Butterfly,
Inflammation
Portal:
Grade 0 no inflammation
Grade 1 peri-portal inflammation no hepatocellular necrosis
Grade 2 inflammation with mild interface hepatitis
Grade 3 severe portal inflammation with moderate interface hepatitis
Grade 4 marked inflammation with severe interface hepatitis
Lobular:
Grade 0 no inflammation
Grade 1 minimal, no necrosis (inflammatory cells within the lobule)
Grade 2 moderate inflammatory cells with occasional liver cell necrosis
Grade 3 marked inflammation with severe focal liver cell necrosis
Grade 4 extensive inflammation with bridging necrosis
Fibrosis:
Stage 1 none or mild peri-portal fibrosis
Stage 2 peri-portal fibrosis with/without extension and portal-portal bridging
Stage 3 portal-central bridges but no nodular formation
Stage 4 probable or definite cirrhosis
More on themister, my husband.
Themister will have a transplant "evaluation" July 1-5. He had a TIPS in January due to varices in the Cardia that were ready to rupture. And, his MELD had doubled. When he bit the bullet and treated Hep C a 2nd time, he obtained SVR. It was hell, but he is SVR. We feel this will really be beneficial if/when he gets a transplant.
about
TIPS. Normally, TIPS is done more for ascites . This brought on a new set of awful problems...and life has been tough. TIPS brought on hepatic encephalopathy. He is not the same personality more often than not, but we knew this going in. Instincts, desires, drive and abilities are gone...but it is a bridge to transplant. Right now, we are keeping him as balanced as possible with the Xifaxan and Lactulose. For me, it is a major challenge because he can not take care of himself.
We are fighting for his life, though. He has been a pretty healthy man of 63, physically, except the bum liver. Things are declining, mostly mentally from TIPS. He should do well if he has a transplant. We did not expect perfection or young again, but this is just one step. On the other hand, he could die at any time, and I know this.
Themister has had Hep C we estimate... since the 1970's. He was first dx in 2005 in a routine physical. He was
already Hep C grade 2, already Cirrhosis stage 4....he just never knew he had it. So, how long could we have freaked out if we had known? What he COULD have done is treat the disease and diet properly.
Everyone with Stage 4 Cirrhosis is not really at a point of panic. It is good to be prepared, but we need to live as well as we can, as long as we can. Quality and joy in life are paramount. We spent years of Cirrhosis stage 4 not thinking about
the disease, except the 6 month EGD and labs.
We, on this board tend to be at the end stages and in a bit of crisis point in the disease. We see a lot that stick around with transplants, cancers, and TIPS. Information is power, Butterfly. Know exactly where your husband is in his disease, what to do to treat it, what to watch for, and get prepared. But, don't panic and stop living. There is a time for that. He may be there.
One more thing. What is your husband's MELD score. This is important to me with my husband. It also determines the score for transplant and when to get looked at for an eval, if that road he chooses to walk.
Themister chose to not treat a 2nd time and to die as the time came. All that changed when he had a gastric bleed, then we found out about
the new Hep C treatments with much better success. I hope this helps. Hang in there. I will keep watch for your posts.
Hugs...themiz
Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 6/10/2013 1:00:13 PM (GMT-6)