I'm exhausted and out of the hosp. tonight from the past 6 or 7 days. Started coughing up blood and went to ER thinking it was COPD again. Immediately admitted. Saw Cardio, Pulmonary and numerous others. They pulled fluid out of my lungs later, after admission and it's thin fluid as opposed to thick fluid. One of the main reason for the thin fluid is the bridging fibrosis I may have gone into Cirrhosis from a +3 bridging fibrosis at diagnosis. It's not related to liver function tests since mine are all fine. Heart is OK too. Thick pleural fluid is usually lung related but not the thin kind I have. That's as much as I understand and I don't even understand that.

Susie, Betsy, Judy, Miles, Denny......... I'm stumped. I, of course, got the reading results before the hospital and it says:



PERIPHERAL BLOOD FINDINGS:
CBC Data: W.B.C. count - 15,900/uL with a differential of 59% segs, 27% lymphs, 10% monos, 2% metas, 2% myleos; RBC 3.82 mill/uL, hemoglobin 12.1 g/dL, Hematocrit 38.1%, MCV 101 fl; platelet count 338.000/uL.

DIAGNOSIS
Peripheral blood smear:
- Leukocytosis with early left shift, consider infection or inflammatory process.
- Erythrocytes with macrocytosis without anemia, consider nutritional deficiency or
reticulocytosis, liver disease, MDS. Clinical correlation recommended.
- Platelets unremarkable.


CPT (s):
85060

FINAL DIAGNOSIS:
(Gross and Microscopic)

PLEURAL fluid for cytology (Cytology, thin prep, cell block):
- Rare atypical cells present, cannot further classify.
- Reactive mesothelial cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, red cells, fibrin.

(I'm leaving out some stuff)
GROSS DESCRIPTION
Received is approximately 90 ml of hazy amber fluid and one glass slide for Cytological examination.

Strangely enough I'm much less frightened b/c I've had to accept so much about the liver. I haven't looked anything up yet since none of the wording makes any sense to me.

I need help, directions to begin understanding, and anything anyone knows about this. One of the respiratory techs mentioned Pulmonary Fibrosis, which I know was a side effect of the initial Peg-Intron that was my cure... then he shut-up quickly. The Pulmonologist just tried to get to Cirrhosis via bridging fibrosis to me, either thinking I'd need more time for acceptance or because he's unsure????? Since Cassidy is more and more involved in D.C. I'm going to have to find a new Hepatologist. Hopefully I can get a referral from him. I don't even know if this sounds better or worse. I think he said I'm not contagious. I'm so confused. I have like 4 apts. with different specialist in the next 3 weeks beginning later this week.

My friend Diane's physicians are the pathologists and she got the readings as we left but they're not signed out yet and I don't want to scan them or send them, much less tell anyone but ya'll, until I have more info that's been told to me..

I'm so exhausted from the hospital stay I doubt I'll sleep much and will be up early to check the board. Susie, any of you with knowledge, Miles always explains things to me in a way I understand them, so I need your comfort, call me when you get up, I don't know your sleep schedule anymore and mine is so erratic time won't matter. Whatever this is about I'm not afraid but do desperately need truth.

Love to all,
Sharron

Sharron, what a mess. Unfortunately I don't have a clue other than to say with platelets like yours I doubt it is cirrhosis. That is one of the first things to fall when cirrhosis occurs. For now, I'd go with infection but I really have no clue at all.

I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. Life is so unfair at times. I hope someone figures this out for you. And I pray you stay out of hospitals.

Sharron, Sharron, Sharron!

I am soooo sorry to hear about your new physical struggles! Please keep us posted when you hear more? What do your HepC PCR tests look like?

Take care!!!!

-Betsy

Sharron, I'm sorry. I can't help you with the blood work or tests, but I can offer you lots of HUGS and Love XXOO

Hug, Hug, Huggggggggg for Sharron

keep us posted
Porter

Sharron, what a lousy time you are having. I tried to look things up, but I don't think that there is enough information as yet. They have sent things out for further study, and maybe by the time you see some of the specialists, there will be something firm on the diagnosis instead of so many ifs. I will call you later. Love you , Sharron, and you know that you have my prayers and support. Wish I could do more.

