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Fibrosure Test
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to share good news with you all. I just got the results of my fibrosure test, and it shows that I am a stage 2.
This is good news because I was stage 3 grade 3 when I started treatment 2yrs. ago. My one yr. post treatment test a couple of months ago shows that I am still clear. I was/am geno type l.
My enzymes are 11, and l3, and there is 0 inflamation activity going on. My doctor told me not to expect any changes for about 5 years, but I insisted I wanted the test, and he ultimately agreed so he could use it for comparison to the one next year.
So it is possible that the treatment will help regress damage. :)
I just wanted to share good news with you all. I just got the results of my fibrosure test, and it shows that I am a stage 2.
This is good news because I was stage 3 grade 3 when I started treatment 2yrs. ago. My one yr. post treatment test a couple of months ago shows that I am still clear. I was/am geno type l.
My enzymes are 11, and l3, and there is 0 inflamation activity going on. My doctor told me not to expect any changes for about 5 years, but I insisted I wanted the test, and he ultimately agreed so he could use it for comparison to the one next year.
So it is possible that the treatment will help regress damage. :)
Funny story...when I went in to find out the results of the fibrosure test my doc wasn't in. His nurse had me wait. After I waited to told the desk clerk to tell me that she could not interpret the test...she didn't know how. So I asked for a copy and went off on my merry way. She knew how-she just couldn't be bothered. Right towards the bottom there is a score. Then below that there is a table to interpret the score. It was plain as day. You should be able to see this when you get your copy.
Good luck and let us know. :)
Good luck and let us know. :)
I haven't been able to read my copy yet. The doctor's office is mailing it to me. He just explained it to me. I asked for a copy yesterday, but the office girl said the doctor had the chart still in dictation. Once I get the paper in my hand, I'll be able to read it.
Susan400
www.hepcandme.com
Susan400
www.hepcandme.com
Thanks so much for the good advice Martee. I'm the type who will at least try to control all that I can when it comes to putting something in my body, but youre right, there is only so much you can control w/ this stuff. And I know I'll freak when I lose hair but that's what wigs and extentions are for, if I'm venturing out somewhere special. Otherwise my dog and friends don't care what I look like. I think, ha!
I'm a little foggy this moring, you did do Pegasys right? Which I understand is not weight based? Could be wrong, it seems that they did tailor dosage for you based on your weight. That's encouraging news to me. Cause I'd like to take pygasus because of the reputed less sides. And I'd like to try that staggering of the meds, taking the riba a little afterward ala' Dr. Cecil. I have such a sensitive system to drugs or anything else for that matter, my gut tells me that I don't have to worry about taking extra, the opposite would be true for me, but that's just my gut feeling. And guts only know so much. I'm just the type that can take a half aspirin for a headache and it'll work. So anyway, Martee or anybody, I'd appreciate any input. I don't have the luxury of thinking the fall and tx is a long way off now. poo. I know, mature huh?
I'm a little foggy this moring, you did do Pegasys right? Which I understand is not weight based? Could be wrong, it seems that they did tailor dosage for you based on your weight. That's encouraging news to me. Cause I'd like to take pygasus because of the reputed less sides. And I'd like to try that staggering of the meds, taking the riba a little afterward ala' Dr. Cecil. I have such a sensitive system to drugs or anything else for that matter, my gut tells me that I don't have to worry about taking extra, the opposite would be true for me, but that's just my gut feeling. And guts only know so much. I'm just the type that can take a half aspirin for a headache and it'll work. So anyway, Martee or anybody, I'd appreciate any input. I don't have the luxury of thinking the fall and tx is a long way off now. poo. I know, mature huh?
I just got the results back today on my Fibrosure test. I really didn't tell us a whole lot. It pretty much was the same as the biopsy that I had a year ago. The Fibro. test rated me as an F2 to F4. My biopsy had me at a late stage 2, early stage 3. So, basically, I'm just holding my own. Not any better, not any worse. No cirrhosis.
I also asked my doctor about the estrogen thing since my gynecologist was worried about me staying on it because of my liver. I told Dr. Johnson (my liver doctor) that I'd read that article about HRT being a good thing because it keeps the protective estrogen factor going. (which is the only thing that makes women not progress as fast as a man). If I stopped my HRT, I'd have no protective factor and be instantly menopausal since I have no ovaries. So, Dr. Johnson agreed that I should stay on the estrogen. So, now I'm going to go back to my Gyn. and tell him this. I am so glad because I didn't want to stop my estrogen.
