Aa
NO BIOPSY
My husband could'nt have his biopsy because his platlets are to low. He is having a cat scan today. Is a cat scan anywhere near as accurate as abiopsy?? I'll let you all know the results. THANKS KIM
just wanted to add, that my sis doesn't have hep c, if she would of had hep c, she would of been dead, long, long ago...
she has alcoholic advanced cirrhosis...when you carry on like this with hep c?, you aggravate the condition and accelerate any damage you're doing...someone could possibly last a while without drinking having this disease, with drinking? it's anybody's guess, but it isn't long....
she has alcoholic advanced cirrhosis...when you carry on like this with hep c?, you aggravate the condition and accelerate any damage you're doing...someone could possibly last a while without drinking having this disease, with drinking? it's anybody's guess, but it isn't long....
really good posts here, Bthomson, truer words were never spoken...sometimes it takes a cold
splash of reality, (calmly spoken) like yours to be able to cut through someone's denial...but denial is such a strong coping mechanism, that many people think that denial is all they have left, and if they get rid of that, there won't be anything left...it's really unfortunate, cause if they did do something really concrete about their problems, and finally really get it, they could save their own lives...
My younger sister very nearly drank and used herself to death, she went into complete liver and kidney failure, and was given a 5% chance to live, they told us to make funeral arrangements, but she managed to pull though, but stayed in emergency care for four months, and she took almost a year of being in bed, barely able to move to get to where she is now, walking and taking excellent care of herself, eating right, etc etc...that was over 4 years ago now...
And now she is so sorry that she did that to herself, even though we're always asking her to forgive herself and move on (it's part of the healing process to forgive yourself of course)...
today, she had to go to have a procedure done, to drain out the acitites (?) from on top of her belly...she looks like she's 6 months pregnant....
they have to put tubing in there to drain the water out, cause her liver is so damaged, it doesn't do this for itself...hopefully, she'll finally go on a liver transplant list (she's been in big denial about this too) cause her liver is so damaged, it's no one's guess when it'll just shut down...
she could of avoided all this if she would of just stopped using and drinking years ago, but all that's passed now, and now she has to deal with the "wreckage of her past" ...she's sooo sorry she did this to herself....
you should of seen my younger sister, she had a great job with lots of money, she was gorgeous, great personality, intelligence, everything life had to offer, but she just had had these terrible addictions, it's just soooo sad....
hopefully, she'll get the transplant when it's time, and have many years left...I hope so, because she also has a bad pancreas, and that they can't do much about...Anyway, this is just my story, many other people have theirs...I hope Kimberlym will have the foresight to really GET IT, sooner then later...
splash of reality, (calmly spoken) like yours to be able to cut through someone's denial...but denial is such a strong coping mechanism, that many people think that denial is all they have left, and if they get rid of that, there won't be anything left...it's really unfortunate, cause if they did do something really concrete about their problems, and finally really get it, they could save their own lives...
My younger sister very nearly drank and used herself to death, she went into complete liver and kidney failure, and was given a 5% chance to live, they told us to make funeral arrangements, but she managed to pull though, but stayed in emergency care for four months, and she took almost a year of being in bed, barely able to move to get to where she is now, walking and taking excellent care of herself, eating right, etc etc...that was over 4 years ago now...
And now she is so sorry that she did that to herself, even though we're always asking her to forgive herself and move on (it's part of the healing process to forgive yourself of course)...
today, she had to go to have a procedure done, to drain out the acitites (?) from on top of her belly...she looks like she's 6 months pregnant....
they have to put tubing in there to drain the water out, cause her liver is so damaged, it doesn't do this for itself...hopefully, she'll finally go on a liver transplant list (she's been in big denial about this too) cause her liver is so damaged, it's no one's guess when it'll just shut down...
she could of avoided all this if she would of just stopped using and drinking years ago, but all that's passed now, and now she has to deal with the "wreckage of her past" ...she's sooo sorry she did this to herself....
you should of seen my younger sister, she had a great job with lots of money, she was gorgeous, great personality, intelligence, everything life had to offer, but she just had had these terrible addictions, it's just soooo sad....
hopefully, she'll get the transplant when it's time, and have many years left...I hope so, because she also has a bad pancreas, and that they can't do much about...Anyway, this is just my story, many other people have theirs...I hope Kimberlym will have the foresight to really GET IT, sooner then later...
Good chance his liver is responsible for his low platelets. After all, he has hep c. You sound like you are still as much in denial about his drinking and liver damage as you have been here for months about your own and his drinking.
If his platelets are too low for doctors to risk a liver biopsy, he probably has a lot of liver damage. (Why are you wondering if something other than his liver is causing the low platelets. Sounds like more denial.) A guy has hep c and gets "staggeringly drunk everyday," as you have posted here, and you keep trying to get someone to say he might not have a lot of liver damage. Sheesh.
