Biopsy coming

[Yellowfin]

So, I went to the doctor (family md) today.  He had talked with the heptologist who siad that with the FirbroSURE and blood work being good, it is unlikely I have much if any liver damage.  However, he is not 100% confident in these tests and suggested a biopsy.  They are going to schedule that for next week.  Guess I am about to know for sure.

[Trish77]

Good to hear you've quit drinking...keep it up.  Your body will thank you for it.  Particularly as you'll be able to enjoy your boat all that much better. :)  

I don't think fishing is a risk factor in HCV so I think you're safe. :)  

Please do post your biopsy results.   And....thinking about turned out to be more stressful than actually going through it.  So don't let it get to you.  Just do it.

Good luck.

[sfbaygirl]

Don't count on the fibrosure to be accurate.....I had one and it was F3...Previously I was stage 1 and my fibroscan was a 6, meaning not a lot of damage.  I was told by my Dr. and others not to trust Fibrosure.....I am freaked by it and am getting another Fibroscan soon....I trust them more.

Linda

[working dog]

wow i must still have pre tx brain fog...i was sure you already had a bx...and was stage 1...well you will feel better after your bx...everyone does..it cuts down on the wondering...i did have a lot of sx a while ago...but also drove head on into someone 2 years ago...so the drinking and the car accident and the sx i still have ...i don't know i thought i was getting better..sorry about that....good luck with everything...billy

[Yellowfin]

I would normally drink at least some beers every day.  It has only been a matter of days, but I have not drank and I really don't want to.  The last time I drank very much I felt terrible for 3 days.  Don't like that anymore.  I also, quit smoking one year ago this Presidents Day. SO, just look at me...don't smoke, don't drink...but, they better not ask me to quit fishing because that will be where I draw the line  :)

Yellowfin is the name of my ocean sportfishing boat.

Thanks...I'll let ya'll know how the biopsy turns out.

[Trish77]

I'd assumed you'd stopped drinking.  If you haven't, PLEASE stop now.  A presentation I saw by a hepatologist who treats alot of HIV/HCV patients (as in he has plenty of experience with this) said that in persons with HCV, the damage to the liver is multiplied by 6X the amount by drinking alcohol...and I don't even have that figure right, I'm going on recollection which, in my case, is lousy.  

Your doc is right.  You CANNOT drink on treatment and alcohol is the worst thing you can do for your liver.  You need to slow down considerably and preferably stop.  

It will not be a popular thing to say but I have had the odd drink here or there while waiting to start treatment.  Not a bad thing necessarily although some would be horrified with me.  Last drink I had, I felt the effects within an hour and it now gives me noticeable pain in my right abdomen.  Just one pint.  

So....I encourage you.. if you do ONE thing for yourself....cut back severely and then stop drinking entirely.

[Yellowfin]

Thanks.  When I asked the doctor what the down side was to having  the biopsy he said "only that you will know the truth".  he said with all the other test all they can really do is tell if I do have liver damage, a negative test results only proves that nothing was found, not that it isn't there,  

Oh well, I'm a bit nervous but also looking forward to finding out.  I still think it is a miracle if I have no damage with all the years of heavy drinking and a VL of 19 million.  

Oh, the heptologist said that if I was drinking there was no need to have the bioppsy as treatment would do any good anyway.

[Trish77]

Knowing "for sure" is not a bad thing.  Wishing you had known later on when you can't go back and change it is worse.  I tend to agree that your biopsy results likely won't be too far off from your FibroSURE but it will be good to have your "gold standard" results that will leave little doubt.  

Good luck.

Trish