upper GI today/results

[WOG1964]

okay so had upper GI today. Results are:

Esophageal motility appeared normal and there was no evidence of luminal dilation or retained esophageal secretions. The gastroesophageal junction was located approx 36 cm from the incisors. The lower esophageal motility appeared normal and there was no evidence of luminal dilatation or retained esophageal varices that completely flatten with air insufflation. There was no endoscopic eveidence of esophagitis, diverticula, strictures, ulcers, barrett's mucosa, or esophageal cancer. The endoscope was advanced into the stomach where gastirc insufflation and motility appeared mormal without evidence of increased gastric residual. There is evidence of protal hypertensive gastorpathy. In the gastirc antrum there is evidence of a couple of clean-based ulcers. Biopsies were taken. The proximal fundus and cardia were unremarkable on retorflex examination without evidence of gastric varces. Careful inspection of the remaining gastirc numcosa, pylorus duodenal bulb, and duodenal C-loop did not reveal additonal mucosal.  

So I asked the doc again about treatment. He still wants to monitor my alphapheoprotein to make sure no tumor. Blood results from last wednesday take are "staying stable" as he puts it. When I asked about starting treatment he said that he might want to wait for some new meds that should be coming out in about six months??? I wanted to know more about my the extent of my stage 4 cirrosis. He said, that since my liver was still compensated it is considered a "low mild score". He gave me meds for the the inflamation caused by the ulser. he wants to do another endo in eight weeks. I think it's time for a second opinion??

[Dee1956]

Hi there! Idyllic has given you some great information,  Is the doctor saying you have a low meld score?  If you have cirrhosis then you would have a lot of scarring and fibrosis.  You would not want to wait too long to start treating.  I wonder why he is saying a new drug will be out in 6 months. I had heard it might be 2015.  Do you have a copy of your biopsy?
I agree with you that you might want a second opinion.  I was found to possibly  be in the beginning of cirrhosis and was told I needed to treat right away.  I think it is odd the doctor would talk about low meld score, that is used for transplant purposes.
Oh, you could take all of your test results to another doctor, you would not have to have everything done again though sometimes they do want new bloodwork if it has been a while.

So sorry you are going through this, it is really frustrating.

[WOG1964]

Good Morining Idyllic,

I have a call into the Alamo Research. They did not return my call yesterday but it was late in the afternnon so if they do not call this morning I will call again. Idyllic, would I have to go through all the testing again? I really just want a second opinion on treatment. This Dr. said that he might want to wait on treatment until a new med comes out (about 6 months) again, I am stage 4 with mild low mild scarring. I don't think I should wait any longer than i have already.

Thanks and Have a Beautiful Day!

[Idyllic]

Were you able to find a Hepatologist in San Antonio?
I would want a second opinion.  Having said that I am not sure how easy it will be. I ended up getting several second opinions.

I was diagnosed in 2003

The first Gastro I saw diagnosed me but did not actively treat people with Hepatitis C so I did not feel very comfortable going there. The second was at the old Brady Green Clinic and based on what I learned on here I quickly discovered that doctor did not know about Hepatitis C either. My PCP suggested I see Robert McFadden (a transplant Hepatologist)
http://www.christussantarosa.org/body_mobile.cfm?id=715&action=detail&ref=1998

I was really excited about this doctor but he did not accept my insurance and my insurance would not work with me on being able to see him since my fibrosis was not advanced enough. This was in 2005. The people at his office were really nice but it just did not work out. My PCP and my insurance both suggested Dr. Lawitz at Alamo Research/Camden Medical Center  (he is the second one on the right). I had both biopsies with this doctor. I mainly treated with the NP the second time.

http://digdisctr.com/

I treated with him in 2007 and again in 2012. They do a lot of trials there but I treated with SOC (the one trial I was offered had a placebo).

After I failed treatment the first time I considered a place called San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates, P.A. (SAGA) and the long short of it was (at the time) no one was really all that experienced at treating Hepatitis C. Over the years there have been two people on here who treated with two different doctors at that clinic and both had pretty scary accounts of what their treatment was like.

__________
I hope you share your findings with how the search goes since I am always at a loss when people ask me about where to treat and who to see in SA.