I've never heard of collapsed lung with a biopsy, but I guess it's possible if the doc makes a huge mistake and puts the needle in the wrong place. Even then, a collapsed lung is not immediately life threatening, especially in a clinical or hospital setting.

My biopsy was painless and quick; all I felt was a little pressure. They gave me a local for the biopsy site, and some Versed to take the edge off, and it was over before I knew it. Drove myself home. It's really not a big deal. :-)

They grade and stage your liver damage on a scale of 0 - 4; 0 being normal, and 4 being full-blown cirrhosis. I was a 2 when I was diagnosed three years ago, and had time to wait. Clean living...no alcohol, drugs or tobacco; exercise and eating right can slow the diseases progress significantly. You may have time as well...

A viral load if 66,400 is very low. Mine was 12 million at diagnosis, and 2 million when I started treatment; and many people are much higher. Your viral load varies quite a bit. The drugs are toxic to the virus, so of you respond to the treatment it doesn't really matter how much of the virus you have.

Many docs are just getting up to speed on HCV, triple treatments, and managing side effects; so it really pays to educate yourself and work with your doc. This site is BY FAR the most valuable resource I've found.

Good luck!! :-)

I didn't need a biopsy, the ultra sound was normal.
But I've read many times from people who had biopsies that it doesn't hurt much or doesn't hurt at all, and it ends before it begins (so fast).
the doctor may ask you not eat or drink for 8 hours before biopsy.

And as bivalve has said, your VL isn't high, mine was 249,000 before treatment, and in 2 days I'll get the VL test results.
Good luck and keep us posted.

I really don't think a biopsy is always necessary. In my case my ultrasound was normal. And I thought ....what's the point??? Is it going to change my coarse of treament? No... And I didnt feel the potential complications were worth it...if I had cirrhosis then I would be on the year long treament, but I have no signs of cirrhosis and my viral counts were on the low side. So I refused a biopsy. I have met docs that are against it unless absolutely necessary and docs that always want to....each case is different....but ultimately its your decision.... :-)

Arabella.......will you be the states after your hubby comes back??.............I can't remember if you are just stationed overseas for now...........or live there??

Anyway................things are prolly a bit different there than the USA.......prolly better for you:):)

So....back in my day (1997-1999) I did know a few folks that got a punctured lung from their biopsy:(:( But that was 12 years ago.................I think they used a more "guided" procedure now.............prolly just "hit & miss" back then:(........and like Bivalve said, IF it should happen, you're in a pretty good place to have it happen:)

Anyway......here is a link I found that might help explain some of the things.......if you don't already know...........

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/liver-biopsy/MY00949/DSECTION=risks

Biopsy was not painful at all. Blood test is really more painful for me.

Viral load has no correlation to liver disease. My VL has always been very low, but I have stage 4 cirrhosis. And I have taken care of myself. So who know? But even with cirrhosis I have had a very active lifestyle.

Every person's situation is unique so you have to look at the pros and cons of waiting for a gentler treatment. I don't know about 1b, but most people have time to wait until they have had a chance to review all of their options. Access to health insurance is a big consideration. If you have good insurance now, but might not later, you have to factor that in.

Two biopsies -- no pain, no problems

Folks, please permit me a cautionary tale about ultrasounds:

Ultrasounds can usually (but not always) ID cirrhosis. However far more common with asymptomatic Hep C patients is significant fibrosis, the stage just before cirrhosis - and ultrasounds are absolutely worthless for picking that up. My ultrasounds (2 of them) both showed a perfectly normal liver. Biopsy however a week later showed that I had a LOT of fibrosis - Hep C had really done a number on my liver - and my case is by no means unusual. Any good radiologist will confirm what I'm telling you.

