Things get more complicated - help!

[lucky90]

So here's my situation since my last post. I had a stress test for my heart and found out that I do indeed need a stent
put in. I don't know why my Cadiologist didn't do it when I had my Heart cath last monthother than he said it was a small blockage. Anyway I do have Hep C  - Genotype 1A - Viral load a few weeks ago was only 670,000 ( no biopsy
because I'm on Plavix right now.) Should I get the stent put in and then start treatment later  -  a year or so or
just start the TX before the heart stuff? I already had 1 heart attack last month. My cardiologist seems to think I can
wait if my GI wants to start TX but I'm not sure that's the route I want to take. It's tough not knowing the liver condition.
Any input is appreciated.

Thanks

[eureka254]

Ditto SusieQ:  
Your docs DO need to be communicating with each other.  My husband was in a similar situation last year, and it took a little coordinating, but it's do-able (stent placement and liver biopsy, that is).  

My husband had a non-medicinal stent put in last year on Feb 1st and started on oral Plavix.  He was scheduled for a trans-jugular liver biopsy (as copyman said, lower bleeding risk than the traditional biopsy) the first week of March and was instructed to stop the blood thinners (in his case both Plavix and aspirin) and keep to minimal activity for 10 days prior to the liver biopsy.  Biopsy went smoothly.

As for starting treatment with an existing heart condition/being on blood thinners -- that's a question just recently posed to my husband's cardiologist and still waiting to hear back, so I'd be interested to hear what your docs have to say.

[copyman]

it is very important to find out what if any liver damage you have. your complications makes this even more important then someone else.  since you can not have a conventional biopsy then perhaps a trans jugular biopsy where there is little risk for bleeding. or at least a non-invasive test like a fibroscan or fibrosure. if little liver damage then you could wait until better drugs come out that hopefully shorten therapy. these harsh tx drugs can be very bad for the heart so proceed with caution. best of luck