And if he had no hep c as recently as when he was in prison (seven years ago?), then he must drink A LOT to have pushed his hep c liver to have enough damage to cause low platelets. I barely drank a beer a month and my platelets were still about 150,000 after 20 years of hep c, and reached 30,000 five years later just from disease progression.
If he still drinks 15-20 a beers a day and his platelets are that low, then he is obviously out to kill himself. He will probably sink really fast if he doesn't stop drinking.
Abstaining could level out the pace of his liver damage a bit and give him time to deal with his liver problems. But if he needs a transplant, he needed to stop drinking a long time ago to meet most transplant centers' requirements for getting a transplant, which usually includes a long period of abstinence. Looks like he has already wasted three or four months since you first started posting here.
They often take an INR test on biopsy day, too, to see if there is a chance of bleeding. You might see if they got his INR and use the result to determine his MELD score.
If his platelets are too low for doctors to risk a liver biopsy, he probably has a lot of liver damage. (Why are you wondering if something other than his liver is causing the low platelets. Sounds like more denial.) A guy has hep c and gets "staggeringly drunk everyday," as you have posted here, and you keep trying to get someone to say he might not have a lot of liver damage. Sheesh.
And if he had no hep c as recently as when he was in prison (seven years ago?), then he must drink A LOT to have pushed his hep c liver to have enough damage to cause low platelets. I barely drank a beer a month and my platelets were still about 150,000 after 20 years of hep c, and reached 30,000 five years later just from disease progression.
If he still drinks 15-20 a beers a day and his platelets are that low, then he is obviously out to kill himself. He will probably sink really fast if he doesn't stop drinking.
Abstaining could level out the pace of his liver damage a bit and give him time to deal with his liver problems. But if he needs a transplant, he needed to stop drinking a long time ago to meet most transplant centers' requirements for getting a transplant, which usually includes a long period of abstinence. Looks like he has already wasted three or four months since you first started posting here.
They often take an INR test on biopsy day, too, to see if there is a chance of bleeding. You might see if they got his INR and use the result to determine his MELD score.
Right on with that one. Booze is a drug, just happens to be legal by law.
Kimberlynn: Good Luck and keep us informed.
Cajun
Kimberlynn: Good Luck and keep us informed.
Cajun
Kim, we support you and hope it goes well. Truly.
But booze is a drug too. I'd rather you took an Advil once a day than drink
But booze is a drug too. I'd rather you took an Advil once a day than drink
Lonestar, my husband was a junkie for many years also, he has been clean for 7 years. He went to prison cuz of drugs. They tested him there for hep c said he was neg. at that time. H esaid he used only 1 time when he got out. I told him thats where he got hepc then. Drinking does thin the blood but I don't think it causes low platlets. If it's not his liver then it could be ITP, which I guess is harmless, or could be lupus,or leukeimia. If liver is not to bad then they're going to do a bone marrow biopsy. Theblood work was weeks ago and they decided not to do anymore, I don't know why. The doc is a hepatologist in St' Louis at Washington U/ Barnes Jewish He's not on any meds right now except for vitamins, folic acid b1, and milk thistle I've only known my husband for a little over 2 years. We have only been married for 14 months. I have NEVER done drugs. I HATE drugs. I won't even hardly take an advil or anything.. I tested neg. for hep c. Lonestar, I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend.. Anyway I will let you all know. They said a day or two. THANKS KIM
That is so sad. Zazza
Ask your doctor(s) about a transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) . It may be the preferred method given his low platelet count. Are you seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist)? If not, that would be my first suggestion. The average GI (gastro) may not be equipped to deal with the multiple issues your husband presents.
-- Jim
-- Jim
I've read posts here where many have opted for the cat scan in lieu of biopsy. My doctor preferred biopsy for accuracy but I'm not knowledgeable enough to explain why. Why are your husbands platelets so low? Is he on any other medicine or can alcohol consumption cause this? If alcohol is the cause even if he could find a doctor who would treat him while he continues to drink I'm pretty sure the low platelets would prevent treatment. Kim, I've treated twice and I'm too cowardly to go for my one year post stats. I make all kinds of excuses to myself because I feel so, so healthy and happy. My liver damage was between 1-2 before I treated. My doctor said it could have been called either way. For this particular time in my life I don't want the hepatitis to be more than a little side line I haul with me along my way. I know I must take excellent care of myself to be able to get away with this. I beg you, quit drinking and maybe your husband will follow. I have seen the death up close and personal of a friend with this disease. He was many years a junkie then later on a serious alcoholic who only quit drinking six weeks before I came to stay with, care for and witness his most horrible death. It was three years ago and as I type this post for you my throat closes so tight, still, at the memory.
Just out of curiosity, when did they do the blood test to determine the low platelets? Did they do it yesterday before the procedure was scheduled? Or, did they use a blood test that you talked about from a couple/few weeks ago? And, did hubby actually get to the biopsy site?
Wow, no surprise there. Let us know what the CT says.
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