A biopsy is NOT that bad - esp. if it's being done by a good hepatologist who does them on a regular basis. Do not trust an ultrasound alone. If you're really scared of a biopsy then at the very least insist on the blood marker test known as FibroSure...it's far more accurate and reliable than an ultrasound.

thats a low viral very...yea biopsy no big deal......i drove myself home after 5 hrs..only cause they wouldn't let me leave until anastic wore off which i didn't feel anything.........u're looking good

I had the biopsy, it wasn't a big deal, they didnt even give me enough of the verset, so i felt everything and it still wasnt that bad because it was over very quickly. When my hubby got there they took me to his pickup and i told him , they didnt give me enough verset so i can drive the car now, so pull around and get it. So I drove home right afterward, we were gonna come back and get car later. I didnt want him to miss anymore work than he had to, so i went and did whole thing by myself, so not a big deal...

@Debbear were just stationed here, but we will possible be getting re-stationed in 2013, which rises another dilemma for starting treatment, since I don't want to start treatment here then get moved to another place/another doctor, but don't want to wait on it if I need it.
I am thinking I will go ahead and do the biopsy just to be sure, and then depending on our time frame just go ahead with treatment, unless I'm at zero damage, then maybe I can wait. Luckily since we are military we have health insurance that should cover most if not all of it. Thanks for all the suggestions, I am so glad to hear most had uneventful biopsies. My doc. even said they were barbaric but really anti climatic. Thanks everybody!!

1A and 1B can be cured! Many people on this site were still clear six months after the end of treatment, which is considered cured.

Hey Joe! Yes definitely let us know how the Biopsy goes, I hope its smooth, I am not too worried as of now, but the day of may be a different story, but I will make it, I figure I had a needle into my spine so whats one in my liver. Doc. tells me he does it with an incision and by hand, but really either way I figure its a long pointy thing going into your innards. Im looking forward to hearing of your experience! have a great day friend!! :) :)

Hi Arabella,

I've had 1 biopsy done in 2006 and another one last December to check if there was any progression of the virus. I agree with the others here who said that an ultrasound won't give enough information as to the real state of your liver.

Both times I opted to go to the hospital as an out patient, and be put out completely. The first time I had no choice. Doctors weren't doing them in clinics or their offices. The second time, I couldn't imagine having it done while I was awake, especially since the nurse told me that the doctor would do " the best he could" to numb me up, and that the liver has many nerve endings on the outside of the organ itself. That did it for me right there! Put me to sleep! So just remember, that is an option for you as well. They are still going to make you stay a certain amount of time and watch you carefully. Which ever way you go, the complications are very rare, but they always tell you what "could" happen. They have to inform you.

Now there are a couple of things that a biopsy won't show either. They are called "extra heptic" things. I'll write more about those when I get a chance. I haven't had treatment yet for my Hep C, but will be starting the triple meds Arpil 27th. I am genotype 1 b as well, and my viral load is way low... 15,000 to 22,000 is all it is. It seems to change between different labs and times that it's taken. So why am I doing treatment instead of waiting and seeing, with such a low viral load? That's where the "extras" I mentioned above come in to play, and I'll tell you about them later today. I'm sorry that you are having to go through this without your husband by your side, but you can do it! A quote I like and have it posted on my fridge is:

Doesn't matter what happens to you
It's what you do with it that defines your life.

Take care,
Kelly

A.- If you're Doc does an incision, it sounds like he may do a "laproscopy". That's what I had. I have a big phobia re: any procedures.
My Doc does laproscpopic biopsy. Small incision, insert small camera, see entire liver, take pic of entire liver, take samples from lobes, cauterized sample areas to ensure there's no bleed, take pics again, couple stitches, done. A general surgeon does them, out patient, put me totally out, over in 10 min. A little sore for a day or so. The whole thing including prep and recovery took a little over an hour. They even gave me a copy of the picture of my liver. LOL

Hi Arabella, I am 1b as well, with 180, 000 (low) and have CC gene. I agreed to biopsy years ago I was curious about the damage (there wasn't anything then) .

The procedure was quick and painless and the only difficult part was the thought of what was happening. Afterwards I was relieved but went into a bit of a "fainting" state twice which was mighty unpleasant, it felt like shock not fainting so I wouldn't do it again unless I really had too, but most people don't get that and I was told the "fainting spell" was not dangerous.

Also felt down and bruised after the procedure for a few days and had to get others to do lifting but it was good to know that there wasn't much damage at the time (I would of been about 25 yrs)

All the best for your procedure and results.
Marina