices, when the increased blood pressure causes the dilatation of the veins with thin walls (mainly the blood vessels around the oesophagus or around the anus); in certain conditions these varicose veins may burst, causing blood loss.

Portal hypertension is the increased pressure in the portal vein and its tributaries resulting from increased resistance to the blood flow into the liver, and is usually caused by the scarring process of cirrhosis. The increased pressure causes varices, or dilatations of the veins tributaries to the portal vein. When varices are located in superficial tissues and have thin walls, they may rupture and bleed. The two main locations where bleeding is likely to occur are the lower oesophagus/upper stomach and the perianal region.

Oesophageal varices are likely to bleed most heavily, and this bleeding is sometimes associated with the onset of hepatic encephalopathy or coma. Because of their location at the lower end of the oesophagus and/or the upper portion of the stomach, bleeding from these varices is often difficult to control.

If discovered before bursting, or after successful emergency treatment, varices can be treated long term with beta blockers, which induce a reduction in the portal vein blood pressure.

If varices burst, they can be obliterated using endoscopically placed rubber bands or injections with a drug that turns the varices into sclerotic tissue. If the bleeding is heavy, a rubber baloon may be placed at the lower end of the esophagus or the upper portion of the stomach, and is then inflated, in order to stop the bleeding by pressure. If treatment via endoscopy fails to stop the bleeding, a TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) can be created by inserting a short metal mesh tube through a neck vein into the liver, redirecting part of the blood flow from the portal vein to another vein in the liver. Another possibility is to surgically redirect some of the blood flow from the portal vein around the liver.

Some physicians consider the occurence of bleeding oesophagial varices as a condition more serious than a heart attack. It is vital that the patient is taken without delay to a hospital at the first signs of bleeding. The symptoms are vomiting up blood and/or passsing of dark, almost liquid, bowel motions (melena)."

[dt5555]

I was diagnosed with Hep C in 2010.  A year later I started taking all the medication, Pegainferon, Ribaviron and Victerlis (sp?).  I was so sick on those medications, I could hardly get out of bed.  My hemoglobins and platelet counts were dangerously low.  After 12 weeks on the meds, my doctor determined that I had a resistance to the Pegainferon and I was taken off the meds.  My hemoglobins went up and so did my platelet count. I feel pretty good, but when I ask my doctor what do we do now.  I get this "it is an exciting time, they are testing medications with interferons and some are working".  She also says that I am a candidate for a clinical research program.  I have been told both of these things since I was diagnosed and nothing ever happens.  When I ask if I would be a candidate for a liver transplant in the future, she blows me off saying we are not even going to talk about that.  To me it is better to do something while I feel good rather than wait until I am on my death bed.  But my doctor doesn't think that way.  I just keep wondering if I am going to die from Hep C. I try to be positive because I think having a positive attitude helps when dealing with disease, but sometimes it is very hard, when I am not getting any answers.  Do any of you feel this way?  I would like to know that I am not alone, even though I feel like I am.

[Idyllic]

Greetings and welcome to the Forum.

I am sorry you did not respond to the Triple therapy. What is the condition of your liver? I mean the stage your biopsy revealed? How about your viral load.  What is your Genotype? Your doctor's comment related to a liver transplant seemed bleak and not very encouraging despite all the other things she said.  Perhaps a liver transplant is premature? It will be easier to determine once you post other details.

I am not sure how your post squares with having an endoscopy so I am bumping this along. You might want to repost your question and include the results of your endoscopy, your biopsy results and any other possible info that might enable someone else o provide more insight.

I can definitely appreciate how incredibly discouraged you must feel right now. I encourage you to stay active and healthy and hang in there and to try not let this reduce the quality of your life and your hope for the future. I know that is a tall order but hang in there.