Re: Re: new member - Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi!! Glad you came here. Take your time and please don't try to anaylize us because were nuts !!! hahaha.. If you feel like like laughing, crying, asking what you may think is a dumb question (but it's not).. there are no dumb questions...getting advice from Ato Z... this is the place! Sometimes I don't remember what geno-type I am!! Members that have been members for a long. long, time... of other well intentioned groups are now in this one. That says alot there. Ok...I'm done selling. Welcome! Hope all is well and I'll see ya' later here..... Oh... if you have lots of questions..that's GOOD!! Just ask a couple and you'll find you fit right in. Del debi_inaustin <debi_inaustin@...> wrote: I've never been in a group before and not real sure how to reply to messages or post one so forgive me for being a newby.I'm watching all the conversations just not sure where or how to get engaged. Pointers.. please! I have lots of questions.Thanks for hooking me up Del..Debi>> Welcome Del's friend, Debbi. Is it with one B or 2? We're glad to have you> with us. Jump in and tell us about your situation as soon as you feel> comfortable. We have such a varied group at all stages of hcv that we> rarely come across something that at least one of us hasn't been through.> > > > Hugs,> > De>

All-new - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

[Guest guest]

Welcome & Debi,

Debi, you got your first message posted, doing good so far! As for when to get engaged, just jump in anytime. Don't worry about polite, just jump right in. Weekends are often quieter than weekdays, but there is usually someone online at any given time.

As for questions... Ask away! The combined knowledge within this group is amazing.

I am in north central Idaho, type 1a and will be a year post Tx (treatment) on 10/5. I was checked the end of July and am undetectable... YEAH! I live on Llama Lane with 3 pet parrots, currently 24 cockatiels (wanna buy one, lol?), a herd of llamas, and lots of white homing pigeons and doves... and one mostly patient hubby.

Have fun,

I've never been in a group before and not real sure how to reply tomessages or post one so forgive me for being a newby.I'm watchingall the conversations just not sure where or how to get engaged.Pointers.. please! I have lots of questions.Thanks for hooking me up Del..Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi. Hun You Just Jump In Where You Want. And Where You Are Comfortable. As

For Questions, Ask All You Want And We Will Help Answer As Best As Possible.

Welcome To The Family. Love And Hugs, D Aka Danne

[debi_inaustin@...] wrote:

I've never been in a group before and not real sure how to reply to

messages or post one so forgive me for being a newby.I'm watching

all the conversations just not sure where or how to get engaged.

Pointers.. please! I have lots of questions.

Thanks for hooking me up Del..

Debi

>

> Welcome Del's friend, Debbi. Is it with one B or 2? We're glad

to have you

> with us. Jump in and tell us about your situation as soon as you

feel

> comfortable. We have such a varied group at all stages of hcv

that we

> rarely come across something that at least one of us hasn't been

through.

>

>

>

> Hugs,

>

> De

>

[Guest guest]

Looks

like you’re doing a fine job of jumping in. How old is your daughter?

They do need the results of the biopsy before they start treatment. Have they

given you her viral load yet? That will be an important number to see if the

treatment (tx) is working, but doesn’t really tell the extent of the

disease. Now listen to this (you too, ) – THIS IS IMPORTANT –

start getting copies of all lab results, test results, etc. Start keeping a

file. Since this thing goes on forever, you want to know how where you (or your

loved one) stand. You may have to change doctors at some point. Katrina wiped

out all of Deb’s doctor & hospital records. Stuff

happens, so make sure you can re-create your info if you have to. Many doctors

are still very ill-informed about hcv, so you have to know what’s going

on and if it is in line with protocol. If you can, it’s probably best to

have a gastroenterologist or hepatologist to treat the hcv, but if you’re

in a remote area or small town, you might have to rely on a different doc.

If

you go to our main page & click on “links” there are several

links to more information & resources. It can be very overwhelming at

first trying to learn all you can. Here’s a good book to buy:

Living with

Hepatitis C: A Survivor's Guide, Fourth Edition (Living with)

by T. Everson and Hedy Weinberg (Paperback - Aug 21, 2006)

De

Re: new

member - Debi

Ok.. I'll jump. Where do

I start? What are the stages?

My daughter was diagnosised about three weeks ago and had a liver

biopsy last week but we have no results yet. Shouldn't she be on

some treatment by now? Isn't timing important? What should I watch

for? Where do I go for resources? I told you had I had questions but

really don't even know what to ask.

Thanks for being so kind paticent with me.

THANK YOU! Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi(in austin)..

Im pat in san antonio..not far from you...The UT game was suspended this afternoon because of lightening...

