He is the walking epitomy of success, a model of how good a person can do, and a model of how good he is at drinking lovely cleansing water, he can even drive his own sodium down a notch!  C.

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the update, Brother! Nice lab results, too. I see a couple of minor things listed there that could be improved, but all in all, everything is very good. You can get that sodium up, just eat a few extra potato chips and some beef jerky! That‘ll fix ya, lol! Your platelets are low for a reason (cirrhosis), but compared to what they once were, they are much improved.

Another big improvement since SVR is the fibrosis. I’m sure the U/S showed some nodularity, but considering the time you decompensated, the improvements to a compensated status are a sure sign of continued improvements. That’s what this is all about! I know things will continue to head in the right direction and I expect those improvements to continue.

Glad to have you here! 

Hi guy,

mm, last report you posted here I was wishing for elaboration on, I have trouble knowing much about the effects of the HIV drugs and what we see on your labs relating to HIV, a lot is beyond me.

Your HCV-related testing here today is a little easier for me to relate to.

All in all, from your assurance that your last HIV labs were looking pretty good , and by the looks of this report today, I would agree things are certainly super-improved for you, a new cured healthier you, fit, active and never looking back (just up). You still cycling??

So, still cirrhotic via U/S, do they ever bother to do fibroscans on you (to show you the kPa numbers), or do they ever bother with more extensive bloods to come up with other cirrhosis markers? I recall you usually alternate with various methods of imaging to keep an eye on things.

Do you and they just choose to leave your and your GB and stones alone? If there is no rumbling, grumbling or backfiring then they just let your stones and GB be?

Still low-(ish) platelets, mind you nothing like your prior record lows (defying laws of human survival levels!), but still lowish - do they care about this as long as they do not go lower?

Funny in your ultrasound they don't elaborate on some of the nuances of what they see that defines the cirrhosis for them, radiologist of few words. They don't seem to compare back to old U/S's either, nor, to other imagings that you get done, not in regard to cirrhosis nor for any ideas on measurement comparisons for instance (spleen/kidneys). Oh well, you and your docs likely have all the old results memorized, thus comparisons for improvements/changes figured. I can't recall, do you get scoped for varices checks??

Was that (old, old hemanginoma) ever visualized again by your last/past CAT or MRI? Or did it just up and disappear. 

Is 60ish GFR a norm for you? Is for lots of folk.

That's a nice ole bright-shiny-star neg PCR you got there again bro, and (heehee) a flagged low ALT! LOTS and lots of good news in your reports. What a dif a few years makes eh?!!!!

Missing ya round here. Glad to see ya and yer labs!

Twenty-question C. 

Although I'm not around here much any more, I do like to keep my lab result history in a safe place here in this thread. Much quicker to access like this rather than sorting through my un-organized file system here at home LOL.

And I hope it can give hope to some of the ones who are just starting out slaying their HCV dragon. I'm no good example of a healthy individual, but compared to where I was over 3 years ago when I joined this group and took on fighting my dragon, I have come a long, long way! This place holds a dear place in my heart and will for a long time.

Good news mike  

ahhh water...I also continue to consume lots of water. It really does make a positive difference.

Like Tig, I drink a lot of coffee but then I kinda think of coffee as a food because thats all I have until mid afternoon everyday.

 I try to drink a glass of water for every (large) mug of coffee. 

A

I’m also a veteran 24 hour UA collector! Mike, your description left me thinking about my own level of hydration. It could be better, no doubt. I consume mass quantities of coffee, but I doctor it up with too much junk, so it’s not the best source. I need to get some more exercise, too. I‘m beginning to understand the attraction Bears have for eating and sleeping! 

Congratulations, Mike! Let us know what the next results are. I’m sure with your healthy lifestyle, they’ll be stellar. I just passed my 4th year of virus free living. As you said, “It’s good”!! The day comes when most people forget about all of this stuff. Why? Unless there’s another reason to continue screening, the concern is gone, resolved. Even those of us that have to keep an eye on things, the routine is far easier and less stressful. We will all remember, but the sting we felt when we first heard we were Hep C+ improves greatly with time...

LOL.  I did a 24 hour urine once - I know EXACTLY of what you speak! hahaha

Lucky for me (or not, depending on how you view things) I was NOT a big water drinker (then). They gave me a 4 litre jug, but I did not know enough (nor drink enough) to scoff at it! hee hee

Hope you didn't have to hold it in whilst looking for a bigger bucket! Nice to see they still do the tried and true old school 24 hr urine collections, they work! So long as you don't forget to put every contribution into the bucket. Gotta have a fool proof method for that! Not like we have a nice pill box or ap alarm reminder to help there! My 24 hour donation had a wee (pun) bit missing.

