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How bad is it? My mother was diagnosed with HepC stage 4/cirrhosis.

Hi there. I am brand new to this forum. Sorry for any repeat questions. I greatly appreciate any info, thanks!

My mother just received the results of her liver biopsy today. We are being referred to a specialist, because her doctor is not able to treat patients with cirrhosis. What I want to know is what exactly does stage four mean? Her doctor did not tell us if she was compensated or decompensated. Is stage four considered end stage liver disease? I guess in plain terms how bad is it? Are we talking ribovarin and interferon treatments, or liver transplant? She does have some symptoms I have seen listed, such as itching, easily bruising/bleeding, nausea, edema/ascites (could be contributed to congestive heart failure?)personality changes, changes in sleep patterns, fatigue, soreness, and depression.
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Avatar universal
My mother had mild cirrhosis.  She took Solvadi and Olysi when it first came out in 2014.  She was one of the first. She has died from that medicine. While many hear do not want to hear my story, and I have been blocked by many sites, and my threads have been locked, I am hear to tell  you to watch your mother's care like a hawk.  I would tread medicine very carefully.  We watched our mother die from date week of Solvadi and Olysio.  If you would like to PM me for more information, please do.  I am only hear to spread the word of how bad hepc is and with the medicine that prove cures it.. it killed my mother.  
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Avatar universal
I am so excited about the new treatments you might get the idea I work for big pharma. I don't, but I have stage 4 and almost a 7 million virus count of geno 1a. I was treated with Sovaldi and relapsed almost as soon as I quit taking it. I got retreated with Harvoni and cleared the virus and just had a three month lab pull and am still clear. If you have hep c you picked the right time in history to treat it.
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Avatar universal
If I had one universal answer to give it would be to see a hepatologist. Hep c treatment is changing by the day and it's all good. I should have been dead by now and I feel better than ever.
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Avatar universal
So sorry Cash that your biopsy was worrisome.
This is an old thread from 2012
You will get alot of help and support if you go to the top of this page to the green button it says post a question.  Use a title and then you can add your story.
Take care
.....Kim
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Avatar universal
I have just been told I have stage 4 cirrhosis with Hep C already went thru the  ribavarin interferon treatment 5 yrs ago just had another biopsy went From end stage 3 to stage 4 I am scared to death don't know what to expect from here.
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766573 tn?1365166466
Hi Sue.
I am sorry about your diagnosis. This is an old thread and will likely disappear and not be seen again.

You need & deserve answers & options
Please, please, please copy and repost your question. Use the orange button at the top of the page. Like this:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/292342?personal_page_id=1282072

Or even here (Cirrhosis Forum)
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Cirrhosis-of-the-Liver/show/1390
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Avatar universal
Wasdiagnosed withstage 4 of 4 in April 2012 after a liver biopsy. According toin PUG score 10 to 15 years to live. In extreme pain and nothing seems to help been in bed 90% of the time since Feb. Don't know what to e  Have lost over 150 lbs in past 1 1/2 years. Go to Vanderbilt Hospital on 11/29/12, scared to death. Any advice?
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for the information Hector,and James. I will call today and ask..I'll let you know ..
Helpful - 0
1118724 tn?1357010591
You can have a MELD score and not have ESLD. For instance I have cirrhosis but not ESLD and my MELD score is 6. 15 and above is not good, below is good(as far as these things go), below 10 is even better.

http://www.globalrph.com/meld_score.htm

The above is a MELD calculator. As you see it has three components derived from blood tests. It would be a good idea to keep copies of labs, biopsy results, etc. All the best to you and your Mom.
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1 Comments
I hate to comment bomb but I tried an online meld calculator and if you use old info or put it in the wrong field it will not do much but scare you. Which is what some people need to quit substance abuse and other bad habits. I drank until I decompensated and went to the hospital via an ambulance and never took another drink  
446474 tn?1446347682
"compensated or decompensated (... do they know from the biopsy?) "
No. A biopsy identifies the stage and inflammation of liver disease. Other tests (blood, endoscopy, etc.) symptoms and complications and MELD score identify how advanced the cirrhosis is.

Hector
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
"Her doctor did not tell us if she was compensated or decompensated."
Call the doctor and ask... Does she just have beginning cirrhosis or has she advanced to End-Stage Liver Disease? Then you will know what the options are.

"She does have some symptoms I have seen listed, such as itching, easily bruising/bleeding, nausea, edema/ascites (could be contributed to congestive heart failure?) personality changes, changes in sleep patterns, fatigue, soreness, and depression."
Compensated cirrhosis has little if any symptoms or complication in most patients. "If" she has the symptoms and complications you say she has (ONLY a doctor can truly diagnose a patient) then she has End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD). Otherwise know as decompensated cirrhosis. If she has ascites, hepatic encephalopathy (sleep pattern changes, personality changes) she has ESLD.

Is stage four considered end stage liver disease?
No. Stage 4 just means cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is divided into stages itself depending on how advanced it is.

If and I say if she has ESLD she will need a liver transplant to continue living. Estimated time of survival is based on the MELD score.
What is her MELD score?

"I guess in plain terms how bad is it? "
A person can't live without a functioning liver. So if she has ESLD she will need a donor liver to continue living.

Are we talking ribavirin and interferon treatments, or liver transplant?
If she has ESLD, then it is probably too late for hepatitis C treatment. She will need a liver transplant.

Call the doctor and ask if she has ESLD and what her MELD score is.
Without these facts it is all guess work and speculation. Once you have the facts then we can help you. If she only has beginning cirrhosis she may be able to treat her hepatitis C.

Good luck.
Hector
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1 Comments
Harvoni is changing all this. Is she in good shape? I doubt it. Is she dying. Aren't we all?
Avatar universal
Thanks for the response. She has type 1.  So it all depends on the compensated or decompensated then. (Seems like the doctor SHOULD have explained that.. do they know from the biopsy?)  

I keep thinking..it's okay.. were just going to have to do treatment..and then..

I looked up MELD.."survival probability of a patient with end-stage liver disease" Is this referring to life expectancy? Stage 4 is end stage?!

I am so terrified.

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2 Comments
2 years ago they told me I was stage 4 and had a 50/50 chance of living/dying in the next two years I got my hep c treated and feel better than I have in a long time. I passed that two year mark last may BTW
you are a beacon of hope for me, as i just was diagnosed with f4 stage cirrhosis today.  Im going for treatment asap.
1118724 tn?1357010591
Stage four IS cirrhosis. Once there the liver can be compensated decompensated. Which one determines treatment or transplant. You might also ask for a MELD score. ELSD is decompensated. How bad is it? Plainly speaking... it is stage 4 of 4, so pretty bad. As in, don't panic, but don't wait a year or two, follow-up with treatment as soon as it can be setup. Whereas it may have taken decades to get here, it proceeds relatively quickly now. Welcome to the forum, it is an active forum with many knowledgeable and supportive people. What type of Hep C does she have? Let us know what the specialist says.
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