need as much information on HEP, C as possible?

Question

I have a good friend w/Hepititis C,he is in the 3rd stages & I would like more information about it.He seems to be not as aware of what is happening,he's sleeping ALL the time (the last 2 days)I'm scared,is this something that's telling us he's not going to be w/us much longer?Please if you are someone who has gone through this can you PLEASE IM w/me? thnx.

Answer 1

One of the most common symptoms (if any are present) is fatigue. Your friend is in stage 3, that means he has sustained a lot of damage to his liver. But that isn't hopeless. Has he looked into his options for treatment? The treatment works on 50-80% of people depending on what their genotype is. There is no way to determine how long your friend will live. Most people live with hep c and die from something else, but if your friend is drinking, that will rapidly increase liver damage and since he's already at stage three, he already has a lot of scarring on his liver.
I did the treatment 6 years ago. Back then the medication caused more side effects than the current pegylated interferon causes, and the response rates were lower. There are things you can do to deal with the side effects. Drinking lots of water helps a lot, as does eating smaller meals but more frequently. I would suggest going to a support group. You can learn a lot from other people who have been there. You can get tips on good doctors, how to deal with issues relating to the disease, etc. Treatment is a MILD form of chemotherapy, so it usually does make you feel tired or sick, but it is only for a temporary period of your life, then you have the rest of your life . Your liver is worth it; you can't live without it, and if your liver is not functioning well, it can really lower your quality of life. Best wishes to you and your friend.

Answer 2

yes