Susan
I also asked my doctor about the estrogen thing since my gynecologist was worried about me staying on it because of my liver. I told Dr. Johnson (my liver doctor) that I'd read that article about HRT being a good thing because it keeps the protective estrogen factor going. (which is the only thing that makes women not progress as fast as a man). If I stopped my HRT, I'd have no protective factor and be instantly menopausal since I have no ovaries. So, Dr. Johnson agreed that I should stay on the estrogen. So, now I'm going to go back to my Gyn. and tell him this. I am so glad because I didn't want to stop my estrogen.
Susan
According to my doc he put me on the 600 because it was weight based. At first I was concerned but it turned out well for me because I wasn't sick most of the time, nor did I have to stay on procrit very long. At times I even thought about sneaking some more riba, but I decided against it after several people in this forum told me to follow the doctor's approach...and I did.
I wouldn't try to put on any weight if I were you. Let it go for now. You'll always have time to gain it back. Get yourself some skinny jeans. :)
I never lost my appetite. It remained the same. I'm not a big eater to begin with. I couldn't go without my daily evening icecream. I didn't hold back from anything I wanted. I didn't try losing or gaining weight, I just went with the flow. After I finished the meds I gained the weight back. I think the weight I lost was mostly from depression when I first found out. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy food when I'm down. As soon as I get my head screwed back on right, I ate normally.
Just keep a positive attitude. Don't worry about things you can't really control, like your weight, hair, etc. It'll all pass...time will fly. :)
I wouldn't try to put on any weight if I were you. Let it go for now. You'll always have time to gain it back. Get yourself some skinny jeans. :)
I never lost my appetite. It remained the same. I'm not a big eater to begin with. I couldn't go without my daily evening icecream. I didn't hold back from anything I wanted. I didn't try losing or gaining weight, I just went with the flow. After I finished the meds I gained the weight back. I think the weight I lost was mostly from depression when I first found out. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy food when I'm down. As soon as I get my head screwed back on right, I ate normally.
Just keep a positive attitude. Don't worry about things you can't really control, like your weight, hair, etc. It'll all pass...time will fly. :)
Hi, congrats on your good news, always great to read about people who clear! Anyway, wanted to thank you for your comprehensive stats, always helpful to the rest of us. One thing I was wondering, did your doc put you on the 600 intead of the 800 because of your weight? Do you know why he staggered the meds like that? I am 5'6 and weigh 125 pounds. I've always appreciated the fact that I am diciplined about my weight but I now think that I would probably be better off a little heavier going into treatment. I'm trying to pack it on now and have only maganged to gain 5 pounds. I have so many friends that lost 20 pounds or more, I don't have that much to lose. Also, how was your appetite, did you manage to keep eating pretty well? I ask this because it seems that you are close to my weight. That really kind of worries me, been busy trying to find ways to "drink" my food like smoothies, etc. if need be. My appetite gets effected easily. Thanks so much for your input. hmmm. The way I structured this post is confusing.
1. Why the staggering of the meds? 2. Weight based?
3. Was your appetite good?
Thanks sooo much!
1. Why the staggering of the meds? 2. Weight based?
3. Was your appetite good?
Thanks sooo much!
Thank you all for your kind words. I just wanted to let you all know so that you have something to look forward to. Sometimes it makes it easier knowing that you're taking these meds for a good cause. It helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel. :)
jmjm, here is my personal/treatment profile as you requested. Hope it helps.
I am a female, lb, viral load at start over 2million something.
At the time I was 49 yrs old. I weighed l20 pounds, and I am 5'2.
My doctor started me on pegasys for 3 weeks without the riba. At this point I began doing 600 mg. riba daily, and the full pegasys. I was concerned about only 600 mg. but he told me not to worry. I did have some problems with anemia at some point during the treatment in spite of the low dosage of riba, and he put me on procrit for about one month. This did the job. Yes, this was my first treatment. My pretreatment biopsy showed stage 3 grade 3. (not a happy day)
I completed 52 weeks of treatment which included 3 weeks without the riba in the beginning.
The first PCR showed that I cleared the virus after 4 weeks. I've been clear ever since. I guess I was very lucky because some people told me that because of the stage I was in treatment would be difficult, and my chances were low of clearing the virus. Well, just goes to show that each person is different, and you really can't gauge the outcome based on stats. I am happy to be able to give you all this information because when I was going through treatment, and prior to treatment, I would love to read about positive outcomes. They helped me very much, and they gave me the motivation that I needed to stay focused to be able to look ahead.
