Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: lobo11 on October 12, 2012, 09:07:51 am
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I have appoint with VA Doctor Oct 4, 2012 . I can barely walk or talk, don't drive so. Oh yea, I don't drink or smoke. The only
thing I know is I am Genotype 1a.
OK saw Doctor on Oct 4, he said my ALT scores in blood tests had come down far enough that I did not need the treatment
right now, and he would test my blood every 6 months,
These are the Blood tests he took on Jun 12, 2012: I don't know anything about this stuff:
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE 71 High IU/L 10-40 Details
ALBUMIN 4.3 GM/DL 3.2-4.4 Details
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 68 IU/L 38-126 Details
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE 62 High IU/L 15-40 Details
BILIRUBIN 1.0 MG/DL 0.2-1.3 Details
CALCIUM 9.6 MG/DL 8.6-10.0 Details
CARBON DIOXIDE 30 MEQ/L 25-31 Details
CHLORIDE 102 MEQ/L 98-108 Details
CHOLESTEROL 122 MG/DL 0-200 Details
CHOLESTEROL.IN HDL 46.5 mg/dl 35-70 Details
CHOLESTEROL.IN LDL 64.3 mg/dl 0-130 Details
CREATININE 0.9 MG/DL 0.6-1.3 Details
GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE.PREDICTED 87 SEE EVAL >60 Details
GLUCOSE 95 MG/DL 70-110 Details
POTASSIUM 5.0 MEQ/L 3.6-5.1 Details
PROTEIN 7.4 GM/DL 6.4-8.3 Details
SODIUM 142 MEQ/L 136-144 Details
TRIGLYCERIDE 50 mg/dl 0-200 Details
UREA NITROGEN 13 MG/DL 8-24
These are the new tests taken on 10 Sept 2012:
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE 54 High IU/L 10-40 Details
ALBUMIN 4.1 GM/DL 3.2-4.4 Details
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 68 IU/L 38-126 Details
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE 50 High IU/L 15-40 Details
BILIRUBIN 0.7 MG/DL 0.2-1.3 Details
CALCIUM 9.2 MG/DL 8.6-10.0 Details
CARBON DIOXIDE 32 High MEQ/L 25-31 Details
CHLORIDE 102 MEQ/L 98-108 Details
CREATINE KINASE 79 U/L 49-397 Details
CREATININE 1.0 MG/DL 0.6-1.3 Details
GAMMA GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE 43 IU/L 7-50 Details
GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE.PREDICTED 77 SEE EVAL >60 Details
GLUCOSE 96 MG/DL 70-110 Details
POTASSIUM 4.7 MEQ/L 3.6-5.1 Details
PROTEIN 7.3 GM/DL 6.4-8.3 Details
SODIUM 142 MEQ/L 136-144 Details
UREA NITROGEN 10 MG/DL 8-24 Details
I don't want to nor do I think I could go through the 3 drug ****tail, I barely get by as it is so all that other stuff, there is just no way I could get by, by myself, so I belive I'm going to have to deal with this without the treatment they have now.
Anyone else trying to get by without the treatment they have now. What should I take instead of aleve, I can't take aspirin as it thins the blood and I have two metal clips in brain so no aspirin.
What should I eat or not eat, well everything anyone wants to say as I know nothing about any of this, except no iron.
Thanks to all who respond, as I said I know nothing about this mess but I am scared to death about it, Gee, make it through brain operation, please help me make it through this.
You see I live in Panama City, FL, there is only a outpatient clinic here, so I would have to go 150 miles to Pensacola, FL to see liver Doctor, and then if I needed anything else, I would have to go to Biloxi, Mississippi (over 300 miles away). My viral load is 5,800,000. I live alone, no one cooks or cleans for me, I barely can make it to the mail box because of Brain operation, plus paying the bills I need to be somewhat out of the fog, it's very hard now because of brain thing, Hep C meds
would make it worse and I would not know if something bad or not right was happening to me as I'm already very messed up. Thank you for hearing me, I am scarred to death about all this. I also believe I got this Hep C in 1994 when they gave me brain operation.
I realize that I will have to go thru the treatment but I want to put it off 6 months mainly as I eat alot of watermellon everyday (Seedless), their out of season now till Feb or Mar. There 90% water plus fresh fruit, I lost 20-30 pounds when I first started eating then, no calories, filling but mostly water. Like I said, I eat them everyday (Cubed) and want to wait till there in season before I start Tx, anyone with
any ideals, thanks in advance.
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Hi Lobo, welcome to the forums.
The tests in your lab results that are most directly related to liver function are:
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE 54 High IU/L 10-40 Details
ALBUMIN 4.1 GM/DL 3.2-4.4 Details
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 68 IU/L 38-126 Details
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE 50 High IU/L 15-40 Details
BILIRUBIN 0.7 MG/DL 0.2-1.3 Details
The two main ones looked at in a patient with hcv are alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). I agree with your doctor - your levels aren't very high. You're only just outside the higher level.
However, that doesn't always mean that liver damage isn't present. My own ALT and AST levels were usually within normal ranges but I also had some damage. I can't remember exactly what stage my liver damage was (I was treated ten years ago), but it was in the middle range.
You can read more about liver function tests in our Hep C Basic (https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-c-basics/hepatitis-c-testing)
Given your circumstances (which sound very challenging even without hcv), you'd probably be OK waiting for a bit. You might want to get a liver scan and/or biopsy done in the meantime though. These tests will better reveal how much, if any, damage is going on. You may find out that you don't need treatment for a while yet.
Some people can go for many, many years without hcv causing problems. I know I did. It wasn't until I became coinfected with hiv that my hcv started being a problem. (Hiv can accelerate hcv progression.) People not having any symptoms of hcv infection is one of the big reasons so many people are walking around with undiagnosed hcv.
Have you talked to your doctor about what pain meds would be best for you? I don't recall my doctor ever putting any restrictions on me concerning over-the-counter pain meds like Aleve or paracetamol, other than to not over-do it and to absolutely not take any more than what is recommended for dosing on the package/bottle.
Be sure to keep drinking plenty of water while your watermelon is out of season. Lots of water is a good thing. Keep yourself hydrated.
Take care of yourself and hang in there.
Ann
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Thanks for the info, I will check into a biopsy.
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would drinking 11.5 oz of V8 juice be OK with Heo C
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Hi Lobo...
Ann's words of advice are spot on.
I do recommend speaking with your doctor -- I assume you're being followed by a liver specialist (either a hepatologist or a gastroenterologist)? -- about the need for a liver biopsy. At least in the U.S., it's really the best test for figuring out whether treatment is necessary.
As for the V8 juice, you can't go wrong -- lots of healthy antioxidants in there, so continue raising a glass to your good health.
Tim Horn
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Thanks for your help.
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I gotta get me some V8!