Always good to see the liver and spleen decrease in size in cirrhotics. Don't worry about gallstones- I have watched mine grow for the last 10 years. You can always get them out if they cause problems, but big ones are usually silent. They are very common in cirrhotics, probably related to concentrated bile. Glad to hear you've got the extra 6 weeks- it's good insurance. Cheers.
suziq said
Dec 5, 2013
Had my scan today. The person who did the scan shared some with me. Compared to my April scan---my liver is shrinking (she said considerably) and my spleen is now normal--it was swollen in April. Guess the meds are working-12 weeks behind me--six weeks to go to EOT. Said to discuss my gallbladder with the doctor, but , yes, I have gallstones.
Bloomster said
Dec 5, 2013
That all sounds very positive news Malcolm. Very happy you're travelling along so well. Caroline
suziq said
Dec 4, 2013
Went in for my 12 week (during treatment) appointment yesterday. I have 6 more weeks. I have been having pain behind my right rib cage for a couple of weeks. I go for a scan tomorrow to see what might be causing pain. My initial scan for trial(April 2013) showed gallstones so the study doctor wants to be sure it is not something urgent. We discussed follow up scanning and she felt --as does Mallani --that I should have a scan every six months after treatment. I would not have asked if I hadn't read this post from Mallani. Thanks.
Fun appt--Coordinator said she just received a call from someone on a trial to see if he could drink alcohol over the holidays. I'll post lab results on Merck treatment thread when I get them.
Tig said
Dec 4, 2013
Hi JoAnne, I'm so happy to hear your comforting news! We have to keep those positive thoughts flowing, especially among each other! These results are just the first of many great one's to come. Always be strong and trust God to be there now and into the future... xo
newmex said
Dec 4, 2013
Congratulations JoAnneh, looking back over some of your posts I can see you have certainly had your share of struggles, Am very happy its all paying off for you. Heres to hoping it just gets better and better!
Cinnamon Girl said
Dec 4, 2013
There you are, JoAnne, no need to worry! Great news, very pleased for you! xx
mallani said
Dec 4, 2013
Hi JoAnne,
Good news. Relax, life is good. Cheers.XX
Matt Chris said
Dec 4, 2013
Hey JoAnneh
That just makes me smile, makes me think of that Bobby Mcferrin song "don't worry be happy"
Thanks for the good news.
matt
JoAnneh said
Dec 4, 2013
Love ya Sandy! Happy happy!:)
hang in there girl!
ucbgal said
Dec 4, 2013
joanneh,
"if you're happy & you know it clap your hands"
sandy,ucbgal
JoAnneh said
Dec 3, 2013
My ultra sound came back with no
Abnormalities! Thankful! Xxoo
ucbgal said
Dec 1, 2013
wow how did i ever miss this post & not congratulate you. no inflammation and a decrease in the size of your liver is awesome news! you worked so rigorously hard to achieve these results that these results become so much more meaningful.
thank you for all you've done for this forum & all the wise advice you've given me.
sandy,ucbgal
mallani said
Dec 1, 2013
Hi JoAnne,
I'll be thinking of you! Don't worry, you'll be fine. Let us know the results. Cheers.XX
JoAnneh said
Nov 30, 2013
Malcolm,
I go Monday for my six month
ultra sound that I do the rest of my life
Since I am Cirrhotic.
My friend who has liver cancer went
To get ultra sound and technician reported
All was well. The MRI found the cancer.
I know you and Tig tell me it matters who does
The ultra sound.
How cool to be radiology doctor and get
To read everything! What a blessing
You are to us.
So glad we made it to SVR!
I don't have the energy to fight
anymore!
So happy you are doing great!
You are a hero in so many ways.
2willy said
Nov 30, 2013
great news and you sounded happy, hope you continue with good news and thanks for all the support to me and this forum
bill emma and raven
Terry said
Nov 30, 2013
Great news Malcolm you sound in great shape now. It's nice to see the odds in our favor for once and one by one people are clearing this thing. You take care and keep us informed.
Matt Chris said
Nov 29, 2013
Hey Malcolm
Good news feels good, looks good and reads good.
And for you Malcolm you can actually look, read and understand radiology imagines it must very gratifying. Thank you you giving hope and encouragement for all us cirrhotic patients yet to be cured and cured ones.
matt
Biggyb said
Nov 29, 2013
Awesome news Malcolm, you really deserve it.