You are so right - water really, really DOES do a body good (it is still a challenge for me, but I AM better with it). Nice to see your reports and hear how things are going for ya. I'll be looking forward to your MRI too.  C.

As expected, my recent routine test by my HIV doctor on 10-25 17 and 12-6-17 showed very good results for an old fart with cirrhosis. Just par for the course living right and taking care of my body 100 weeks after HCV SVR. I'll have labs done by my hepatologist on Feb 15th including MRI, then see him Feb 27th for more good news I expect. Life is good post HCV!

EDIT: LOL The last entry "Pending test Creatinine Clear 24" was delayed because it's a test in which I collect a complete 24hr sample of my urine. When they gave me a sterile 3 liter container to fill I laughed. I took it anyway but ran out of space for my final 7 times I urinated (hence the delay to get a larger container). I was trained very well by this forum to stay adequately hydrated and my hepatologist agrees, so long as my sodium level is good. I still drink a minimum of a gallon of H2O per day. Water - it does a body good!

-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 05:40:32 PM

Mike and Loopy,

mm, mm, good ....  "lemon, oil and garlic"  ... maybe just take that along with a big pinch of salt (and possibly, a whole lot of pepper!), shake hard? and viola, sounds like a really nice delish vinagrette recipe (rather than just a remedy) for your "green croutons" in that GB bag!

Who knows!! It worked for Loopy, and it worked for my Grandfather too (way back in the 1950's on the farm), but I dunno if it's for everybody! According to your pics, maybe you really are a  "thousand island" kind of guy anyway!! The CAT described your GB cripsy critter collection (sortof) but failed to size them, or even count them for that matter (other than "multiple and layers"), sometimes, especially in case of emergency, "size matters".

Hard to know, what is good to try on your own, no guarantees in this world, with any treatment, but I would sure hate to get stuck in the middle of biting off more than i could chew or spew when it comes to a mixed bag of dressed, tossed GB salad. Could end up being a long lunch?

I heard of other tried and true tactics, like ... let sleeping stones lie, and, when in doubt, do nothing? So, if no signs or symptoms, and your blood work is good, then how much do your docs dislike you packing your GB snick snacks around?  C.

wmlj1960 wrote:

---

My doctor opted to do a CT scan rather than an MRI this time. It was done Monday and I'm happy with the results: No HCC. Happy, happy, happy!!!

---

 Well that sounds pretty darn good to me. Congrats

SF

Oh great news, we like good news!

Gall bladder stones - lemon, oil and garlic shifts them naturally. I wont say you don't feel them coming out, but it worked for me - Gall stone free! :D

Jed,

If I was a gamblin kinda gal, i would bet on a higher than 71 for you, least I hope so. These meds you are on, they must affect these counts also?

Glad you could update us so thoroughly. No mention of these irksomely previously noted hemanginomas, so that is good!, that you don't have to see and wonder about those too. No HCC is the ticket alright, although, you own very intersting images, what with all your "hardware", or, maybe I should say "hard wear". Between "clips", stones, and rods, it proves you are some tough guy! Very nice your spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals are so boring to the radiologist. What IS that clip?? And, did I miss what the last endoscopy showed??

So, how long have you been packin the GBstones and do you think you will ever have to do anything about them? Is it a case of, if they don't bother you, the docs won't bother them?

I'm going for my first ever abd. CAT scan too ... any tips from the expert??

I have forgotten what Fibroscans you have had, has there been some kPa decrease?? 

Glad you're busy and moving about, must be a good thing (in theory) I guess, but, too bad for us when we miss you in action round here!. Glad you posted.  C.

Hey Mike,

Excellent! That's great news. I know you're pleased with that!

Thanks for posting the report, it provided some very good news! SVR 52 is assured, so I wouldn't spend much time, if any, on that worry. However, I'm always a bit nervous, the simple process brings back memories in most of us. Fortunately they don't last long after seeing the confirmed "Undetected" on each test. 

One of these days we'll have to compare spinal hardware. The special world of stainless and titanium spinal jewelry!

Take care my friend and keep moving forward. I always enjoy hearing your updates. 

That's the way to kickoff the new year!

Excellent news, Mike!!  Very good to hear this, you`re doing great! 

What fantastic news! Very happy for you!

