Biopsy

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It probably is a matter of cost. Doing the biopsy wasn't suppose to be

even considered unless the patient was going through with treatment. I'm

insured with Kaiser. Doc agreed to do it with the option left open. The

other tests PCR most likely won't be done unless treatment is a go ahead. My

liver emzyme have been elevated from 109-120 for quite some time.....over

ten years. That being the reason I was checked for HCV. I'll know more

after the results of the biopsy, if I'm going to do treatment. Take care

Pat and continued good health while your on treatment.........Dee Dee

>From: " alley/ " <alleypat@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 08:36:33 -0500

>

>Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

>liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

>liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

>10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

>enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

>the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

>is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

>help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

>alley/

>ICQ 12631861

>alleypat@...

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

>

________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It probably is a matter of cost. Doing the biopsy wasn't suppose to be

even considered unless the patient was going through with treatment. I'm

insured with Kaiser. Doc agreed to do it with the option left open. The

other tests PCR most likely won't be done unless treatment is a go ahead. My

liver emzyme have been elevated from 109-120 for quite some time.....over

ten years. That being the reason I was checked for HCV. I'll know more

after the results of the biopsy, if I'm going to do treatment. Take care

Pat and continued good health while your on treatment.........Dee Dee

>From: " alley/ " <alleypat@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 08:36:33 -0500

>

>Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

>liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

>liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

>10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

>enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

>the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

>is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

>help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

>alley/

>ICQ 12631861

>alleypat@...

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

>

________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dr. Misra,

What do you think about determining the state of the liver through blood

tests alone? I know treatment is ultimately a choice I have to make myself,

but I was given the impression that by having the biopsy it would confirm

what this Doc already knows. No liver damage. Or as you said once before

the only way to truely know is through a biopsy. Thanks again.......Dee Dee

>From: " Doc " <gidoc@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 19:39:34 +0530

>

>HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

>duration and yes it is an expensive test.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dr. Misra,

What do you think about determining the state of the liver through blood

tests alone? I know treatment is ultimately a choice I have to make myself,

but I was given the impression that by having the biopsy it would confirm

what this Doc already knows. No liver damage. Or as you said once before

the only way to truely know is through a biopsy. Thanks again.......Dee Dee

>From: " Doc " <gidoc@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 19:39:34 +0530

>

>HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

>duration and yes it is an expensive test.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sylv,

UK, United Kingdom? England right? Just to make sure. This is so amazing

how small a world we are becoming with the internet. I love it. The Doc

checked for my genotype when he did all the other blood tests. Excluding

PCR. I understand that is a expensive test. Maybe they do things

differently over there. How did the biopsy go? A little scary? I'm not

looking forward to it at all. Hope your results turn out

favorable........Ta Ta for now.....Dee Dee

>From: " sylvati " <sylvati@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 17:45:42 +0100

>

>Hi Dee Dee,

>

>I asked my doc for a PCR and was eventually given one. I assumed they

>would

>be counting viral load but no, they just confirmed I am Hepc, which I

>already knew. screwy, huh?

>

>what test did they perform to show which genotype you are?

>

>I just had a biopsy, now awaiting result. here(UK) they won't start

>thinking about treatment til after you have had one.

>

>love sylv

>

> biopsy

>

>

> > Hi Everybody,

> > I hope this posts this time. I seen my Doctor and have an appt. for a

> > biopsy the 9th of Aug. This was my request. He agreed but said all my

> > blood tests came back favorable, indicating little or no liver damage.

>My

> > blood is cloting fine. He said being genotype 2b means 6 months

>treatment

> > and a 40% chance of clearing the virus. I asked if he ran a PCR to find

>out

> > my viral load and he said it doesn't tell you much. Is that true?

>Makes

>me

> > wonder if they are trying to keep costs down. I was wondering if blood

> > tests are accurate enough to determine how well the liver is

>functioning?

