biopsy results?

[DayK]

you asked what the biopsy showed and all i can say is that i dont know. my husbands doctor said that he was a stage 1 back when his viral count was 100,000. now that he is at 1,200,000 does that mean that he is a stage 2? you know the dr. doesn't tell us anything. i have to specifically ask questions. most of them come from this website. thats how i found out about the genotype and i called and asked. it is really maddening. we live in a small town in the valley in ca. we have been wondering if we should be going to the city for tx. this situation is scarry enough without worrying about your dr.

[sfbaygirl]

Yep,  a good hepatologist is what you really want. I had an awful one in Contra Costa County....Went to see the Gish group. They really know what they are talking about!  I dont' know what ins. co you have. I had to fight to get another DR.  Hope you have a good one that let's you go to someone in the City!  Bill is right about the DR's at Gish.  I had to go to one at UCSF, but he is good!

Linda

[Bill1954]

You betcha, and good luck!

[DayK]

thank you so very much! we really appreciate all of your help.

[Bill1954]

Hi DayK,

Sure, you can call that number in SF; that is the main number for California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). They are a treatment center with a large staff of Hepatologists, some of which are internationally recognized. They are also a transplant center. This is not an info center- this is a clinic for liver disease. Call the number in SF and tell them your story… they will either schedule you directly, or ask you to call the office closest to you for scheduling.

Here is their website:

http://www.cpmc.org/advanced/liver/

And here are some of their outreach locations near you:


Fresno/Clovis
Physician:
Robert Gish, M.D., Todd Frederick, M.D.
Contact/Location:
Clovis Liver Clinic
685 Medical Center Drive, Suite 101
Clovis, CA 93611
Tel. [phone]

  

Modesto
Physicians:
Robert Gish, M.D., Todd Frederick, M.D.
Contact/Location:
Physician Foundation at California Pacific Medical Center
1635 Tully Rd.
Modesto, CA 95350
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]

Additionally, they have been known to work remotely with your local doctor, designing treatment and allowing your local doc to take care of routine appointments, physicals, labs, etc.

Good luck to you, and let us know how things go, OK?

Take good care,

Bill

[DayK]

we are fourty five minutes from fresno. can i just call the number you gave and make an appointment to take with them? Is this a center for tx? or just for info? thanks!

[Bill1954]

You didn't specify exactly where you live; that's OK. I live east of Sacramento, and treat with California Pacific Medical Center through their outreach clinic in Sac. Although based in San Francisco, CPMC is a cutting-edge facility headed up by Dr Robert Gish.
I've been quite happy with the care I've received with them; they have outreach clinics from Fresno to Redding, and aslo Las Vegas, NV. This a a hepatology and transplant center... very capable in my opinion.

1 [phone] gets you the main office in SF; they will steer you to a regional center if you like.

Best of luck to you and your husband--

Bill

[Trish77]

I am Stage 1, Grade 1, with a higher viral load than your husband, if that puts it in perspective for you. There is NO co-relation between viral load and liver damage.  I will tell you that not all doctors are knowledgable about Hepatitis C and from the sounds of it, I would put your doctor in that category.  I would seek out a hepatologist if I were you and at the least, a Gastroenterologist but preferably a hepatologist.   If the doctor you have is already a gastroenterologist, go for the hep doctor.  Or get a different gastroenterologist.  He's not explaining things to you very well.  I changed doctors for that very same reason.  I had to ask questions instead of him telling me important details.  He told me what he wanted me to know.

From the bits and pieces coming out of you....your husband is not as critical as you think he is.  HCV is serious, don't get me wrong...but it sounds like he's about where I'm at and even better.  I've had this for 23+ years or so.  He's had it for 3 years.. at least that he knows of.   You have time to ask questions, to learn more information.. AND he doesn't need to rush into treatment right away.

Some doctors want to rush you into treatment on viral load alone.  That is an unknowledgable approach.  It's not exactly their fault.. it's what they know.  You need to get a doctor that knows his/her stuff. You and your husband need to find out more and make a decision that's good for you and you CAN do that.

Take care.

Trish