Hey Suziq, So your 80yrs young. I will be 80 in 16 yrs and when you stop to think about it, its not so far away. My youngest son will be 21 in July, so he will be 36 when Im 80. LOL Michaele
Gator Man said
Nov 13, 2014
Isiscat2011 wrote:
Hi suziq:
I think you are pretty amazing and your story is an inspiration. These fibrosis calculators are fine but not in the same accuracy ballpark as biopsy or fibroscan for measuring level of fibrosis. It is essentially what fibrosure does: reaches conclusions by crunching numbers together. Not as good as having an experienced doc actually eyeball your liver.
BTW, that is a great site. It has been linked to on a few occasions here in the past, which is not meant to take anything away from a great find, but just to let readers know that we are on top of the info gathering around here. No snoozing on the job for this forum. I'm pretty sure Wayne had that site on his radar >a year ago.
It's a good site with useful, comprehensible information regarding HCV and liver disease. I followed someone's link awhile back and played with some of the formulas. For those of us who stayed away from occupations requiring anything beyond simple arithmetic, having plug and play calculators works great. My FIB-4 results indicated that I had a negative predictive value of 90% for advanced fibrosis. I used my SVR lab tests where AST, ALT and platelets were all in the normal range. Of course I know I have cirrhosis so the calculators have their limitations, in this case indicating a false negative if I recall my statistics classes correctly. Still a good resource to bookmark for future use.
Thanks suziq. I think we all hope to use our age and have good health when we reach 80!
-- Edited by Gator Man on Thursday 13th of November 2014 08:21:45 PM
Isiscat2011 said
Nov 13, 2014
Hi suziq:
I think you are pretty amazing and your story is an inspiration. These fibrosis calculators are fine but not in the same accuracy ballpark as biopsy or fibroscan for measuring level of fibrosis. It is essentially what fibrosure does: reaches conclusions by crunching numbers together. Not as good as having an experienced doc actually eyeball your liver.
BTW, that is a great site. It has been linked to on a few occasions here in the past, which is not meant to take anything away from a great find, but just to let readers know that we are on top of the info gathering around here. No snoozing on the job for this forum. I'm pretty sure Wayne had that site on his radar >a year ago.
suziq said
Nov 13, 2014
Hi Michaele,
I didn't know I was cirrhotic until I went to screen for a clinical trial in May 2013. Hadn't had a biopsy since 2002. I was Stage 2 then. Both the coordinator and I were really surprised that I was cirrhotic as my tests were good. VL 800,000 ALT and AST still around 100. Started taking alternative supplements for my Hep C in 2007. BUT-- I had stopped using and drinking in 1966--due to need for lifestyle change.
Actually, I never really thought I'd reach 80 either--with or without Hep C. It is very interesting to be this old. I had no plans for this time of life, but here I am living and in pretty good health. My oldest child just turned 62 and two great grandsons are teenagers and ride motocross. I decided to consider a clinical trial in my 78th year and screened for this trial the day after my 79th birthday. So here I am SVR before my 80th birthday in August 2014.
I am especially grateful to Merck for taking me in their trial. Most trials, including Gilead, would not take me due to age and/or cirrhosis. I feel very fortunate to have my health at this age.
Much love to all you young people. You all make being old an adventure. It would be lonely with out you!!!! I must admit to using my age when some younger person gets mouthy with me--They become much nicer when I tell them I am 80.
SuziQ
Tig said
Nov 13, 2014
Hi Susan,
Thanks for posting that information and website. Very interesting indeed! I'm anxious to get Malcolm's impression. The entire website is full of useful information, good find!
Tig
Michaele said
Nov 13, 2014
Hi , how long have u known u were cirrhotic? Im very happy for u. I hope u are doing well, and dont mean to be insensitive . If I knew I could live into my 80's with cirrhosis and Hepc , Id be dancing in the street. God Bless you..... Michaele
-- Edited by Michaele on Thursday 13th of November 2014 03:46:58 PM
suziq said
Nov 13, 2014
This is a calculator that supposedly calculates the degree of fibrosis (and other things) using your standard liver blood tests. I am not sure how accurate it is. I entered my numbers and it said that I have severe fibrosis or mild cirrhosis--which is accurate. Just thought I'd share it. Is it accurate for you?
Hey Suziq, So your 80yrs young. I will be 80 in 16 yrs and when you stop to think about it, its not so far away. My youngest son will be 21 in July, so he will be 36 when Im 80. LOL Michaele
It's a good site with useful, comprehensible information regarding HCV and liver disease. I followed someone's link awhile back and played with some of the formulas. For those of us who stayed away from occupations requiring anything beyond simple arithmetic, having plug and play calculators works great. My FIB-4 results indicated that I had a negative predictive value of 90% for advanced fibrosis. I used my SVR lab tests where AST, ALT and platelets were all in the normal range. Of course I know I have cirrhosis so the calculators have their limitations, in this case indicating a false negative if I recall my statistics classes correctly. Still a good resource to bookmark for future use.
Thanks suziq. I think we all hope to use our age and have good health when we reach 80!
-- Edited by Gator Man on Thursday 13th of November 2014 08:21:45 PM
Hi suziq:
I think you are pretty amazing and your story is an inspiration. These fibrosis calculators are fine but not in the same accuracy ballpark as biopsy or fibroscan for measuring level of fibrosis. It is essentially what fibrosure does: reaches conclusions by crunching numbers together. Not as good as having an experienced doc actually eyeball your liver.
BTW, that is a great site. It has been linked to on a few occasions here in the past, which is not meant to take anything away from a great find, but just to let readers know that we are on top of the info gathering around here. No snoozing on the job for this forum.
I'm pretty sure Wayne had that site on his radar >a year ago.
Hi Michaele,
I didn't know I was cirrhotic until I went to screen for a clinical trial in May 2013. Hadn't had a biopsy since 2002. I was Stage 2 then. Both the coordinator and I were really surprised that I was cirrhotic as my tests were good. VL 800,000 ALT and AST still around 100. Started taking alternative supplements for my Hep C in 2007. BUT-- I had stopped using and drinking in 1966--due to need for lifestyle change.
Actually, I never really thought I'd reach 80 either--with or without Hep C. It is very interesting to be this old. I had no plans for this time of life, but here I am living and in pretty good health. My oldest child just turned 62 and two great grandsons are teenagers and ride motocross. I decided to consider a clinical trial in my 78th year and screened for this trial the day after my 79th birthday. So here I am SVR before my 80th birthday in August 2014.
I am especially grateful to Merck for taking me in their trial. Most trials, including Gilead, would not take me due to age and/or cirrhosis. I feel very fortunate to have my health at this age.
Much love to all you young people. You all make being old an adventure. It would be lonely with out you!!!! I must admit to using my age when some younger person gets mouthy with me--They become much nicer when I tell them I am 80.
SuziQ
Hi Susan,
Thanks for posting that information and website. Very interesting indeed! I'm anxious to get Malcolm's impression. The entire website is full of useful information, good find!
Tig
Hi , how long have u known u were cirrhotic? Im very happy for u. I hope u are doing well, and dont mean to be insensitive . If I knew I could live into my 80's with cirrhosis and Hepc , Id be dancing in the street. God Bless you..... Michaele
-- Edited by Michaele on Thursday 13th of November 2014 03:46:58 PM
This is a calculator that supposedly calculates the degree of fibrosis (and other things) using your standard liver blood tests. I am not sure how accurate it is. I entered my numbers and it said that I have severe fibrosis or mild cirrhosis--which is accurate. Just thought I'd share it. Is it accurate for you?
http://www.hepatitisc.uw.edu/page/c...
SuziQ