Abdomen Scan Tomorrow F4 with no Symptoms

[Leagh88]

I have carried Hep C for years without knowing. My old doctor told me not to worry about high enzymes. New doctor sent me for tests. So now, without any symptoms, I have F4 scarring to my liver! I have Genotype 2, with a 12,000 viral level. My one liver enzyme is almost normal, and the other(ast,alt) is twice normal levels. I did an online test and it looks like compensated A cirrohsis. I work 6 days a week, and ride my bicycle for 10 miles at a time with no fatigue.
    Anybody experienced this scenario, and might have an idea of life expectancy at this point? My infectious disease specialist said that she wants to treat me. At least she did say that. I will see her again next week. My blood test showed no marker for cancer. I quit smoking last year. I will never drink again. I did for years. Would love some feedback. I live alone. Thank you. Leagh

[FoxTheRed]

Sorry for your cirrhosis.
I has Stage B cirrhosis and only blood tests showed it. I never had any fatigue or jaundice, i also riding bike and inline. And 50-100km/day ride isn't a problem for me. 4 weeks ago a has successfuly finished therapy with dac+sof+riba.
Also pubmed has articles about life prognosis after succesful antiviral therapy with cirrhosis - there isn't any real problem for people with compensated cirrhosis and they very rarely become decompensated. So, visit your doctor with good hope.

[Livelife777]

True Lynn.    Guess I should have precluded my statement with accuracy.
Perhaps I have such little faith in the medical community that I think this test to some degree falls short.  In my own peculiar situation I had all kind of stages thrown my way from F1-F4.  Unfortunately the latter became reality but not until I had subjected myself to various barbaric methods of concept proof.
Maybe I should becomes somewhat less skeptical of their ideologies.
......Kim
BTW. So happy that you finally found the brass ring.  Knew that you had it in ya to put up the good fight and win.  Congrats my friend.

[flyinlynn]

Didnt pick up my entire clip for some reason

         <0.21 = Stage F0 – No fibrosis

0.21 – 0.27 = Stage F0 – F1

            0.27 – 0.31 = Stage F1 – Portal fibrosis

            0.31 – 0.48 = Stage F1 – F2

            0.48 – 0.58 = Stage F2 – Bridging fibrosis with few septa

            0.58 – 0.72 = Stage F3 – Bridging fibrosis with many septa

            0.72 – 0.74 = Stage F3 – F4

[flyinlynn]

Hi Kim

I thought the fibrosure test can at least with advances fibrosis accurately determine F4 less accurate in the F1, F2 ranges


http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/91402

Test ID: FHFIB    
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) FibroSURE

Useful For

Assessment of Liver status following a diagnosis of HCV. Baseline determination of liver status before initiating HCV therapy. Post-treatment assessment of liver status six months after completion of therapy. Non-invasive assessment of liver status in patient who are at increased risk of complications from a liver biopsy.

Interpretations:

Quantitative results of 6 biochemical tests are analyzed using a computational algorithm to provide a quantitative surrogate marker (0.0 – 1.0) for liver fibrosis (METAVIR F0-F4) and for necroinflammatory activity (METAVIR A0-A3).

Fibrosis Scoring:

         0.74 = Stage F4 – Cirrhosis

[Livelife777]

Hi Leagh.  Welcome and sorry you find yourself here.  As far as a blood test that will indicate stage of Fibrosis, there is no such thing.  Bloodwork can show inflammation along with other factors but cannot conclude Cirrhosis. Of this I am certain.
Yes, your story is familiar.  I was kinda in the same boat as far as discovery and wish I'd found out sooner before I became cirrhotic.
Get treated.  That's hugely important.  If you can halt the progression of liver disease by eliminating Hep C you may even be able to reverse your Cirrhosis.   Yes, reverse.  If the damage is early it can occur if you get treated, don't drink/drugs, eat healthy, and exercise while maintaining a healthy body weight.  
The MRI will usually tell the tale and then you will need to react in a positive way thru life style change.  You can live a normal wonderful life even if it does come back showing cirrhosis.
Keep us posted on what you find out.
Best to you
.....Kim

