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Hep c
Hi my name is Sharon, I am a mother of a 17yr old young lady that has just been told she has Hep c. I have been trying to get help for her for over a year for a drug problem, and I have tried for so long to explain what can happen if she continued down the road she was heading in. Now I finally get her into a drug treatment program, and they ran some test and they say that she has tested positive for Hep C. I am so scared for my daughter, she is where right now I can not visit her until she is on the level for visitation. I can only talk to her once a week and that was today for 10 min and that is when she told me. I feel so bad becauce I have know idea what to say to her. I have been looking online to find out what to expect and maybe some insight on what to say to her. I know she is scared and feels alone. She is a good girl, even with the drugs she was experimenting in she really is a good girl. I really dont know how to react or what to say to her or even to myself right now. Is my daughter going to die?? Please someone explain to me what is happening. I know what some of these web sites say, but I really want to hear from someone that is going through it. Is it true that she may never have any issues? Is it true it could go away?? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you from a worried mother...
As everyone said, the real tough issue is the drug abuse. If it turns out your daughter has chronic hep c she has many decades before her hep c may progress to a dangerously damaging her liver. In the coming year there will be new treatments which will improve the treatment and cure of hep c.
Yes, there is a lot of misinformation out there on the Internet concerning hep c. Many of us when first finding out we had the disease thought we would die soon. But we are still here years later. Many have been cured of the disease and many are living with the disease year after year. Hep c is not a death sentence. It is a curable disease.
I assume your daughter was tested for HIV. Intravenous drug use is a common way of getting the HIV. That is a disease for which there is no cure. But even HIV can be managed for many years so it is not a death sentence thanks to new treatments.
Yes, your step daughter should be tested as well for hepatitis C because the virus is spread through blood.
The people on this forum have many years of experience living with hep c so they can provide valuable information based on their own experience. They have highlighted what is important at this time for your daughter. I hope this forum has helped to ease your anxiety.
Best of luck.
Hectorsf
Yes, there is a lot of misinformation out there on the Internet concerning hep c. Many of us when first finding out we had the disease thought we would die soon. But we are still here years later. Many have been cured of the disease and many are living with the disease year after year. Hep c is not a death sentence. It is a curable disease.
I assume your daughter was tested for HIV. Intravenous drug use is a common way of getting the HIV. That is a disease for which there is no cure. But even HIV can be managed for many years so it is not a death sentence thanks to new treatments.
Yes, your step daughter should be tested as well for hepatitis C because the virus is spread through blood.
The people on this forum have many years of experience living with hep c so they can provide valuable information based on their own experience. They have highlighted what is important at this time for your daughter. I hope this forum has helped to ease your anxiety.
Best of luck.
Hectorsf
Hi Sharon,
It looks like you got some good answers from Bill and Trinity. I just wanted to say that we dont assume that your girl isnt a good girl because she has this illness. I think a lot of us have done things that arent good for us in the past but that doesnt make us good or bad. I'm a Ministers wife and I have no idea how I got this. Besides, I havent seen anyone ever be judgmental on this forum. I have a 19 year old daughter and she has done some things that could be dangerous for her health but I still know shes a good girl. She has bipolar disorder and we have had some difficult times because of this. So I know how hard it is to see your sweet little girl do things that are self destructive. I'm glad your girl is getting help for the drugs. That is the most important thing right now. I know that its hard to believe that when you feel stunned by this diagnosis. Most of us have so many questions at first. My daughter is doing better now, but she is 900 miles away and I worry about her. I will pray for your girl. If you need to talk, send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Take care,
Terry
It looks like you got some good answers from Bill and Trinity. I just wanted to say that we dont assume that your girl isnt a good girl because she has this illness. I think a lot of us have done things that arent good for us in the past but that doesnt make us good or bad. I'm a Ministers wife and I have no idea how I got this. Besides, I havent seen anyone ever be judgmental on this forum. I have a 19 year old daughter and she has done some things that could be dangerous for her health but I still know shes a good girl. She has bipolar disorder and we have had some difficult times because of this. So I know how hard it is to see your sweet little girl do things that are self destructive. I'm glad your girl is getting help for the drugs. That is the most important thing right now. I know that its hard to believe that when you feel stunned by this diagnosis. Most of us have so many questions at first. My daughter is doing better now, but she is 900 miles away and I worry about her. I will pray for your girl. If you need to talk, send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Take care,
Terry
I should add that I completely agree with Trinity; you’re daughter’s sobriety needs to be in first position right now; her HCV can take the back burner to her addiction. If she continues to use, even if she cleared her disease, she’d likely to become reinfected at some point.
Work with the facility, and give her as much support as you can; hopefully she’ll never use again.
Good luck—
Bill
Work with the facility, and give her as much support as you can; hopefully she’ll never use again.
Good luck—
Bill
I know it's difficult as a parent but the best thing for your daughter right now is being able to deal with her addiction in an environment that does not include family. In time you will be allowed to integrate back into her life. When she has completed her rehab there will be plenty of time to deal with hepc. It's not going to do you or her any good to freak out about this. She needs to concentrate on getting clean and sober right now while the resources and opportunity are there so she won't be battling addiction for years down the road. Hepc is a very slow moving disease, it is not a death sentence and many people are cured through treatment. There is plenty of time for you and your daughter to educate yourselves about this disease.
