Aa
Liver Biopsy and I've Missed You All
Hello Friends!
This will be posted on both the Medical Community as well as the Social Support, as medical discussion and support is being sought.
A long break has been taken from here, and for that I apologize. A lot has been on my mind, and well... I just needed to take some time to enjoy life before deciding on what to do... My stats are in my profile. (For those not remembering me.) My hepatologist typically treats a 2b WITHOUT a biopsy. (??!!) I said, "No". Originally I considered waiting to have my biopsy taken at the end of this summer (as some of you may remember). Because of my reluctance in starting treatment, and expressing my desire to wait a few years, he ordered a biopsy.
The liver biopsy wasn’t as big of a deal as I anticipated. It was ultrasound guided. A light sedation was given. (I don’t know what it was, I was totally awake but RELAXED!). Actually the shot given to numb the area hurt more than the procedure itself. Tiny slivers from three different areas of the liver were remove. (Why? I don't know.) That just felt like a dull pressure.
I asked that the results be faxed but instead the nurse practitioner emailed me with this:
NURSE PRACTITIONER: "Dr. **** advises your biopsy results will be discussed with you in detail during your March 28th appointment. Briefly, I can state this: Stage 0-1 minimal scarring (no significant fibrosis) w/Grade 1. Feel free to call me after 3:30 on Monday. And, in answer to your question, yes, he still would like to discuss treatment."
Does this make sense?
I hope all my friends here are doing as well as can be expected. Each of you have continued to be in my thoughts!
~Anwaar
This will be posted on both the Medical Community as well as the Social Support, as medical discussion and support is being sought.
A long break has been taken from here, and for that I apologize. A lot has been on my mind, and well... I just needed to take some time to enjoy life before deciding on what to do... My stats are in my profile. (For those not remembering me.) My hepatologist typically treats a 2b WITHOUT a biopsy. (??!!) I said, "No". Originally I considered waiting to have my biopsy taken at the end of this summer (as some of you may remember). Because of my reluctance in starting treatment, and expressing my desire to wait a few years, he ordered a biopsy.
The liver biopsy wasn’t as big of a deal as I anticipated. It was ultrasound guided. A light sedation was given. (I don’t know what it was, I was totally awake but RELAXED!). Actually the shot given to numb the area hurt more than the procedure itself. Tiny slivers from three different areas of the liver were remove. (Why? I don't know.) That just felt like a dull pressure.
I asked that the results be faxed but instead the nurse practitioner emailed me with this:
NURSE PRACTITIONER: "Dr. **** advises your biopsy results will be discussed with you in detail during your March 28th appointment. Briefly, I can state this: Stage 0-1 minimal scarring (no significant fibrosis) w/Grade 1. Feel free to call me after 3:30 on Monday. And, in answer to your question, yes, he still would like to discuss treatment."
Does this make sense?
I hope all my friends here are doing as well as can be expected. Each of you have continued to be in my thoughts!
~Anwaar
The feelings are mutual!!! I'm glad things are at least 'ok'. It could never be really great on treatment. However, I'm sure if you keep your eye on the prize, you will get through it. And I continue to pray this time will work for you!!
On another note, family first is the best. It is great that you're taking weekends/eves with them. Looks like you've created a good balance between your family at home and your forum family.
I appreciate you, Deb.
~Anwaar
On another note, family first is the best. It is great that you're taking weekends/eves with them. Looks like you've created a good balance between your family at home and your forum family.
I appreciate you, Deb.
~Anwaar
You make me blush!
Things are going ok, RBCs WBCs s, hemo still bouncing around. But I ll get there in the end!
I usually take weekends and evenings off the forum, family time, I am just so happy to see here! i missed you!
Deb
Things are going ok, RBCs WBCs s, hemo still bouncing around. But I ll get there in the end!
I usually take weekends and evenings off the forum, family time, I am just so happy to see here! i missed you!
Deb
Deb!
There you are!!! Thanks so much for your response and welcoming me back~ And, I've been thinking of you as well!!!!
I'm hoping and praying that everything goes well for you this time as well. You certainly have a dose of positivity that you freely pass around and is so appreciated.
Stay strong!
~Anwaar
There you are!!! Thanks so much for your response and welcoming me back~ And, I've been thinking of you as well!!!!
I'm hoping and praying that everything goes well for you this time as well. You certainly have a dose of positivity that you freely pass around and is so appreciated.
Stay strong!
~Anwaar
Hello dear one!
So nice to see you here, Think of you so often!
It is a stressfull situation, deciding on what to do. I do think you were wise to walk from the forum for awhile. It can be negative and confusing. So many opinions.
It can also be so supportive also,
The right answer will come to you, so I won't try and sway you one way or the other.
