Fibrosis and Symptoms of Hepc

Does anyone know if there is a direct correlation with the level of Fibrosis one has and their symptoms.  I have a relatively low Fibrosis (Between stage 1 and 2) but I often have symptoms of serious fatigue and headaches.  My doctor says it's unusual for someone to have these symptoms at my fibrosis level yet I test very healthy for everything but hepc. My level of inflamation (inflammation) is a 2.  

If you guys feel like it let me know your fibrosis stage and any symptoms you have. Thanks Travis.

[Tallblonde]

I'm a 44-year old female who was diagnosed in mid-September (genotype 1a).  My biopsy last month revealed that I'm a grade 2 (inflammation), stage 1 (no significant fibrosis).  Additionally, I have a very low viral load (24,800 I.U./ml).  Now, in spite of what my GI is calling a "histologically mild case," I do have quite a few symptoms.  They include: joint and muscle pain, numbness and tingling in my extremities, poor concentration and memory, and itching.  Thankfully, my energy level is still normal.  No fatigue at all.  I've heard other people say that they had little or no symptoms before being diagnosed, only to find out that they had advanced liver disease.  Go figure.

Susan

[jonihs]

Are either one of you taking AD's? I had some of the same symptoms, but most went away after my shrink put me on Effexor. My concertration is better and fatigue and body,joint aches. Hope this helps!   Joni                              

[GI.PA]

The likelyhood that something else is causing your symptoms is much higher than your HepC .  Keep talking to your family doctor/interist about OTHER causes of fatigue/joint pains.  Do not let them write off every ache and pain to Hep C.

I know of no correlation between degree of fibrosis and energy level/fatigue/joint pains..etc.

GI>PA

[Foreign girl]

Travis,

I was between stages 2 and 3 3 years ago and never had any symptoms.

F.G.

[jonihs]

Found a site that might be helpful.Don't know if you've seen it b4, but here goes!If you have google,type in Zadaxin clinical studies. If not, you can go ***@**** that doesn't work, try,go to www.eurekalert org_pyup             -release. I pray you can finf help there.   Joni

[ringading]

hi there, can't seem to find the place i asked you a ?...so, here it is, can you maybe tell me why they are doing blood work, 2 vials , every single monday morning on me.....many others have said they do not get that done.....i don't drink or do drugs so can't be for that...but before treatment rhumitoid factor in my blood was 120....suggesting that was why i was in such pain all the time....now on celebrex...seems to work some....but again...why every week the blood work??/thanks you in advance
kimberley

[GI.PA]

They must be following something very closely.  Perhaps they are following your blood count as your white count, absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin or platlets can go low on treatment.  Or maybe your doc is just ultra-micro-management and wants to see any trend as soon as possible.  Ask him next time.  Ask for a copy of the "flowsheet".  We almost always have your entire Hep C treatment course broken down on flowsheet where we can, at a glace, eyeball where you are, trends, etc.  Every week in a bit excessive unless there is a particular trend they are following.

GI.PA

[ringading]

hummm thanks, interesting...i will ask why..i do know that one of the tests is platlettes, cause the nurse here in quebec had to have it translated, as my specialist, linda scully, is in ottawa ontario....as for the all the other tests....i'll ask...thanks

[ringading]

p.s.....absolutely GREAT to have you here taking valuable time to answer all these question...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU....what an asset and gift you are.
kimberley

[TESSTUBE]

My own doc had me in EVERY week for bloodwork during the first month or so of tx for two reasons - wbc and rbc took a real nosedive after the first shot of pegasys and he wanted to monitor that closely - and they did improve.  I had to be pulled off the old interferon (3x a week) in 1993 due to too many side effects so no-one was quite sure how I would respond to pegasys. Anyway, don't get too alarmed, check with your doctor and good luck with your treatment.  Sometimes its best to be on the safe side.

[ringading]

okay, thanks for that....they have done this since the first shot, and the requistions are for every monday, though out treatment...so maybe there is someting special they are following as GI PA pointed out...but i will ask anyway, i'd love to receive copies of all these results just to have them on file anyway....cheers

[TravisB]

I guess my follow up question is:  In your practice have you run into otherwise heatlhy patients patients that suffer hepc symptoms with a fairly low fibrosis grade.