Ask the medical department if she was given an HCV RNA by PCR to confirm active hepatitis.
I wish you both the best,
Trinity
Ask the medical department if she was given an HCV RNA by PCR to confirm active hepatitis.
I wish you both the best,
Trinity
Hi again—
For starters, you’ll eventually want to confirm the supposed diagnosis. When you speak to a doctor, ask them if a ‘HCV RNA by PCR’ test is indicated; this is will confirm active infection. This is a good start, and there’s really not much that you or she can do until then.
She should refrain from alcohol use; this can promote progression of scarring, or ‘fibrosis’ of the liver, which is how HCV damages the body.
Again, the disease typically takes many years to cause irreversible damage.
HVC isn’t considered a sexually transmitted disease; particularly among monogamous, heterosexual partners. Neither is it spread by casual contact; you can hug her, kiss her, share eating utensils with her… etc.
She should avoid sharing razors, clippers, anything that might cause her blood to some in contact with another person’s blood. Other than that, is should be pretty much life as usual.
She probably shouldn’t discuss this with anyone outside of the immediate family right now. HCV has a degree of stigma attached to it; like toothpaste, once out of the tube, the information is hard to push back in.
Does she have health insurance? The disease requires periodic monitoring, and the tests can add up over time. If she’s not insured right now, it should probably be considered.
Check back tomorrow in here; you’ll likely here from others on this. Give your daughter a hug next time you see her, she’s probably more frightened than you are right now.
Good luck to you and your family—
Bill
For starters, you’ll eventually want to confirm the supposed diagnosis. When you speak to a doctor, ask them if a ‘HCV RNA by PCR’ test is indicated; this is will confirm active infection. This is a good start, and there’s really not much that you or she can do until then.
She should refrain from alcohol use; this can promote progression of scarring, or ‘fibrosis’ of the liver, which is how HCV damages the body.
Again, the disease typically takes many years to cause irreversible damage.
HVC isn’t considered a sexually transmitted disease; particularly among monogamous, heterosexual partners. Neither is it spread by casual contact; you can hug her, kiss her, share eating utensils with her… etc.
She should avoid sharing razors, clippers, anything that might cause her blood to some in contact with another person’s blood. Other than that, is should be pretty much life as usual.
She probably shouldn’t discuss this with anyone outside of the immediate family right now. HCV has a degree of stigma attached to it; like toothpaste, once out of the tube, the information is hard to push back in.
Does she have health insurance? The disease requires periodic monitoring, and the tests can add up over time. If she’s not insured right now, it should probably be considered.
Check back tomorrow in here; you’ll likely here from others on this. Give your daughter a hug next time you see her, she’s probably more frightened than you are right now.
Good luck to you and your family—
Bill
Thanks for the reply. I just found out tonight when my daughter called me. She is in a treatment center for teenagers with substance abuse. I will know more hopefully tomorrow when I can speak to the medical department there. I am just freaking out because she is only given 10min every week to talk to me. And then she is there alone not with family having to deal with this by herself. I am scared for her. And also found out my step daughter also may need to be tested because the had shared needles, I remember being a teenager but never doing the things they do these days. I am so worried on what to expect with this hep c thing. I have read so much stuff but am not sure what to really expect. I read that you may have nothing for years and years but then I read some post that sound so depressing like it is AIDS and they are going to die. I just found this website and was hoping to get more info on it. I will write back when I found out anything concrete. What ? should I ask the medical department. Again thank you for any info, or just you listening..I really love my daughter she really is not a bad kid. Just doing STUPID STUFF.. I just hope it didnt ruin her life this time.
Hi Shayes, and welcome to the discussion group.
I imagine your daughter will be fine; can you tell us any more about her diagnosis? Who ordered her test, and do you know anything about the results?
First, Hep C (HCV) is a disease that typically progresses by years and decades, not weeks or months. Most of us in here were infected many years ago, and are fine. I was most likely infected through IV drug use in the early 70’s and only was recently diagnosed and managed to deal with it. Someone your daughter’s age should have years to learn about the disease, prepare and finally manage it with treatment, if needed.
Importantly, she needs to make sure she’s infected with active disease. Around 20% of patients are exposed but go on to clear the virus with their own immune response; this leaves them HCV antibody positive, but active, RNA negative. Until your daughter has had confirmation testing, she could be in that 20%.
Good luck, and feel free to ask specific questions,
Bill
I imagine your daughter will be fine; can you tell us any more about her diagnosis? Who ordered her test, and do you know anything about the results?
First, Hep C (HCV) is a disease that typically progresses by years and decades, not weeks or months. Most of us in here were infected many years ago, and are fine. I was most likely infected through IV drug use in the early 70’s and only was recently diagnosed and managed to deal with it. Someone your daughter’s age should have years to learn about the disease, prepare and finally manage it with treatment, if needed.
Importantly, she needs to make sure she’s infected with active disease. Around 20% of patients are exposed but go on to clear the virus with their own immune response; this leaves them HCV antibody positive, but active, RNA negative. Until your daughter has had confirmation testing, she could be in that 20%.
Good luck, and feel free to ask specific questions,
Bill
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