Just wanted to welcome you back!
Huge hugs and prayers!
So nice to see you here, Think of you so often!
It is a stressfull situation, deciding on what to do. I do think you were wise to walk from the forum for awhile. It can be negative and confusing. So many opinions.
It can also be so supportive also,
The right answer will come to you, so I won't try and sway you one way or the other.
Just wanted to welcome you back!
Huge hugs and prayers!
Maybe I haven't been following things that closely, but I don't remember you ever discussing your neuropathy prior to treatment. What makes you think it wasn't caused, or at least flared by the interferon?
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One of the reasons I went to the Rheumy was because of my fear of Cryo (which IMO I def have) and the leg swelling and tiny bleeds were the biggest tip -off to me, but also my thumb and the coldness, and slight numbness/tingling I experienced. When I had gone to him, I mentioned I would get some numbness and tingling, not horrible or unbearable, but it was there. He fluffed it off cause I said it wasn't bad i guess (which ticks me off), but it was there and I was concerned and thought it was indicative of Cryo-same as the bleeds. Jim, its not neuropathy like the horror that some have,,,but I am so in tune to my body that I really am very good at noticing symptoms and FINALLY these doctors are acknowledging this about me and that its not in my head....but anyhow,,,,when I felt my relapse,,that night, is when I really,really experienced intense numbing, tingling etc - totally amplified what was already there. My opinion was it was a war between my immune system and the virus and the neuropathy exploded so to speak.
Now, here's the thing, AFTER tx, yes it was very pronounced -it was in my feet then too. In time it started to settle down and would hit me just time to time, also still was in my feet/legs. Now, the place I am at is the tingling and numbness is there, but again, not a constant and I haven't felt it in my feet/legs for a while - I think its gone. And when I say it hits me when I type or play the piano, its not the instant I sit down, it comes after a while of using my hands.
When the neuro doc did the test (forgot the name of the test - sticks needles in and watches the screen as he stimulates the nerves), first thing he said was "are your hands always this cold?" And I said yes, most times. He had to get this thing to stick them in to warm them first. Then when he started doing the test, it seemed all was well and then when he got to a certain point of the test, he said,,,yes, you are correct, you do have neuropathy and also carpal tunnel. The neuropathy isn't a bad case yet and hopefully it will never be, but he said if I start to get it down my legs (which as mentioned only happened for a short time post tx) to make another appointment. I will be seeing him after tx is thru to get another check up anyhow.
But anyhow, I truly believe I brought the Cryo/neuro on by myself. I know that sounds hard to believe, but I know in my heart it is true and my theory has perked a few of my doctors ears when I mentioned it cause I have believed this all along. Just prior to my dx, I had a situation in my family that was very difficult for me to deal with and when I can't 'fix something," I really have difficulty getting it off my mind,,I believe the unremitting chronic stress caused the Cryo which was the very beginning of the slight neuropathy I felt. I knew it in my heart once I was dx and believed I had Cryo (and knew I caused a cortisol problem at that point). So I searched and found that unremitting stress is perceived by the body as an 'antigen.' So anyway, as you know, Cryo comes about because of antigens (viruses, toxins, probably parasites too),,,BUT I figured IF stress can be percieved as an antigen:) ,,- not the normal every day stress - I was losing it, really bad shape, couldn't control the situation that went on for months,,,,but anyway, getting back to that, my hcv dx on top of what I was already going thru nearly destroyed me. The hepc dx stopped my menstrual - was told I had hep and the next month my period never returned.I know it was cause of the shock to my mind - which then shocked my body... I know there are plenty of people that might think all this is not possible, but I am putting this out there just incase it helps even ONE person to try to take control of their thoughts, cause my negative thoughts, fear and worry did me in. I lost control and lets face it, sooner or later we come back down to earth, but by then maybe alot of damage could have been prevented if we wouldn't have let our emotions win. I am way too nuts about things at times (I'm sure you noticed) and I really have to learn to relax. I've mentioned before that I always thought OCD was a made-up syndrome,,but after all of this, and seeing more of myself, I think I have it - real bad case too. My gyno said she thinks alot of it is menopause and she sees it all the time with woman, but I think its a little of everything.....But anyhow, thats my long winded story and believe it or not, there is more, but I will end here, finally.
I have to run, but see ya later.
