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Have ever heard of anyone surviving Cirrhosis stage 4 caused by chronic Hepatitis C?
I posted a question last week in regards to my grandmother's diagnosis of Cirrhosis stage 3 border line 4 and I want to thank everyone who replied and/or "bumped up" my question. I'm still learning how and where to post on this site. But I really appreciate EVERYONE'S feedback. You all have been extremely helpful, and I'm forever grateful knowing that there are still amazing people willing to help a total stranger. I'm just scared of the "unknown" and wondering if she can and will survive all of this. Do you know or have ever heard of anyone surviving Cirrhosis stage 4 caused by chronic Hepatitis C? I'd love to hear some success stories because right now, I'm feeling rather discouraged. I keep reassuring my grandmother that she will be okay but I don't really know if that's true so I cry alone every night since her diagnosis, and I'm terrified. Bless you all!
If she does not stop drinking, I am afraid the outcome is not good at all. Insist she goes to a Liver specialist and get lots of tests. It could save her life.
On that note, I just received my test results from my biopsy last week. It says " stage 4 micronodular cirrhosis and stage 2 piece meal something of another. From what I am reading on various sites, this is end stage liver disease which means my liver can no longer function normally in any way. I also read transplant is the only cure, and 50 percent survival statistics. Someone posted the difference between compensated and decompensated, what is the difference and how do you find out from the test results?. I have Hep C and willl be starting to see a specialist for that next week. Does the diagnosis rely on subjective symptoms?
On that note, I just received my test results from my biopsy last week. It says " stage 4 micronodular cirrhosis and stage 2 piece meal something of another. From what I am reading on various sites, this is end stage liver disease which means my liver can no longer function normally in any way. I also read transplant is the only cure, and 50 percent survival statistics. Someone posted the difference between compensated and decompensated, what is the difference and how do you find out from the test results?. I have Hep C and willl be starting to see a specialist for that next week. Does the diagnosis rely on subjective symptoms?
1 Comments
Yeah you have to stop drinking I Had a pill harvoni rip Rivera this coming June it's exit my body last June so it will be coming this June one year it exit my body I don't have any yellow eyes or liver spots and I feel good still have a few tests procedure just checking is there anything came about so I just wanted to say there is hope and life but you gotta stop that drinking be blessed
You are posting on a very old thread. You might want to start a new thread to ask your questions.
I am sorry about your sister. It sounds like she is starting tomdecompensate since her stomach is swollen ( ascites) and her eyes are jaundiced. That does not bode well for a good outcome.
If she doesn't stop drinking and go to the doctor, she will become too sick to live without a liver transplant which she will not qualify for because of her alcohol,consumption. until she is ready to stop there is not much you can do. I am so sorry.
I am sorry about your sister. It sounds like she is starting tomdecompensate since her stomach is swollen ( ascites) and her eyes are jaundiced. That does not bode well for a good outcome.
If she doesn't stop drinking and go to the doctor, she will become too sick to live without a liver transplant which she will not qualify for because of her alcohol,consumption. until she is ready to stop there is not much you can do. I am so sorry.
my sister has stage 4 cirrhosis and m.s and she continues to drink,she procrastinates to go see her doctor,she still eats but her eyes are a little yellow and her stomach is swollen and she has red spots on her skin,i try to be there for her the best i can and have offered help but she still continue to drink,i want to know what should i expect because i have never dealt with this?
Welcome to the forum! This thread you posted on is over a year old, and jmjm530 hasn't been on the forums lately, so he might not see your question. If you post a new question of your own (the orangish "New Question" button near the top of the page) you will be more likely to get responses. Best wishes !
Once cirrhosis is advanced, there is not anything one can do to repair the scarred liver.
A transplant is the only option.
Throwing up blood can be from other things besides cirrhosis. In fact I had a transplant and never threw up blood ever.
Grandma needs to see a doctor, now.
A transplant is the only option.
Throwing up blood can be from other things besides cirrhosis. In fact I had a transplant and never threw up blood ever.
Grandma needs to see a doctor, now.
My grandma also has cirrhosis and hepatitis c and see got treatment for hepatitis in 1995. For some reason it did not work. I think she is in the last stage of cirrhosis because she threw up blood a few weeks ago. She's really old and she can't get the hepatitis treatment because she can't take it. Can anyone tell me if there's a treatment for cirrhosis besides liver transplant.
"Thank you so much! God bless you for having overcome such challenging obstacles! May I ask, did you take any treatment at all for your condition (Hep C or Cirrhosis)?"
