2006-10-31 06:28:50 · 9 answers · asked by milo2angel 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
I think most people when they get diagnosed with life threatening disease, look at it as a death sentence. I know people with Hep C, HIV, cancer, etc... and they live life in a healthy manner and think positive each day just happy to see another. It is the people who die the day they are diagnosed, meaning just give up and continue their road to destruction. If you live your life the same as you did before the diagnosis but add better health and exercise and positive life reinforcement to that equation you will live as long as most healthy people. We all will die of something one day but most of the time you have to live for today and not worry about what tomorrow brings because tomorrow is not promised to no-one.
2006-10-31 06:53:46 · answer #1 · answered by Kendra J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many factors that affect people's life spans, and there is no formula to determine how long before someone has serious liver problems. You should not drink alcohol if you have hep c, and you should be vaccinated against Hep A & B to protect your liver from a double attack. If you have insurance, get a biopsy to determine how much damage the liver has sustained.
There are treatments for hep c. I did the treatment 6 years ago and have been fortunate to be a sustained responder. I am still clear of the virus and my energy has returned. Now the medication is better (pegylated) and has fewer side effects than 6 years ago. You might want to go to a local support group and talk to people who are walking in the same shoes as you are. It is important to educate yourself about this disease so you can be proactive in your health care decisions. Best wishes.
2006-10-31 13:34:44 · answer #2 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to several sources, including
That is the bad aspect of contracting at older age. The good news though is that length of infection is a positive factor for tx success. A 2005 article a< href="http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/51/3/487">here states that shorter legnth of infection is predictive of successful treatment (tx) outcomes. So the fact that you discovered this relatively quickly is important.
You can live with the virus for a while before it really starts to affect your health but be aware that waiting until your liver is damaged is a negative factor on tx success. I dont think you should be worried about something happening within a year - that is extremely unlikely unless you worry yourself to death.
The therapy is definitely a challenge and doing tx should be evaluated with great detail. Newer treatments are on the way that appear to be of shorter duration and fewer side effects. The decision of treat now rather than later is going to take some careful analysis on your part. There is a great deal of info that comes from members of this forum that was helpful to me. Some of the steps you will be advised to take are thorough testing and identification of the genotype of the virus you have. Your blood will be tested for certain indicators of liver damage and a biopsy will probably be ordered. Get a specialist in hep c (hepatologist) if you can. You are already be proactive. Keep it up. Find out all you can and then take action. Taking action against the virus is far better than sitting and worrying about it. This disease can be "cured", it happens every day to people on this forum. Good luck.
2006-10-31 06:36:36 · answer #3 · answered by Brite Tiger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had hep C my whole life since I was 20 I am now 47 I have no viral load I have a great liver function I am one of those people who's body just defeated it.My Dr. said there is no sign of the infection and you will live a full life with no problems because of the hep C.
2014-12-14 06:08:32 · answer #4 · answered by Frank 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A long time. Some people have chronic hepatitis C for decades without ever having symptoms.
In my own case, I was infected by a blood transfusion in the 1970s and tested positive for the virus in 1998. Some people have almost no symptoms, and I am lucky enough to be in this category. My doctor monitors my condition by testing my liver enzyme levels and viral count, as well as occasional liver ultrasounds.
I avoid alcohol and Tylenol because both cause liver damage. I exercise and watch my weight because being in good physical condition helps my body fight infection. I get an annual flu shot. I am hopeful (but not confident) that by the time I require treatment, protease inhibitors or other treatments less toxic than interferon therapy will be available.
Today's treatment is more effective and has fewer side effects than treatment 10 years ago. Hepatitis C is not a death sentence. If you or someone close to you has it, take it seriously and follow your doctor's recommendations, but be optimistic. Good luck and good health to you.
2006-11-01 02:40:23 · answer #5 · answered by MyThought 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on the viral load or how bad the hep c is. Many people lead long and healthy lives with hep c. You just have to avoid certain things like alcohol. Exercise is also a good practice.
2006-10-31 06:33:03 · answer #6 · answered by Christopher45 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can live out your natural life span with Hep C and never get sick. However, you can also develop cholestatic liver disease as a result of hepatitis C infection, and die an early death from liver cancer or liver failure. It all depends on your genetics, how badly/well your liver is responding to infection, co-sicknesses (like HIV) and whether you abuse your liver with alcohol and drugs.
The good news is, there is a treatment for Hep C out there. The bad news is, the treatment is expensive, tiring (you get REALLY fatigued) and does not completely cure all 'types' of Hep C infections. (there are subtypes of Hep C and your doctor can explain to you which one you have).
I would speak with your doctor about risk factors, Hep C is not a benign infection, and people do not usually get really sick until their 50's. There are treatments out there and you should explore them. You have about a 50-50 shot of chronic infection progresing to liver disease.
2006-10-31 06:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My friend had it and now it is gone. Yes she healed herself and went on to have a very healthy baby boy after being told she could never conceive.
Life after hep c continues......
2006-10-31 06:35:18 · answer #8 · answered by harriettpotty 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my sister in law has had it for over 15 years and she is fine.
2006-10-31 06:36:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