Hep C Discussion Forum

Hi guy,

mm, last report you posted here I was wishing for elaboration on, I have trouble knowing much about the effects of the HIV drugs and what we see on your labs relating to HIV, a lot is beyond me.

Your HCV-related testing here today is a little easier for me to relate to.

All in all, from your assurance that your last HIV labs were looking pretty good , and by the looks of this report today, I would agree things are certainly super-improved for you, a new cured healthier you, fit, active and never looking back (just up). You still cycling??

So, still cirrhotic via U/S, do they ever bother to do fibroscans on you (to show you the kPa numbers), or do they ever bother with more extensive bloods to come up with other cirrhosis markers? I recall you usually alternate with various methods of imaging to keep an eye on things.

Do you and they just choose to leave your and your GB and stones alone? If there is no rumbling, grumbling or backfiring then they just let your stones and GB be?

Still low-(ish) platelets, mind you nothing like your prior record lows (defying laws of human survival levels!), but still lowish - do they care about this as long as they do not go lower?

Funny in your ultrasound they don't elaborate on some of the nuances of what they see that defines the cirrhosis for them, radiologist of few words. They don't seem to compare back to old U/S's either, nor, to other imagings that you get done, not in regard to cirrhosis nor for any ideas on measurement comparisons for instance (spleen/kidneys). Oh well, you and your docs likely have all the old results memorized, thus comparisons for improvements/changes figured. I can't recall, do you get scoped for varices checks??

Was that (old, old hemanginoma) ever visualized again by your last/past CAT or MRI? Or did it just up and disappear. 

Is 60ish GFR a norm for you? Is for lots of folk.

That's a nice ole bright-shiny-star neg PCR you got there again bro, and (heehee) a flagged low ALT! LOTS and lots of good news in your reports. What a dif a few years makes eh?!!!!

Missing ya round here. Glad to see ya and yer labs!

Twenty-question C. 

Good news mike  

ahhh water...I also continue to consume lots of water. It really does make a positive difference.

Like Tig, I drink a lot of coffee but then I kinda think of coffee as a food because thats all I have until mid afternoon everyday.

 I try to drink a glass of water for every (large) mug of coffee. 

A

LOL.  I did a 24 hour urine once - I know EXACTLY of what you speak! hahaha

Lucky for me (or not, depending on how you view things) I was NOT a big water drinker (then). They gave me a 4 litre jug, but I did not know enough (nor drink enough) to scoff at it! hee hee

Hope you didn't have to hold it in whilst looking for a bigger bucket! Nice to see they still do the tried and true old school 24 hr urine collections, they work! So long as you don't forget to put every contribution into the bucket. Gotta have a fool proof method for that! Not like we have a nice pill box or ap alarm reminder to help there! My 24 hour donation had a wee (pun) bit missing.

You are so right - water really, really DOES do a body good (it is still a challenge for me, but I AM better with it). Nice to see your reports and hear how things are going for ya. I'll be looking forward to your MRI too.  C.

Mike and Loopy,

mm, mm, good ....  "lemon, oil and garlic"  ... maybe just take that along with a big pinch of salt (and possibly, a whole lot of pepper!), shake hard? and viola, sounds like a really nice delish vinagrette recipe (rather than just a remedy) for your "green croutons" in that GB bag!

Who knows!! It worked for Loopy, and it worked for my Grandfather too (way back in the 1950's on the farm), but I dunno if it's for everybody! According to your pics, maybe you really are a  "thousand island" kind of guy anyway!! The CAT described your GB cripsy critter collection (sortof) but failed to size them, or even count them for that matter (other than "multiple and layers"), sometimes, especially in case of emergency, "size matters".

Hard to know, what is good to try on your own, no guarantees in this world, with any treatment, but I would sure hate to get stuck in the middle of biting off more than i could chew or spew when it comes to a mixed bag of dressed, tossed GB salad. Could end up being a long lunch?

