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MedHelp Member's Question

Encore: Question to all regarding family member symptoms.

by DoubleDose, Dec 25, 2004 12:00AM
I know this question has been posed in the past, BUT, in light of the various studies recently referenced, which seem to demonstrate HCV replication in other organs or 'compartments', I thought it would make sense to look closely at our non-infected family members, especially spouses.



I hope to either corroborate some of the suspiscious symptoms which I have seen in close contacts, OR discover that my observations are not in any way like what our members have seen.

In other words, that what I am seeing must be related to something else entirely, because none of our members have ever had similar perceptions.



This question pertains to HCV + members, HCV members undergoing tx, and of course ALL Post-tx and SVR members.



The symptoms observed in family members might include any of the following, OR other symptoms , all of which seem more chronic.



Symptoms like:



Chronic fatigue, memory problems, muscle and joint pains,

skin rashes and outbreaks, eye dryness and irritation, tinnitus, coordination and walking problems (balance related), stomach and digestive disturbances, strange allergic reactions including chronic cough, throat clearing, sinus inflammation (year round)

more depression/less energy, sexual organ inflammations and infections without discovered causes, and finally, more introverted behavior.



Please feel free to add any not on the list, that you believe to be unusual, and/or chronic and unexplained.



I ask all of you to think very objectively and without regard to what we are supposed to believe.



Our surveys are unbiased!!!



Doubledose
Member Comments (10)

by Califia, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: DD
Just for the record,  I have not seen anything similar.   Alternate hypothesis:  inherited autoimmune syndromes or immune system weakness from your parents or grandparents?  Another covert viral infection at work, like CMV?



by njrsl, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: doubledose
Don't be worrying so much about your family they willbejust fine. What’s the big idea bout living with someone.You can’t even get it through sex. I aksed a tramsmission question last week and got no real answers. Just a bunch of gibberish.I am that guy that didn’t tell his girlfriend and she got pissed off about me not telling her until after the facthat I have hep c.  it is harder to gert hep c then aids. I read and the doctor told me. She is negative. I told her she would be. it jsut goes to show ignorance in the population. I am not teling my next girlfrined. I am feeling back to normal since 9 months ago. I have been off hepc drugs for over a year now. I am not drinking and that wasnt’ never important anyway I rarely drank anything.  Which is another things I have been reading around here. Everybody seems to be an ex durnk or a drug addict.What gives? I don’t want to hurt your feelings or be judgmental. I am not going to take that drug therapy and shots again for hepc. I am living a good life style like that one woman down a few pages here that sells the white and green tea & that Sam-e stuff, that won’t treat either. Think twice beofre you tell anyone you have hpec if you don’t they will treat you like the plague hit you. Theres only one way to get hepc that is blood to blood so don’t worry about this other stuff with your family. If I find someone to marry she won’t know I have hepc.

by whoaisme, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: doubledose
Good morning and happy holidays! In response to your question I would like to suggest the following...I do not have HCV, my husband does. Living with anyone with a chronic disease, of any sort, causes a certain degree of stress. Stress as we all know manifests itself in a variety of ways, including but not limited to the many symptoms you referenced. Life with my husband who is on a daily infergen trial has resulted in tremendous changes in our lifestyle. Am I more introverted, yes, am I more worn out and tired, yes. I attribute those changes to the modifications in our routine and how much more I have to manage since he is sick. Do I think that HCV has reared its ugly head in my body, no.

by njrsl, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
Girl, I don’t want to come off chaovinistic or argumentive because you already seem t-offed. but I did check that there where I put my first question on and some of your women there were telling menot to have sex for 15 to 20 years or not at all. That’s not right and downright stupid.  They can’t mean that. It is showing they have bitterness.  They probably got it from getting their ears pierced at those earring malls and all the time thinking it was from their old man. Those people have sex hangups and we need to help them understnad how you get hepc

by Ella Mackenzie, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: njrsl
To think that you might actually get married to someone and not tell them you have or had hep c is unbelievable to me. I posed this question in one of the previous threads, but what if your girlfriend or spouse used your razor? Or used your toothbrush? Your attitude is imature and selfish.

by Ella Mackenzie, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: njrsl
oops: immature.



by Xenigma, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: njrsl
I just hope someone I love doesn't cross your path and fall in love with you.  Your relationship will be based on lie, a lie that is life threatening to boot. Perhaps your next girlfriend won't tell you she is HIV positive until years down the road.