When I started this group I didnt know how to do alot of computer actions and the gang here helped me along..just ask and someone will help you...Just hit the reply icon and jump in ...Hugs, PatMc

Re: new member - Debi

I've never been in a group before and not real sure how to reply to messages or post one so forgive me for being a newby.I'm watching all the conversations just not sure where or how to get engaged. Pointers.. please! I have lots of questions.Thanks for hooking me up Del..Debi>> Welcome Del's friend, Debbi. Is it with one B or 2? We're glad to have you> with us. Jump in and tell us about your situation as soon as you feel> comfortable. We have such a varied group at all stages of hcv that we> rarely come across something that at least one of us hasn't been through.> > > > Hugs,> > De>

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[Guest guest]

Thanks De,

I've just been looking at all the info you posted for Debi-By the way welcome Debi, I'm a newby too so we can learn together. I found the grading system particularly interesting. Stan didn't get an overall score. His is the Scheuer system.

"Scheuer Grade 2"

"Scheuer Fibrosis Stage 1 (Minimal Portal Fibrosis)"

I did a search on it, and everything seems to coincide with the terms used in the description of his report. And yes, fortunately and unfortunately I have the experience to know you need copies of everything. I still have 6 years worth of O'Deans monthly mri films that I just can't bring myself to throw away. Do I need to get over it or what?

Gail (You go girl!) & Mike-

Thank you very much for your responses too. Mike, it's wonderful that your in the catagory of "no treatment needed", but can you elaborate? Does this mean that your low stage?

Just have to go to bed now, sweet dreams to all,

RE: Re: new member - Debi

Looks like you’re doing a fine job of jumping in. How old is your daughter? They do need the results of the biopsy before they start treatment. Have they given you her viral load yet? That will be an important number to see if the treatment (tx) is working, but doesn’t really tell the extent of the disease. Now listen to this (you too, ) – THIS IS IMPORTANT – start getting copies of all lab results, test results, etc. Start keeping a file. Since this thing goes on forever, you want to know how where you (or your loved one) stand. You may have to change doctors at some point. Katrina wiped out all of Deb’s doctor & hospital records. Stuff happens, so make sure you can re-create your info if you have to. Many doctors are still very ill-informed about hcv, so you have to know what’s going on and if it is in line with protocol. If you can, it’s probably best to have a gastroenterologist or hepatologist to treat the hcv, but if you’re in a remote area or small town, you might have to rely on a different doc.

If you go to our main page & click on “links” there are several links to more information & resources. It can be very overwhelming at first trying to learn all you can. Here’s a good book to buy:

Living with Hepatitis C: A Survivor's Guide, Fourth Edition (Living with) by T. Everson and Hedy Weinberg (Paperback - Aug 21, 2006)

De

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:Hepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies ] On Behalf Of debi_inaustinSent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 2:42 PMHepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: new member - Debi

Ok.. I'll jump. Where do I start? What are the stages? My daughter was diagnosised about three weeks ago and had a liver biopsy last week but we have no results yet. Shouldn't she be on some treatment by now? Isn't timing important? What should I watch for? Where do I go for resources? I told you had I had questions but really don't even know what to ask. Thanks for being so kind paticent with me.THANK YOU! Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi,

Your daughter MUST stop drinking, for one thing the damage done to the liver by alcohol is incredible. I was never a big drinker but I quit the day I got my first biopsy results. Secondly, if it is determined she needs a transplant she won't get one - they won't give a new liver to someone that's still actively damaging her old one. If you've had a drink within the past year - just one drink - you'll be turned down for a transplant.

She sounds like she's got the most common symptom of HCV - fatigue. There are days when I can't get up the energy to get off the couch. If my house caught fire I might but I'm not sure.

When I was first diagnosed, I had a lot of anger too, until I realized anger wouldn't get me anywhere. It's kind of like the death of someone close to you, you go through the stages of sorrow, denial, anger and so forth, that'd account for the mood swings by itself but HCV is also known for depression which can seem like apathy. Get a copy of the living with HCV book, you can pick it up on Amazon.com for under $10 & it's worth it.

Anything you need to know, just ask. That's why we're here. You might find the Hepatitis Neighborhood helpful, they're supported by one of the drug companies but there's a lot of useful information there & a couple of chat rooms, it's www.hepatitisneighborhood.com . I know it's a lot to take in all at once, try to take it slow so it doesn't overwhelm you.

