it is one of those deseases that can linger for 30 years or more without doing any damage to your liver. How do you know when to do something? Virus's can run trhu your blood system forever. Did you know that once you have the mumps you will forever test positive fcor mumps? is hep c the same way?
2007-05-21 09:37:53 · 2 answers · asked by beach girl 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Symptoms are an important indication for treatment because they indicate how hep C is affecting your life; i.e. do you have a lot of fatigue? liver tenderness? pain when eating certain foods? etc. There are blood tests and ultrasounds available to determine what damage hepatitis has done - but a liver biopsy is the best way to see how much fibrosis or cirrhosis is present in your liver,as the sample taken represents changes in the whole liver. When analysing your biopsy, you'll be given a rating of fibrosis of 1-4; depending on your level - 1 being low damage, 4 being cirrhotic - you'll be encouraged to seek treatment.
It's your choice whether to accept treatment and when. It's not a walk in the park and it's best you're at a time in your life when you can focus on healing and resting. The treatment can have some major side effects and since it's a slow and progressive disease, it's best if you wait until you can emotionally handle them, and have people around you to support you, rather than rush into treatment unprepared. Your liver clinic/gastro specialist and nurse should talk to you about this.
2007-05-22 01:44:07 · answer #1 · answered by suigeneris 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Annual exams and getting you LFT's monitored regularly. LFT's are the liver function tests. Done through blood work.
2007-05-21 16:48:05 · answer #2 · answered by nurse ratchet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