I know in your eyes you wouldn't see that as a problem.  

HCV IS sexually transmissible.  Your office coworker is right for being mad, she has every right to be. You earned those glares that she gives you at work. You could have changed her life and not for the better. Are you that lonely that you have to be deceptive to get a gal pal?  Why are you so afraid of being alone until the right one comes along?  When that day comes you will be able to tell that person everything and she will stand by your side thick or thin because she will love you for you.  A true love.  I hope one day you will find that without the deception because it is worth the wait...

enigma

by shebee, Dec 26, 2004 12:00AM
To: doubledose
I have been tested 3 times for hepc a & b & c...our youngest daughter was having fevers...and weird symptoms...we had her tested...all clear.



There are many other things that can cause chronic fatigue...like stealth virus...EBV...hhh6...and Lyme disease...and etc.  



STRESS can cause everything!







Hubby has /

HAD...we hope,  hepc.









I can't begin to tell you of the life changes that I have had to make.  





.... From stay at home mommy



To power house women...



Faking my way thru until I learned the job...







Supporting our family....



Taking over all of my jobs and hubby's, too....

And taking care of all of his emotional needs as well as our home.



  He thinks that he is the perfect patient...HA HA!!











       I am stressed to the max, but keep on ticking.











I am tired, stressed...and more, but just like him...surviving.









I, personally, am in survival mode.  At this rate, I will be running for State Senator soon!  LOL!





(P.S.  I could use more than JUST your vote, please call me, I need support money, and your TIME!

Surely from you peg-lated bed you could make a few calls???? )









There is so much that I keep from my hubby.... Without damaging his spirit.  He is still head of our household...even if I am doing everything.  Without his support, I would be working at McDonalds.  With his support, I can do anything...





It is hard to juggle everything.... Including his guilt of not being able to do much.   That will change one day, and if not, oh, well, I married for better or worse. (It is the "worse" part right now.)  LOL!  







This forum has been a lifesaver for me; I have cried, laughed, and most of all, I have learned that courage does not mean that you are not afraid...courage means that you do the right thing... always...in spite of your spouse's riba-raged fits.  LOL!



(I have waited for weeks for him to "get to the bank" to deposit a check....

And when I have already sent out the bills because he said, " I'm not stupid, I will get to the bank."  No, he is just on tx.



LOL!...WEEKS....I have waited weeks!!!!....All the while wondering if all of our checks were bouncing.



  (Ah, I must admit... Being in control feels pretty good!







But, being Super Shebee, I ran to the bank and took out draft protection...in order to PROTECT my hubby's integrity.  LOL!









It is fun being the one in power; I will have to admit, once again.









However, I am willing to turn the power back around...I just want to be "Stay at Home Shebee.... Mother of small children and a pink colored rodent." I don't want to hold a super power job.











I would suggest if your spouse/kids are having problems with weird symptoms that she/he should be checked out by a doc who deals with chronic-type diseases.  Reg. docs will not test for lyme and other odd things. Ebv...lyme.... Mycro-plasma...etc.



My doc looks for the cause...and does not just treat the symptoms.  She says that once you treat the cause, the symptoms will be gone. She is right...and usually you just need antibiotics...chronic sinus infection can cause all kinds of things.







Lyme (from ticks) is are real possibility...as well as other things...which can be successfully treated...but you MUST find the right doc who will be willing to do tons of blood