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476246 tn?1418870914

preparation for biopsy

I have my biopsy coming up in a week. I wanted to ask, if you stopped taking blood thinning supplements like Vitamin E, fish oil and selenium, garlic pills, cayenne etc. before the biopsy.

I have read that one should stop these and certain meds like aspirin two weeks before SURGERY. (I am NOT taking any medication, so I am ONLY asking about supplements) So I am wondering how this would apply to a liver biopsy.

What is your experience with this?

Thanks for any input.


Marcia
57 Responses
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148987 tn?1287805926
So you didn't get the biopsy ?

Good you're starting the wicked treatment. You'll be fine.
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476246 tn?1418870914
My dear friend, you are never short of kind words. You must be quite a nobleman yourself.

Marcia
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476246 tn?1418870914
they **** me, the words was sukks with ck.

can't get me this time!


l-horn... they *** you, too. am sure the word was a§§, wasn't it. Well they did get rid of me for the time being... but I'll be back next week for tx.. ha ha
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388154 tn?1306361691
Its the blueblood Marcia I always thought you were Qeenlike no i know for sure you are one.

ca
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148987 tn?1287805926
I would eat a big bowl of chili the night before the biopsy, maybe two...with lots of onions and hot sauce and maybe some broccoli on the side for no other reason than they might rush you through quicker just to get rid of your ***.
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476246 tn?1418870914
I know... *****, don't it. The party hadn't even started. But I see you'll be starting yours tomorrow...

I'm gonna be soooo thinking of you tomorrow.

Hugs, Marcia
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476246 tn?1418870914
Thanks...

I do NOT have low platelets... All my blood counts are normal except the ALT 39, AST 34 and the coagulation factor.

To the clotting factor. There did these blood tests they took called

Coagulation Factor (APPT)     25-35 seconds     my result  37 seconds
Coagulation Factor 2+7+10    larger than 0.70    my result 0.77    (right on the border)

I think the second test is also called prothrombin time.

You see, I'm translating from the Danish...

Anyway, I have had two ultrasound scans done... the first by my GP... And the second by the hospital...Both of them with the same results. Everything is in perfect order...

let me try to translate... normal size of liver, no focal pathology, no gallbladder stasis, gallbladder well filled with no concrements or changes in wall structure. (whatever that means) Normal flow in vena porta and arterie hepatica. Spleen not enlarged. 2 normal kidneys without hydronephrosis.  No ascites. Homogenic well defined pancreas (whatever that means) No pathological lymph(lumps) in retroperitoneum. and some other stuff which is impossible to translate.

The first doc said I was in perfect health, according to what he could see. He also said that my liver looked perfectly healthy. I had to mention to him twice that I had hep c.

Anyway, I'm gonna let this biopsy thing go... I really don't care anymore... I'm gonna start treating and hope for a good outcome...

Marcia
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412873 tn?1329174455
Wow!  Talk about all dressed up and no place to go!!

So close, but yet so far.

I am like you...regardless of the biopsy results...get these buggers out of my blood!

I will be thinking of you tomorrow when I do shot #1.  You're not far behind!

Izzy
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Avatar universal
Congrats on getting out of the biopsy! All that fuss and muss and worry for nothing. I'll tell you now that my two biopsies were hellish experiences, and the needle they use is godawful. It really is a big caulk gun needle gun thing. And the needle is several inches long, large gage and has a little guillotine mouth that snaps shut and cuts off the core sample. And they stick that thing deep in your belly - then they screw up and stick in several times more (with student doctors anyway). It's like an alien abduction for real! Argghhhhh... ;-)

Anyway, in the meantime can you at least get a fibrosure blood test? I've had three of them over the years. I don't really trust them (they did not agree with my two biopsies), and my doctors don't really trust them either. But it's better than nothing, plus they're reasonably priced, like $300 in the states (in the event they're not covered under socialized medical care). Also, I've heard the fibroscan is gaining more popularity in Europe. I'm pretty sure it was originally developed in France. Is there any way you can go to another hospital, maybe in another country or two away, and have one performed? And out of curiosity how do they define your clotting factor? Do you have low platelets? Also have you had your spleen sized with a sonogram yet? From what I recall, low platelets and an enlarged spleen tend to go hand in hand with cirrhosis. In the unlikely event you did have cirrhosis, you'd probably want to treat longer than normal to help ensure SVR. So for that reason it might be important to get at least some sense of liver condition prior to starting. Best of luck whatever happens...
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476246 tn?1418870914
Whatever the outcome of the biopsy had been, I would have treated. What I mean is that I would not have postponed treatment if the scores would have been low. I wanna get rid of these buggers.
It's just annoying not to know, but then again... it wouldn't have changed anything, except my curiosity.
My appointment with the treating hepatologist is next Tuesday, so I guess I might be starting next week.

I'm ready anyway... and they seem to believe the same.

Marcia
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388154 tn?1306361691

Then you have as I see it no option but treat,so you dont have to think should i have waited etc etc if the tx gets a bit ruff its just take a bite of the sour apple and as jasper would have put it geterdone.

I understand you disappointed, even more since I know your a big collecter of information which i think is a big acces that you have.

Do you know when you gonna start on the meds?