I heard of other tried and true tactics, like ... let sleeping stones lie, and, when in doubt, do nothing? So, if no signs or symptoms, and your blood work is good, then how much do your docs dislike you packing your GB snick snacks around?  C.

wmlj1960 wrote:

---

My doctor opted to do a CT scan rather than an MRI this time. It was done Monday and I'm happy with the results: No HCC. Happy, happy, happy!!!

---

 Well that sounds pretty darn good to me. Congrats

SF

Jed,

If I was a gamblin kinda gal, i would bet on a higher than 71 for you, least I hope so. These meds you are on, they must affect these counts also?

Glad you could update us so thoroughly. No mention of these irksomely previously noted hemanginomas, so that is good!, that you don't have to see and wonder about those too. No HCC is the ticket alright, although, you own very intersting images, what with all your "hardware", or, maybe I should say "hard wear". Between "clips", stones, and rods, it proves you are some tough guy! Very nice your spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals are so boring to the radiologist. What IS that clip?? And, did I miss what the last endoscopy showed??

So, how long have you been packin the GBstones and do you think you will ever have to do anything about them? Is it a case of, if they don't bother you, the docs won't bother them?

I'm going for my first ever abd. CAT scan too ... any tips from the expert??

I have forgotten what Fibroscans you have had, has there been some kPa decrease?? 

Glad you're busy and moving about, must be a good thing (in theory) I guess, but, too bad for us when we miss you in action round here!. Glad you posted.  C.

That's the way to kickoff the new year!

What fantastic news! Very happy for you!

JimmyK

Hey Mike 

This comes a bit late but super congrats on your EOT 24 month results, "How sweet it is"

Your labs look good as well, keep up the healthly habits you I are doing great.

matt

Gosh Mike, I`m just catching up with what`s been going on with you, I missed your latest news until now.

Firstly though, big congrats on your EOT + 24 wks lab results, you must be very happy with those!   You`ve beaten that dragon well and truly into the ground!!  I`m very pleased for you, you certainly deserve this!! 

Sorry you`ve got all this other stuff going on though, and I wish you all the best of lucks with those tests next month.  Sounds like you`re well prepared with the necessary supplies anyway!  

I must say your new leg socket looks very neat and I hope your appointment went well last week.  You`ll get this all sorted out eventually, it`s just taking a lot of time and patience on your behalf.  You really are amazing, Mike, the way you calmly deal with all this and manage to stay so upbeat and cheerful around here, and I wish you continued improvement and good luck in all areas of your life...

Hi wmlj,

This sounds like you have a whole lot on your plate but ready to go for it. I admire the courage and hope I have mine when I need it.

I trust your TP day will go just fine but of course we all want to know the results and to hear from you when it`s over.

Take care and keep us informed.

SF

Glad the new doc is scheduling procedures/tests to keep this well oiled machine going. And I definitely empathize Mike. I have tests on all ends within a 7 day period starting next Friday and one is a colonoscopy. The fun never ends!

I'll be sure to stock up on Charmin, sanitary wipes and clean underwear before hand.
My leg socket fits pretty well but we're still working on getting the vacuum suspension part to work. I go back today for another attempt at my leg issue and to relocate the sensors on my myo-electric arm. We'll get there, eventually...

I have a new hepatologist. My MRI 10/14/2015 reported a 9mm lesion in segment 5 of my liver, then MRI 2/10/2016 reported that no lesion was seen in segment 5, then my MRI 2 weeks ago on 7/28/2016 reported that there was a 7mm lesion in segment 5. My question to my doctor was "did the lesion disappear, then return?" His answer was no, that the radiologist either missed it or the MRI did not detect it. His course of action was to alternate a CT scan every 3rd time. So this will happen the next time, 1/9/2017. This is exactly what Duane's doctor told him as he posted in THIS THREAD. So for those of you with cirrhosis and who have a periodic scan schedule (as you should have), ask your doctor about this approach.

 In addition, my new hepatologist scheduled me for an upper endoscopy (last one was over 2 years ago) and a colonoscopy (never done before). Both will be done back-to-back on 9/13/2016.

That's a cure! Congrats.