> > Maybe I don't need to have the biopsy. If very little damage, I'm

>opting

> > not to go through with treatment for now, otherwise yes. To biopsy or

>not

> > to biopsy........thanks for the input I received on symptoms before

> > treatment.......Dee Dee

> > ________________________________________________________________________

> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

> > 1. Fill in the brief application

> > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

> > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

> > 1/6631/1/_/619765/_/963730257/

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sylv,

UK, United Kingdom? England right? Just to make sure. This is so amazing

how small a world we are becoming with the internet. I love it. The Doc

checked for my genotype when he did all the other blood tests. Excluding

PCR. I understand that is a expensive test. Maybe they do things

differently over there. How did the biopsy go? A little scary? I'm not

looking forward to it at all. Hope your results turn out

favorable........Ta Ta for now.....Dee Dee

>From: " sylvati " <sylvati@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis Cegroups

><Hepatitis Cegroups>

>Subject: Re: biopsy

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 17:45:42 +0100

>

>Hi Dee Dee,

>

>I asked my doc for a PCR and was eventually given one. I assumed they

>would

>be counting viral load but no, they just confirmed I am Hepc, which I

>already knew. screwy, huh?

>

>what test did they perform to show which genotype you are?

>

>I just had a biopsy, now awaiting result. here(UK) they won't start

>thinking about treatment til after you have had one.

>

>love sylv

>

> biopsy

>

>

> > Hi Everybody,

> > I hope this posts this time. I seen my Doctor and have an appt. for a

> > biopsy the 9th of Aug. This was my request. He agreed but said all my

> > blood tests came back favorable, indicating little or no liver damage.

>My

> > blood is cloting fine. He said being genotype 2b means 6 months

>treatment

> > and a 40% chance of clearing the virus. I asked if he ran a PCR to find

>out

> > my viral load and he said it doesn't tell you much. Is that true?

>Makes

>me

> > wonder if they are trying to keep costs down. I was wondering if blood

> > tests are accurate enough to determine how well the liver is

>functioning?

> > Maybe I don't need to have the biopsy. If very little damage, I'm

>opting

> > not to go through with treatment for now, otherwise yes. To biopsy or

>not

> > to biopsy........thanks for the input I received on symptoms before

> > treatment.......Dee Dee

> > ________________________________________________________________________

> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

> > 1. Fill in the brief application

> > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

> > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

> > 1/6631/1/_/619765/_/963730257/

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

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

[Guest guest]

Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

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

[Guest guest]

Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

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

[Guest guest]

Well Dee Dee I'm no doctor but.... I dunno how to tell the state of the

liver thru blood test only. Only way I know of is a biopsy. You can test

liver enzymes and know if they are elevated, but mine have been normal for

10 years.... still got bad hep symptoms....and they have found that liver

enzymes don't tell much in how badly the liver is already damaged....after

the antibody test... a PCR and genotype should be done to confirm the virus

is " active " ... yes PCR numbers vary with time and yes he could be trying to

help you keep costs down. Are you considering treatment?

alley/

ICQ 12631861

alleypat@...

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

[Guest guest]

HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

duration and yes it is an expensive test.

[Guest guest]

HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

duration and yes it is an expensive test.

[Guest guest]

HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

duration and yes it is an expensive test.

[Guest guest]

HCV-RNA load is certainly of use in deciding treatment regimen and

duration and yes it is an expensive test.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee,

I asked my doc for a PCR and was eventually given one. I assumed they would

be counting viral load but no, they just confirmed I am Hepc, which I

already knew. screwy, huh?

what test did they perform to show which genotype you are?

I just had a biopsy, now awaiting result. here(UK) they won't start

thinking about treatment til after you have had one.

love sylv

biopsy

> Hi Everybody,

> I hope this posts this time. I seen my Doctor and have an appt. for a

> biopsy the 9th of Aug. This was my request. He agreed but said all my

> blood tests came back favorable, indicating little or no liver damage. My

> blood is cloting fine. He said being genotype 2b means 6 months treatment

> and a 40% chance of clearing the virus. I asked if he ran a PCR to find

out

> my viral load and he said it doesn't tell you much. Is that true? Makes

me

> wonder if they are trying to keep costs down. I was wondering if blood

> tests are accurate enough to determine how well the liver is functioning?

