My Biopsy Report - Hepatitis Message Board

AliceBlueBelle · 09-18-2003, 08:40 PM

As promised I'm checking in with my test results. On a scale of 1-4 with one being the best I have Grade 2, Stage 2 hepatitis. That is the worst side of the liver. On the other side there is less scarring, etc. However he wants me to get the kidney problem taken care of first. October 23 before I see the urologist. He offered to send me to a hepatitis center in Pittsburgh for a second opinion. He told me since I do internet research, ect. that I most likely know more than him.

Alice

sean · 09-24-2003, 06:51 AM

Hi Alice,

Well, 2 and 2 is real fibrosis, for sure, but not horrible. It does mean you have to monitor closely. You believe you've had this for decades, so you're obviously not a "fast fibroser." But you also now know that you are not one of those lucky ones that seem to stay at stage one, grade one more or less forever.

What's with the kidneys? I only remember that you said one was bigger than the other. This is bad?

Let us know what more the docs say, ok?

sean

AliceBlueBelle · 09-24-2003, 09:14 AM

Sean

The kidney thing came to light during the cat scan following the biopsy. According to the report there is a narrowing of the ureter on the left side most likely the cause of an enlarged kidney. A kidney is kind of like the heart in that it enlarges when it has to work harder than it should. This can cause permanent damage to the kidney, so I don't want it to get any worse.

I kind of need a clarification of monitoring closely. My family doc doesn't monitor anything and I'm not sure sure the gastro has a lot of extra information either. I kind of feel like I am in charge of when to test what. In fact, that is how all this string of events started. I requested the family doc to run some testing since I was have a lot of subtle signs that something was not quite right. As an example, my grip strength just keeps going downhill although to the doc it looks just fine. I think it was that so many things just didn't seem quite right. Of course it could have been a result of aging, but I wanted to know. I even had a list of panels I wanted run, although not all of them were run. As a result this led to tests that revealed an elevated RA reading, and about a week after the doc told me everything was OK, they wanted me to see a Rheumatologist. The Rheumy kept looking at the lab tests and saying they didn't make sense. He ordered tests and a week later I found I had hepatitis antibodies. Most of the time I feel like I am left dangling and then I have to figure things out on my own.

When my own mother was ill several years ago, I had to figure out on my own she had a diseased gall bladder and then I had to switch doctors to get it out. She almost died with all the waiting and did suffer lasting effects from having her sugar and BP out of control for so long. After the surgery she was finally able to eat again. Beforehand her entire disgestive tract had comletely closed down.

Hope I didn't bore everyone too much. Just wanted to let you know where I am coming from.

alice

hepperterry · 09-24-2003, 09:29 AM

Hey Alice! Just thought everyone might find this kind of interesting about Hep C and arthritis. Before I found out I had Hep C I used to work in a medical lab. I had been having pain in my joints esp the neck, left wrist and my left ankle. So I did an RA titer to see if I had arthritis. Sure enough it came up positive. Now it shows up sometimes and at other times is gone. Weird. So I dont know if the Hep is doing it or what. They did what is also called an ANA to check on the arthritis or any immune diseases like Lupus. It came back positive for like Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. So I dont know if the Hep caused a false positive or what. None of my doctors now have ever pursued anything. I just take Aleve when my shoulder now starts aching and it seems to help. Some say not to take the Aleve but my doctors feel it is okay and it does help sometimes. May take a few days but it eventually helps. Just wanted to give a little tidbit for everyone today. Take care!

Terry

AliceBlueBelle · 09-24-2003, 09:45 AM

Terry,

The Rheumy doc who ordered the tests also ordered a complete set of x-rays of all my joints. He said he couldn't see any signs of RA. I also have an elevated ANA and Igg. These used to always test normal. The Rheumy told me later he had come across a few other cases of hepatitis patients with the same test results.

alice