Re: Introduction; stage & grade

April 13, 2000

Dear Wes,

Looks like you've done some research on your own already, so you have

probably answered a lot of your own questions. Your biopsy looks pretty

good too.

The first thing I'd ask your doctor is how much experience he/she has

treating this. Not all GI's have handled many HCV cases. It really makes a

difference. Ask how effective he thinks the current treatments are. What

type of diet does he recommend, supplements, etc. I don't recommend jumping

into anything without a lot of research and thinking.

You have a tough genotype to get rid of. If this doctor isn't willing

to treat you aggressively you may want to check out some other doctors.

With your biopsy results you have time to do this. There are some more

promising treatments that will (hopefully) be available soon. The pegylated

interferons should be out within a year.

Side effects hit everyone different. Working can be very tough on

some. If you were going on treatment now I wouldn't take an extra case, but

if your not, you may want to start now planning for the time when you will

need to be on treatment, try to stash away some of that extra money! Most

people need at least some time off, especially at first. Some even end up

on disability. Others work the whole time. I'm sure a lot of that also

depends on the job. Can you competently represent your clients? Wow, that a

really tough thing to answer, and I'm impressed that it is one of your

concerns. I don't think that can be accurately answered until your are

actually on a treatment. I don't think I'd want to have an attorney on

treatment, I'm sorry to say. What you're doing is awfully important. What

kind of help, support do you have? That may make a difference.

Remember, you don't have to be rushed into making a decision. This is

a very slowly progressing disease. By the way, welcome to the list! Take

care,

Claudine

>

______________________________________________________

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April 13, 2000

Hi Wesley it is nice to meet you I am Connie. There

are a lot of nice and knowledgable people on here.

They can help you in many ways. I wish you luck and

may God watch over you..................Connie

--- " Wesley A. Van Winkle " <tacitus@...>

wrote:

> Hi everybody,

>

> My name is Wes. This is my first contribution to

> the list so please forgive the long message.

>

> I've known for about a year that I have the Hep-C

> virus. I have genotype 1A and a 1 mil. viral load.

> I had my first biopsy last week, and the results

> just came back today. Although I will get more

> details tomorrow when I meet with the doctor, I

> managed to badger the nurse into telling me I'm

> Grade One, Stage One. I understand from material

> I've found on the internet that this means I have

> early stage fibrosis and inflammation. However, no

> one knows when I became infected. It may have been

> as much as 25 years ago. If true, I suppose it's

> good news that things haven't progressed very far

> yet.

>

> I'd like help/information from anybody on the

> following:

>

> (1) What questions do I need to ask my doctor

> tomorrow? Obviously a big one will be how fast this

> is progressing. What else do I need to know at this

> point?

>

> (2) I am an appellate lawyer and work at a desk on

> a computer in my house writing briefs. I handle

> death penalty appeals for two clients, and am about

> to be appointed to a third case. I work a lot of

> hours. If the recommended treatment involves

> interferon and ribavirin, will I still be able to

> work? If so, how much work can I expect to be able

> to do? Do I take the third case or turn it down

> (and suffer a consequent loss of income and cash

> flow)? Can I competently represent the clients I

> already have? My concerns are the fatigue, brain

> fog, and other side effects I've seen widely

> reported as I've lurked on this list for the last

> week or so.

>

> I would appreciate any input anyone may have on

> either of the above.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Wes

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

April 13, 2000

Hi Wesley it is nice to meet you I am Connie. There

are a lot of nice and knowledgable people on here.

They can help you in many ways. I wish you luck and

may God watch over you..................Connie

--- " Wesley A. Van Winkle " <tacitus@...>

wrote:

> Hi everybody,

>

> My name is Wes. This is my first contribution to

> the list so please forgive the long message.

>

> I've known for about a year that I have the Hep-C

> virus. I have genotype 1A and a 1 mil. viral load.