JIme said
Nov 29, 2013
That's great news Malcolm. It feels great to hear that news for you.
Loopy Lisa said
Nov 29, 2013
Congratulations on a great result. I can't imagine what it is like to have cirrohis but it sounds like you are in good hands. :)
suziq said
Nov 29, 2013
Hi Malcolm,
That is wonderful! So glad you have access to latest technology and understanding of what it means. Your sharing that your liver is getting better less than a year into SVR brings hope to those of us with cirrhosis. And your suggestions are very helpful.
SuziQ
Cinnamon Girl said
Nov 29, 2013
This is very good news indeed, Malcolm, and how amazing for you to be able to get such detailed information! Having access to the latest MRI equipment is wonderful. Very encouraging for many others too, especially those with cirrhosis. Very pleased for you, you`ve worked so hard to achieve such a turnaround in your health!
newmex said
Nov 29, 2013
Good news Mallani, congrats on the improving health. And thanks for sharing. Its amazing how fast the technology and the drugs are changing. Seems like I learn of advances every day on here. Cheers to you my friend, and heres to hoping it gets better every day!
Tig said
Nov 28, 2013
That sounds like great news Malcolm! I'm very happy for you and so glad you've got the best equipment and doctors available when it's most important. I wish you continued good news and following seas! Cheers to you friend!
mallani said
Nov 28, 2013
Hi all,
Had my post SVR followup MRI today. My old practice has just installed the latest Siemans 3T machine, and the results are breathtaking. The same Radiologist has reported my liver imaging with Ultrasound, CT and MRI for the last 10 years. I was able to sit in a room with a bank of monitors, and review my old studies, which are kept on disc.
My haemangioma is unchanged, and the liver is 1.5 cm smaller. The spleen has also decreased by 1 cm. The previous fatty infiltration has gone, and the liver parenchyma is completely normal. No sign of the dreaded HCC, and the Radiologist said she would report it as normal, without knowing my history and without the old studies.
She said with the new machine and new sequences, she would be 100% confident in differentiating a benign lesion from an HCC. I am fortunate in that I can chose my Radiologist and where I go for Imaging. For those post-SVR patients that choose to be followed up, it's important to have any old films for comparison, and to try to get the study done in a Radiology practice that is large and modern, and specialises in liver disease. She wants me to go back in 6 months for an Ultrasound, which she will check, and will do another MRI if not satisfactory.
The latest thoughts about followup only apply to the F3's and F4's. The incidence of HCC is greatly reduced after SVR, but 6 monthly Imaging is still recommended. Ultrasound is adequate for most patients, but it's obviously up to the individual how careful they wish to be. It is a pain, but I wouldn't rely on AFP's.
I'll get a repeat Fibroscan next month, and hopefully it will have dropped. Cheers.
Hi Suzan,
Always good to see the liver and spleen decrease in size in cirrhotics. Don't worry about gallstones- I have watched mine grow for the last 10 years. You can always get them out if they cause problems, but big ones are usually silent. They are very common in cirrhotics, probably related to concentrated bile. Glad to hear you've got the extra 6 weeks- it's good insurance. Cheers.
Had my scan today. The person who did the scan shared some with me. Compared to my April scan---my liver is shrinking (she said considerably) and my spleen is now normal--it was swollen in April. Guess the meds are working-12 weeks behind me--six weeks to go to EOT. Said to discuss my gallbladder with the doctor, but , yes, I have gallstones.
Went in for my 12 week (during treatment) appointment yesterday. I have 6 more weeks. I have been having pain behind my right rib cage for a couple of weeks. I go for a scan tomorrow to see what might be causing pain. My initial scan for trial(April 2013) showed gallstones so the study doctor wants to be sure it is not something urgent. We discussed follow up scanning and she felt --as does Mallani --that I should have a scan every six months after treatment. I would not have asked if I hadn't read this post from Mallani. Thanks.
Fun appt--Coordinator said she just received a call from someone on a trial to see if he could drink alcohol over the holidays. I'll post lab results on Merck treatment thread when I get them.
