18 and scared

[scaredforher]

i'm very seldom sick and then i got pregnate and all of a sudden i'm sick all the time.  my Dr. told me i have hip c and i'm type 1.  i was sick most of my pregnacy. My Dr. doesnt know anything about hepatitis and he is trying to get me to the universty of washington but since i'm on medical coupons from welfare the welfare wont pay so i dont know who i can go to.  my baby is 4 months old and sometimes i cant get out of bed because i'm so sick. i just turned 18 and i've never smoked, never drank and never took any type of drugs and only been with one guy and i'm still with him and hes been tested and is neg.  i'm so scared my baby will get this.  i've been trying to intervew for jobs and i'm sick most of the time i'm afraid to even get one.  i want to be an RN.  Am i going to die with with???  why is it that so many people have this and dont know it for years and all of a sudden i am sick and never been sick before.  does this mean that i'm going to progress to a higher level soon?  i'm so scared.

[sher_]

My heart aches for you sweetheart! My husband has hepc. There are alot of knowledgable people here that can calm your nerves about all this . They will read your post and be able to help you more than I can. Hold tight they will be here soon. Weekends are slow but rest assured they will help you.

[Sam Hall]

Dont panic ,you've come to the right place for support and info. hvc is not a death sentance it is a treatable chronic disease. You have a lot ahead of you and to be honest life wont be the same again it could well be better. It is very unlikely that you will pass the virus onto yor child. Try to calm  and learn all you can about your condition.
Sam

[ral]

We are all scared when we find out we have this disease. Chances are your baby will be fine. Odds are low that it is transfered from birth. But by all means get the baby checked so you can relax. You must get some medical help, perhaps a free clinic somewhere? Whatever you do don't give up. I am glad your friend is clear. I am sure if your continue to look for help you will be ok. There are people who are very knowledgable here that can help you with some of your needs. Keep checking your post

GOD BLESS

Bob L

[hph5477]

It's easy to for someone to say to try not to get too upset and too worried at this point but you should try to get yourself calm anyway.  There are a lot of websites where you can get information and learn about Hep C disease and treatments.  The biggest thing to remember is that this progresses over 10-20-30-40 years and is treatable today.  Not everyone responds to treatment but more and better treatments are coming.  Many of us have had this for 30+ years and still not had symptoms  .....others have had many symptoms.  Do a google search on Hepatitis C and you'll get a lot of info.

   Get your baby tested for your own peace of mind.  Learn as much as you can about the disease so you will be well equipped with knowledge when you see your dr.

   Good luck in your journey and we are always here to try and help and provide support.

[hph5477]

Here's one good website with a lot of info.

http://www.janis7hepc.com/

[snook_man]

Hey, I feel you fear. I am 27, but was diagnosed at 16. When I was sixteen, it just went in one ear and out the other, I was invincible. Now a few years down the road, I am realizing my mistakes. Don't panic, and get with Dr. You must get a liver biopsy done, as this is the only way to find out how long you have had it, and whether or not to treat. I have had it from birth, so 27 years, gentype 1a, and have stage 2/3 fibrosis. I was drinking alot, smoked, did it all. You should be fine, but you have a responsibility to yourself and your child to continue getting tested and find out what is really going on. I fortunately am never sick, but do suffer from constant nose allergies, and clearing of my throat. Other than that I'm healthy as can be. Do get tired, but doasn't everyone?? This is definately the place to get some answers, but none of us are Dr's, just well informed and knowledgable fellow hepatitis sufferers. Well, maybe not all of us, LOL!!!

[cuteus]

I hope your dr can get you into the university's hepatology dept. so that they can assess the state of your health and help you make some decissions.  ONe big question is how did I get it? any blood to blood contact  and sometimes tattoos, piercing, manicures/pedicures, electrolysis, and  rarely from the mother during pregnancy and sexual relations. You may suggest to your mother that she also get tested, this disease is more widespread than what is estimated, in my opinion, many don't know they have it. ask any questions you have, wew answer them based on our personal experiences, since we are not medical providers.
best to you and your baby

[MajNeni]