> I had my first biopsy last week, and the results

> just came back today. Although I will get more

> details tomorrow when I meet with the doctor, I

> managed to badger the nurse into telling me I'm

> Grade One, Stage One. I understand from material

> I've found on the internet that this means I have

> early stage fibrosis and inflammation. However, no

> one knows when I became infected. It may have been

> as much as 25 years ago. If true, I suppose it's

> good news that things haven't progressed very far

> yet.

>

> I'd like help/information from anybody on the

> following:

>

> (1) What questions do I need to ask my doctor

> tomorrow? Obviously a big one will be how fast this

> is progressing. What else do I need to know at this

> point?

>

> (2) I am an appellate lawyer and work at a desk on

> a computer in my house writing briefs. I handle

> death penalty appeals for two clients, and am about

> to be appointed to a third case. I work a lot of

> hours. If the recommended treatment involves

> interferon and ribavirin, will I still be able to

> work? If so, how much work can I expect to be able

> to do? Do I take the third case or turn it down

> (and suffer a consequent loss of income and cash

> flow)? Can I competently represent the clients I

> already have? My concerns are the fatigue, brain

> fog, and other side effects I've seen widely

> reported as I've lurked on this list for the last

> week or so.

>

> I would appreciate any input anyone may have on

> either of the above.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Wes

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

April 13, 2000

Hi Wesley it is nice to meet you I am Connie. There

are a lot of nice and knowledgable people on here.

They can help you in many ways. I wish you luck and

may God watch over you..................Connie

--- " Wesley A. Van Winkle " <tacitus@...>

wrote:

> Hi everybody,

>

> My name is Wes. This is my first contribution to

> the list so please forgive the long message.

>

> I've known for about a year that I have the Hep-C

> virus. I have genotype 1A and a 1 mil. viral load.

> I had my first biopsy last week, and the results

> just came back today. Although I will get more

> details tomorrow when I meet with the doctor, I

> managed to badger the nurse into telling me I'm

> Grade One, Stage One. I understand from material

> I've found on the internet that this means I have

> early stage fibrosis and inflammation. However, no

> one knows when I became infected. It may have been

> as much as 25 years ago. If true, I suppose it's

> good news that things haven't progressed very far

> yet.

>

> I'd like help/information from anybody on the

> following:

>

> (1) What questions do I need to ask my doctor

> tomorrow? Obviously a big one will be how fast this

> is progressing. What else do I need to know at this

> point?

>

> (2) I am an appellate lawyer and work at a desk on

> a computer in my house writing briefs. I handle

> death penalty appeals for two clients, and am about

> to be appointed to a third case. I work a lot of

> hours. If the recommended treatment involves

> interferon and ribavirin, will I still be able to

> work? If so, how much work can I expect to be able

> to do? Do I take the third case or turn it down

> (and suffer a consequent loss of income and cash

> flow)? Can I competently represent the clients I

> already have? My concerns are the fatigue, brain

> fog, and other side effects I've seen widely

> reported as I've lurked on this list for the last

> week or so.

>

> I would appreciate any input anyone may have on

> either of the above.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Wes

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

April 13, 2000

Hi Wesley it is nice to meet you I am Connie. There

are a lot of nice and knowledgable people on here.

They can help you in many ways. I wish you luck and

may God watch over you..................Connie

--- " Wesley A. Van Winkle " <tacitus@...>

wrote:

> Hi everybody,

>

> My name is Wes. This is my first contribution to

> the list so please forgive the long message.

>

> I've known for about a year that I have the Hep-C

> virus. I have genotype 1A and a 1 mil. viral load.

> I had my first biopsy last week, and the results

> just came back today. Although I will get more

> details tomorrow when I meet with the doctor, I

> managed to badger the nurse into telling me I'm

> Grade One, Stage One. I understand from material

> I've found on the internet that this means I have

> early stage fibrosis and inflammation. However, no

> one knows when I became infected. It may have been

> as much as 25 years ago. If true, I suppose it's

> good news that things haven't progressed very far

> yet.

