Aa
Lesions on the liver.
I told my doctor I was having sharp pains in the liver area so he sent me for a sono. My last sono was 3 years ago when I was dx with HepC. The new sono didn't show any significant changes over the 3 years, but did show something my doc questioned, so we scheduled an MRI. The MRI didn't show much else from the sonogram and the only information I had was that there are many lesions on my liver. Because of my medical history, my doctors wanted to follow up the MRI with a PET Scan just to be certain what we were dealing with and my insurance company said they wouldn't authorize it. Disturbing, isn't it! Anyway, the only way to find out what these lesions are is to do a biopsy, which my doc is not ready to do since there haven't been any real changes in 3 years. I has anyone had experience with these lesions? I am grade 1, stage 1, genotype 1, treating for the 2nd time.
Have a good weekend. Look into IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment if you have time. Lately, I've been experimenting with different solutions of tea tree oil (mix 100% oil with water)from around 10% to .25%, depending upon how sensitive a particular area is. This morning redness had subsided some but too early tell if it was the tea tree. Got to get an eye dropper to be more precise.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Who dx your ocular rosacea? Your derm or opthamologist, or both? My eyes have sometimes felt gritty, watery during tx and post, and vision often blurry. I just figured it was dry eyes from tx and used artificial tears liberally. Itching was only occasionally so didn't think much of it. A few days ago I exposed my eyelids and they were redened. Maybe I only have a mild case of it but I'm due for an appointment with ophtomologist anyway so will check. Tell me about the Bacitracin. Is it a pill? Topical?
------------
Antibiotics -- he wnats you to take 20 mg Periostat twice a day? For how long? Are you sure it isn't 200mg? Some research suggests doxycyline 200mg/day for six months for rosacea, so unless Periostat is dosed differently, seems very low. What side effects are you concerned about?
=============================
Currently waiting for next derm appointment and have a couple of names to call. Already made the decision to go out of the insurance network if necessary and just go for the right derm and pay out of pocket. I won't be surprised if I get better treatment with a derm that doesn't accept insurance.
---------------------------
Meanwhile, I using Cetaphil (with water) on face 2-3 times a day. That sulfur cream 2X a day on face, forhead, neck, wherever there is redness or pimples, or irritation for that matter. The last couple of days I've gone back to the tea tree oil. I take off the cap and fill it with water. Then add 2-3 drops of oil, making a diluted solution of maybe 10-20 to 1. Then put a tissue or cotton ball in the solution and apply wherever pimples but so far ovoiding what I consider to be very sensitive spots. We'll see how this works. Plan is to gradually increase or decrease percentage of tea tree oil depending on how things go.
As far as future, we'll see what the new derms say but a few approaches I see feasible are oral antibioitics and/or going back to to Metrogel, and/or pulsed-dye laser or Photoderm treatment. That said, part of me is in watch n' wait mode. If current minimal treatment (and time) starts to reverse what's going on, I may decide to hold off on oral antibiotics or even the pulsed-dye laser. The hope still is that things will get better as I distance myself from the tx drugs so somewhat reluctant to do too much too soon. Still, early intervention is advised with rosacea, so I'm also reluctant to let things slide. We'll see.
------------
Antibiotics -- he wnats you to take 20 mg Periostat twice a day? For how long? Are you sure it isn't 200mg? Some research suggests doxycyline 200mg/day for six months for rosacea, so unless Periostat is dosed differently, seems very low. What side effects are you concerned about?
=============================
Currently waiting for next derm appointment and have a couple of names to call. Already made the decision to go out of the insurance network if necessary and just go for the right derm and pay out of pocket. I won't be surprised if I get better treatment with a derm that doesn't accept insurance.
---------------------------
Meanwhile, I using Cetaphil (with water) on face 2-3 times a day. That sulfur cream 2X a day on face, forhead, neck, wherever there is redness or pimples, or irritation for that matter. The last couple of days I've gone back to the tea tree oil. I take off the cap and fill it with water. Then add 2-3 drops of oil, making a diluted solution of maybe 10-20 to 1. Then put a tissue or cotton ball in the solution and apply wherever pimples but so far ovoiding what I consider to be very sensitive spots. We'll see how this works. Plan is to gradually increase or decrease percentage of tea tree oil depending on how things go.
As far as future, we'll see what the new derms say but a few approaches I see feasible are oral antibioitics and/or going back to to Metrogel, and/or pulsed-dye laser or Photoderm treatment. That said, part of me is in watch n' wait mode. If current minimal treatment (and time) starts to reverse what's going on, I may decide to hold off on oral antibiotics or even the pulsed-dye laser. The hope still is that things will get better as I distance myself from the tx drugs so somewhat reluctant to do too much too soon. Still, early intervention is advised with rosacea, so I'm also reluctant to let things slide. We'll see.
did some quick research on periostat. It's a low dose doxy hydrate labled for periodontal use. Sounds promising as the low dose supposedly inhibitits antibiotic resistance. Also, it appears to have less sun sensitivity (maybe even none) compared to regular doses of doxy. It's on my list to discuss with next derm. I'll also look into that special cream you mentioned.
forgot to mention I think I now have ocular rosacea. Probably had it all along but thought the "grit" and light sensitivity.was from tx and have been liberally using artificial tears and sunglasses for some time now. My eyelids are naturally sunken, so never noticed but yesterday, peeled them back and, yes, they were red. Any advice other than steroids? I'm convinced the topical steroids make things worse every time I use them.
