Thanks for the clarification Tom. I agree that the differences in fibrosis staging can be hard to understand. As far as they have come, I think they have some work to do to get the non invasive methods on par with the biopsy. I don't think it will be long before we will see those improvements. The human factor controls much of those results currently, which adds to those differences.
I had several biopsies, one of them done without the aid of medication and the others with. I agree, those that were done under twilight anesthetic were a piece of cake!
movebo said
Jan 4, 2016
Hi Gracie and Tig,
Sorry my sig is difficult to decode, I will add some brackets to make it clearer.
Well, a biopsy trumps MRI TE, I am afraid. Malcolm (Mallani) , whom I trust in these matters, suggested a few weeks ago that MRI TE might not be as well developed yet as one would hope.
So possibly I was F4 even in Juli 2014. Or it really went down from F0-2 in one year. It was a surprise indeed, came with a pretty solid depression. But it is what it is, and one crawls out of these holes, somehow.
It helps that I still have no symptoms whatsoever, and platelets are actually 230 now, not 220 as I posted below. We will see.
I have no medical qualifications above red cross ambulance driver courses, but if I was back in July 2014 again, I would push for a biopsy, preferably one with fentanyl (I had one without and one with on the same day).
Cheers,
Tom
Tig said
Jan 3, 2016
Glad to hear you made it past the gates and are recovering nicely! Your blood work looks great, that's something to cheer about as well. The next several weeks will go by pretty quick and we'll be waiting for the good news!
I see in your signature two different fibrosis levels, can you clarify the F0-2 or F4? One was by MRI and the other biopsy. You mentioned cirrhosis, so I think I'm reading that right! Is that the progression in one year? That must've come as a surprise if it is. It would be interesting to have that repeated at some point.
Good luck and keep us in the loop!
Gracie said
Jan 3, 2016
Great news Tom, and my hepologist wanted to wait until 12 weeks too as it's really the only test that matters in the long run. F0-1 and strong platelets means you don't have cirrhosis though. And no symptoms is great news too. I've had a few but nothing serious. Quite a tolerable treatment for sure.
Best of luck on your 12 week test and Happy New Year!
movebo said
Jan 3, 2016
Hi All,
just an update, I am now 4 weeks post 12 weeks Harvoni & Riba. I was spared any post tx sides, same as during. Really happy all went well. Saw my Hep doc
on Dec 31, he wants to do the next VL 12 weeks past, for probably good reasons I keep trying to guess (money? psychology, because if I am detected now,
and still hit SVR12, why suffer for 8 weeks?) I tried to ask, but he is not a exactly great communicator. Actually, he tells me his other patients are much sicker,
and I feel a bit like a hypochondriac, until I remember my cirrhosis...
Anyway, he did LFTs and Haematology:
ALT: 18, AST: 19, GGT: 20, Platelets: 220, all else normal. So I think all looks good.
Thanks for the clarification Tom. I agree that the differences in fibrosis staging can be hard to understand. As far as they have come, I think they have some work to do to get the non invasive methods on par with the biopsy. I don't think it will be long before we will see those improvements. The human factor controls much of those results currently, which adds to those differences.
I had several biopsies, one of them done without the aid of medication and the others with. I agree, those that were done under twilight anesthetic were a piece of cake!
Sorry my sig is difficult to decode, I will add some brackets to make it clearer.
Well, a biopsy trumps MRI TE, I am afraid. Malcolm (Mallani) , whom I trust in these matters, suggested a few weeks ago that MRI TE might not be as well developed yet as one would hope.
So possibly I was F4 even in Juli 2014. Or it really went down from F0-2 in one year. It was a surprise indeed, came with a pretty solid depression. But it is what it is, and one crawls out of these holes, somehow.
It helps that I still have no symptoms whatsoever, and platelets are actually 230 now, not 220 as I posted below. We will see.
I have no medical qualifications above red cross ambulance driver courses, but if I was back in July 2014 again, I would push for a biopsy, preferably one with fentanyl (I had one without and one with on the same day).
Cheers,
Tom
Glad to hear you made it past the gates and are recovering nicely! Your blood work looks great, that's something to cheer about as well. The next several weeks will go by pretty quick and we'll be waiting for the good news!
I see in your signature two different fibrosis levels, can you clarify the F0-2 or F4? One was by MRI and the other biopsy. You mentioned cirrhosis, so I think I'm reading that right! Is that the progression in one year? That must've come as a surprise if it is. It would be interesting to have that repeated at some point.
Good luck and keep us in the loop!
Great news Tom, and my hepologist wanted to wait until 12 weeks too as it's really the only test that matters in the long run. F0-1 and strong platelets means you don't have cirrhosis though. And no symptoms is great news too. I've had a few but nothing serious. Quite a tolerable treatment for sure.
Best of luck on your 12 week test and Happy New Year!
Hi All,
just an update, I am now 4 weeks post 12 weeks Harvoni & Riba. I was spared any post tx sides, same as during. Really happy all went well. Saw my Hep doc
on Dec 31, he wants to do the next VL 12 weeks past, for probably good reasons I keep trying to guess (money? psychology, because if I am detected now,
and still hit SVR12, why suffer for 8 weeks?) I tried to ask, but he is not a exactly great communicator. Actually, he tells me his other patients are much sicker,
and I feel a bit like a hypochondriac, until I remember my cirrhosis...
Anyway, he did LFTs and Haematology:
ALT: 18, AST: 19, GGT: 20, Platelets: 220, all else normal. So I think all looks good.
I wish you all a great 2016!
Cheers,
Tom (Movebo)