Aa
past episode of depression delays treatment
greetings to all
this is my first post to forum. backstory - genotype 3 diagnosed 2 yrs ago. relocated to northeast from fla for better health facilities & specialists. current health is viral numbers not bad, portal hypertension getting severe, first stage cirrhosis. my problem is that dr. will not begin tx without positive psych eval & I have had an episode of depression that landed me in the hospital for a week about 6 yrs ago. met with shrink & explained that my father & husband had died that yr. she did not feel current tx could be recomended. told me they won't let me die & to wait for new tx. heptologist tells me I am getting to a condition where tx will have diminishing returns anyone else get caught in the middle like this? any suggestions much appreciated.
this is my first post to forum. backstory - genotype 3 diagnosed 2 yrs ago. relocated to northeast from fla for better health facilities & specialists. current health is viral numbers not bad, portal hypertension getting severe, first stage cirrhosis. my problem is that dr. will not begin tx without positive psych eval & I have had an episode of depression that landed me in the hospital for a week about 6 yrs ago. met with shrink & explained that my father & husband had died that yr. she did not feel current tx could be recomended. told me they won't let me die & to wait for new tx. heptologist tells me I am getting to a condition where tx will have diminishing returns anyone else get caught in the middle like this? any suggestions much appreciated.
First, you have cirrhosis. This is a very serious health condition. You realize that is a potentially life threatening condition don't you? You need to see a hepatologist. A liver specialist. In the worst case a gastroenterlogist. No other docs are qualified to treat you at your stage of disease. The northeast has many good hepatologists depending on where you are, so you need to find one.
Find a hepatologist to treat your hepatitis C. If they want you to get an antidepressant they will refer you to a Psychiatrist. This is easy to do and should not stop treatment. It is done all the time. It is a preventative med. Don't worry about if you need it or not. Focus on starting treatment soon.
You need to be under a hepatologist care now. Are you having 6 month scans for liver cancer? Are your taking meds for your portal hypertension? Are you aware that treatment can cause liver failure in 5%-10% of patients with cirrhosis? If this happens you will need a transplant very soon. Only a hepatologist can arrange these resources for you.
How ill are you?
What are your bilirubin, INR, and creatinine results?
You still have a chance of clearing the virus.The more damaged your liver becomes the less chance you will have. If you should decompensate you will no longer to able to treat your HCV and will need a liver transplant and then have to treat the HCV after the transplant. As everyone else said find a new doc ASAP and start treatment soon before it is too late. Your fate is in your hands. Don't let anyone deter you. This is your life we are talking about so make this a priority now.
Let us know what develops.
Good luck.
Hector
Find a hepatologist to treat your hepatitis C. If they want you to get an antidepressant they will refer you to a Psychiatrist. This is easy to do and should not stop treatment. It is done all the time. It is a preventative med. Don't worry about if you need it or not. Focus on starting treatment soon.
You need to be under a hepatologist care now. Are you having 6 month scans for liver cancer? Are your taking meds for your portal hypertension? Are you aware that treatment can cause liver failure in 5%-10% of patients with cirrhosis? If this happens you will need a transplant very soon. Only a hepatologist can arrange these resources for you.
How ill are you?
What are your bilirubin, INR, and creatinine results?
You still have a chance of clearing the virus.The more damaged your liver becomes the less chance you will have. If you should decompensate you will no longer to able to treat your HCV and will need a liver transplant and then have to treat the HCV after the transplant. As everyone else said find a new doc ASAP and start treatment soon before it is too late. Your fate is in your hands. Don't let anyone deter you. This is your life we are talking about so make this a priority now.
Let us know what develops.
Good luck.
Hector
Yes I dont get it either put an AD on board to help prevent any depression (which by the way who wouldn't be depressed at such circumstances that you had) and monitor closely - you might make it through just fine...........it would definitely be worth seeing what would happen.
As Flguy said RUN to the nearest doctor.
As Flguy said RUN to the nearest doctor.
I don't see the value of the trade off.
Deteriorating aspects such as bleeding varicies, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, weakness, tiredness, jaundice, increased possibility of HCC is preferable over the possibility of treatment-induced depression which might be controlled with medication?
How fast can you really get to another doctor?
Deteriorating aspects such as bleeding varicies, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, weakness, tiredness, jaundice, increased possibility of HCC is preferable over the possibility of treatment-induced depression which might be controlled with medication?
How fast can you really get to another doctor?
Hi there..it is good procedure for someone with past or current issues of clinical depression to have a pysch evaluation prior to starting treatment for HCV.,as the meds can have an effect of depression on some(especially those with history of depression).
However .it would seem odd that your doctor would not recommend stating treatment .and trying to control any depression issues with the help of an anti -depressant,especially in light of the fact your liver damage is getting well advanced.
Geno type 3 is has a good success rate of cure ( approx75%) without the new meds as they don"t seem to have much effect on your Geno type.
I would be concerned personally with the reluctance the doc shows in treating you and also the fact they said to wait for new treatment when they are not used for geno type 3.
Maybe a second opinion is in order from a good Hepatologist or a knowledgeable(in the treatment of HCV)
Good luck and welcome...
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