Aa
Woot !
It's terrible when you don't trust your own lying eyes but this time they were true. Just came back from the doc., and he confirms what I saw for PCR results the other day .. Hep free! Says after six mnths there is a 2% chance of relapse, from reading the forum all these years it's prolly much less than that. It seems, sometimes, doc's hedge their bets. Has anyone had there doctor say flatout you are cured (of Hep C)??
An interesting tidbit I'd enjoy comment on is .. ok, I'm stage 4, which I always thought was cirrhosis period, then either compensated or uncompensated, he says I was PRE-cirrhosis. The word he used was similar to 'histological' which amounted to the biopsy sample on the slide is called cirrhosis but in total function it wasn't .. Look, I've mangled his words terribly but that was the general direction. This prolly only applies to a certain subset of stage four .. if anyone can make sense of this retelling and could expand on it I got some magic beans to give ya. Otherwise Woot! Woot!
Again Thank you all in the forum.
James
An interesting tidbit I'd enjoy comment on is .. ok, I'm stage 4, which I always thought was cirrhosis period, then either compensated or uncompensated, he says I was PRE-cirrhosis. The word he used was similar to 'histological' which amounted to the biopsy sample on the slide is called cirrhosis but in total function it wasn't .. Look, I've mangled his words terribly but that was the general direction. This prolly only applies to a certain subset of stage four .. if anyone can make sense of this retelling and could expand on it I got some magic beans to give ya. Otherwise Woot! Woot!
Again Thank you all in the forum.
James
I may be a little late to the party but I wanted to tell you how happy I am that you cleared. I think my liver is in about the same shape that yours is - that early cirrhosis area. My SVR was Jan 2013 (end date Jul 2013). I think if I could get another biopsy I would have some piece of mind. My doctor said that the treatment would delay, but not stop the progression. So SVR is a great thing but there is the cloud of cirrhosis hovering over my head. I am glad you can now call yourself Pre-cirrhotic. You may never get there.
bean
bean
congrats!
Woot! Woot! SVR24
Ishak or Metavir. I go to Liver Transplant center and Hepatologist. They have charts in the examining rooms that show Ishak scoring 1-6 and also Metavir chart showing 1-4. Maybe you are a Ishak 4-5? Here's a link that discusses differences.
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/18773/InTech-Ishak_versus_metavir_terminology_convertibility_and_correlation_with_laboratory_changes_in_chronic_hepatitis_c.pdf
I just understand when they say cirrhosis.
Compensated=Not too sick yet
Decompensated=really sick
SOUNDS LIKE YOUR SVR IS JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. Best wishes
Ishak or Metavir. I go to Liver Transplant center and Hepatologist. They have charts in the examining rooms that show Ishak scoring 1-6 and also Metavir chart showing 1-4. Maybe you are a Ishak 4-5? Here's a link that discusses differences.
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/18773/InTech-Ishak_versus_metavir_terminology_convertibility_and_correlation_with_laboratory_changes_in_chronic_hepatitis_c.pdf
I just understand when they say cirrhosis.
Compensated=Not too sick yet
Decompensated=really sick
SOUNDS LIKE YOUR SVR IS JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. Best wishes
James I had to come back again and tell you how happy I am for you.
I remember when I was in the middle of treating and was having trouble getting my meds.
You were so funny, you made me laugh in the midst of tears.
I always remember that.
Thank you
Dee
I remember when I was in the middle of treating and was having trouble getting my meds.
You were so funny, you made me laugh in the midst of tears.
I always remember that.
Thank you
Dee
can-do-man & Shdwsldy .. As it turns out I remembered the word correctly and stunningly even managed to spell it right. Histological .. Histology .. "Histologists examine extremely thin slices of human tissue under microscopes," etc .. The explanation ya'll give has to be what he was saying. Thanks for clearing it up. This is a shade better news then my previous belief of having full blown cirrhosis. Wow, at least 2 years prior to beginning the first tx, I was experiencing an overall degrading condition, noticeable fatigue, etc. since it turns out to be 'pre-cirrhosis', imaging what actual cirrhosis is like .. well, it must get ugly fast. Anyone on the fence about treating, line up your ducks, and do it.
Anyway thanks guys.
Anyway thanks guys.
Congratulations on getting cured! I hope you enjoy your new life unburdened by the HCV boat anchor.
Congrats!
One of the hubby's doctor's (he's stage 4/grade 3) said that the liver biopsy is but a very small fraction of the liver and doesn't give you the whole picture of the condition of your liver. It does not mean that your liver is uniformly in stage 4. You may have portions that are indeed stage 4 and others that may be in other stages. There are many other things that are taken into account, especially when it comes to being considered for liver transplants.
The important thing is that you know that your liver is pretty well damaged from the virus and to take care of it the best that you can from here on out :P
One of the hubby's doctor's (he's stage 4/grade 3) said that the liver biopsy is but a very small fraction of the liver and doesn't give you the whole picture of the condition of your liver. It does not mean that your liver is uniformly in stage 4. You may have portions that are indeed stage 4 and others that may be in other stages. There are many other things that are taken into account, especially when it comes to being considered for liver transplants.