I was on rebetron in 2003 and although I tested UND at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks, I relapsed post-treatment. I think I would have achieved SVR, but I stopped the ribivirin for awhile at about 16 weeks because it was a hot summer and I became too tired to function at work. I didn't expect it, but that caused the AST and ALT enzymes to flare up. And although there was no viral load test done at that time, I tested positive at 18 weeks. So even though I was undetectable again at 24 weeks, I relapsed shortly afterwards.
According to studies I've looked at and from my doctor says, for people with cirrhosis, the 16th to 24 weeks are crucial, because even though the virus becomes undetectable, it's more difficult and takes longer for the pegatron and ribivirin to remove it from the scar tissue than from healthy liver tissue.
I'm currently on pegatron and ribivirin, and starting my 12th week of treatment this Friday. I was nearly undetectable at 4 weeks (viral load 44) and undetectable at 8 weeks. This time I'll be completing my 24th week around the time the hot weather arrives in late June (and I'm taking some time off work anyway).
I was on rebetron in 2003 and although I tested UND at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks, I relapsed post-treatment. I think I would have achieved SVR, but I stopped the ribivirin for awhile at about 16 weeks because it was a hot summer and I became too tired to function at work. I didn't expect it, but that caused the AST and ALT enzymes to flare up. And although there was no viral load test done at that time, I tested positive at 18 weeks. So even though I was undetectable again at 24 weeks, I relapsed shortly afterwards.
According to studies I've looked at and from my doctor says, for people with cirrhosis, the 16th to 24 weeks are crucial, because even though the virus becomes undetectable, it's more difficult and takes longer for the pegatron and ribivirin to remove it from the scar tissue than from healthy liver tissue.
I'm currently on pegatron and ribivirin, and starting my 12th week of treatment this Friday. I was nearly undetectable at 4 weeks (viral load 44) and undetectable at 8 weeks. This time I'll be completing my 24th week around the time the hot weather arrives in late June (and I'm taking some time off work anyway).
Hi Sean! I'm one of the several members here who have cirrhosis and are successfully treating with triple tx. I was diagnosed with stage 4 cirrhosis back in 2006. I spent 15 months treating with interferon & ribavirin, only to relapse 6 weeks later. I'm now 58 years old and on the combo with Telaprivir. I started with a viral loaf of 9.8 million and by week 8 the virus was UND (undetectable) in my blood. I'm now on week 23, finished with the Telaprivir after week 12, and have remained UND since that 8 week test. It's a very difficult tx, but it's worth it. Just be sure that your grandmother gets treatment from a hepatologist, not just a general M.D., and not just a gastroenterologist either. Preferably her hepatologist should be at a major facility with a liver transplant team. The treatment is harder with increased age. Best wishes to you and your grandmother. Please encourage her to explore this forum herself too - she will quickly find many new friends and a whole world of support and good information.
4 Comments
Hello. I am wondering how you are doing now. Hope to hear from you as I have Stage 4 cirrhosis. Thank you.
Hi Leniann you have added a comment on a thread started in 2012. Likely the person you have asked will not see your comment so you would be better served to start your own new thread.
To try to answer your question I was diagnosed with F4 aka fibrosis score 4 aka cirrhosis back in January 2008. I was cured of hep c back in May 2015 but still have cirrhosis and will continue to me monitored.
To try to answer your question I was diagnosed with F4 aka fibrosis score 4 aka cirrhosis back in January 2008. I was cured of hep c back in May 2015 but still have cirrhosis and will continue to me monitored.
Oops
continue to be monitored. But other than having chronic liver disease I still work full time and feel fine. I am now 61 years old and still kickin.
continue to be monitored. But other than having chronic liver disease I still work full time and feel fine. I am now 61 years old and still kickin.
Oops
continue to be monitored. But other than having chronic liver disease I still work full time and feel fine. I am now 61 years old and still kickin.
continue to be monitored. But other than having chronic liver disease I still work full time and feel fine. I am now 61 years old and still kickin.
http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/provider/guidelines/2006HCV-groups.asp
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed.
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed.
"And of course, hopefully she doesn't drink alcohol, becuz the meds dont work, when alcohol is being used"
While i don't think drinking on treatment is a good ideal, neither do i think spreading things that are not true.......... Please show me your source of info on this.
While i don't think drinking on treatment is a good ideal, neither do i think spreading things that are not true.......... Please show me your source of info on this.