SUSIE I HAVE CIRRHOSIS AND MY PLATELETS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT...AS HAVE MY ALT AND AST..


TIFF

That certainly is strange Tiff. The first thing that happens in cirrhosis is sequestering of the platelets by the spleen. This causes hyperspleenism and low platelets. It is the first symptom that most cirrhotic patients face. You have also been clear for years and I am sure your histology has improved. The HALT C studies have shown that 80% of cirrhotic patients with SVR have an improvement in stage of liver disease by at least 1 stage. Linda has actually gone back to stage 1.

WHATEVER IT IS NOW I AM GOOD WITH IT......I HAVE NEVER LET IT SLOW ME DOWN MUCH....SO NEVER SURE IF IT IS LIVER DAMAGE, DAMAGE HCV HAS DONE TO OTHER PARTS OF MY BODY, OR DANG I AM OLDER TOO.....MY PLATELETS WERE GREAT WHEN BX SHOWED STAGE 4...11 YEARS AGO...MY MD EVEN SAID THEN YOU KINDA CHANGE THE RULES WE HAVE SEEN...LOL....I WAS IN A SPEECH OF HIS AS TO HOW MUCH I KEEP DOING...


TIFF

I just sat and wrote an epistle, like I always do, and lost the damn (sorry) thing. I complimented everyone, hoped it was a liver prob. so I'd be back where I felt safe, reminisced, had a ' remember ' tale for each of us.....
told the new folks how great you all are, assured them that no matter what or how long no one here would ever forget them............
asked more questions and lost it!!!!!

It's somewhere on this computer with Windows 7 .... the thing I had to have or I'd die. Anyone want to begin digging?

I'll send it when I find it but I have no email addresses or #'s of any kind so know that I love you all, thank you for your answers and will keep looking.

XOXO
Sharron

PS.......MY YEARLY ULTRA SOUND OF LIVER IS SHOWING SOMETHING GOING ON ...SOME CHANGE NOT IN THE BEST WAY EITHER...ie SLIGHT INCREASE IN ECHOGENICITY.....AND THAT IS NO BIGGY EITHER...


TIFF

Tiff, you know that ultrasound does not really give enough information on the progression of liver damage. It's main use is to discover lesions and look at the architecture of the liver. People with cirrhosis often have a basically normal ultrasound. Biopsy is still the best we have. I'm glad your doctor agrees that your case is a bit odd. People with normal platelets most likely do not have cirrhosis. Echogenicity often comes from a fatty liver. All it means is the sound waves are not bouncing the same way as they did. They have a stronger reflection of sound. And yes, that can come from hep C as well as fatty liver, gall stones and other liver problems.

THANK YOU SUSIE FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE...IF IT IS A FATTY LIVER THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE I HAVE ANY FAT...MY BMI IS ONLY 18.1....I NEED POUNDS BUT CAN NOT SEEM TO GET THEM...


TIFF

Yes, thanks for that explanation. My numbers are the same as they were in 1999. I have the docs scratching their heads, too.

Well, Tiff...here's to women who have to be different!

THANKS MARY ANN....I THINK WE GET TO BE DIFFERENT AND JUST THINK WHAT THEY LEARN FROM US...


TIFF

Oh my Dear Sharron.... I am hoping for the very best for you... Prayers are wingin' your way, and (gentle) hugz too!!

Love, susi(nni)

Yep, there has to be exception to the rules. I so don't believe my 2002 liver bx or the doctor who said I was to be dead 6 to 8 years ago. My PCP just did my liver panel and all was normal, again! I ditched Hershey and will see a gastro when needed.

Sharron, I'm so very sorry that you are going through all this crap. Seems the answer to one problem causes another. Sending healing prayers, Southern Sis

Jips

what! Pulmonary Fibrosis? i coughed up blood recently too, i never knew there's a chance its peg related, my doc gave me antibiotics... im only stage 1-2 tho, but coughing up blood scared the daylights out of me.....

Southern Sis,

So sorry to hear you have more problems to deal with at this time. Enough is enough! You are in my prayers!

Hugs,
Gyps