help

[bal]

my mother has hepatitus b doctors dont prescribe strong pain killers why is this.
WHAT IS HEPATITIUS B, AND HOW CAN YOU CATCH IT AS MY MOTHER HAS NEVER DRANK OR SMOKED AND BEEN RELATIVELY HEATHLY BEFORE THIS.
They hardly give any medication.

[bal]

thank you very much for your message it was touching, there should be more people like you in this world, thak you again bal

[cindee]

Hi and welcome. You are a wonderful person! You seem so concerned about your Mother. I was thinking that when you first sign on to the forum...that when you go to hepatitis...there is a place on medhelp for hep B????? I may be wrong, for it's been a long time since I have signed on from the beginning. You might want to go to the archives....there may be some help there. If she's in so much pain, you can get her regular doctor to refer her to a pain specialist. Pain specialist are wonderful. I don't know what I would have done w/o mine. I have fibromyalgia and some tissue damage. I have been on morphine for about 6 months now. I don't like taking the pain meds, but they do work  and that was the FIRST QUESTION I asked my new hepatologist. He said he has no problems with orphine and hep c. I did replase after 48 wks of combo tx, but will be starting a clinicl trial study...which you might be able to find one thru a hepatologist in your area and the meds are free. I'm not sure what else if free, but when I find out I'll let you know. I will be praying for your Mother and you, for God to lead you both in the right direction. May God's mercy be upon you both, and all of us that have, or have family and friends dealing with this horrible virus. Sending you both much love and many prayers, Cindee

[Indiana]

Light at the end of the tunnel??  HOLY **** GIRL!!!  YOU BET YOU A$$ THERE IS!!! Let me tell you about me.....
I am 52(I think) hahahaha  I was diagnosed with HCV about 5 years ago accidentally while getting tested for something else. Figure I have had this for 30+ years. I was scared shitless. The odds for type 1's like me back then were less than 10%. I basically had no hope. I made a will. I started searching the web for answers. I found this Forum and watched as the type 2's and 3's cleared....but not the type 1's. This forum was smaller then and few really knew many answers. Neither did the docs. Well.....I stayed positive that "something" would come along. Then, right after 9/11 happened....along came Peg/Intron. The odds for type 1's on that jumped to about 50%.  I waited for a couple of months to see how it worked and then jumped on it. It kicked all of our asses. It was rough as the docs were not prepared for the sides. But I crawled through 50 weeks of that stuff. This place was my lifeline.
Well....I made it. I was clear at the end...clear at 6 months post tx...and still clear at 1 year post tx! I am all done! But the best thing is that I have NO residual side effects. NONE! I feel like I am 30 again! I am happy and healthy and really enjoying life again. You have THAT to look forward to! It is not a faiery tale. I am living proof that this stuff can work and give you back your life.
So keep the faith baby!!  Life is good on the other side of the rainbow!!!!

[Sunag]

Thank you very much for your encouragement and kind words. You have taken up the herculean task of fighting a battle and have won it--- congratulations!. I realise that its not the meds alone, but the positive attitude helps heal faster.

I have finished 3 shots so far, and do not feel any different, but as you say, if i hang in there another 21 weeks, there seems to be a higher chance for things to be better.
3 days after the shot are the worse- beyond compare and the rest of the four days are like the pre treatment days- very very fatigued.
I am glad to hear from strong women like you, with a strong will and enthusiasm towards life in general.

