GI or Hepatologist?

[prettydamscared]

Hi all,  I posted Friday and didn't get back to the board till yesterday. I answered everyone but it's so far down the board now, I didn't know if anybody would even know I'd responded.  Anyway, thanks for all your welcomes and posts.  I have a couple questions.  Do most of you have hepatologists or GI docs.  My husband was diagnosed with hep C last April, 2B.  His GI doc gave him his BX results but never made mention of stage or grade of inflamation.  Until I was diagnosed just this month, I didn't even know what grading meant.  I'm still not crystal clear on what it means or how it impacts the stage of liver disease.  My husband was supposed to start treatment April 1 but decided to put it off until May 1st.  His treatment meds are in the frig waiting to go.  His doc doesn't even know that he's doing this.  He hasn't gotten a baseline viral count since he was initially tested last April.  I would have thought his doc would have requested more recent blood work before starting treatment. I noticed nygirl asked someone if they were getting regular CBC's.  I don't even know what a cbc is & I'm quite sure my husband's doc hasn't mentioned getting them and he thinks my husband is currently undergoing treatment.  Anyway, I chose to go to a different GI doc in the practice.  My doc isn't going to report bx results in grade or stage either.  I can tell by preliminary conversations.  Is this to be expected or should I be looking for a hepatologist?  BTW, hubby is perfectly fine with his GI doc so that's his choice.........Thanks everyone. Char

[doglover28]

As always...Thanks!  By the way yesterday you mentioned some new med that will be coming out. Do you have any links to them?

[can-do-man]

Guess i could have just said it is a list of topics under "The FRACP Examination" within the Requirements for Physician Training in New Zealand

[can-do-man]

Hes a hepatologist from duke. Looks like you in good hands. Id give him a go and see what you think. But id feel good about starting out with him. Next just get your questions in order, but first the bx. Good luck going forward, you'll be fine.

[can-do-man]

Go to this site for the FRACP and see if it helps

http://www.racp.edu.au/amtrain/nz/exam/index.htm

[doglover28]

Hi,
The Doc I am going to on the 16th of May is listed at this link. His last name is Patel
http://organtransplant.mc.duke.edu/liverStaff.asp
He has FRACP listed after his MD.  Do you have any idea what that means?

[can-do-man]

Hi, if i was you id get a hepatologist. Thats what they do day in and day out. Best of luck to both of you. Sounds like your a caring wife. Keep after him.