tx treatment

[Mordred]

Almost one month with no drink. Never thought I'd make it one day. I have a question about the tx treatment. I'm still extremely apprehensive even thinking about it. My last blood work showed me at stage one with the disease and stage two with the fibrosis. Should I even be considering treatment with my test results or can I afford the luxury of waiting a a bit to see if they can come up with another treatment that's less evil than the current treatment?

[Mordred]

I was just going to suggest the same thing. I take 30mg of Prevacid when I wake up in the morning, and it works. Gets rid of the heartburn and can eat anything you want.

[honey1616]

My hubby had bad heartburn and told dr and it is caused by producing to many acids in the stomach.  He was given prevacid and never had another problem.  Awww the joys of tx...haha

[KICKED]

Does any one get bad heartburn.  I battle it every day and night. Can keep up with it.  Is it the tx. Any idea on how to get rid of it.  Tried tum, rolaids & pepecid. Help!!!!!!!!!!

[KICKED]

I have been trying to describe what it feels like to take this tx to my friends and family.  I think I have finally done it. Please let me know if you agree. It feels like you had a bowl with 10lbs of LEAD fishing weights. And walking around with it in your body day after day not being able to get rid of that feeling. You know it is in your body but there is nothing you can do about until you finish the tx. If you get the metellic taste the gum BIG RED helps.

[KICKED]

We are now almost approaching Feb 1st. Great for you.  I quit drinking a few months prior to the treatment.  I couldn't handle be violently sick with a hangover.  Just as well, getting too old for the ****. I don't know if I can say that I will never drink again. But not like I was in my 20's. Besided my dr. would not treat me if I drank. Keep it up.

[Mordred]

I'm not on tx treatment right now. I just quit drinking on Jan 1st, and my specialist wants at least two months of sobriety before we do anything else, and I have probably as many questions as you do about tx.

[DH Bill]

Did you mean to say your biopsy showed your stage and grade? Blood work doesn't show stages or grade only bx can.

[indyjo]

Hi. I also want to say congrats on the drinking!! I am stage 2 also. The way I see it, stage 2 means some impairment and impairment requires your liver  to work harder and the harder your liver has to work, the more damaged it becomes. I would say stop the progression now while you are relatively well. Why wait for further impairment?

[new-sojourn]

Did you have a biopsy?  Blood work does not give 'grades and stages', only a biopsy will.

It dose not sound as if you have had this invasive, expensive surgical procedure.

So, did you or didn't you bx?

Or is this just more drama.

[ringeding]

p.s. congrats on 30 days thats wonderful

k

[Mordred]

By the way, thanks everyone for your encouragement. I appreciate it.

[Amerabrit]

Many congratulations on your sobriety, that couldn't have been easy.  Don't stop now.  Keep reading and following up on the research links that get posted here regulary and learn as much as you can about HCV.  Knowledge is power and no one is more invested in your complete recovery than you are so be good to yourself: we all think you're worth it:)

[ringeding]

hi there, i have noticed on and off your posts, from a while back...i rarely look in anymore and rarely post now....but i have to say....your HONESTY and courage of heart to tell it like it is, in your world, always moves me.....wow.....please rememebr, that no matter when you choose to reduce harm, whether it be by stopping to drink, or lowering yourintake and being kinder to your liver, you are doing a remarkable thing and deserve TONS of support for that...way to go..my thoughts are with you and i think reading some of your posts your struggles are difficult, but stil you reach out for help and support here....i have much admiration for that....every step we take, is a step in self preservation and shows that you do care and wish to help yourself

all the best, hang in doll, you will be where you need to be...keep up the great work
kimmy

[BNR]

Hi. I don't post often, but wanted to send you a hi-5!! Congrats!  We're behind you -- I know what you're doing is hard but you seem to be a very strong person.
Regarding treatment, I can't remember how old you are, but if you're relatively young (to me, that's under 40), it probably will be easier for you.  You don't have to run out and start next week, but I think at stage 2, treatment in the near future may be something to consider when you feel like you're steadier -- with your dr's input.  Others will chime in with better info, etc. For me, the scariest part was actually before I started treatment. Waiting is hard and I always imagine the worst. My imagination tends to run amok anyway and interferon treatment wasn't always a picnic, but it was nowhere as bad as I thought. (Sort of like the childbirth horror stories everyone feeds women pregnant for the first time.)  I got one of those pre-treatment kits from Scherring Plough and they had a calendar with quotes on it. One that stuck with me: "courage is being scared to death . . . and saddling up anyway. John Wayne"   Hang in there!!

[Mordred]

I was getting my numbers all messed up. Yes, I've had a biopsy. I was getting it mixed up with my AST (103) and ALT (58) results. Right before I quit drinking the biopsy showed: Chronic hepatitis consistent with viral mild activity. There is also advanced fatty change macro and microvesicular with fairly active steatohepatitis. There is focal and periportal fibrosis with fibrous septa and pericentral arachnid-type fibrosis.
Activity of viral component, Grade 1. Moderate fibrosis, stage 2. Still think it's more drama on my part new-sojourn? You need an attitude check! Cute how you forget to spell my name properly. I have to much **** going on in my life as it is. I have no need to create things!

[Mordred]

It's grade one; Fibrosis two.

[Tallblonde]

Hi Mordred,

I'm so glad you're hanging tough and keeping away from alcohol.  That's quite an accomplishment.  

I'm confused a bit regarding your current HCV status -- and perhaps you are, too.  There are two scores to consider.  One is related to the degree of inflammation you have and is generally referred to as  the "grade".  The other is related to the degree of fibrosis (scarring) you have and is generally referred to as the "stage". Are you saying that you have Grade 2 (inflammation) and Stage 1 (fibrosis)?  The distinction between grade and stage is very important because stage 2 fibrosis is a much bigger deal than grade 2 inflammation.

I'm hoping you have stage 1 because it does give you more time and more options.

Keep up the sobriety!

Susan

[Laika]

Congrats on leaving the booze alone.  Quitting is hard.  A little terror (hepC) makes it easier. You have to finally face growing up, I think.  Pretty soon you have a new and different life, and then you wonder why you wasted your time being an idiot.  The quote I am currently enamored of is "everything you want is on the other side of fear".  It seems to fit in a lot of places.

I have not treated yet--will start soon.  But I know this much:  you don't want to go past a stage 2 if you can help it.  People in stage 2 do not have the luxury of waiting around without serious risk.