AWESOME 

Labs, MRI and RNA were done on 7-28-2016. EOT+24 viral load test = undetected.

Scheduled to see my hepatologist tomorrow....

Mike,

Congrats ... You won this after such a long fight.

These are the best posts to read. Thank you for making so many people happy!

 Thanks everybody. You guys are the best!!!

WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Hey Mike, it simply doesn't get any better than this. I don't know how this post got by my Drone fleet when you posted it. I told Dave that you guys have worn them out! It's time to send them all for retrofit. Got to get them ready for the newly unhinged, lol!

You so deserved this. Your desire to fight, whatever the reason and there have been many, has impressed me beyond words. I knew this would be the result, because you simply don't quit til you achieve your goal. You have proven it time and again! I couldn't be happier for you. It must've been something in that soup!! It was the last nail in the coffin....

Time to recover and start enjoying that Hep free life. We all appreciate your continued help and excellent advice here on the forum. You never skipped a beat and it's another testament to your character. Congratulations old friend, you did it! 

I canned it so you can put it on your shelf, next to the potato flakes....

Hard won (and so richly deserved), hearing those sweet words from your pretty voiced nurse. I am very happy and relieved for you. I recall, a little while back that you said your labs were coming up, and Tig too said recently he also has some FU labs coming soon?, I was waiting to hear and hoping for nothing but good news for you (and Tig!). I kept thinking about one small comment you made (really, QUITE some time ago now), but you must have said it on a hard day, something to the effect that "the way I am feeling, I suspect I have relapsed", I have been thinking on that ever since you said it, so, I am SO glad to hear this great news today! I worry about your platelets tho, they still seem way too low!!?? Maybe these were older platelets results ... yet your other blood chemistry values appear good? - how do you feel? (from the platelet thing I mean), are the platelets currently still low? - maybe I am mixed up on your platelet levels and dates. You SOUND good!, you sure don't complain much! I am afraid I do not and probably never will understand all the nuances of how you have had to deal with both HCV and HIV at the same time, co-treatments/interactions/juggling both, nor of this "drug" they gave you which I glean adversely affects or affected your platelets??, but one thing I DO know is that one man should NOT have had to go through the INCREDIBLE amount of strife, trial and multiple outright life threatening events, complications and set backs you have so stupendously and impressively endured and survived. Truly you are a testament to bravery, strength and will. You have my admiration, as I witness all this hard work you have done (to do well) AND all the while helping others. Nice you are doing "better on your own", and also, on top, taking care of what I think you said was a big dental issue??, another problem dealt with. (I guess so!, that Linux's slurry recipes came in handy!) My partner just went through getting rid of an upper palate full of rotten teeth and infected bone, it was a big deal, and a year later he is now in such a better health place! Every effort helps. Yes, what we put into our bodies, and how we treat them, is key. Your soup looked great BTW, wish I was a bit better of a cook - hard to tell from your pic, but maybe you need a couple extra pounds on you anyway. Thnaks for the advice about the pill counter - you are right of course, what's worse, is that I actually have one!!, just didn't use it - stupid eh! I was just trying to make Scott feel better about his trouble in ensuring he took his doses, by pointing out I didn't even have a riba excuse for forgetting. You are a very good example for many others on what we should be doing, and how. One step at a time. So glad your C is history! (So many other "true veterans" on this site! Yes, Jimmy, and a few others I am thinking of, are sorely due of their reward and relief ... they will be NEXT!)  C.

music to my ears Mike. So happy for you. 

SVR!!!

I usually tell my hepatologist's nurse how pretty she is, but when she called this morning I told her how pretty her voice is after she said "undetected".

 I couldn't blame my relapse on Sov / Riba last time but I did my part this time and the rest was up to Harvoni. It sure turned out to be the life saving silver bullet for me.

 I am so grateful for all the support I've received from all the members of this forum, especially you Tig! Thank you all so much!!!

 It's been a tough 2 years for me but this victory over the dragon makes it all SO worth it.

 Have a wonderful day everyone!

Ok ok so it's official !

Yheeeeehaw!