HepC Genotype 3a, stage 3

I have a friend who was just diagnosed...he drinks heavily and abuses pain killers...so many issue here, don't know where to start...how do I find out exactly what this means?  any good website suggestions to educated myself?  He has been losing weight, joint pain, itchy skin, and throwing up bile every morning..he is finally getting tested, but what does all of this mean?  any info would be appreciated!  He is in total denial and I am frustrated and scared for him-he does not seem to care.............

Jimmie G

[newleaf09]

He's toast if he can't stop drinking and take it all seriously.  

More genotype 3 patients are responsive to therapy than genotype 1's, the most common genotype in the US.  They typically receive the interferon and ribivirin treatment for 24 weeks instead of the typical 48 prescribed for geno 1's.  Shame he doesn't do anything about it,

He sounds worse than stage 3 fibrosis (scarring of the liver); more like stage 4, which is end stage liver disease.  If he does not get into treatment soon, he may be considered too much of a risk for treatment because it will be too hard on him in such poor condition.  Print out the description of decompensated liver disease for him.  Your description of his current symptoms sounds like he may be getting dangerously close to decompensation.  Reading about how one dies of end stage liver disease may be enough to push him into action.

[Bill1954]

Hi Jimmie,

Kudos to you for trying to help. Have your friend review “Janis and Friends”; it’s a good place to begin. I’ll link you to their ‘newly diagnosed’ page, but be sure to read through the section “other HCV information” located in the right-hand margin as well.

http://janis7hepc.com/have_you_been_just_diagnosed.htm

Continue to read here and ask questions; this should give you a pretty good overview of this disease. I agree with Newleaf; he needs to at minimum stop drinking until this can be sorted out; anything less and he’ll most likely regret it.

Take care, and good luck--

Bill

[Jakied]

Hcv and alcohol are a BAD combination.  Like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.

Your friend has a genotype that, in most cases, results in SVR.  Genotype 3 is much

easier to treat than 1a or 1b.  Stage 3 liver inflamation (inflammation) is VERY serious.

A good first step would be to get your friend into rehab.  He must STOP drinking or

he will die.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i agree with all of the above.

[IMstacie]

I just found out my cousin's wife passed away from the results of Hep C & drinking this past May 2009.  Apparently, she knew she had HCV and refused to quit drinking.  She also refused to see a doctor.  He found her dead in the living room while returning home from work.  I can only imagine what she looked like at the end.  I don't know if I could watch a loved one go through that.  Or, if I would let anyone see me go through that.

Prayers for both of you.