JimmyK

My doctor opted to do a CT scan rather than an MRI this time. It was done Monday and I'm happy with the results: No HCC. Happy, happy, happy!!!

Lab work will be done Jan 26. Hoping to see SVR-52 with an improved platelet count better than 71.

-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Wednesday 11th of January 2017 12:44:25 PM

Hey Mike 

This comes a bit late but super congrats on your EOT 24 month results, "How sweet it is"

Your labs look good as well, keep up the healthly habits you I are doing great.

matt

Canuck wrote:

---

How did the chompers turn out, getting resolved yet? How's everything on the HIV front? Hope you are keeping up with burning all these candles from both ends.

---

  My bottom partial is loose and food gets under it. They didn't bother to extend the framework to my perfectly good/strong rear molar teeth so I'm pretty pissed about that and will fight it out with my dentist later this week to try to get it re-made.
 My HIV viral load was UND this time but my Absolute CD4 was only 324. I'm already on a salvage therapy regimen due to many years of inconsistent adherence to my Rx regimen which has caused RAV's to most other Tx options, so my doctor is adding Norvir (ritonavir), a protease inhibitor (PI), to my present Tx regimen of Intelence (tenofovir) an NNRTI, Viread (tenofovir) an NRTI, and Prezista (darunavir) another (PI). So rather than "back to the grind", it's more like "grind harder, grind harder!" for me. Lol

Loopy Lisa wrote:

---

One down and another to go. I hear advancement in H.I.V is coming so far they believe they can cure it soon.

---

 I hope so Lisa. That would be very nice!

Cinnamon Girl wrote:

---

I must say your new leg socket looks very neat and I hope your appointment went well last week. You`ll get this all sorted out eventually, it`s just taking a lot of time and patience on your behalf.

---

Thanks Jill! I like it too. The pin lock suspension works so much better for me than the elevated vacuum did. They screwed up the sensor positions on my arm last time I was at the prosthetic clinic due to the prosthetist getting in a hurry (which is not the first time), so I haven't been back since then. I may decide to get another prosthetic company to use from now on but knowing my luck I'll go from bad to worse. We'll see....

Here are my latest lab results. Looks like my platelets (71 - "Platelets are clumped") are 'down for the count'.

I'm planning to have knee replacement surgery when/if I get a power wheelchair. My left knee has been needing replacement for years but now, with my right leg missing, the extra strain has taken it's toll lately. Hopefully they won't screw that up like most everything else I've had done lately.

Anyway, I'm so happy to not have that HCV dragon on my back any longer and I've got plenty more to be grateful for as long as I keep an attitude of gratitude. For those who are still on treatment or planning to start, stay compliant and treat your body well. Life is good after HCV!!!

Gosh Mike, I`m just catching up with what`s been going on with you, I missed your latest news until now.

Firstly though, big congrats on your EOT + 24 wks lab results, you must be very happy with those!   You`ve beaten that dragon well and truly into the ground!!  I`m very pleased for you, you certainly deserve this!! 

Sorry you`ve got all this other stuff going on though, and I wish you all the best of lucks with those tests next month.  Sounds like you`re well prepared with the necessary supplies anyway!  

I must say your new leg socket looks very neat and I hope your appointment went well last week.  You`ll get this all sorted out eventually, it`s just taking a lot of time and patience on your behalf.  You really are amazing, Mike, the way you calmly deal with all this and manage to stay so upbeat and cheerful around here, and I wish you continued improvement and good luck in all areas of your life...

Wow, that was quiet a read. What a journey! I'm really happy for you that you have achieved SVR. One down and another to go. I hear advancement in H.I.V is coming so far they believe they can cure it soon. It seems like you have been through a lot of crap, hopefully things are gonna get better and better for you. :D

Hi wmlj,

This sounds like you have a whole lot on your plate but ready to go for it. I admire the courage and hope I have mine when I need it.

I trust your TP day will go just fine but of course we all want to know the results and to hear from you when it`s over.

Take care and keep us informed.

SF

Hey wmlj,

Been wanting to catch up. Lots going on for you! Some of it, just a wee bit too much for one person to have to be forced to deal with, I think. But I am SO glad for your continued SVR, and the many other positive things that are occurring for you. How do you like the 'new" doc?? What happened to the old one?

I couldn't fully open all your posted labs for a while, but they finally all opened for me last night, prolly just me/something on my end. So I have been studying them with great interest, raised many ques. for me. (Later). Noted Alt  9!! - man!

