Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Maddawg46 on April 29, 2015, 09:53:08 pm
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I was asked what stage was my Cirrohsis when I posted that I completed the Harvoni. I assumed I was stage 1. That's because a couple of years ago I had fibrosis. I now find out I have stage 4 Cirrohsis.
Don't know how that happened so fast. So now that the Hep C is gone, won't my liver regenerate itself?
Man I am confused now!
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From what I understand YES the liver will regenerate itself with healthy new cells in place of the bad ones.Im not sure if the scarring remains for a while or not but I'd imagine it's a slow process either way?!?
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Hi Maddawg
They say that even with cirrhosis there is an opportunity for our livers to heal it all depends on the extent of the damage the more damage the more time it will take for us with cirrhosis we have about a 50/50 chance that we can regress away from cirrhosis.
So some will some won't but there will be no additional damage happening from hep c.
Part of the problem is the cells aren't just bad they are not really liver tissue any more just dead scar tissue so not coming back from the dead.
This is really a new and undiscovered country as far as what we can expect going forwards newer before have so many who previously were not able to be cure and who now have advanced liver disease are now free of hep c.
Hopefully as we move into our brave new world of hep c freedom we will beat the odds and show the doctors and the world just how resilient an organ the liver is.
Good luck
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But how could my liver be working ok if I have stage 4? That doesn't make sense.
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It hasn't hit the tipping point. It is still damage but functioning. There is compensated cirrhosis that is your liver is compensating for the degree of damage then decompensated where the liver can not longer do its job for us and we need a transplant to live. Liver damage is a long slow process unless you hurry it up by doing everything you can to hurt your liver including drinking alcohol then you are on the fast track to liver failure. Which I am sure you won't do.
But over time as the liver becomes more and more damaged you will start to have symptoms of liver failure. They are not pretty.
Severe ascities with a swollen stomach to the point the person looks pregnant with pressure making breathing difficult and not wanting to eat due to feeling full from the bloating. Also the fluid can become infected called SBP spontaneous bacterial peritonitis which the infection can cause death.
Enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus that can enlarge to the point they result in a bleeding episode where you can die from blood loss and shock from the blood loss.
HE or hepatic encephalopathy where you forget how to do even the most simple task often caused by a buildup of ammonia in the blood because the failing liver can't do its job any more.
But it thankfully takes time to get to that point and you have cured you hep c so you should not have to go there you have a chance to step away also you haven't had cirrhosis very long so that is also in your favor.