The important thing is that you know that your liver is pretty well damaged from the virus and to take care of it the best that you can from here on out :P
Thanks Dee.
Quite a few of us are being cured. If your reaction to the meds weren't to severe you should try it again. You know what to expect, that should be of some little advantage in setting up strategies to cope with the side effects. Incivek is, or can be, uh .. special .. If I had a job I couldn't have gone to work, but it's the magic ingredient pulling so many across the finish line. In the end you can only do what your body allows you to do and the only way to find that out is to start the tx. Good luck.
Quite a few of us are being cured. If your reaction to the meds weren't to severe you should try it again. You know what to expect, that should be of some little advantage in setting up strategies to cope with the side effects. Incivek is, or can be, uh .. special .. If I had a job I couldn't have gone to work, but it's the magic ingredient pulling so many across the finish line. In the end you can only do what your body allows you to do and the only way to find that out is to start the tx. Good luck.
As for your thoughts, I am just guessing but I have a feeling the conclusion was your borderline cirrhotic. If you was treating at a teaching hospital there is a good chance they had a couple pathologist that looked at your slides besides your Hepa and the overall thought was maybe some things that showed cirrhosis but not much of a concern.
One thing I might ask him if he feels maybe checking for HCC once a year for a couple years would be needed... I don't see anything to worry about but questions never hurt. Also remember if you want another thought on the results you can always get your slides and have another set of eyes look at them........ Myself I would save my magic beans and enjoy your Hep C life....
One thing I might ask him if he feels maybe checking for HCC once a year for a couple years would be needed... I don't see anything to worry about but questions never hurt. Also remember if you want another thought on the results you can always get your slides and have another set of eyes look at them........ Myself I would save my magic beans and enjoy your Hep C life....
I'm learning fast from you guys! I didn't know, since my failed ribavirin/interferon treatment in the 90's, that all of this "curing" was going on. I was told about the triple treatment but when they said it had the same side effects I said no, not that again.
Now I'm reading all your "free of hep c" posts and I feel more hope than I have in a LONG time!
God bless all of you.
Now I'm reading all your "free of hep c" posts and I feel more hope than I have in a LONG time!
God bless all of you.
Congrats, you had a hard fight... "cured" is the word.
God bless you, congratulations, woot woot, and anything else you wanta yell! How happy I am for you.
(Newcomer) Dee
(Newcomer) Dee
Change your name to nonhcvJames!!! So happy to hear of another successful treatment.
A big cheers,
C
A big cheers,
C
My doc at UC Denver exact words were "so glad we could cure you"
Congrats on the SVR
Congrats on the SVR
Hey James, this is great news! Congrats! Yes, I have read that many people have been told by their doctor that they are "cured" of Hep C. Some people have even said they've received a letter from their doctor stating that they are "cured", so I think you can bank on it now. I've been reading the word "cured" since about 2011, with the advent of the triple therapies. Now, go out and eat some yummy tacos or tapas or something delicious to celebrate! :)
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
Yeah Baybeee!! My Doctor's words were, "you can consider yourself cured". This whole SVR thing is getting very fashionable, we are like a snow-ball, rolling, picking up more people and getting them on The Cure Wagon :)
great news!! i got the same news as you 2 weeks ago. my gi dr who has worked with me for 20+ yearssaid to me " your cured" im ending your referral to the gi lab. my pcp will do US and and AFP every 6 months.
I'm so happy for you!! Congrats! It's gotta feel good, CURED!!!
I hope someone comments on your liver. I'm about the same, and I guess it's considered beginning stage 4. My last ultra sound was perfect. But I still can't have a Margrita!!! Lol! Kitty
I hope someone comments on your liver. I'm about the same, and I guess it's considered beginning stage 4. My last ultra sound was perfect. But I still can't have a Margrita!!! Lol! Kitty
Hey there! So happy for you!
I was told I am cured.
Congratulations!
I was told I am cured.
Congratulations!
Woot! Woot!
Congratulations, James! This is truly wonderful news.
"Has anyone had there doctor say flatout you are cured (of Hep C)?? "
--------------------------------------------
Yes, my Heptologist in Minneapolis said I was "cured." He used that word, cured. He elaborated and said the Hep C was gone and that I actually did not need any further follow-up or testing for the Hep C. (I am at Stage 2 fibrosis though. I am sure if I had been at Stage 4 fibrosis, I would have needed periodic follow-up to monitor for HCC.)
"Has anyone had there doctor say flatout you are cured (of Hep C)?? "
--------------------------------------------
Yes, my Heptologist in Minneapolis said I was "cured." He used that word, cured. He elaborated and said the Hep C was gone and that I actually did not need any further follow-up or testing for the Hep C. (I am at Stage 2 fibrosis though. I am sure if I had been at Stage 4 fibrosis, I would have needed periodic follow-up to monitor for HCC.)
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