> Maybe I don't need to have the biopsy. If very little damage, I'm opting

> not to go through with treatment for now, otherwise yes. To biopsy or not

> to biopsy........thanks for the input I received on symptoms before

> treatment.......Dee Dee

> ________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

> 1. Fill in the brief application

> 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

> 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

> 1/6631/1/_/619765/_/963730257/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee,

I asked my doc for a PCR and was eventually given one. I assumed they would

be counting viral load but no, they just confirmed I am Hepc, which I

already knew. screwy, huh?

what test did they perform to show which genotype you are?

I just had a biopsy, now awaiting result. here(UK) they won't start

thinking about treatment til after you have had one.

love sylv

biopsy

> Hi Everybody,

> I hope this posts this time. I seen my Doctor and have an appt. for a

> biopsy the 9th of Aug. This was my request. He agreed but said all my

> blood tests came back favorable, indicating little or no liver damage. My

> blood is cloting fine. He said being genotype 2b means 6 months treatment

> and a 40% chance of clearing the virus. I asked if he ran a PCR to find

out

> my viral load and he said it doesn't tell you much. Is that true? Makes

me

> wonder if they are trying to keep costs down. I was wondering if blood

> tests are accurate enough to determine how well the liver is functioning?

> Maybe I don't need to have the biopsy. If very little damage, I'm opting

> not to go through with treatment for now, otherwise yes. To biopsy or not

> to biopsy........thanks for the input I received on symptoms before

> treatment.......Dee Dee

> ________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

> 1. Fill in the brief application

> 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

> 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

> 1/6631/1/_/619765/_/963730257/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee,

No, blood tests alone can't tell you how much, if

any, damage has occurred to your liver. The same

blood tests, done frequently over a long period of

time, can help in determining how your liver is

functioning, but it just isn't adequate in an actual

diagnosis. And if you do decide on treatment then a

viral load test is necessary to monitor if you are

responding. Also, if your viral load is very high,

especially if other factors are not good, you may need

to be treated for 48 weeks instead of 6 months. Some

doctors are already starting to rethink the 6 month

thing because a lot of genotype 2's are starting to

relapse after only the 6 month course of treatment.

(The Mayo Clinic is going to start treating ALL

genotype 2's for 48 weeks now, instead of 6 months.)

By the way, I think your decision to wait if your

biopsy comes back mild is a good one. As slowly as

this disease progresses that is a good option for

those with only mild damage, and better treatments are

not that far off.

Take care!

=====

Claudine

claudinecrews@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee,

No, blood tests alone can't tell you how much, if

any, damage has occurred to your liver. The same

blood tests, done frequently over a long period of

time, can help in determining how your liver is

functioning, but it just isn't adequate in an actual

diagnosis. And if you do decide on treatment then a

viral load test is necessary to monitor if you are

responding. Also, if your viral load is very high,

especially if other factors are not good, you may need

to be treated for 48 weeks instead of 6 months. Some

doctors are already starting to rethink the 6 month

thing because a lot of genotype 2's are starting to

relapse after only the 6 month course of treatment.

(The Mayo Clinic is going to start treating ALL

genotype 2's for 48 weeks now, instead of 6 months.)

By the way, I think your decision to wait if your

biopsy comes back mild is a good one. As slowly as

this disease progresses that is a good option for

those with only mild damage, and better treatments are

not that far off.

Take care!

=====

Claudine

claudinecrews@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee, me again!!!

This is just a comparison, but frankly, it

doesn't mean anything.

My LFT's were elevated for about 4 -5 years

before a doctor checked me for HCV. They were checked

frequently, as often as every three months the last 2

years prior to diagnosis. My ALT was never higher than

about 75, and MORE THAN ONCE came back NORMAL. And

while my biopsy wasn't bad, it did show stage 1

fibrosis.

=====

Claudine

claudinecrews@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee, me again!!!

This is just a comparison, but frankly, it

doesn't mean anything.

