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Author Topic: Looking for some experienced help??  (Read 8934 times)

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Offline StillChoppin

  • Member
  • Posts: 43
Looking for some experienced help??
« on: October 01, 2016, 05:08:34 pm »
I received my referral exactly one week after my diagnosis to a specialist from my primary doctor.
I called the specialist who scheduled me for this Fri morning for consultation etc.
Like I said I was just DX last week so I'm very new & I want to ask all the right questions & make good requests by possibly saving some time & getting the ball rolling.
I'm really nervous about this.
I've completely done a 360° this past week in terms of diet, green leafy veggies, fresh fruit, lean chicken & fish, water,water water w/ lemon.etc etc.
That's all well but my lived is still infected & I want to knock it out as quickly as possible.
Please any advice , tips, or what o should or shouldn't be asking???
I know there are alot if experienced post treatment Hep C winners out there & I would love to know how you got there??
Thanks so very much!!

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,544
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Looking for some experienced help??
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2016, 07:20:26 pm »
What is my genotype? Do I have any liver damage? What are my ALT and AST test results (liver function test).  What treatment will you be prescribing? Anything I should know about this medicine? Let your doctor know everything you are taking (even occasionally) and ask if ok to continue while on treatment. How long will I be taking this medicine. If I have trouble with my insurance will your office appeal if I get a denial?

It is great you are eating healthier I should but I don't really having McDonald's for dinner tonight. My only suggestion is to keep properly hydrated 8 glasses of fluids a day.

I didn't really do anything except take my meds and because I was taking Harvoni I did not take Prilosec so had to live with a lot of heartburn for 6 months but other than that I made no lifestyle changes except taking an extra pill with my prescribed diuretic

Just don't over think this you will be fine just follow your doctors instructions
Good luck
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Looking for some experienced help??
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2016, 08:00:10 pm »
. . . my liver is still infected & I want to knock it out as quickly as possible. . . .
These new medicines will do that part for you -- they work amazingly quickly. And you are doing the rest by eating a liver-friendly diet.

Ditto to everything Lynn said. "Do I have any liver damage?" is a mild way of asking to know your fibrosis level (F0 to F4), which used to be measured by having a liver biopsy but these days is usually calculated via a FibroScan (a special type of ultrasound) or a FibroSure or equivalent (a blood test). In another thread you mentioned you already know your viral load (which by itself isn't all that meaningful because it can jump up and down a lot before a person starts treatment).

You are entitled to copies of all lab reports, so get them at each visit unless you can already see them on a patient portal. Oh, and find out the procedure for contacting the office should you need to.

Chances are they'll address most or all of these questions automatically. My specialist's office did, which showed me it was well run. Still, because I had studied and knew the questions to ask, it added to my confidence that they and I would make an effective team.

Every good wish,
Gnatty
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline lporterrn

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  • Posts: 1,969
  • LucindaPorterRN
    • LucindaPorterRN
Re: Looking for some experienced help??
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2016, 09:46:11 pm »
I would also discuss vaccines - hep B, flu shot, etc. If you are up to date on these, then no discussion necessary. Also, be sure you are clear on transmission, so you don't infect anyone else. https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-c-basics/hepatitis-c-transmission-risks Here are some general tips: https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-c-basics
Lucinda Porter, RN
1988 Contracted HCV
1997 Interferon nonresponder
2003 PEG + ribavirin responder-relapser
2013 Cured (Harvoni + ribavirin clinical trial)
https://www.hepmag.com/blogger/lucindakporter

 


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