Thanks for posting them and all your info so thoroughly, good to know where you are at, including updates on your appendages. Appreciate that. Everything is so much work isn't it? We celebrate in our inchings to good health, interspersed amoungst unwanted worrying concerns. I heard you!, (and mallani) when you said .... "back to the grind"! 

How did the chompers turn out, getting resolved yet? How's everything on the HIV front? Hope you are keeping up with burning all these candles from both ends.

Hope today is a good day for that appointment. From one of your fan club.  C.

Glad the new doc is scheduling procedures/tests to keep this well oiled machine going. And I definitely empathize Mike. I have tests on all ends within a 7 day period starting next Friday and one is a colonoscopy. The fun never ends!

Wow.  It's one thing after another. Good thing you are moving forward.  I'm glad you are following though on all these tests and using the recourses available.  Hang in there, Mike.

I'll be sure to stock up on Charmin, sanitary wipes and clean underwear before hand.
My leg socket fits pretty well but we're still working on getting the vacuum suspension part to work. I go back today for another attempt at my leg issue and to relocate the sensors on my myo-electric arm. We'll get there, eventually...

Hey Mike,

That's quite a story! Now it's there and then it's gone and then it's there, geez louise! The good bit of news is that it hasn't changed. Let's keep it that way.

It sounds like your doctor has a good game plan established moving forward. You'll be busy getting poked and prodded! You're going to enjoy the prep for the colonoscopy, trust me on that one. Make sure you have plenty of toilet paper on hand...

Keep us informed. How is the new socket working for you? I hope all of that has finally settled down. You've been busy, time for a break. Good luck Bro!

I have a new hepatologist. My MRI 10/14/2015 reported a 9mm lesion in segment 5 of my liver, then MRI 2/10/2016 reported that no lesion was seen in segment 5, then my MRI 2 weeks ago on 7/28/2016 reported that there was a 7mm lesion in segment 5. My question to my doctor was "did the lesion disappear, then return?" His answer was no, that the radiologist either missed it or the MRI did not detect it. His course of action was to alternate a CT scan every 3rd time. So this will happen the next time, 1/9/2017. This is exactly what Duane's doctor told him as he posted in THIS THREAD. So for those of you with cirrhosis and who have a periodic scan schedule (as you should have), ask your doctor about this approach.

 In addition, my new hepatologist scheduled me for an upper endoscopy (last one was over 2 years ago) and a colonoscopy (never done before). Both will be done back-to-back on 9/13/2016.

Excellent news Mike! Good to hear.

Thanks for the update ... nice to move well beyond Tx and be into tne HCV-Free Zone!

Dave

That's a cure! Congrats.

Well earned congratulations, Mike!  So glad you are undetected.  Lots of things are going to improve from here on. Best!

AWESOME 

Thanks for the update, Mike. The results are pretty good! Your platelets remain low, but they've been worse. It all goes together, cirrhosis, mild splenomegaly and low platelets. The rest of your results are worth smiling about. That big fat ZERO is awfully attractive too!

Let us in on the doctors impression. Steady as she goes Mike! Good stuff buddy!

Labs, MRI and RNA were done on 7-28-2016. EOT+24 viral load test = undetected.

Scheduled to see my hepatologist tomorrow....

YES YES YES!!!! WE BOTH DID IT!!!! This harvoni must have come from the magic bean stock because it really works! So happy for you Mike, and I can honestly say, I know how you feel. Great spring this year! 

Mike,

Congrats ... You won this after such a long fight.

These are the best posts to read. Thank you for making so many people happy!

Mike,

i have been a bit of a retard and missed your post too. So happy for you and so richly deserved. You have been the quiet achiever. Hopefully this will be the start of a wave of positive stuff coming your way.

Big zaps of cyber happiness coming your way from around the world

Syd

 Thanks everybody. You guys are the best!!!

Hi Mike,

There's no excuse for me missing this Wonderful Post ... I must have been in a total fog ... all wrapped up in EOT ... sorry 

Just let me say how VERY Glad I am to hear this 

CONGRATS Mike! 

Happy SVR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave

WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Hey Mike, it simply doesn't get any better than this. I don't know how this post got by my Drone fleet when you posted it. I told Dave that you guys have worn them out! It's time to send them all for retrofit. Got to get them ready for the newly unhinged, lol!

You so deserved this. Your desire to fight, whatever the reason and there have been many, has impressed me beyond words. I knew this would be the result, because you simply don't quit til you achieve your goal. You have proven it time and again! I couldn't be happier for you. It must've been something in that soup!! It was the last nail in the coffin....