If things are at all like where I live, the county Public Health Department has some good information and resources.  Our county has just started free testing for HepC; that's wonderful progress.  Also, in our area, the organization dealing with HIV/Aids has started to do stuff for HepC infected people, because many people with HIV also have HepC... Don't panic, most HepC people do not have HIV, so don't worry.  Just that the HIV-agency may have useful information about resources, places to get medical treatment and meds for HepC (HCV)for people who don't have good insurance, etc.
I'm pretty sure your baby will be just fine, even if you are nursing her, but do have her tested; you might wait until she is 6-7 months old.  The HCV virus doesn't go through breast milk.  Enjoy your little one, she's growing and changing fast.  I'm glad her Dad is with you in this; parenting is a huge responsibility and a great pleasure, especially if you can share it.  
Good luck getting the help locally.  The "Janis" website - address given above in comment 5 - is one of the best, and very reliable.    
Maj Neni

[harley dude]

Hey Scared- You will find help somewhere- just don't get to bumbed out about this, keep a positive attitude and considering your so young you will be just fine. The most important thing is to find a Dr. or a clinic that will treat you and do it as soon as you can so you can get this monkey off of your back and that would mean you can devote yourself to your new born- Good Luck and keep the FAITH-- Harley Dude

[Fubarcat]

Everyone here has given you good advice, so I won't repeat it.  But I want you to know that you can come here any time and ask any question - someone here says the only dumb question is the one not asked - so ask away. Everyone here will give you their best advice and support, but in the long run, we are not doctors and you need to see a doctor.  So, please let us know how you are doing and how we can help you and support you, but please see a doctor and please, please, please, take your baby to be tested and then make decisions from that point.  Take care and good luck.

[Amerabrit]

Hi there,  stop by anytime and ask as many questions as you need.  You're not alone and you'll receive lots of help and support here.
Very best of luck to you..

[hope2Bok]

Hi 18, I just wanted to put my comment in. I have had it for 30 years.Always felt like **** but never new why. Thought it was all part of getting old. I had my daughter after I contracted this and she is fine, my husband of 32 years is fine also.
Hang in there and try not to stress too much. I think the hep loves stress.

[new-sojourn]

Washington state does pay for  treatment for hep c.  I personally know of one young mother who had the best treatment in this state.  All tests, all meds, all appointments everything.  Also, if you qualify, various programs provide monthly $$'s.  Virgina Mason, in Seattle, has programs for people in need and had me enrolled in a trail that paid all my meds.

I had 2 children after being infected via transfusion in 1967.  Neither they, their father-18yrs-or my current partner-8yrs-have hep c.

[Kaoticbuttrfly]

I was reading your post to 18 and you told her to get a biopsy done to see how long she has had it and weather or not to treat. I just found out I have hep c and level one he said hardest to treat and i'm going for a biopsy the 29th of july so I guess my question is woulden't you want to treat it either way. I'm new in here and just trying to find out all I can. I don't know if you are ever to late to treat or the sooner the better. My doc told me he would give me meds but fifty percent chance of working and he said he would rather me not do them but I feel that 50 percent of them working for me is worth the risk as opposed of just sitting here and doing nothing about it. I'm 48 and was diagnosed a month ago. I'm still all confused as to what to do about all this. Thanks for any info anyone has for me : )

[cuteus]

We have all been in that limbo of uncertainty and fear, but it does get easier as your tests results come in and you know the actual status of your illness and the level of damage to your liver. then you can decide whether to treat or not. The biopsy can not tell you how long you had the infection, it can tell you how much damage it has done to your liver. The decission to treat can be very complex. If your level of damage is advanced, most would want to do tx.
I can tell you that I decided to tx because as I get older, the meds don't work as well, I was having extrahepatic signs of HCV infection(symptoms not related to liver), have good insurance and I don't want to wait until I get worse to treat.
I am inferring that when you say you are level one you are referring to being genotype 1? levels are usually reserved to liver damage description.  I am also 1a, 52, mild damage, but want an hcv free life. The meds can be quite toxic, so you have to make the best choice for you. I am on week 55 of meds, and doing fairly well with anemia as the major complication. Wait until the biopsy results to make any decissions, you will have more facts then.
consider getting a new dr. since you don't want someone who will be negative about you treating, you need better support. He might stop tx at the first sign of trouble, and you don't want that.  best to you and hang in there

[Kaoticbuttrfly]

Thank you so much for the info every lil bit helps. When I talked to the doc he said level one so i'm really not sure about all that but will ask when all testing is done. I wish you well : )

[scaredforher]

thank you everyone for all the info.  i got alot of dr's names on the other site and i'm going to give them to my dr.  i think i can get my baby tested when she's 6 months.  god bless you all and i'll keep looking here for more info.  i felt so much better after reading your comments, i'll have alot of questions when i see the right dr.