Aa
when to switch doctors?
I normally don't read this forum because I try not to think about having hcv. But it's getting harder by the day because I'm feeling worse with each passing day. I use to have a bad day now and then, now I'm lucky to have a good day. My major complaint is the fatigue. I've been taking provigil, but then I'm just tired and can't sleep at night. The way I figure I've had this since 1979. My last biopsy was 5 yrs ago, I'm in stage 4 chirrosis. (spelling?)I tried treatment but after about the 3rd or 4th week my vision started getting blurred, so I had to stop. Now I'm just going to the doc every 8 wks for him to tell me virtually nothing. He says we will treat the symptoms as they arise. Am I crazy or what? Just sit here and wait to start vomiting blood, waiting to die because I'm to tired to do anything else. Should I see another doctor or is he right? The worse I feel the more depressed I get. (I'm taking anti-depressents already) I pray for some insight on my dilema. Thanks for ready my post. Tammy
Thanks everyone for your advise. I live in Chattanooga, tn...any suggestions for a doctor close by? My doc told me since the tx effected my eyes that there was nothing more i could do.
i've been through this but ended up not switching. i got reallly angry at some point with them but there was this super nice hepa there (he wasn't my hepa just one of the hepas i saw for my first visit) and he cared. also, i eventually learned to suckup to the PA/ nurse. i know you might think this is ridiculous esp since we pay them. but i got used to it. i wanted switching to be my last resort bc i already started tx and have seem a handful of other hepas before i decided to tx with this one. best of luck to you!
Find the nearest large, teaching hospital and make an appointment with a hepatologist for a second opinion. If you tell us about where you live, perhaps you will get some recommendations. You will want a complete copy of your records, including any eye exams, etc. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get your eyes evaluated by a specialist prior to seeing the hepatologist.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Ditto what GreatBird wrote. Make an appointment with a Hepatologist right away. If you stay in denial and with this doctor you most likely will end up suffering terribly. As a stage 4 you could benefit from treatment even if you dont clear the virus. There have been cases where livers have regressed a stage or two from treatment. You will have to suck it up and get through treatment. Hopefully a new doctor will tell you to treat and treat the symptoms from treatment as they come along.
Best of luck whatever you decide
Best of luck whatever you decide
In order to make descisions you need to learn more about your condition for yourself.
The doctor does not really say anything cos he knows you don't know the language so to spesk.
There are three stages of cirrhosis,they are called
Child-Pugh A,B and C.
Look them up.
He will be montoring your albumin,bilirubin and INR.
Look these up as well
He will order regular ultra sound to look for tumours,and an endoscopy to look for varices in you oesophagus ( the vomiting blood variation)
You have three choices
a) If your cirrhosis is Child A you can treat with anti-viral drugs
b) You can continue whereby he will treat events such as flluid retention,portal hypertension as they occurr.Your life expectancy is correlated to the Child-Pugh scale
c) You can make it clear that you wish when necessary to be evaluted for a liver transplant.
Apart from that the doctor ca\n deal with your daily elements but he cannot restore your
Health Related Qualty Of Life,so the bad days will come around.
If you want a more meaninful relationship with you doctor study up a bit.
Otherwise it will just be the same eight week routine.
The doctor does not really say anything cos he knows you don't know the language so to spesk.
There are three stages of cirrhosis,they are called
Child-Pugh A,B and C.
Look them up.
He will be montoring your albumin,bilirubin and INR.
Look these up as well
He will order regular ultra sound to look for tumours,and an endoscopy to look for varices in you oesophagus ( the vomiting blood variation)
You have three choices
a) If your cirrhosis is Child A you can treat with anti-viral drugs
b) You can continue whereby he will treat events such as flluid retention,portal hypertension as they occurr.Your life expectancy is correlated to the Child-Pugh scale
c) You can make it clear that you wish when necessary to be evaluted for a liver transplant.
Apart from that the doctor ca\n deal with your daily elements but he cannot restore your
Health Related Qualty Of Life,so the bad days will come around.
If you want a more meaninful relationship with you doctor study up a bit.
Otherwise it will just be the same eight week routine.
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