[Leagh88]

I thank you all for your comments. I will see the doctor next Friday. I had the Ultrasound this morning. I quit cigarettes 13 months ago. I am basically a vegetarian anyways, and I exercise frequently. I generally have a good energy level. That is why I was so surprised to have the blood test for fibrosis show such a high number. I did drink over the years. Never before 5pm, but I liked the wine. No more. Never again. To me it is poison. I believe that is why I have so much damage. I will update once I talk with my physician. This site, and you folks are a great help to me. It really helps to share. Thank you

[philbert58]

Hi Leagh, sorry for the f4 news, however (depending on severity) I don't think it's as bad as somepeople make it out to be.  I too was diagnosed stage F4 back in May of this year after laproscopic biopsy. Was hoping for f2 or higher after being told for years I was stage 1. Insurance dosen't recognize need for treatment of F1 patients. Previous testing of bloodwork and ultra sound as recent as Feb 2015 diagnosed F1 and had been misdiagnosed for years. Good news is the right treatment and good living can stop things in it's tracks. I'm presently into my 8th week of Vikera plus riba with 16 to go. I've been undetected since week 3 of treatment. I have or hopefull had genotype 1a. type 2 is suppose to be even easier to treat. Lets get you into treatment and get back to square one and stop this monster in it;s tracks..

[flyinlynn]

OK yeah

Genotype 2 probably Sovaldi and Ribavirin for 16 weeks I am guessing assuming you are in the U.S.

[flyinlynn]

I was diagnosed F4 after a biopsy (my 4th) in January 2008.

That is the thing about compensated cirrhosis in the early stages of cirrhosis especially if you are otherwise healthy most people will have little to no symptoms.

The important thing is to get treated and get cured of hep c now so your liver won't be getting any more damage from the virus and may even recover somewhat with time.

You were probably given a blood test called AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) it looks for possible indications of liver cancer this test is combined with an abdominal ultra sound for this purpose. We with cirrhosis are at increased risk of liver cancer but with cure of hep c our HCC risk will decrease dramatically.

With cirrhosis you need to be under the care of a hepatologist associated with a liver transplant cneter if possible. Not that we need a transplant but that these are the most knowledgable doctors for us to provide the best of care.

We don't have an expiration date stamped on out body somewhere. People can go for many years and decades and never decompensate. The inportant thing is a good diet and exercise if you can. Google a "Heatrt Smart" diet for some good general guidelines. What is good for your heart is also good for your liver.

I know you are worried but take a breath and exhale you will be fine all the new information can be overwhelming at first come back with your questions and we will do our best to help you understand.

I had hep c likely since 1978, diagnosed in 1990 when I donated blood.

I treated 3 times with interferon based treatment and did not respond. I had liver biopsies every 5 years an dfinally was found to have cirrhosis. I treated this year with Harvoni for 24 weeks and ribavirin for 15 of those weeks. This was my treatment because of my history it probably won't be yours.

I just learned last week that 12 weeks after treatment was ended I am still free of the hep c virus and I am cured.

So there is hope.

Good Luck
Lynn

[Leagh88]

Thank you for your reply can-do-man.The doctor ordered a series of blood tests. One of them was a fibrosis blood test. It came back as F4. I probably am bit nervous about the radiology department test tomorrow. I think it is an abdominal ultra sound. I will post again once I see the specialist.

[can-do-man]

I think maybe you might be jumping the gun a tad bit saying you are F4 by trying to DX yourself using online test without knowing much about cirrhosis. Your liver enzyme levels are not really that much out of range. I am guessing you are going to have a CT scan and have not had a biopsy.

Myself with these new treatments and not having a biopsy I would want either a good GI doctor or a Hepatolgist that does nothing but keep up in the fast changing world of treating Hep C and maybe better prepared to give their opinion on if you might be cirrhotic.

Nobody could give you what your life expectancy might be but from just what little you have said I would guess your far from worrying about that. Treating has never been easier and cure rate are very high. Wishing you the best going forward.