newly diagnosed F4.

[metricscaler]

Well I was diagnosed a couple months ago with hrp c g3 and on Friday my internist told me the results of my fibro scan said I was a F4. Pretty devastating news   he said I'll be approved for treatment but first I have to have my esophagus checked for varicose veins or something? My spleen is moderately enlarged and my platelets are 25. Six months of treatment and he said if I works I might go back to a F3 , if not its a transplant list . scared and worried :/

[slats1056]

 Welcome Metric, Keep the faith. The Meds. are getting better & better. I'm G1B and just finished Tx, on Harvoni! One week after EOT Lab results Today came back undetected. Did the Dr. mention treatment options? There is a wealth of knowledge here on the forums.  Read up, Get treatment , ask questions and relax! Keep Your chin up and don't give up hope. Tons of help , info. , and support here! Use it to Your advantage. When You get settled in, go to Your profile and put in as much info. as You have. Just look at everyones signature at the bottom of each post to get an idea.

[beto]

Metricscaler

I got the F4 diagnosis back in June of this year though I have lived with the virus (G1A) for over 40 years.  Yes very difficult to swallow.  However, I began researching and have posted elsewhere on this forum about it.  Many studies have been published that show a positive (potential) reversal trend of cirrhosis when the burden that caused it is removed.  Now this is not always the case, but far more often than most people would expect.  Your doc seems hip to this idea...a good thing.

There have been individual reports also, from some of the posters on this forum (and other forums) that have shown reversal after cure.  One case was significant.  Though these reports must be taken with more than a grain of salt...indeed there are enough studies to give us hope.  Yes, the reliability and consistency of the scans or, biopsies are always in question.

There is always a way.  Get the meds...get cured...take care of your liver...and believe.  Peace and good luck my friend.

[Lynn K]

Hi Metrics and welcome

I was diagnosed F4 with a liver biopsy back in January 2008. I had to have an upper endoscopy also to check for what are called "esophageal varicies" which can be described as being like varicose veins in your esophagus.

This can happen because blood doesn't flow as well as it should through the liver because of the scaring of cirrhosis causing a back pressure in the system called portal hypertension or high blood pressure in the portal vein the primary vein which passes through the liver. This portal hypertension can cause the varicies to form it also causes your low platelet count and it can cause your spleen enlargement.

I was checked the first time for varicies and I was ok then. I was checked again 2 years later and they had enlarged to the point they could maybe bleed so I had several upper endoscopies over the next months to band the blood vessels to prevent that from happening.

I also have low platelets at around 80 to 90 minimum normal is 150. And an enlarged spleen.

I have read that once we acheive cure that our livers at a minimum won't get any worse and may improve with time. If you cure hep c you likely will not need a transplant ulness you develop HCC (heptocellular carcinoma aka liver cancer) we are at increased risk of HCC but that risk also will decrease with cure.

The important thing for you to do is be kind to your liver by not drinking ever again if you do drink also quitting smoking would be a good idea if you smoke and eat a liver friendly diet which is basically the same as a heart smart diet. But your hepatolgist will tell you all about how to best care for your liver.

Good luck on treatment
Lynn

[metricscaler]

Hey Lynn,
Thanks for sharing your experience congratulations on your continued improvement . Looks like I will be starting treatment soon , can't wait I'm eager to start so I can rid myself if this nasty virus . I'll keep posting here as thing progress. This forum has been really great at making me not feel alone , it means a lot when your worried about health. Thanks to everyone for posting and listening.

[StillChoppin]

Hey metrics Calera, are you still on the forum?
I see your post was last year?
I just would like to see how your doing, I'm in a similar situation.
hope all is well...

[metricscaler]

Hi yes I am as a matter if fact I just didn't really have much to post. Waiting for test  ECT . Good nee thought I just started treatment on Monday for my help c , I'm taking epclusa and ribavirin for 12 weeks do I'm pretty excited about that . My liver seems to be holding its own I'm still compensated so that's good. You said your I'm the same boat? How are you feeling? Have you had treatment?

[bluebird]

Hi metricscaler! Welcome to the club! I was diagnosed a month ago with hep c genotype 3 and F4 stage. I started Epclusa last week, and my goal is to get rid of the virus first. It may help my liver to get off stress. F4 is a compensated cirrhosis, so we have  chance if not fully recover from it, but slow down the process of getting worse. Don't be scared, you will get a great support here from everyone along with valuable advice. We are all in the same boat! 

[Lynn K]

I believe F4 is just cirrhosis then from there you are either compensated cirrhosis or decompensated cirrhosis. And my understanding is with cure we will not get worse we will either stay about the same or possibly improve.

So as long as we are functioning adequately well with the amount of liver we have remaining (so basically are compensated) our only concern once we are cured is liver cancer as we are at increased risk but even that risk decreases once we are cured of hep c. But otherwise with care we should be able to live a normal life span.

Best to all