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Went to the Gastro Dr yesterday

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Posted 11/15/2006 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
The appt seemed to be more than what I expected.

He doesn't want to do a liver biopsy until next spring, in the mean time I have to go for an ultrasound and more blood work this thursday, I'm guessing a RIBA/Elise test?? Then a Liver profile test again in January. He felt the liver region and said my liver seems to be it's normal size, is this a way of telling any type of inflammation?

He told me even though my body produced antibodies to HEP C does not mean I can get rid of the virus on my own. Hep C is a much stronger virus than A and B which can be cleared by antibodies, where C will stay with you until treated. I thought in some cases that if you produced antibodies for HEP C that it can be a past infection where the immune system through it off??

All my blood work is normal from my latest test, even my ALT's and AST's. My blood test this thursday will determine what Genotype I am and my viral load.

After these results is a good idea to get a second opinion? I wanted to try to set up an appt in Boston with another Gastro Dr since I'm only 30 minutes away.

Thanks
Posted 11/16/2006 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I think Id get a second opinion if I were you. I was under the impression that hep c can be fought off,,normally in the first 6 mths of infection,,and i know for some reason alot of drs get a lil confused when it comes to hep viruses,,it cant hurt to talk to another dr,for sure,,,good luck
Posted 11/17/2006 3:39 AM (GMT 0)

Trish, I believe you are right, sometimes it can fight it off. I read an article that stated about 20% of those exposed do fight it off. Many go for 20-30 years not knowing they have it, until they become very ill.

Teresa

Posted 11/24/2006 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
hi.i was very interested in your drs opinion. why wait till spring for a liver biopsy. you say all your counts are normal now. what explanation did you get for that???i am still wondering and have not made a decision on treatment.it seems to me that if so many people have this and never know it and never get treatment and live a regularr life then why are drs so quick to do all of this???i am still confused and have decided to just be monitored unless any symptoms occur.good luck.

Posted 11/24/2006 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Flicka,

I have no idea why he wanted to wait, he basically just walked in, looked at my paperwork and demanded all this stuff, even after seeing my blood tests were all normal. Instead of saying I may have threw off the virus since it showed antibodies, in his mind I was extremely infected and wanted to get my genotype and VL so he could see what kind of treatment I would need. Instead of making me feel somewhat better he made me feel more like crap. My own PCP said I may have been exposed 1 time in my life and threw it off, this Hep Dr just thought toally differently.

I'll call my Hep Dr this week to find out what my latest tests show. Maybe I'll definatly have it or maybe I won't. Either way, I have my fingers crossed for the best news.

Posted 11/25/2006 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
R31:

I think a second opinion is always a good idea no matter what you are looking at. Especially if you are not feeling good about your doctor. A good working relationship with your hepatologist is very important so that you will feel comfortably to ask questions.

Although my diagnosis is not hep C I had an ultra sound and a ct scan prior to a liver biopsy also. The explaination given to me was that they wanted to use the least invasive procedures to see if and where any damage had occured in the hopes that a biopsy would not be needed. For me however nothing was showing up on those and a biopsy was still used. My doctor also feels my liver area every visit, the explanation given to me was to check for swelling. I also have liver panels done on a monthly basis to check for any increase in enzyme levels.

Although it seems that your doc is doing what at least mine does if you did not feel comfortable asking them questions or worse that you did and didnt' get answers as to why they were doing certain things I think you should seek out a second opinion and shop for a doc that you do feel comfortable with and you feel is collaborating with you in you health.

Congrats on the normal AST's ALT's

Good Luck and keep us posted

Lucy
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