hepatic angiomas

[ocdenise]

I recently got a CT in which they noticed a possible hepatic angioma. They gave me a Bx (#5) I am a 3a, non-responder, viral load 450,000,000.i have done the old 3xwkly injection/rib, then the study for peg, 1x wkly and then a year of just the injection to maintain viral load. I was a stage 1 and now a stage 2, grade 3. They did not bx the tumor ( a marker of 18.8) my blood work show slightly elevated but not overly. I am on MSI (medical services for the indegent) They dropped me because they were afraid they would not get paid!!! UCI'S Doc wouldn't even see me to tell me the results. Their Office Manager just gave me the test papers and said we'll refer you to another Doc, because we won't get paid. He knew nothing and went by the CTpaper wok I gave him, and said angioma. Dr Hu, at UCI, had said he did not know if it was angioma or cancer. So, how the ??? does this other person know it is not??!!! I am grateful, do not get me wrong, but still not knowing. So......what does this mean to me? I read the readings (on internet) for blood on  alt and the other "a" ast?, are reversed when it is cancer. Mine was 51 and 53. The higher one was the one that went towards cancer.  I need help, I am scared, angry, I get nausea everyday, I have the spiders on my knees, one on my face, I itch and sweat like crazy, my abdomen bulges out, the fatigue is kicking my butt. I applied for SSI, got denied. I am just running into detours in every direction.

[meki]

LMAO! "So, I have been praying for them, Damn....sometimes I just do not want to do that, but.....I DO it anyway "

How true... How true.

But listen love -- there are typical symptoms of HCV and those are pretty much what you're going through.

I think that you probably have some other issues going on - but I am sending you super good thoughts about getting in with SSI ----- AND SOON!

Meki

[ocdenise]

I am in Anaheim, Ca. right by the Home of Mickey Mouse. I run the Anaheim Alana Club and have 15yrs and 7months the 12th of Aug. clean. Thank you for your responses. I went back to the Clinic that refered me to their Pavilion ot U C I. The Doc there was pretty nice and listened and answered, although he was a GP for the Seniors doing time at the Clinic. He thought it was a shame what they did not do but, that that is just the way our Medical System is unfortunately. I get into GERD studies and stuff at my old DOC Research Center. I have an appt. there for my final endoscopy. Then they have 2 Hep C studies coming up soon, they'll need 750 people for one of the studies. Fortunately and unfortunately my liver has changes stage so I will qualify for one or the other. I have to wait 30 days after the GERD Study to get into another. I will bring my blood work next week after I see the SSI Atty. on Monday. I have had symptoms: arthritis, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, depression, dry skin, fever, hot flashes, chills, insomnia, irritability, and itching as of late, for a long time. Pain, like a knife stab off and on, edema, not recovering from a common cold. It is just all catching up with me. I don't have cirrosis yet (I am thanking God). I just was resenting the B.S. So, I have been praying for them, Damn....sometimes I just do not want to do that, but.....I DO it anyway

[CockSparrow]

I am soooo sorry to hear what you have been through. Life sux sometimes, no one deserves to go through what you are.
I too am G3a, failed INF monotherapy and Pegasys, so much for being an easy to cure genotype ay.
I suspect your VL has too many zeros in it so I am guessing it is either 45 mil which is really high or 4.5 mil which is quite normal. I mention this because your viral load has little to do with disease progression. You can have low VL and have cirrhosis.

In the link http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9576&pf=3&page=1 it states that “a biopsy of suspected hemangiomas is avoided because of their benign nature and the potential risk of bleeding from the biopsy”.
So that could be why a biopsy was not performed.

My understanding of HCV and Liver Cancer and I could well be wrong here, is that it only occurs
Once we have cirrhosis. Having AST > ALT is an indicator of cirrhosis and Alcoholic Hepatitis, but that is all it is and indicator. Other enzymes would also be high such as ALP (ALK Phos) if it were cancer,
The following comes form http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/livercancer/ and indicates that with HepC cirrhosis occurs before progression to Liver Cancer.
Long-term infection with hepatitis B and C are linked to liver cancer because they often lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer without cirrhosis.

If you are Stage 2 by biopsy you probably don’t have cirrhosis, therefore you probably don’t have Liver Cancer.
In saying that your symptoms are more severe than mine and I am probably stage 2, so I don’t know.
Perhaps if you posted your blood tests someone might see something.

I so hope things work out for you
CS

[meki]

OC - what country or state are you in?

I'm sorry you're going through all of this - it sounds like it's been insane for you!

Do you have medicaid? Hospitals in the US are unable to turn away someone just because they cannot pay.

All I can say is that you sound like you have so many more problems than I ever had - and I sincerely wish you the best of luck --- if you give me more information I might be able to brainstorm ideas for you --- but I don't know where to start.

Hugs,

Meki