You'll be here! A number of us have "early cirrhosis" and are also waiting for treatment. Since many of us have been treated unsuccessfully, we are waiting & watching for the right combination.
It does take time. It takes time to come to acceptance of the diagnosis, too.
We'll be here for you!

Sorry to hear of the diagnosis. We are all here for you.

I am a bit confused when you say you did an endoscopy, and the doctor said it was cirrhosis. Has a biopsy been done yet?

Bob

MrOSO, No, the Dr. said I wouldn't need a biopsy. I thought I would to find out the degree of the cirrhosis, but he told me when you have cirrhosis, you have cirrhosis. Like when you're pregnant, you're pregnant. I had a ultrasound, that showed no defects. I know he saw grade lll varices (enlarged blood vein, although I've never had a problem with bleeding) in the lower third of the esophagus and I think that indicates cirrhosis. He had other patients to do and I have an appointment in two weeks to discuss everything with him. It's hard to understand all this medical jargon. It's also hard to find a doctor you think you like. I thought that there were different degrees of cirrhosis but he told me to try not to google everything (that I could get misinformed) and talk to him at the my next appointment. I just want the best care and I really don't have any idea if I'm getting it or not because everything is so complicated.

I know this news is scary & it is a lot for you & your family to digest. I'm also a little confused like MrOSO. I would have thought the liver function tests & biopsy would come first. I know some doctors recommend endoscopy for patients newly diagnosed with mild-to-moderate cirrhosis in order to screen for esophageal varices. (These are enlarged veins in the esophagus that increase the risk for bleeding) but a liver biopsy is the only definite method for confirming a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Biopsy also helps determine cause, treatment possibilities, the extent of damage, and the long-term outlook.

The liver is a remarkable organ & you can have a very fulfilling life with your husband & children even with this. So many people are walking around with no idea they have this virus but you are lucky & have been diagnosed. You are also on your way to doing tx & getting rid of HCV with new meds that are extremely promising. You are on the right path.

I can only imagine how devastating that diagnosis is! But many here have cirrhosis and there is another DS support group for people with cirrhosis.

Both causes of your cirrhosis - HCV and drinking - can be arrested and the liver does regenerate! There are many options for treatment today depending on your genotype and insurance coverage.

Your pregnancy analogy is correct -- there is a difference between being 4 weeks pregnant and being 9 months pregnant. One means eminent birth and baby! One means you have LOTS of time to shop and get ready -- eat healthy, stop smoking, and take good care of yourself!!

Keep us posted.

Don't rush when making treatment decisions, Take your time and digest your options. And there has never been a better time to be diagnosed. A few years ago there was only one treatment available. Now there are options with many more coming down the pipeline.

Thank you all for the info and support. I'm just wondering if I should demand a biopsy or just do what the doctor tells me. He's a GI and had good reviews, I'm just worried because I thought biopsies were part of the norm in terms of cirrhosis.....I would love any and all feedback. Thanks.

Ask your Doctor if your varices should be banded and if you need medicine to reduce portal hypertension.

My first hepatologist told me to stop reading the Internet - ugh - don't get me started - but I will tell you - I read everything I could about everything I had - this site and the links posted gave me a tremendous amount of information - and that invaluable information gave me calm in this storm - knowledge will help you feel more in control of what's going on then this guy saying "duh it's like being pregnant blah blah don't read the Internet" - I dare say you have more to read in this one site then you can read before you're next visit - and by that time everything will feel a little better - I can honestly tell you the only reason I'm where I am (undetectable after treatment) is from what I learned on this site - several here are chirrotic and taking very good care of themselves - you will not feel alone because you won't be alone - you're going to be fine - Welcome

It is considered the gold standard to have a liver biopsy & it is a fairly simple procedure. Like your Gi, my doc didn't think bx was necessary but I insisted. They aborted bx at the hospital telling me later that I'd had a panic attack & they couldn't proceed. That wasn't my perception but I didn't let them try again. So my condition has been confirmed only from CT scans, ultrasounds & liver function tests on a regular basis since diagnosis in '99 but we don't really know the condition of my liver. For me personally the issue is to stop the progression of liver disease & my focus is on getting successful tx to achieve SVR. For what it's worth almost everyone I know dealing with HCV has had a liver bx.

So sorry sweety just try and be positive....ask god to comfort u....take good care eat liver healthy diet......ask jesus for guidance.....god is love

Jaro, one of the biggest lessons I've learned from having this disease is that I am ultimately responsible for my medical decisions. If not for this site and searching the internet, my doctor would have made a mistake and not treated me long enough. Today I am free of the virus, and I feel a big reason for me being so is that I printed out what I found and insisted the doctor read it.

I'm not saying your doctor is wrong in his diagnosis, but I strongly feel he is wrong suggesting you not be informed. I would ask him why he doesn't want to do a biopsy. If you are not satisfied with his answer, then seek another opinion.

Yes, this medical jargon is hard to understand. No one is born knowing it, but we can learn. I found it helpful to write down a list of questions I wanted to ask my doctor. It's easy to get intimidated or sidetracked when you're talking to him.

Like you said, you can't go back in time, but you can take care of you body the best you can right now (no drinking), and then start treatment to get rid of the virus.

Bob

Guys...Endoscopy is ONE level above biopsy.So you don't need to ask about that . Biopsy is not all that reliable depends where the sample comes from. Even with Endoscopy they go in from left and right to see the exact damage.

Because of cirrhosis she needs a drug what works with cirrhosis as the major players did offered trials for people with that condition. Now i know someone who was stage 4 , was a heavy drinker, failed prior treatment, stopped early or to be exact she got terminated from the Gilead trial after 8 weeks because of non compliance, even drinking on the treatment...and she is undetected as of today for close to 2 years now.

I don't think many people could beat this scenario , so yes the newer pills are offering a way better chance to terminate the virus.So do not get discouraged. Your chances are fairly great to become virus free.And i know it for fact one of the pill you will get is will be Sofo as Incivek does not work for people with Cirrhosis at all. The other pill i am not sure of, will be Interferon or an off label combo...Good luck..

regardless of what stage you are at, this is still a slow progressing virus. I have always been under the impression that an endoscopy will not detect actual cirrhosis or fibrosis, it would only give indicators just not factual info.
You have time, take a breath, see him in two weeks, but in the meantime, make an appointment with another doctor and get a second opinion. If you are not comfortable with your doctor for whatever reason, it is time to find another one. He has to be willing to make time for you and help you to fully understand all aspects and jargon. If he is unwilling, he is the wrong doctor for you.

Endoscopy is actually a full visual inspection of the liver with a little camera. The experienced doctor actually seeing the damage on a monitor. I only had endoscopy myself, two little cuts under the ribcage, left and right side . No pain , as they put you to sleep. As i said biopsy is not all reliable some guess work involved, as some part of the liver tissue can be worst than others..