Ahh, Sean,I know how you feel, when I was told I had stage 4 cirrhosis, last october, due to a FibroSure test result, I felt so alone, and cried all the time, like you cry for yr grandma. Luckliy, I had a biopsy, and was only stage 2, and I am being treated now, and my virus went undetectable, after 4 weeks of treatment, and my sky-high liver enzymes are all normal again. I've got 7 weeks down, and 21 more weeks to go, and although I am only almost 50 yrs old, I think yr Grandma has a good chance of getting thru tx and being cured. Does she have support, are you nearby? Does she smoke ciggerettes? I had to give up my bad habit, pot-smoking, cuz, they wont give a liver transplant to someone that tests positive for marajuana, and also, smoking deprives us of oxygen, and yr grandma ill need all the oxygen she csn get, on this treatment. And of course, hopefully she doesn't drink alcohol, becuz the meds dont work, when alcohol is being used, also. Make sure she eats, while she is taking her meds, becuz I find a full when my tummy is full, I'm not as nauseous
Thank you so much! God bless you for having overcome such challenging obstacles! May I ask, did you take any treatment at all for your condition (Hep C or Cirrhosis)?
I can tell you I have chronic Hep C, stage 4 cirrhosis, advanced scarring. Can anyone survive this? I sure hope so, I'd hate to think I'm doing this treatment for the fun of it.
I am still compensated and the only symptoms I have are sore muscles and joints. I can't even say for sure the symptoms are from the hep c because of injuries I have had over the years.
According to my transplant Dr., if I successfully kill this HCV with the Incivek, pegasys, ribavirin treatment I am currently doing and reach SVR then I have a great chance at living several more years without need for a transplant, as long as I don't develop liver cancer which I am being checked for via sonogram or mri every 6 months, Or as long as my wife doesn't finish me off with a frying pan because of my riba rage on this tx.
If your Grandmother is stage 3 - 4 then I would think she has an excellent chance at survival as long as she does some form of treatment asap.
I didn't see your previous post and don't know if you mentioned her age but if she is able to do treatment that should increase her chances greatly.
No matter what, just give her a great big hug every single time you see her
and tell her how much you love her cause it sure wont hurt anything....
Best of Luck to you and your Grandmother
Gene
I am still compensated and the only symptoms I have are sore muscles and joints. I can't even say for sure the symptoms are from the hep c because of injuries I have had over the years.
According to my transplant Dr., if I successfully kill this HCV with the Incivek, pegasys, ribavirin treatment I am currently doing and reach SVR then I have a great chance at living several more years without need for a transplant, as long as I don't develop liver cancer which I am being checked for via sonogram or mri every 6 months, Or as long as my wife doesn't finish me off with a frying pan because of my riba rage on this tx.
If your Grandmother is stage 3 - 4 then I would think she has an excellent chance at survival as long as she does some form of treatment asap.
I didn't see your previous post and don't know if you mentioned her age but if she is able to do treatment that should increase her chances greatly.
No matter what, just give her a great big hug every single time you see her
and tell her how much you love her cause it sure wont hurt anything....
Best of Luck to you and your Grandmother
Gene
Yes I have met people here who were in a similar situation of your Grandmothers and were able to fight the virus and win.
I recently treated and finished 5 weeks ago and was UND. I had the beginning of cirrhosis and am hope that I will get to the Sustained Viral Response.
Good luck to you and your grandmother, perhaps others will come on who have experienced same. You can also do a search for HCV cirrhosis to try to find others.
I think Goofy Dad had same and many others
I recently treated and finished 5 weeks ago and was UND. I had the beginning of cirrhosis and am hope that I will get to the Sustained Viral Response.
Good luck to you and your grandmother, perhaps others will come on who have experienced same. You can also do a search for HCV cirrhosis to try to find others.
I think Goofy Dad had same and many others
Sean,
I'm a little rusty at this, but if I read this right your grandma's diagnosis was similar to mine before I treated. That would be between stage III and four, stage 4 known as cirrhosis.
Not only do many survive stage IV, or in your grandma's example between stage III and four, but it's possible for their liver to heal and then return to normal after a successful treatment.
That's what happened to me six years after I treated. I am now between stage 0 and stage 1, which is consistent with someone who has never had hepatitis C.
-- Jim
I'm a little rusty at this, but if I read this right your grandma's diagnosis was similar to mine before I treated. That would be between stage III and four, stage 4 known as cirrhosis.
Not only do many survive stage IV, or in your grandma's example between stage III and four, but it's possible for their liver to heal and then return to normal after a successful treatment.
That's what happened to me six years after I treated. I am now between stage 0 and stage 1, which is consistent with someone who has never had hepatitis C.
