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HVC not detected questions
Hi. I was in a clinical trial started in January, and by April, blood work showed not detected. I was blessed. The trial blood work continues until the 1 year point.
My question is about my cirrhosis: they say I am 'grade 2 stage 4' but what all I have read about stage 4 symptoms, all I think I have had is minor nose bleeds in the winter, and before the BMS trial I had a spell of swollen feet. I did have an ulcer I had to have surgery on in my stomach before the trial. I wonder if I was misdiagnosed. Had biopsy pre treatment, and ultrasound 1 year ago.
My question is about my cirrhosis: they say I am 'grade 2 stage 4' but what all I have read about stage 4 symptoms, all I think I have had is minor nose bleeds in the winter, and before the BMS trial I had a spell of swollen feet. I did have an ulcer I had to have surgery on in my stomach before the trial. I wonder if I was misdiagnosed. Had biopsy pre treatment, and ultrasound 1 year ago.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You only mention January and April. I am assuming you have had a blood test 12 weeks after you stopped the treatment? I order to achieve SVR (cure) you need to be undetectable at 12 weeks after stopping treatment.
Assuming you are cured of the virus, the liver damage that has been done over the decades of being infected remains as I think you understand.
Cirrhosis or stage 4 liver disease covers a large area of disease and illness. Cirrhosis is commonly separated into in 3 classes. From less disease to more disease and dysfunction.
Cirrhosis early early form is the , "compensated" stage. This is when people may have no noticeable symptoms and may even have normal blood levels. So that you have had few symptoms if any from your cirrhosis is quite common in the early, compensated class or stage of the disease..
The next progressive stage is "decompensated" cirrhosis. This is when the symptoms/complications of a failing liver begin to appear ascites, bleeding varices and overt hepatic encephalopathy and many other manifestations of a liver that is unable to perform all of its functions.
Then the final class/stage if "End-Stage Liver Disease"with its life-threatening complications which requires the medical intervention of a liver transplant to prevent death.
You say you had a biopsy and an ultrasound. Each of these tests can show conclusively whether you have cirrhosis or not. Your doctor can tell you why you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis based on these tests and other typical signs of cirrhosis which a physical examine will indicate and be confirmed with a biopsy and ultrasound. Obviously the biopsy is the gold standard for measuring the stages of liver disease and can easily note the changes in the sample liver cells that only occur when a person has cirrhosis.
An ultrasound can also "see" the consequences of cirrhosis and how it not only effects the liver but the surrounding blood supply. Depending on how advanced your cirrhosis is, the signs of cirrhosis and its resulting portal hypertension caused by the scarring of the liver can be viewed. An enlarged spleen, nodular liver with certain parts larger or smaller than a non-cirrhotic liver and the signs of the portal hypertension with its collateral blood flow including a recanalized umbilical vein all confirm the diagnosis.
Curing your hepatitis C is a huge step toward better future health. The virus is no longer damaging your liver on a daily basis and your liver will be healing itself as best it can over time. Usually many years. Of course all depending on how much damage there currently is. Also by curing the virus you have greatly reduced the risk of developing liver cancer. Although since you had cirrhosis you continue to have a higher risk than those who never had cirrhosis. So continual surveillance for liver cancer for at least a few years is needed.
Ask your doctor to explain exactly how advanced your cirrhosis is and how you can best care for it in the future.Of course since you had/have stage 4 liver disease it is important you remain vigilant about avoiding any further injury to your liver. Such as alcohol and other toxins.
Congratulations on curing the virus and stopping any further damage to your liver and health.
Hector
Assuming you are cured of the virus, the liver damage that has been done over the decades of being infected remains as I think you understand.
Cirrhosis or stage 4 liver disease covers a large area of disease and illness. Cirrhosis is commonly separated into in 3 classes. From less disease to more disease and dysfunction.
Cirrhosis early early form is the , "compensated" stage. This is when people may have no noticeable symptoms and may even have normal blood levels. So that you have had few symptoms if any from your cirrhosis is quite common in the early, compensated class or stage of the disease..
The next progressive stage is "decompensated" cirrhosis. This is when the symptoms/complications of a failing liver begin to appear ascites, bleeding varices and overt hepatic encephalopathy and many other manifestations of a liver that is unable to perform all of its functions.
Then the final class/stage if "End-Stage Liver Disease"with its life-threatening complications which requires the medical intervention of a liver transplant to prevent death.
You say you had a biopsy and an ultrasound. Each of these tests can show conclusively whether you have cirrhosis or not. Your doctor can tell you why you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis based on these tests and other typical signs of cirrhosis which a physical examine will indicate and be confirmed with a biopsy and ultrasound. Obviously the biopsy is the gold standard for measuring the stages of liver disease and can easily note the changes in the sample liver cells that only occur when a person has cirrhosis.
An ultrasound can also "see" the consequences of cirrhosis and how it not only effects the liver but the surrounding blood supply. Depending on how advanced your cirrhosis is, the signs of cirrhosis and its resulting portal hypertension caused by the scarring of the liver can be viewed. An enlarged spleen, nodular liver with certain parts larger or smaller than a non-cirrhotic liver and the signs of the portal hypertension with its collateral blood flow including a recanalized umbilical vein all confirm the diagnosis.
Curing your hepatitis C is a huge step toward better future health. The virus is no longer damaging your liver on a daily basis and your liver will be healing itself as best it can over time. Usually many years. Of course all depending on how much damage there currently is. Also by curing the virus you have greatly reduced the risk of developing liver cancer. Although since you had cirrhosis you continue to have a higher risk than those who never had cirrhosis. So continual surveillance for liver cancer for at least a few years is needed.
Ask your doctor to explain exactly how advanced your cirrhosis is and how you can best care for it in the future.Of course since you had/have stage 4 liver disease it is important you remain vigilant about avoiding any further injury to your liver. Such as alcohol and other toxins.
Congratulations on curing the virus and stopping any further damage to your liver and health.
Hector
Did they not tell you you're SVR?
when your was till April then in July would be the 12 weeks post treatment pcr to say you're SVR or not,meaning you are cured.
cirrhosis in the early stages usually doesn't come up with severe symptoms except maybe fatigue.
this is my personal opinion, i am not an expert or doctor.
Maybe some very knowledgeable users will chime in for their opinion.
when your was till April then in July would be the 12 weeks post treatment pcr to say you're SVR or not,meaning you are cured.
cirrhosis in the early stages usually doesn't come up with severe symptoms except maybe fatigue.
this is my personal opinion, i am not an expert or doctor.
Maybe some very knowledgeable users will chime in for their opinion.
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