Thank you once again
Sunag

[Showboat]

Hello, Dear Girl..Hang in there, you are in my thoughts and prayers....as Indiana said, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.  Tx can make us feel like there will never be another moment of true joy in our outlook on life......I finished my third tx in May and I am already feeling my zest for life and getting back into the swing of every day living.  It does come back.   As Indiana said earlier, the new tx/meds are improving our stats for SVR....so even though I did tx two times before, I am still hopeful and have always gotten my JOY, ZEST and ENTHUSIASM back.  I have felt the same as you many times during tx......and as Chev always reminds us...TX is only temporary.....and when you are near of the end of tx, you will be surprised at how fast time seemed to have flown.....(I know it does not seem that way now, but you will see)..... (My husband WAS a 1 and cleared after only one go of tx)  Good luck to you, and stay near, these people are a God-send...and remember, we all need to have a place to cry on someone's shoulder, or release frustrations, complain, or share good news........we are all here for each other......Peace

[jg2001]

Cuteus - Thank you for the link above regarding the study.  I emailed them and am waiting for a response.  I noticed that the main office is in New York; I am in CA.  I hope I can be of some use to all of you.

Chevy - Congrats on your last shot!  Must have seemed like eternity on one hand, and yesterday on the other, that you started this journey.  I am amazed at all the dedication and support this site offers.

I was looking for Honey...is she ok?

I must get ready for work.  I will check back later.

As always,

Jamie

[DonL]

I believe your last shot is officially tomorrow, but since you're likely to jump the gun, I wanted to get this in. Please don't open until it's time.

Happy Last Shot day to you
Happy Last Shot day to you
Happy Last Shot day, dear Chevygal
Happy Last Shot day to you

And may you clear...

[Sunag]

I can be reached via email

at
***@****

Sunag

[kojak66]

Hep B is transmitted by blood to blood contact, ie. transfusions, sharing needles, sharing straws when "snorting drugs", tatoos, any body piercings including ear piercings, sexual contact, or by cutting yourself on sonething that somebody who has hep has cut themselves on.  Many people don't have a clue where they got the infection.
MOST healthy people get over hep B in 2-3 months or so without treatment.
Unless your mother's pain is SEVERE, most drs. won't prescribe STRONG pain killers because all drugs, with few exceptions, are detoxified by the liver. Even drugs that are excreated by the kidneys go through the liver. This is true for all toxic substances including solvents and household chemicals.

With hep B, less is best, however...
It never hurts to get a QUALIFIED second opinion.

[Sunag]

Chevy

Congratulations! you must have had your last shot today.

I am not sure if you mentioned how old you are, but you are definitiely and always with a positive attitude and full of life.
You inspire so many of us battling this disease and hearing from you  and knowing your progress is  a morale booster!

Hoping to hear from you about SVR and we all can celebrate  .

take care and good luck
Sunag

[Sunag]

I am a 55 year old grandmother. Feel and believe that  I have lived my life, and do not want to trouble and bother people around me, especially my husband (38 years of marriage).

The symptoms of this condition have hit me so hard that I have not had anything like this before.
Though my husband and children are a source of encouragement, along with people like you on the forum, what I miss the most is my children and grandchildren who are so far way from me.

Getting through this virus is a battle, but battling lonliness is another. I have no energy to go out meet people or even go to the grocery store. The past 6 months have been the worse in my entire life. Energy level has hit rock bottom and my sprits have gotten buried.  Last month was kind of good as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson spent 3 weeks, and the house was full of energy and that kept me going. however the day they left, it was so painful.

Hearing and reading people getting through their 24 or 48 weeks gives me hope that there might indeed be a ray or sunshine at the end of this dark tunnel.

Chevy, your thoughts, experiences and words of wisdom have definitely been encouraging and I look forward to reading messages like yours.

Keep up the good work
-Sunag

[cuteus]

are we there yet?  do we open the sparkling cider?  well? quit staring at that last vial and shoot up! Celebration time....

[cuteus]

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b
cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hepB.html
www.hepnet.com/hepb.html
www.hepb.org
These are some links that can help you understand this illness and the mode of transmission. If you do a web search for the disease you will get lots more.
This forum is mostly visited by hep c patients or related persons and we share personal experiences and what little info we have come accross on the subject.
You need to find a dr that will take her pain seriously and treat her, there is no excuse for that lack of intervention. Chronic pain is as debilitating as acute pain. Stay on top of these mds, your mother might need your help in  more ways than one. best to you both.