stages

[djbn13]

I know it takes time to go from stage 1,2 etc in liver disease and the older you are that time might be shorter(I think) but does having hepc also shorten the time between stages?

In other words would a person that has maybe cirrhosis from alcohol is young and stops drinking or not progress slower than someone much older with hepc?

DJ

[pcds]

I work in an ICU, see lots of infections, illness.  You can get sick, your body is vulnerable to getting other bugs. One bug can lead to another.  Some people have more resistance to these bugs.  With COPD, I have found if you are obese, over 55 yrs of age, you may have big problems.  You and retired air force guy are two different people.  You would have to understand his whole medical hx to see the differences.  

[djbn13]

Thanks that was a really easy to understand summary.

Guess I'm just curios on how our bodies react so differently. For example a co-worker has copd the same as me, diagnosed at basically the same stage taking the same meds.  He is retired air force and very strict about taking care of himself, diet etc.  Last year he got the flu turned into a lung infection and now he's at home on oxygen and in the end stages.  I also got a lung infection a while back in the hospital etc. but got over it.

So is it genetics, pure luck or some of both.

[Cory255]

STAGES OF PROGRESSION

From the time you are infected six months after that is called the acute phase.  The immune system may clear the virus during this time, if that doesn't happen six months after the time you are infected is called the chronic phase or stage.  Generally hepatitis c is classified as a liver disease, however the virus can affect other body systems and cause symptoms, illnesses, and other complications outside of the liver.  

Changes can occur with your liver if the virus is present.  The progression is generally slow moving, but can intially start as inflammation due to virus hijacking, infecting, or killing off liver cells through gradual scarring (fibrosis) and then hardening of the liver tissue (cirrhosis).  During progression the immune system plays a highly influential role both in stemming the disease, but in accelerating the scarring of the liver.    

Cirrhosis is associated with severe scarring that alters the main structure of the liver.  Over-time this can seriously undermine the livers ability to function.  In terms of classification cirrhosis is defined as compensated or de-compensated.  If your liver is still functioing properly such as carrrying out essential functions then it is compensated cirrhosis.  If the livers functions are affected it is called decompensated cirrhosis.  

The most series stage is portal hypertension:  This is when blood cannot properly flow into the liver and causes bleeding from distended veins (varicies) in the oepsphagus and the build up of abdominal fluid (acites)

Hepatic Encephalopathy:  If blood is forced to bypass the liver it is not filtered for poisons and toxins and there is a risk of serious mental confusion leading to coma.  Cirrhosis also significantly increases the risk of developing liver cancer. This can develop from either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.  The time it takes varies.  For some it may be quicker, but for others it may take up to sixty years.  Cory.  

[djbn13]

Yep, it's our time hopefully we will be the reigning class of 2011 or 2012.

But I know that we couldn't of gotten there without the "old-timers" of this forum.

Thanks to all of you that have gone before us and continue to guide us.

DJ

[pcds]

We all need treatment if hep c+  I believe almost everyone who wants treatment will get it and be cured within with meds coming next year and the next 3-5 yrs for sure.  We need to stay healthy, informed and we will all beat this hep c virus.  It's our time.  Used to be HIV got all the attention, well there is alot of attention now regarding hep c.
Judy

[spectda]

Of course genetics play a huge role in your overall health. My doc told me that the average stage lasts about 6 years, mine have been averaging about half that based on three biopsies.

The average is length of a stage is kind of meaningless though because we are all completely different. I mean they stage cancer, and then people get very sick much quicker or go on for years beyond the expectation. The only thing to do is take care of your health and get blood work and biopsies when it's time to monitor your particular progression.

- Dave

[djbn13]

I was curios if there is like a standard time frame from one stage to the next and what would make one progress faster than another.
Even if two people have the same disease in the same stage say stage 3 cirrhosis and hepc and basically the same life style one will probubly progress faster than the other.
Do you think it all comes back to genetics in the end?

[pcds]

How the drinker does has something to do with how much the person drinks.  I do think hep c is less forgiving as a person ages, so you may have it young for 20 or 30 yrs and progress faster as you age. I don't have a good answer, it's an interesting question.  I have wondered about how my liver will progress now that I don't drink, knowing now I have hep c.  Haven't gotten an answer.  

I think you are asking which is worse, etoh abuse without hep c, or hep c without etoh and how cirrhosis progresses in each scenario.  Any ideas?

[spectda]

I think the key is eliminating the cause of what is damaging your liver regardless of whether it is hep c or alcohol or Nash (fatty liver deposits) or whatever else it may be. If the damage has not gone to far, your liver has the ability to regenerate or at least not continue to deteriorate.  

If you have more then one cause, naturally it will accelerate the damage, that's why not drinking alcohol and not being overweight are so important if you have hep c.

There's not a lot you can do about what you did when you were younger, treat yourself well now if you want to slow the damage.

- Dave