Re: UPDATE - Hi Ya Misty and Hubby - Steno Pads System :)

[Guest guest]

Honey it sounds good could have been a lot worse.

Your hubby is going to have many follow-up labs and test reports. If you get a copy of each the final reports it makes it easier to understand you can track it also and have a copy of it all already if referred to other specialists.

I started a medical file system for copies of all my reports.

I also had a steno pad system. I used 1 color steno pad for medical phone calls incoming and the 1's I made dated it name position like RN person who called me and what they told me. Any questions I asked and the info and answers they gave me. When I had to call in I wrote down my questions ahead of time skipped lines for their answers. I also listed all and new symptoms complications and had a date of when it all occurred what was going on with me how I felt to tell them all of it cause I knew I would forget some.

Another color steno pad I had for Dr's visits. I dated it for next Dr visit and wrote down my questions as they came to me to ask my Dr. I also skipped lines and wrote down their answers as they told me at my visit or any new info my Dr's gave me and what they ordered tests - labs etc..... and asked what are these tests and what are you testing me for or think I may have or ruling out anything in particular.

I brought both steno pads with me at Dr visits and had the medical phone call pad for dates of calls what staff and who told me what and a list and date of all my symptoms for reference for my Dr's if we needed it.

Believe me from experience staff and Dr's pay and give more attention to you and the pt explain more in more details take more time with you at visits when they know you are documenting it - them - and being such a cooperative pt very interested concerned and wanting to take full part in your medical care and treatments and knowledge of it all too.

If a pt wants specific answers they need to ask those specific questions of their Dr's and than Dr's know their pt's are ready and can handle it and understand it all much better.

It is a win win situation for all.

Labs - liver panel labs fluctuate each time the lab results from that date of testing.

The copy of the lab report will show the name of the labs test and your hubby's results and that labs normal ranges for those lab tests. Different labs may have a slightly different range of normal labs and for reporting the results. Viral load is tricky many different types and ways of reporting it the amount - ranges - scale and #'s. Viral loads fluctuate also and used to determine how well treatment is working and at what weeks on treatment and after treatment with follow-up viral load tests. Comparing viral load tests and results sound be done by the same lab and using the same test scale and grading measurements for the viral load.

ALT - AST labs are part of liver panel labs normal enzymes shed off by the liver in normal ranges. When ALT - AST is elevated it shows problems within the liver and indicates a liver disease and damage. A high spike in those labs and total bribing shows a flare-up in HCV/Liver disease and can go back down too.

Bilirubin is part of breakdown of bile products yellowish color too much of it also shows a liver disease and too high signals maybe going into jaundice what makes our eyes - gums and skin yellow.

Build up of ammonia is from your hubby being in early cirrhosis stages. The liver can not process detoxify as much as a normal liver and also from stomach producing toxins with liver being part of gastro digestive system part of all systems too. His Dr's will keep a close watch and compare all labs - tests and if ammonia levels get to high may give him liver friendly rx's for it and for other symptoms. The high ammonia toxin levels is part of why he is starting to feel confused at times brain feels like it is processing slower or at times confused and can't remember things.

MELD is a simple formula 3 labs used by UNOS - Dr's - Teams to evaluate a person in cirrhosis stages and if progressing into other cirrhosis stages. Anyone in cirrhosis stages can have a MELD or figure their own MELD scores but that too fluctuates like crazy too up and down and Doesn't mean a person is in esld yet. Cirrhosis has it's own stages too some # it or use the easy scale A - B or C. A alright doing good - B - getting bad - C yep worse cirrhosis stages. Cirrhosis stages is not a fast process or progressions as people think just like HCV/Liver Disease takes decades to reach cirrhosis stages in some people. Some people in early cirrhosis stages can stay stable for very long periods of time and time for treatment to work and do it's thing clear the virus or even can back-up in stage/grade improving scarring in liver.

A few info links are below and I just posted some excellent INFO: posts in group.

Honey has more patience with hubby treatment makes you feel worse at times many good and bad days and some days you may want to lovingly pop him upside his head put don't treatment makes a person more emotional and for some more frustrated and even angry at times.

You need support too dealing with it all.

Sorry for any typos I switched to laptop to get this last email out to you while watching Sci Fi Fri night.

All The Best To Both Of You.

Deb

Hepatitis Glossary of Medical Terms (updated May 19, 2008) Our medical glossary includes definitions for terms related to hepatitis and its treatment, and general medicine, health, and sexuality. Click on a link below for definitions of medical terms beginning with that letter. http://www.hcvadvocate.org/library/glossary.asp

Newest Patient Education Module: An Overview of HCV Diagnostic Tests Check Out Our Newest Patient Education Module HCV Diagnostic Tests http://www.hcvadvocate.org/Modules/Mod4/player.html

Hepatitis C Tests ALT Test(alanine aminotransferase) Antibody Test Genotype Tests Liver Biopsy Viral Load

Well, finally...I have more information on Hubby.I'm having to make him be more informed about this.I've explained how you all know all about your illnessand that helps you beat it.here's what I found out.He is GenoType 1A with a viral load of 380k.His AST and LAT tests came back elevated. I don't knowwhat those are but anyway...He said the doctor also told him that he did notregister a MELD score. Does that happen? Like if heisn't that bad off, you don't even have a score?They also mentioned some trouble with billirubin andammonia? I'm not sure about those...I'm off to do more research.