-- Jim
Most people survive cirrhosis but it can take a liver transplant to continue living if the cirrhosis have progresses too far and is so damaged it can’t perform all of its functions and the patient will have complications of cirrhosis some of which are life-threatening conditions (called “decompensated cirrhosis” or “End-Stage Liver Disease”). You don’t want her to get that ill if you can help it. Luckily your mother still has time to cure her hepatitis C.
So in summary, she can survive hep C either of two ways. Either she gets her hepatitis treated by a knowledgeable and experienced gastroenterologist or hepatologist soon or if she develops stage 4 cirrhosis and then decompensates she will need a liver transplant to continue living. Obviously the preferred method is to treat her hepatitis C soon. She should not wait or put this off any longer. That will give her the best odds of curing the virus and stop the progression of her liver disease.
Chances are she will be fine. Treatment can now be 75% + effective but she should treat as soon as possible as the odds of success go down the more damaged the liver is. So you see once you know more about the virus and the liver damage it causes it is not so bad after all. Continue to learn and you will see there is no reason to cry and think it is the end of the world. It isn’t unless she refuses all treatment. You can tell your mother now truthfully that There are much worse illnesses to have. To help your mother, take action and make sure she treats her hepatitis C soon. Things will only get worse if she doesn’t. Way worse.
Hepatitis C is NOT a death sentence for the vast majority of people with the disease. But is should be treated and the treatments are the best that have ever been able.
Good luck to your mother and yourself!
Hector
So in summary, she can survive hep C either of two ways. Either she gets her hepatitis treated by a knowledgeable and experienced gastroenterologist or hepatologist soon or if she develops stage 4 cirrhosis and then decompensates she will need a liver transplant to continue living. Obviously the preferred method is to treat her hepatitis C soon. She should not wait or put this off any longer. That will give her the best odds of curing the virus and stop the progression of her liver disease.
Chances are she will be fine. Treatment can now be 75% + effective but she should treat as soon as possible as the odds of success go down the more damaged the liver is. So you see once you know more about the virus and the liver damage it causes it is not so bad after all. Continue to learn and you will see there is no reason to cry and think it is the end of the world. It isn’t unless she refuses all treatment. You can tell your mother now truthfully that There are much worse illnesses to have. To help your mother, take action and make sure she treats her hepatitis C soon. Things will only get worse if she doesn’t. Way worse.
Hepatitis C is NOT a death sentence for the vast majority of people with the disease. But is should be treated and the treatments are the best that have ever been able.
Good luck to your mother and yourself!
Hector
I had a biopsy in 1992 and again a few years later that showed me to be a Stage 4. I have not had successful treatment but I am still here and doing well. I hope your grandma does well too.
The important metric here is whether the patient is dealing with ‘compensated’ or ‘decompensated’ cirrhosis. If there is question as to her status her doctor can clarify this distinction.
In compensated disease, while the liver architecture has changed to some degree the liver continues with normal functions. These patients are encouraged to participate in antiviral therapy and if successful will likely survive without further problems.
On the other hand, decompensated cirrhosis generally prevents antiviral therapy, and the patient will probably require a liver transplant in the future for long term survival. There are of course exceptions to this; she should consult with a qualified hepatologist either way.
Good luck to everyone in your family-
--Bill
In compensated disease, while the liver architecture has changed to some degree the liver continues with normal functions. These patients are encouraged to participate in antiviral therapy and if successful will likely survive without further problems.
On the other hand, decompensated cirrhosis generally prevents antiviral therapy, and the patient will probably require a liver transplant in the future for long term survival. There are of course exceptions to this; she should consult with a qualified hepatologist either way.
Good luck to everyone in your family-
--Bill
Yes. We've had members here with cirrhosis who have rid themselves of the virus and are doing well.
As far as survival goes, well I had decompensated cirrhosis, did tx, relapsed and had a transplant. I'm still here so yes, I survived.
As far as survival goes, well I had decompensated cirrhosis, did tx, relapsed and had a transplant. I'm still here so yes, I survived.
I had a biopsy that indicated stage 4 cirrhosis in Oct 2004. It's now 2012 and I'm still alive and except for one 8 week rest in 2010, I've never been so sick I had to stop working.
The doctor says there's a difference between compensated stage 4 and decompensated stage 4.
I believe surviving a long time with severe liver damage has a lot to do with a careful diet and avoiding alcohol.
The doctor says there's a difference between compensated stage 4 and decompensated stage 4.
I believe surviving a long time with severe liver damage has a lot to do with a careful diet and avoiding alcohol.
2 Comments
Hello. I’m wondering how you are doing now. I have stage 4 cirrhosis and am freaked.
Please start a new thread. What is the cause of your cirrhosis. How were you diagnosed what does your hepatologist say?
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