SuZie

Next time I'm coming back as a cat

[Hepatitis CSupportG roupForDummies] Re: new member - Debi> > > > Ok.. I'll jump. Where do I start? What are the stages? > > My daughter was diagnosised about three weeks ago and had a liver > biopsy last week but we have no results yet. Shouldn't she be on > some treatment by now? Isn't timing important? What should I watch > for? Where do I go for resources? I told you had I had questions but > really don't even know what to ask. > Thanks for being so kind paticent with me.> THANK YOU! Debi>

[Guest guest]

Hey sabrina, Both De & I are both stage 1 grade 2..we call ourselves the treatment twins because we both had the same circumstances...went through tx the same time too..We call De WWD for wonder woman D because she worked the whole time on tx....I sure couldnt have...I was bed bound and a zombie..lol..But we did it and your loved one will too...

Have a great sunday...Pat

RE: Re: new member - Debi

Looks like you’re doing a fine job of jumping in. How old is your daughter? They do need the results of the biopsy before they start treatment. Have they given you her viral load yet? That will be an important number to see if the treatment (tx) is working, but doesn’t really tell the extent of the disease. Now listen to this (you too, ) – THIS IS IMPORTANT – start getting copies of all lab results, test results, etc. Start keeping a file. Since this thing goes on forever, you want to know how where you (or your loved one) stand. You may have to change doctors at some point. Katrina wiped out all of Deb’s doctor & hospital records. Stuff happens, so make sure you can re-create your info if you have to. Many doctors are still very ill-informed about hcv, so you have to know what’s going on and if it is in line with protocol. If you can, it’s probably best to have a gastroenterologist or hepatologist to treat the hcv, but if you’re in a remote area or small town, you might have to rely on a different doc.

If you go to our main page & click on “links” there are several links to more information & resources. It can be very overwhelming at first trying to learn all you can. Here’s a good book to buy:

Living with Hepatitis C: A Survivor's Guide, Fourth Edition (Living with) by T. Everson and Hedy Weinberg (Paperback - Aug 21, 2006)

De

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:Hepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies ] On Behalf Of debi_inaustinSent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 2:42 PMHepatitis CSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: new member - Debi

Ok.. I'll jump. Where do I start? What are the stages? My daughter was diagnosised about three weeks ago and had a liver biopsy last week but we have no results yet. Shouldn't she be on some treatment by now? Isn't timing important? What should I watch for? Where do I go for resources? I told you had I had questions but really don't even know what to ask. Thanks for being so kind paticent with me.THANK YOU! Debi

I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.It has removed 541 spam emails to date.Paying users do not have this message in their emails.Try SPAMfighter for free now!

[Guest guest]

Hi debi,

Good question. You seem to be all over it. She should get the results of the biopsy in about a week. They would not consider treating without that. Does she know her Genotype. The biopsy will tell you what stage she is in. There is stage 1, 2 , 3 fibrosis and then stage 4 is cirrhosis.

Re: new member - Debi

Ok.. I'll jump. Where do I start? What are the stages? My daughter was diagnosised about three weeks ago and had a liver biopsy last week but we have no results yet. Shouldn't she be on some treatment by now? Isn't timing important? What should I watch for? Where do I go for resources? I told you had I had questions but really don't even know what to ask. Thanks for being so kind paticent with me.THANK YOU! Debi> >> > Welcome Del's friend, Debbi. Is it with one B or 2? We're glad > to have you> > with us. Jump in and tell us about your situation as soon as you > feel> > comfortable. We have such a varied group at all stages of hcv > that we> > rarely come across something that at least one of us hasn't been > through.> > > > > > > > Hugs,> > > > De> >>

[Guest guest]

Her

anger & apathy makes perfect sense. Just keep telling her how important

those records are. When my face started breaking out really bad, my thyroid

was whacked out. Maybe she should have hers checked. I am praying for peace

in this for you. Please don’t make yourself sicker by worrying over her.

I know it’s hard not to.

De

Re: new member - Debi

My daughter is 30. No one is talking to her. She's on medicaid and

they're dragging their feet with everything. She lives about 250

miles away and it's hard for me to stay engaged with the medical

people. She's very, very ill. Throws up all the time, in pain and

(this may not be part of it) her skin stays very broken out. She

always had beautiful skin but now looks like she's going thru

puberty. She also is having some significant mood swings. She

doesn't have any jaundice though.

I'm not sure if we can get records from any of the doctor's but will

tell her it's important. Right now she's so weak she stays either

angry or apathetic. Make any sense?

I'm so worried it's hard for me to not sit and cry.

deb

[Guest guest]

Hcv

sure will make you not able to handle your liquor like you used to! Keep

encouraging her to stay clean & sober.

De

Re: new member - Debi

She's five months clean and

sober. So, it's a start. Right now she

wouldn't take a drink. Last time she did put her into Icu for three

days.