By the way, I know treatment is tough for some people, but I want to take this opportunity to tell those of you lurking that it was not bad at all for me. So if the fear is holding you back, don't let it-jump in and get it over with.
I wish you all a fantastic weekend. :)
jmjm, here is my personal/treatment profile as you requested. Hope it helps.
I am a female, lb, viral load at start over 2million something.
At the time I was 49 yrs old. I weighed l20 pounds, and I am 5'2.
My doctor started me on pegasys for 3 weeks without the riba. At this point I began doing 600 mg. riba daily, and the full pegasys. I was concerned about only 600 mg. but he told me not to worry. I did have some problems with anemia at some point during the treatment in spite of the low dosage of riba, and he put me on procrit for about one month. This did the job. Yes, this was my first treatment. My pretreatment biopsy showed stage 3 grade 3. (not a happy day)
I completed 52 weeks of treatment which included 3 weeks without the riba in the beginning.
The first PCR showed that I cleared the virus after 4 weeks. I've been clear ever since. I guess I was very lucky because some people told me that because of the stage I was in treatment would be difficult, and my chances were low of clearing the virus. Well, just goes to show that each person is different, and you really can't gauge the outcome based on stats. I am happy to be able to give you all this information because when I was going through treatment, and prior to treatment, I would love to read about positive outcomes. They helped me very much, and they gave me the motivation that I needed to stay focused to be able to look ahead.
By the way, I know treatment is tough for some people, but I want to take this opportunity to tell those of you lurking that it was not bad at all for me. So if the fear is holding you back, don't let it-jump in and get it over with.
I wish you all a fantastic weekend. :)
Congratulations , This is just what I need to hear , I am type 1 but do not know my stage, just that I am mild bridging and to hear this , Iam gonna suceed, thank you and someone gave advice on eating better and liver friendly, Igonna do better. BUT THATS SO GREATTTTTTTTTTTT!! God bless, Aubbie
Thanks for the stats. Give's all of us geno 1's (and especially us stge 3's) a little more hope.
Unusual beginning without the riba, but apparently the peg alone brought you down fast and the riba kicked in just in time. Weighing 120 didn't hurt either -- polus some recent Swedish studies indicate that anemia is actually a good sign because it shows your body is efficiently absorbing the riba.
But as you say, each person is different and you just can't rely on stats.
I've been leaning toward extended treatment (72 weeks)but you're the second person this week in a hard-to-treat population who SVR'd in 48 weeks. This thing is not a science.
Unusual beginning without the riba, but apparently the peg alone brought you down fast and the riba kicked in just in time. Weighing 120 didn't hurt either -- polus some recent Swedish studies indicate that anemia is actually a good sign because it shows your body is efficiently absorbing the riba.
But as you say, each person is different and you just can't rely on stats.
I've been leaning toward extended treatment (72 weeks)but you're the second person this week in a hard-to-treat population who SVR'd in 48 weeks. This thing is not a science.
Yes, the liver is regenerated for most people, the liver is totally amazing. It can renew itself and you can actually live on a small amount of it. You figure the virus is now undetectable...now the liver can use the time it was taking to fight to actually renew. Congratulations! Now try to take good care of your liver and feed you body liver friendly foods and you can only help it to get even better.
Congratulations! That's really great news!
Wondering if you could take a few moments to share your personal/treatment profile, so the rest of us geno 1's
can see what works.
Specifically:
(1) What drugs and doses did you treat with?
(2) How many weeks did you treat?
(3) Was this your first treatment?
(4) What week did you first clear the virus?
(5) Did you have any problems with anemia? Did you take Procrit?
(6) How old are you?
(7) Male or Female?
(8) Were you underweight, average or overweight when you started tx?
(8) Did you have a pre-treatment biopsy, or was the
Stage 3 measured by Fibrosure as well?
Wondering if you could take a few moments to share your personal/treatment profile, so the rest of us geno 1's
can see what works.
Specifically:
(1) What drugs and doses did you treat with?
(2) How many weeks did you treat?
(3) Was this your first treatment?
(4) What week did you first clear the virus?
(5) Did you have any problems with anemia? Did you take Procrit?
(6) How old are you?
(7) Male or Female?
(8) Were you underweight, average or overweight when you started tx?
(8) Did you have a pre-treatment biopsy, or was the
Stage 3 measured by Fibrosure as well?
Excellent news. It is what we are all ultimately wanting to achieve. Thank you for sharing.
good to hear from you, great news on your SVR and Fibro test, enjoy tha HCV life, You WERE a g1!
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