God bless

ca
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476246 tn?1418870914
So, here I am in my hospital bed all ready to get the biopsy. I get to know that it is the 'big guy'  who is going to perform the biopsy on me. He is head of the hepatology clinic of this big teaching hospital and also the head of liver research... You know, the biggest guy there... He comes in shakes my hand and talks about that it will be most probably easy to treat, being G 3 and I am otherwise healthy and that I am in good hands. My that my blood values are fine, ALT and AST now in normal range, etc.. Great, I think, very nice...
So he goes on... But unfortunately your blood clotting factor is quite low, kind of on the border and you will not have a biopsy. The risks of bleeding are too high to poke the liver... A few weeks ago another hospital performed a biopsy on someone with similar factor as you have, and the person died. So I'm very sorry. On the bright side, you can now go home enjoy breakfast.

So I asked a bout how about a fibroscan. They had been using it for a while, but they had sent the machine back about 1 months ago, as they did not like that it was not accurate enough.

So here I am... back home enjoying my breakfast and looking forward to my appointment on August 5...

Unfortunately I never got to even get a glimpse of the gun... :-(

And I'll never know how badly my liver was damaged. DARN!

Marcia
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Avatar universal
Don't worry about it, I'm sure everything will work out fine. Sorry about the biopsy needle link. If it's any consolation to you, the first one shown with the pistol grip and trigger on it was the type they used on me (both times). It was like a big caulk gun with a giant needle on it, and they left it on the table in front of the gurney I was laying on. They left me in there alone together with the needle gun for quite a while. It was still wrapped in its clear plastic wrapper.I picked it up and fondled it and carefully inspected it. I even pulled the trigger and felt it "snap!" in my hand. The snapping sound is...well, never mind. Lets just say it was *not* a happy moment for me. Please, when you go and if you happen to be left alone in the room with it. Just leave it alone. Don't look at it, and for god's sake don't pick it up. Because, well...it's-just-not-worth-it. ;-) JUST KIDDING! You'll do fine, don't psych yourself out. DEEP BREATHS! lol
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476246 tn?1418870914
That was part of the humor bit, definitely... my favorite prank so far!

I got there at 9 and already went home at 10.15. Had a long talk with one of the hepatologists and he was very nice. So were all the nurses.
Am going under the guillotine tomorrow morning. They are keeping me until Thursday... I asked the doc why so long.  He said that at other hospitals, they send you home after 8 hours, but here we have good resources, so we can observe our patients longer.

For now, good night! Am going to sleep now.

Marcia






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412873 tn?1329174455
You forgot to mention the links to the websites for biopsy tools.

Now that was ........pretty good hepper humor!!!

Hope all went well today with the bloodwork.  Can't wait to hear all the details from Thursday!
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476246 tn?1418870914
Here I'm sitting about to have something as quick and easy (not really a big deal), as a biopsy. I ask a simple question about supplements... and what do I get in replies????

Love, compassion, humor, advice, name it....

I love you guys, all of you... you warm my heart and I feel so fortunate to be part of our big forum family.

Marcia
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Avatar universal
Pre-op meds???  Valium???  Holy cow, I really DID get gyped.  I got nothing except the numbing shot.  Guess I'm pretty tough for a 5'5", 120 lb 53 year old female...LMAO.  

Marcia, the pre-biopsy anxiety is what most of us go through and it's really the hardest part.  Even without any sedation I thought the biopsy was no big deal.  I did, as someone else mentioned above, have the post-biopsy shoulder or clavicle area pain but I only took a one-time pain med when they offered afterwards.  The discomfort in that area lasted for about 24 hours but it lessened so that it was more just a nuisance than a pain.  I was instructed to lay on my right side for the two hour post-biopsy time in the hospital and then I was good to go.  I went to work (office job) the next day.

You'll do great.  I never thought of not taking my Centrum Silver prior to the biopsy and they never told me not to take anything other than aspirin.  Now, looking back, I would have stopped it a week prior if I had thought about it.
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Avatar universal
Be sure to take it easy for a few days afterwards...No heavy lifting (no picking up babies or small children!) or anything heavier than a pineapple...LOL They should take 3-5 samples (depends on how zealous the Dr) and you'll be a bit sore...some people need the heavier pain meds for the first 1-2 days, some don't...If you do take the heavier stuff, drink lots of fruit juice (the "mover" kind) because of the chance of constipation...I was "snowed" afterwards as I had my gallbladder out at the same time :)  ~Melinda
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388154 tn?1306361691
Gotcha................

It was my regular doc he missed first attemt though but sec went wery well.
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388154 tn?1306361691
Mine was also performed by a student he missed first attempt but second went well.
So dont let that scare you.

ca
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476246 tn?1418870914
Thanks Leah. If you read on, it was a joke... It's gonna be the head doc performing the biopsy.

The student doc thing has kind of become a standing joke here now.

Marcia
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Avatar universal
Dont  worry so much about the student doc, mine was also done by one. My hep was there the whole time and he did a good job, most of the resident have done many bx"s,  and they are well prepared.  When asked if you want pain med after the procedure take it, the referred diaphramatic pain that radiates to your shoulder quite simply HURTS. (its normal post bx).  Good Luck...Leah  
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476246 tn?1418870914
That was a 'biproduct' of the intent. It was meant for the 'someone' who is trying to scare the krap out of me.... ha ha ha

Good I got you laughing though. Btw, good news, I might already start tx next week.

Marcia
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412873 tn?1329174455
ROFL!!!  Ya got me!

Your sense of humor will come in handy in the coming year!

Love ya

Izzy

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