MO
Anwaar, whatever you decide - that is the 'right choice,' cause its 'your choice,' and I'm sure everyone all will support you in that choice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the reasons I went to the Rheumy was because of my fear of Cryo (which IMO I def have) and the leg swelling and tiny bleeds were the biggest tip -off to me, but also my thumb and the coldness, and slight numbness/tingling I experienced. When I had gone to him, I mentioned I would get some numbness and tingling, not horrible or unbearable, but it was there. He fluffed it off cause I said it wasn't bad i guess (which ticks me off), but it was there and I was concerned and thought it was indicative of Cryo-same as the bleeds. Jim, its not neuropathy like the horror that some have,,,but I am so in tune to my body that I really am very good at noticing symptoms and FINALLY these doctors are acknowledging this about me and that its not in my head....but anyhow,,,,when I felt my relapse,,that night, is when I really,really experienced intense numbing, tingling etc - totally amplified what was already there. My opinion was it was a war between my immune system and the virus and the neuropathy exploded so to speak.
Now, here's the thing, AFTER tx, yes it was very pronounced -it was in my feet then too. In time it started to settle down and would hit me just time to time, also still was in my feet/legs. Now, the place I am at is the tingling and numbness is there, but again, not a constant and I haven't felt it in my feet/legs for a while - I think its gone. And when I say it hits me when I type or play the piano, its not the instant I sit down, it comes after a while of using my hands.
When the neuro doc did the test (forgot the name of the test - sticks needles in and watches the screen as he stimulates the nerves), first thing he said was "are your hands always this cold?" And I said yes, most times. He had to get this thing to stick them in to warm them first. Then when he started doing the test, it seemed all was well and then when he got to a certain point of the test, he said,,,yes, you are correct, you do have neuropathy and also carpal tunnel. The neuropathy isn't a bad case yet and hopefully it will never be, but he said if I start to get it down my legs (which as mentioned only happened for a short time post tx) to make another appointment. I will be seeing him after tx is thru to get another check up anyhow.
But anyhow, I truly believe I brought the Cryo/neuro on by myself. I know that sounds hard to believe, but I know in my heart it is true and my theory has perked a few of my doctors ears when I mentioned it cause I have believed this all along. Just prior to my dx, I had a situation in my family that was very difficult for me to deal with and when I can't 'fix something," I really have difficulty getting it off my mind,,I believe the unremitting chronic stress caused the Cryo which was the very beginning of the slight neuropathy I felt. I knew it in my heart once I was dx and believed I had Cryo (and knew I caused a cortisol problem at that point). So I searched and found that unremitting stress is perceived by the body as an 'antigen.' So anyway, as you know, Cryo comes about because of antigens (viruses, toxins, probably parasites too),,,BUT I figured IF stress can be percieved as an antigen:) ,,- not the normal every day stress - I was losing it, really bad shape, couldn't control the situation that went on for months,,,,but anyway, getting back to that, my hcv dx on top of what I was already going thru nearly destroyed me. The hepc dx stopped my menstrual - was told I had hep and the next month my period never returned.I know it was cause of the shock to my mind - which then shocked my body... I know there are plenty of people that might think all this is not possible, but I am putting this out there just incase it helps even ONE person to try to take control of their thoughts, cause my negative thoughts, fear and worry did me in. I lost control and lets face it, sooner or later we come back down to earth, but by then maybe alot of damage could have been prevented if we wouldn't have let our emotions win. I am way too nuts about things at times (I'm sure you noticed) and I really have to learn to relax. I've mentioned before that I always thought OCD was a made-up syndrome,,but after all of this, and seeing more of myself, I think I have it - real bad case too. My gyno said she thinks alot of it is menopause and she sees it all the time with woman, but I think its a little of everything.....But anyhow, thats my long winded story and believe it or not, there is more, but I will end here, finally.
I have to run, but see ya later.
MO
Anwaar, whatever you decide - that is the 'right choice,' cause its 'your choice,' and I'm sure everyone all will support you in that choice.
Thanks for thinking about me while I took a break from here. I was thinking of you as well.
It sounds like you have a great doctor. Congratulations on beating the advaced stage rectal cancer. Somehow, I had missed that previously here, and glad you've shared that with me. I'm sorry you've had to go through that.... and now treatment for HCV. You're definitely my hero.- What a blessing you received the RVR...
I hope and pray and that you get past HCV treatment as you did the cancer.... and get on with your life as a well person.
You've been on my mind as well, and I only hope that I can be the support for you that you have been for me these last couple of months... "Be not afraid."
Your grateful friend,
~Anwaar
It sounds like you have a great doctor. Congratulations on beating the advaced stage rectal cancer. Somehow, I had missed that previously here, and glad you've shared that with me. I'm sorry you've had to go through that.... and now treatment for HCV. You're definitely my hero.- What a blessing you received the RVR...
I hope and pray and that you get past HCV treatment as you did the cancer.... and get on with your life as a well person.
You've been on my mind as well, and I only hope that I can be the support for you that you have been for me these last couple of months... "Be not afraid."
Your grateful friend,
~Anwaar
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