Need doctor recommendation in Ann Arbor MI area

[Gee704]

Hi all...

I have recently been diagnosed with bridging fibrosis caused by HCV. I am not comfortable with my current doctor and would welcome recommendations from someone going through treatment.

Thanks so much.

[miked]

I live in Indiana and know Ann Arbor well.

Dr. Paul Kwo of IU Medical Center in Indianapolis cured me on the Prove 3 Vertex trial.  Before Prove 3 I failed on SOC tx with a local Northern Indiana know it all "doc".

Indy would be about 3 1/2-4 hours for you.

Paul Kwo has 3-5 clinical trials for Protease Inhibitors going at any one time.  Please Google his.
name and IU Medical Center.  Joyce Wassel is Paul's Clinic RN.

Good luck,

miked

[Tippyclubb]

I sent you a private message

[Tippyclubb]

Yes they do clinical trials there, I am in one now.  I will pm you the info.  I am still trying to get a hold of my girlfriend.

[Gee704]

Yes I could drive to Henry Ford.
Do you know if there any clinical trials there?
The protease inhibitor sounds promising.

[Tippyclubb]

Well that doesn't sound right a doctor telling you no side effects plus everything should have been explained to you.  Definitely seek another doctor.  

I was not able to get in touch with her today but I will call her in the morning.

Would driving to Henry Ford in Detroit ( Grand Blvd ) be a option for you?

[Gee704]

Thank you for all the information. I am new to this and not happy with the response from my current DR that I would have NO side effects. I am so confused and my labs were not explained nor what exactly the treatment plan would be. I am at U of M now.

After reading the side effects across this board, I doubt I would be able to even work if I should suffer even a partial list. I am in customer service and deal with the public all hours worked.

I have Geno 1
Stage 4 bridging fibrosis just starting to cirrhosis
viral load 1,440,000
Last ALT 90
Last AST 69
Platelet count is normal
Ferritin is at 390
All other blood work is fine.

Tippyclubb I would like to know what DR at U of M your friends hubby is seeing.

[AnotherJourney]

I live in SW MI. From research I did, you have two good options. One would be to look for a Hep through U of M and the other would be the LIver CLinic at Henry Ford Hospital. The liver clinic will get you in the quickest. The good news is that both of these places participate heavily in clinical trials. I would have opted for either one but I was worried that I would not be able to do the two hour drive (potentially in snowy weather) during my treatments. So I am treating here with a Gastro in SW MI. My experience with her (actually her incompetent staff) has been miserable and I wish I would have went to either one.

Here is a link for HF for you to check out.
http://www.henryfordhealth.org/body_academic.cfm?id=33716

[Tippyclubb]

My girlfriends husband had a doctor from University of Michigan ( I think )  and tx there.  If you can hold on until tomorrow I can find out his name and have more information for you.  I know he treated in Ann Arbor.  

I am tx out of Henry Ford and have an excellent doctor, but that may be a bit far from you.  I can give you that information also if you like.  My doctor is the head guy of research for Hep C , and the head of the Liver Dept , and also the study doctor for clinical trials at Henry Ford.  

[lalapple]

i don't live near this place, but we might have some people here who live near around that area.  very general advice is to pick wisely as first impressions with doctors can be deceiving.  big clinics can be very knowledgeable however not provide enough satisfactory care to their non-transplant patients.  we have significant # of people here who talked about switching hepas during treatment.  i myself was about to do that then decided it wasn't my best option, so i just stayed and sucked up to those people and became UND by wk 12.  best of luck to you!