>

> I'd like help/information from anybody on the

> following:

>

> (1) What questions do I need to ask my doctor

> tomorrow? Obviously a big one will be how fast this

> is progressing. What else do I need to know at this

> point?

>

> (2) I am an appellate lawyer and work at a desk on

> a computer in my house writing briefs. I handle

> death penalty appeals for two clients, and am about

> to be appointed to a third case. I work a lot of

> hours. If the recommended treatment involves

> interferon and ribavirin, will I still be able to

> work? If so, how much work can I expect to be able

> to do? Do I take the third case or turn it down

> (and suffer a consequent loss of income and cash

> flow)? Can I competently represent the clients I

> already have? My concerns are the fatigue, brain

> fog, and other side effects I've seen widely

> reported as I've lurked on this list for the last

> week or so.

>

> I would appreciate any input anyone may have on

> either of the above.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Wes

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

April 14, 2000

I will re-iterate the criteria of therapy:

Any 2 will suffice:

Elevated AST/ALT

Positive HCV-RNA

HAI index on liver biopsy> 3

Ask your doc about these?

April 14, 2000

I will re-iterate the criteria of therapy:

Any 2 will suffice:

Elevated AST/ALT

Positive HCV-RNA

HAI index on liver biopsy> 3

Ask your doc about these?

April 15, 2000

AlleyPat:

I thought anti-inflammatories were a " no-no " for the liver....am I wrong?

They always made my liver enzymes rise....

Also, what kind of drug is Ultram? Is it a narcotic? My doc won't prescribe

anything for the body pain.....I'm about to quit treatment because of the

pain. I'm 6 mos into treatment and it's gotten worse.

Wes, sorry if all this " negative " talk scares you....the treatment is

" do-able " but not fun.....After six months of the treatment and 5 or 6 more

to go, I FINALLY got on an anti-depressant (Celexa) ....why did I wait so

long? I already feel better after two days! My physical pain is even

better....can that be??!!

As for your situation Wes, there are two points that came to my mind....you

have an excellent chance for remission with your genotype, low viral count

and minimal liver damage....the sooner you start the better....BUT.....if I

were you, with what I know now, I too would wait for the pegylated interferon

which should be out before year's end....that also would give you time to

prepare financially....and the sides are supposedly less. Take care! Diane

April 16, 2000

Diane if your doc won't treat your pain I'd find another doc!

Anti inflammatories aren't for everyone. A lot just depends. I choose to

take them cause if I didn't, I'd have to apply for disability and I'm really

not ready for that. Even then I'd want something for the constant aches and

pains. Celebrex is new as is Vioxx (sp) and do not (usually) cause the

gastric problems other anti inflammatories may cause.

Everything is bad for a sick liver. Food, drinks, air... We just have to

make choices on quality of life with where we are in this disease. For now,

I don't know exactly what state my liver is in. I'm going in two weeks to

see my doc's specialist nurse for check up then we'll schedule biopsy. Then

we'll see. If mild fibrosis, I will wait on treatment for 6 months or so, at

least until we are finished making double house payments trying to catch up

and the kids and grandkids move out. I couldn't imagine doing treatment with

the grandbabies here! They are 3 and 2 and I love them dearly but still get

on my nerves

From what I've read (looked it up on the web) Ultram is a non narcotic pain

reliever. Not supposed to be addictive. A lot of heppers I know take it. My

gastro treats the whole body as hep is a whole body disease. It can attack a

lot of things. I may have fibromyalgia and/or cryowhateverit is hahaha. I'm

still working on that.

Also I take an antidepressant, Celexa, to help me sleep and help with my

irritability. I never thought I was depressed. I'm a very up person, active

go getter.. till the hep. Now I seem to have a temper with everything and

the Celexa helps a lot with that. It doesn't make me have the blahs like

zoloft did, but the zoloft helped with sleeping thru the nite more. So go

figure.

Its all bad for the liver. But..... <shrug> I can't handle the pain either.

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

http://www.flash.net/~alleypat

April 16, 2000