Hi JoAnne, I'm so happy to hear your comforting news! We have to keep those positive thoughts flowing, especially among each other! These results are just the first of many great one's to come. Always be strong and trust God to be there now and into the future... xo
There you are, JoAnne, no need to worry! Great news, very pleased for you! xx
Hi JoAnne,
Good news. Relax, life is good. Cheers.XX
Hey JoAnneh
That just makes me smile, makes me think of that Bobby Mcferrin song "don't worry be happy"
Thanks for the good news.
matt
Love ya Sandy! Happy happy!:)
hang in there girl!
joanneh,
"if you're happy & you know it clap your hands"
sandy,ucbgal
Abnormalities! Thankful! Xxoo
wow how did i ever miss this post & not congratulate you. no inflammation and a decrease in the size of your liver is awesome news! you worked so rigorously hard to achieve these results that these results become so much more meaningful.
thank you for all you've done for this forum & all the wise advice you've given me.
sandy,ucbgal
Hi JoAnne,
I'll be thinking of you! Don't worry, you'll be fine. Let us know the results. Cheers.XX
I go Monday for my six month
ultra sound that I do the rest of my life
Since I am Cirrhotic.
My friend who has liver cancer went
To get ultra sound and technician reported
All was well. The MRI found the cancer.
I know you and Tig tell me it matters who does
The ultra sound.
How cool to be radiology doctor and get
To read everything! What a blessing
You are to us.
So glad we made it to SVR!
I don't have the energy to fight
anymore!
So happy you are doing great!
You are a hero in so many ways.
great news and you sounded happy, hope you continue with good news and thanks for all the support to me and this forum
bill emma and raven
Great news Malcolm you sound in great shape now. It's nice to see the odds in our favor for once and one by one people are clearing this thing. You take care and keep us informed.
Hey Malcolm
Good news feels good, looks good and reads good.
And for you Malcolm you can actually look, read and understand radiology imagines it must very gratifying. Thank you you giving hope and encouragement for all us cirrhotic patients yet to be cured and cured ones.
matt
Awesome news Malcolm, you really deserve it.
That's great news Malcolm. It feels great to hear that news for you.
Congratulations on a great result. I can't imagine what it is like to have cirrohis but it sounds like you are in good hands. :)
Hi Malcolm,
That is wonderful! So glad you have access to latest technology and understanding of what it means. Your sharing that your liver is getting better less than a year into SVR brings hope to those of us with cirrhosis. And your suggestions are very helpful.
SuziQ
This is very good news indeed, Malcolm, and how amazing for you to be able to get such detailed information! Having access to the latest MRI equipment is wonderful. Very encouraging for many others too, especially those with cirrhosis. Very pleased for you, you`ve worked so hard to achieve such a turnaround in your health!
Good news Mallani, congrats on the improving health. And thanks for sharing. Its amazing how fast the technology and the drugs are changing. Seems like I learn of advances every day on here. Cheers to you my friend, and heres to hoping it gets better every day!
That sounds like great news Malcolm! I'm very happy for you and so glad you've got the best equipment and doctors available when it's most important. I wish you continued good news and following seas! Cheers to you friend!
Hi all,
Had my post SVR followup MRI today. My old practice has just installed the latest Siemans 3T machine, and the results are breathtaking. The same Radiologist has reported my liver imaging with Ultrasound, CT and MRI for the last 10 years. I was able to sit in a room with a bank of monitors, and review my old studies, which are kept on disc.
My haemangioma is unchanged, and the liver is 1.5 cm smaller. The spleen has also decreased by 1 cm. The previous fatty infiltration has gone, and the liver parenchyma is completely normal. No sign of the dreaded HCC, and the Radiologist said she would report it as normal, without knowing my history and without the old studies.
She said with the new machine and new sequences, she would be 100% confident in differentiating a benign lesion from an HCC. I am fortunate in that I can chose my Radiologist and where I go for Imaging. For those post-SVR patients that choose to be followed up, it's important to have any old films for comparison, and to try to get the study done in a Radiology practice that is large and modern, and specialises in liver disease. She wants me to go back in 6 months for an Ultrasound, which she will check, and will do another MRI if not satisfactory.
The latest thoughts about followup only apply to the F3's and F4's. The incidence of HCC is greatly reduced after SVR, but 6 monthly Imaging is still recommended. Ultrasound is adequate for most patients, but it's obviously up to the individual how careful they wish to be. It is a pain, but I wouldn't rely on AFP's.
I'll get a repeat Fibroscan next month, and hopefully it will have dropped. Cheers.