Time to recover and start enjoying that Hep free life. We all appreciate your continued help and excellent advice here on the forum. You never skipped a beat and it's another testament to your character. Congratulations old friend, you did it! 

I canned it so you can put it on your shelf, next to the potato flakes....

Oh MIke.. huge congratulations to you, this is what we`ve been waiting for... SVR it is!!!

Finally... after all you`re been through... this is so well deserved!  I`ve got tears of joy in my eyes... I`m very happy for you, my friend! 

Hard won (and so richly deserved), hearing those sweet words from your pretty voiced nurse. I am very happy and relieved for you. I recall, a little while back that you said your labs were coming up, and Tig too said recently he also has some FU labs coming soon?, I was waiting to hear and hoping for nothing but good news for you (and Tig!). I kept thinking about one small comment you made (really, QUITE some time ago now), but you must have said it on a hard day, something to the effect that "the way I am feeling, I suspect I have relapsed", I have been thinking on that ever since you said it, so, I am SO glad to hear this great news today! I worry about your platelets tho, they still seem way too low!!?? Maybe these were older platelets results ... yet your other blood chemistry values appear good? - how do you feel? (from the platelet thing I mean), are the platelets currently still low? - maybe I am mixed up on your platelet levels and dates. You SOUND good!, you sure don't complain much! I am afraid I do not and probably never will understand all the nuances of how you have had to deal with both HCV and HIV at the same time, co-treatments/interactions/juggling both, nor of this "drug" they gave you which I glean adversely affects or affected your platelets??, but one thing I DO know is that one man should NOT have had to go through the INCREDIBLE amount of strife, trial and multiple outright life threatening events, complications and set backs you have so stupendously and impressively endured and survived. Truly you are a testament to bravery, strength and will. You have my admiration, as I witness all this hard work you have done (to do well) AND all the while helping others. Nice you are doing "better on your own", and also, on top, taking care of what I think you said was a big dental issue??, another problem dealt with. (I guess so!, that Linux's slurry recipes came in handy!) My partner just went through getting rid of an upper palate full of rotten teeth and infected bone, it was a big deal, and a year later he is now in such a better health place! Every effort helps. Yes, what we put into our bodies, and how we treat them, is key. Your soup looked great BTW, wish I was a bit better of a cook - hard to tell from your pic, but maybe you need a couple extra pounds on you anyway. Thnaks for the advice about the pill counter - you are right of course, what's worse, is that I actually have one!!, just didn't use it - stupid eh! I was just trying to make Scott feel better about his trouble in ensuring he took his doses, by pointing out I didn't even have a riba excuse for forgetting. You are a very good example for many others on what we should be doing, and how. One step at a time. So glad your C is history! (So many other "true veterans" on this site! Yes, Jimmy, and a few others I am thinking of, are sorely due of their reward and relief ... they will be NEXT!)  C.

Thanks Wendy and Jimmy. Your turn Jimmy. Enjoy your smooth Harvoni ride to SVR.

music to my ears Mike. So happy for you. 

That is FANTASTIC NEWS!

That is what it is all about and thank you for just upping my hopes!

JimmyK

SVR!!!

I usually tell my hepatologist's nurse how pretty she is, but when she called this morning I told her how pretty her voice is after she said "undetected".

 I couldn't blame my relapse on Sov / Riba last time but I did my part this time and the rest was up to Harvoni. It sure turned out to be the life saving silver bullet for me.

 I am so grateful for all the support I've received from all the members of this forum, especially you Tig! Thank you all so much!!!

 It's been a tough 2 years for me but this victory over the dragon makes it all SO worth it.

 Have a wonderful day everyone!

Excellent Mike! You're improving and groovin....   Looks like you're halfway to normal, keep believing buddy, you'll get there, lol!! We love ya just the way you are! 

I looked at that link to Lovenox, man, that's some wicked stuff. The potential for neurologic hematoma and paralysis really jumped out at me. I've gone through that whole scenario and it's a frightening thing to even consider. You went through some really tough times Mike and look at you now, you're a Warrior and a Winner! Nice guy too

Ok ok so it's official !

Yheeeeehaw!

Gracie wrote:

---

Platelets are up though right Mike?

---

JimmyK wrote:

---

Wow Mike, if you bring those Platelets up a bit you would be officially kicking ass!

---

Maybe not "kicking ass". but platelets made a better improvement this time since after January 2015 when they kept shooting me full of Lovenox after my amputations...Idiots!!!

I'm still cautious around knives and that damn fan blade on my car Lol.

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