Something on Biafine, I'll read it later myself:
http://www.biafine.orthoneutrogena.com/
------------------------------------------------------
The Loprox shampoo -- head, scalp, maybe forehead, eyebrows, if tolereated. OK. But what about using it on your entire face for the seb derm?
--------------------------
Spoke to my hepatologist today about Doxy, Tetracycline and said no problem although that's what he always says. (Wants to have a drink with me to celebrate SVR at six months LOL). Anyway, unless things clear up miraculously very soon, I think Tetracyline or Doxycyline or something like that is the way to go. Same family of drugs I think. Also going to look into PLT, pulsed light therapy and Photoderm to reduce redness. Insurance will not cover as it's considered cosmetic but at this point I really don't care and I'm sure you'll understand. Also decided Dr. F*ckU is history. I will not tolerate being treated like a two year old even if I have to go through every dermatologist in the state. I got two more names to try. Meanwhile, may just go back to Metrogel to spite Dr. F*ckU. LOL. I'll re-read the last few posts in depth when I have more time. BTW ALT is 16 as of yesterday.AST 25 and GGT back down to 25 (so much for my NP's fatty liver theory). Maybe the roobios tea caused the GGT to rise? Since I liked the tea what I plan to do one of these days is do another GGT for baseline -- then drink one or two cups of roobios for a week and then test the GGT again. Sound like a plan, hey?
-- Jim
http://www.biafine.orthoneutrogena.com/
------------------------------------------------------
The Loprox shampoo -- head, scalp, maybe forehead, eyebrows, if tolereated. OK. But what about using it on your entire face for the seb derm?
--------------------------
Spoke to my hepatologist today about Doxy, Tetracycline and said no problem although that's what he always says. (Wants to have a drink with me to celebrate SVR at six months LOL). Anyway, unless things clear up miraculously very soon, I think Tetracyline or Doxycyline or something like that is the way to go. Same family of drugs I think. Also going to look into PLT, pulsed light therapy and Photoderm to reduce redness. Insurance will not cover as it's considered cosmetic but at this point I really don't care and I'm sure you'll understand. Also decided Dr. F*ckU is history. I will not tolerate being treated like a two year old even if I have to go through every dermatologist in the state. I got two more names to try. Meanwhile, may just go back to Metrogel to spite Dr. F*ckU. LOL. I'll re-read the last few posts in depth when I have more time. BTW ALT is 16 as of yesterday.AST 25 and GGT back down to 25 (so much for my NP's fatty liver theory). Maybe the roobios tea caused the GGT to rise? Since I liked the tea what I plan to do one of these days is do another GGT for baseline -- then drink one or two cups of roobios for a week and then test the GGT again. Sound like a plan, hey?
-- Jim
Here are some pics:
I had Plantar Pustular Psoriasis starting at around week 14 of treatment to almost the end. Fortunately, it is almost gone (some mild burning persists) but the possiblity of relapse is always there. My case was worse than shown in this picture (deeper and more defined plaques) and at times I had to stop my daily short walks due to pain. I ended up treating with X-trac laser. Also had it on the palms of both hands but not as bad. Wore gloves a lot in public.
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/859111455.htm
I had guttate psoriasis for most of treatment on my front and back.
It looked like in this picture but I had only 40 of the coverage shown on my front and about 60% on my back. VERY uncomfortable. Swimming in a public pool was out of the question.
http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psoriasis/guttate.php
----------
You can probably see why I let the seb derm and rosacea slide on treatment with all this other stuff going on, but I did make the doctor aware of my face redness but he only seemed interested in the other stuff. I just figured everything would clear up when tx ended but of course it hasn't. Maybe you're getting an idea now why I caution people about the risks and rewards of treating. SVR or not, my QOL was definitely better before treatment. Sure hope that changes.
I had Plantar Pustular Psoriasis starting at around week 14 of treatment to almost the end. Fortunately, it is almost gone (some mild burning persists) but the possiblity of relapse is always there. My case was worse than shown in this picture (deeper and more defined plaques) and at times I had to stop my daily short walks due to pain. I ended up treating with X-trac laser. Also had it on the palms of both hands but not as bad. Wore gloves a lot in public.
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/859111455.htm
I had guttate psoriasis for most of treatment on my front and back.
It looked like in this picture but I had only 40 of the coverage shown on my front and about 60% on my back. VERY uncomfortable. Swimming in a public pool was out of the question.
http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psoriasis/guttate.php
----------
You can probably see why I let the seb derm and rosacea slide on treatment with all this other stuff going on, but I did make the doctor aware of my face redness but he only seemed interested in the other stuff. I just figured everything would clear up when tx ended but of course it hasn't. Maybe you're getting an idea now why I caution people about the risks and rewards of treating. SVR or not, my QOL was definitely better before treatment. Sure hope that changes.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