[GI.PA]

I have patients with all degrees of damage/infection time who present with joint pains, head aches, fatigue.  In my clinical experience, this population has no more "body" complaints as my population with IBS, Reflux (my non-Hep C patients).  This is supported by a study (I can get the reference).  They looked at a number of patient Hep C versus non-Hep C and found no increased rate of "body" complaints in either group.  In addition, treatment and erradiacation of the Hep C, did not statistically improve the "body" complaints.

What I tell my patient is this  "Can Hep C cause joint pains, fatigue etc?  But the list of what can cause these things is extensive and Hep C is only one, and the most unlikely one on the list.  You as a patient can not focus on Hep C being the thing that causes all your problems, or you can never expect your doctor to look past the Hep C for the other causes".  When my patiet (and doctors) gets serious looking for other causes/treatments (migraines, depression), they almost always find a non-Hep C related diagnosis or treatment.

GI.PA

[honey1616]

After reading the many symptoms that people have thinking its due to hep c, I'm just wondering if it seems for the most part that we are finding this out in our 30's, 40's and up if this could be just symptoms of maybe getting older and other things.  It only makes sense that when we were younger that we probably were not going to the doctor as much for nagging complaints so therefore we didn't have blood drawn.  Now that we are older and having little nagging aches and pains, we are finding out we have hep c.  In my case...I'm late 40's so I know I'm going through menopause also which has some wild and crazy symptoms!! haha Oh well....I guess if its not one thing, its another!!  Its a pain getting old!! LOL

[Sambone Martian Ambassador To the moon]

hey. I was dagnosed because of fatigue,severe pain in right side
and you could feel my liver poking out. also had itching at times. after tx (six months post tx right now) my liver has gone down to where I can barely feel it. The fatigue is GONE!
as my liver has shrunk the pain is steadily decreasing. My primary doc and the doc who worked with me at the drug and alcohol Tx center explained that the liver does not hurt,however when the liver swells it causes the sack that the liver is in to hurt. Also I only had stage 2 fibrosis and still had bad fatigue and severe itching at times.When I was diagnosed my doc was the assistant professor of internal diagnostics at one of the worlds top medical schools and HE said that all of these are very common symptoms to have with hep c and stage 2 fibrosis. He also said that even though I had a viral load of ten million that the viral load has nothing to do with symptoms or stage of disease.
The good news is that after becoming undetectable all these can improve or go away. at least that is what has happened to me.hang in there.

[TravisB]

I heard that same rap from my doctor about fatigue and headaches can be caused by a million other things.  But what do you do when he's tested you for lots of other ailments and your blood work comes up perfect except for the Hepc and liver enzymes.  If you have any suggestions I'd appreciate it.  Thanks as always for your thoughtful and informative answers and thanks to everyone else too. Travis.  

By the way has anyone seen a post from Mike Simon lately?  Is he OK?

[GI.PA]

You can assume the Hep C may be related...Just dont get your hopes up that treating the Hep C will cure the headaches.  It may...or maynot.  In addition, I would not use the "outside the liver" complaints (of Hep C) in the equation to treat or not to treat.

Keep looking..perhaps a neurological consult for the chronic headaches?

GI.PA

[TravisB]

My main trouble is fatigue.  The headaches go hand in hand with it but it's the fatigue that really impacts my life.  I'm not considering re-treatment until the odds of success get better. Travis

[raining]

I have mild inflammation and fibrosis (Grade 1, Stage 1) and I too suffer from terrible fatigue. I have been tested for all sorts of things but the doctors think it's my Hep C. I know exactly how you feel, horrible eh?

[cetacean]

As you can see wide variety. I have had c for 37 years just moved to stage 1 grade 2 MD ordered a sonogram and ecg  failed twice on peg and ribavrin the standard tx likely will go in tx for up to a year your viral load is low and that's good. best of luck get in tx if you can.

[HCA]

Doubt if Travis B is tuned in today as his post is from 2003.