Hey everyone~ biopsy went well. It was a piece of cake. The numming needle was the only pain I had....then after the procedure I felt a burning sensation and they did a c scan to just be sure. OK that dye that they inject in you I swear they were right it makes ya feel like you just peed your panites and that warming sensation all over my body...felt like I was having my first hot flash....lmao. But no worries it really was simple. Hoping and praying results are really good. Thanks for all of the support and good info

Thanks Davesf - good information!  

Caryn- I've Googled it a lot obviously.  From what I understand:

1) It's far more accurate than CT or US scans.  CT/US scans are more likely to show "normal" when there actually is damage.

2) It is the standard scan in other countries.  The U.S.A. is behind in adoption.

3) Conflicting Opinions- Some feel the Fibroscan is good enough (not good as) to replace biopsies (biopsies are a riskier procedure).  Others don't.

Any opinion from those in countries where Fibroscan is used routinely?

Dave,

I had the scan done in Houston, Tx. It states on the bottom of the results that it is NOT FDA approved, which I thought was interesting. This is why I am curious as to how accurate it could be.  I had an ultrasound done at the same time.

Judy, this is very confusing. At least being on this forum and researching, I have become somewhat  more educated on thsi mess, but not enough to know it all. I am just trying to get a great list of questions for the specialist when I see her again. The first time I saw her I was not prepared. 

Hi Caryn - this entire disease and tx can be so darned confusing.  I've seen about 8 different drs in the past 15 years about this virus, and all have told me that the only method they would trust to determine extent of liver damage is biopsy.  I have also had CT Scans and Ultrasounds, like Dave mentioned, and they have shown Splenomegaly, along with portal hypertension in my liver.  I was told that means my liver is backing up into my spleen, and that verifies cirrhosis.  Gosh, I've never even heard of a fibroscan until just last week on this forum.  Now Dave clarified, so makes sense.  No FDA approval for us out here, yet.

Hi Caryn,

I was curious where you had your fibroscan done?  From what I understand, it doesn't have full FDA approval yet so there are only a few Beta sites in the U.S.  Most of us US residents have to settle for CT and Ultrasound which are supposed to be less accurate.

All the Best, Dave

Judy,

I was advised to put off treatment as well due to the low % of it working. I will begin treatment in the fall. I have not had a biopsy, although I was encoureged to do so. I feel stupid for not doing it when it was suggested as all of my blood work came back okay and ultrasounds were fine. My spleen has always been enlarged. I had the fibroscan test done and it is now showing that there is an 83% chance that I am between stage 2-3. I wish I were more clear on the accuracy of that test. Has anyone had the fibroscan test and then a biopsy and found the fibroscan test to be inaccurate? 

Yes so Monday it is. Today I went to meet the doc doing the procedure...asked him all kinds of questions. It will be ultrasound guided and he was really nice. He said my bloodwork looked good and it will be over before I know it. He also said something about me laying on my right side after the procedure...I told him no can do...I have  rotator cuff tendanitis and a bone spur so being on my right side right now is impossible. Ok well here's to a great reading onmy biopsy and no pain. If it goes well I wont have to go through my three treatment plan and can wait for the new stuff coming out. Positive thoughts.

They want you to lay on your rt side to reduce risk of bleeding after bx.  Puts pressure on your liver that way, to stop bleeding.  I had one in 2000.  I got the referred pain in rt shoulder, which was very painful.  However, a friend had no problem at all with his; 50% get the referred pain is what dr told me.

Kelly, I've found that most drs push for tx right away, as the less time we have the virus, the less the liver damage.  However, there weren't any great txs for my geno 1a until last May, so I held off so I could be tx naive with triple therapy.  Previously, I had only 35% chance of SVR.  Now we have about 80%.