My LFT's were elevated for about 4 -5 years

before a doctor checked me for HCV. They were checked

frequently, as often as every three months the last 2

years prior to diagnosis. My ALT was never higher than

about 75, and MORE THAN ONCE came back NORMAL. And

while my biopsy wasn't bad, it did show stage 1

fibrosis.

=====

Claudine

claudinecrews@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee Dee, Yes England. Here we fortunately do not have to pay for

treatment. There is a knack for manipulating the system til you get seen to

properly though!

You ask about the biopsy. I can think of better things to do with a

handsome young man than having him slide several inches of steel between my

ribs but that was all he was interested in at the time! I was completely

petrified and gibbering and blubbing all the way through. However, although

I felt pricks from the many injections of local anaesthetic given first,

there was very little actual pain, either during or after. The worst thing

about it was just the sheer terror! I had heard that sometimes you can get

pain in your right shoulder but this didn't happen to me. If you can find

someone to go along & hold your hand it would probably help. Good luck with

it. love sylv

biopsy

> >

> >

> > > Hi Everybody,

> > > I hope this posts this time. I seen my Doctor and have an appt. for a

> > > biopsy the 9th of Aug. This was my request. He agreed but said all

my

> > > blood tests came back favorable, indicating little or no liver damage.

> >My

> > > blood is cloting fine. He said being genotype 2b means 6 months

> >treatment

> > > and a 40% chance of clearing the virus. I asked if he ran a PCR to

find

> >out

> > > my viral load and he said it doesn't tell you much. Is that true?

> >Makes

> >me

> > > wonder if they are trying to keep costs down. I was wondering if

blood

> > > tests are accurate enough to determine how well the liver is

> >functioning?

> > > Maybe I don't need to have the biopsy. If very little damage, I'm

> >opting

> > > not to go through with treatment for now, otherwise yes. To biopsy or

> >not

> > > to biopsy........thanks for the input I received on symptoms before

> > > treatment.......Dee Dee

> > >

________________________________________________________________________

> > > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

http://www.hotmail.com

> > >

> > >

> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

> > > 1. Fill in the brief application

> > > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

> > > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

> > > 1/6631/1/_/619765/_/963730257/

> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Dear Dee Dee,

I must have said this earlier but I dont mind stating it again,

currently treatment options for HCV depend upon a high HCV RNA load

alone. They are further reinforced if you have demonstrable hepatitis(

elevated AST/ALT) and or fibrosis( on liver biopsy) going on. This is so

because merely decreasing the viral load has been shown to be of benefit

in halting progression of the disease to cirrhosis and HCC. It is true

that biopsy is the best instrument for determinig the state of the liver

disease.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dee Dee,

I must have said this earlier but I dont mind stating it again,

currently treatment options for HCV depend upon a high HCV RNA load

alone. They are further reinforced if you have demonstrable hepatitis(

elevated AST/ALT) and or fibrosis( on liver biopsy) going on. This is so

because merely decreasing the viral load has been shown to be of benefit

in halting progression of the disease to cirrhosis and HCC. It is true

that biopsy is the best instrument for determinig the state of the liver

disease.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dee Dee,

I must have said this earlier but I dont mind stating it again,

currently treatment options for HCV depend upon a high HCV RNA load

alone. They are further reinforced if you have demonstrable hepatitis(

elevated AST/ALT) and or fibrosis( on liver biopsy) going on. This is so

because merely decreasing the viral load has been shown to be of benefit

in halting progression of the disease to cirrhosis and HCC. It is true

that biopsy is the best instrument for determinig the state of the liver

disease.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dee Dee,

I must have said this earlier but I dont mind stating it again,

currently treatment options for HCV depend upon a high HCV RNA load

alone. They are further reinforced if you have demonstrable hepatitis(

elevated AST/ALT) and or fibrosis( on liver biopsy) going on. This is so

because merely decreasing the viral load has been shown to be of benefit

in halting progression of the disease to cirrhosis and HCC. It is true

that biopsy is the best instrument for determinig the state of the liver

disease.