Been testing Hep-C pos for about 15 yrs, just got a viral load result of 11.5 mill., genome A or 1 (cant remember which) Considering just comfort measures 'til death because of the terrible experience hubby had 5 yrs ago with interferon alfa 2b with riboviron. Have suffered with great overal body pain (and other symptoms) of fibro myalgia, also have been dealing with insulin dependent diabetes for ~10 yrs., chronic allergies (which aggravate the flu like symptoms of fibro) and I have a miriad of other symptoms & probs from "endocrine system shut-down" (Dr's words) from a full body blast of radiation the level of Chernobyl. So, the question is, what do I have to contend with on my way to death from this latest slap in my life-pod's face. Please--no Bible-thumpers' "pray!..." answers.
2006-10-21 09:08:01 · 4 answers · asked by Clycs 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
I should add that I've been TOTALLY drained of energy, hence the viral load test. and other liver function test ok, no jaundice, yet.
2006-10-21 12:15:21 · update #1
Those that tend to have symptoms of HCV, tend to have a better time on antiviral chemo.
The trick to successful treatment is WATER. Lots of WATER.
There is no reason why you could not TRY treatment. If you can't handle it, then you just don't do it!
I would rather LIVE longer with the HCV not active anymore than suffer a death I could prevent.....
I did a full years worth of interferon and ribavirin and amantadine.
Sides were lessened dramatically due to a gallon of water a day.
Other meds can also help you through like antidepressants (if your not on them already...hcv does cause depression too) and anti-anxiety meds.
Your symptoms are CLEARLY a sign that your HCV is doing what it does best.....the fibro...I HAD fibro....but not anymore as the treatment cured the HCV that caused the fibro to begin with!
The only thing the treatment did not get rid of for me was the "brain fog".
My rashes...gone.
My bone and joint pain (fibro) gone.
My energy level? OUTSTANDING! I can stay up all day! I sleep anywhere between 5 hours a night to the standard (depending on my housework)
I used to sleep 18 hour days prior to chemo!
The endocrine system for me is messed up. HCV does that....the treatment doesn't help either...but I'm alive and feeling pretty good! TONS better.
HCV is not a death sentence. Treat the HCV and rid of some of your problems.....otherwise, you will end up treating all the "bi-directionals" of HCV......
I dont know about you, but I am not a pill taker. I am sooo glad they found out what was wrong with me after almost a lifelong infection......
Now that I have said that, what to expect if you opt not even to try the treatment is.....
liver cell death/cirrhosis/cancer (possible cancer that is)
kidney and heart failure.
HCV is not just a liver disease....if you have HCV it resides and causes all organs to malfunction.....
What happens is you basically bloat because the kidneys will shut down. Your skin will seep liquids. You will be a deep yellow color. You will eventually slip into a light comatose state and pass away from heart failure without even knowing it.
I REALLY hope you at least TRY the treatment...get on the right meds (anti's) and have the anti-anxiety meds ready to go....
If you need to talk, HOLLER okay? heppystephy at yahoo dot com
2006-10-21 19:25:41 · answer #1 · answered by Stephanie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why are you waiting for death? Please don't let your husband's experience deter you from trying something that may cure you! Every individual with hep c reacts differently to treatment. There are many variables that affect your responses to treatment. Your state of mind / attitude greatly affects how you will tolerate treatment. If you read all the negative stuff on the internet, you will begin to analyze every ache & pain you have. Treatment is only temporary, you have the rest of your life to live. You can tolerate anything for a short period of time. The medication they had out 5 years ago had more side effects than the current pegylated interferon. Many people in our support group have had minimal side effects on the newer Pegasys medication (the brand name for pegylated interferon). We used to take up a collection for people going to transplant centers at our support group. For the last four years, we haven't had anyone go for a transplant. More people are responding and it's very encouraging. Even some doctors are starting to use the "C" word: cured. I have been a sustained responder since 2000. I will not see a relapse unless I become re-exposed to the virus. I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen.
Please seek out a face to face support group. There is nothing more empowering than to meet and learn from others that have been there. Educate yourself about this disease, and use all the tools you have to fight it. Since my treatment, I have had my energy return. I have felt better than I have since the 10 years prior to my treatment (it took 10 years of me complaining about fatigue and joint pain for the doctors to diagnose me- I had normal liver enzymes the whole time). Don't give up. You owe it to yourself to at least try. Best wishes.
2006-10-22 03:14:22 · answer #2 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have it for 15 years with no complication so hopefully you will stay as a carrier only (just like 75% of patients)
Its too late now to takr any medications like interferon or ribaverin.
may be you need to check your liver function tests every once n a while to make sure there is no evidence of chronic hepatitis.
There is no dietary intervention that affect the virus status or activity (diet will play some rule in patients with liver cirrhosis only)
I wish you good health
2006-10-21 11:04:57 · answer #3 · answered by drinda_house 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When I was small my parents divorced and I looked up my dad like 18 years later and he had Hep C, he was very sick, he was in Canada me in England and then suddenly I didnt hear from him. I dont know his fate. I think about what he must have gone through and I will always wonder.
I wish you all the best.
If want to get in touch with me thats cool.
2006-10-21 09:12:37 · answer #4 · answered by pixilated 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