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Hepatits C, treatment

My husband had just begun treatment for hep C.  He is 59, stage 1.  He was 2 or 3 wks into treatment when he developed chest pain.  He has had a CAT scan, revealing a mass of some kind which may or may not be an infection, has completed a course of antibiotics, but the pain has now moved to the other side of his chest too.  Still, he does feel better and is back at work.  His hep C dr has terminated treatment for the time being, and he goes back to the pulmonary dr tomorrow.

I have not "sat in" on my husband's visits to the dr, so I don't really know what they've told him.  My question is--does anyone know if there is a connection between hep C or hep C treatment and lung disease?

Thanks,

Laika
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Avatar universal
You know, I never thought of that. Just figured it was the Procrit kicking up my hgb when maybe I was just dehydrated from some diuretics I'm taking for my bp. LOL.
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Avatar universal
Jim, my HGB has ranged anywhere from 13.7 to 15.4, presently 14.9.  All I read was that if you HGB is high to drink more water, suggesting that dehydration can cause the HGB to be elevated.  Is there something else I should know about HGB. BTW I am not treating these are just numbers over the past 11 years.

Pirate
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Avatar universal
Hepatitis C virus and the lung: implications for therapy.

Moorman J, Saad M, Kosseifi S, Krishnaswamy G.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, James H. Quillen VAMC and James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Box 70622, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. ***@****

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a chronic blood-borne disease that affects > 4,000,000 individuals in the United States. The majority of individuals with HVC infection acquire a chronic hepatitis that predisposes them to the complications of cirrhosis and hepatoma. Chronic HCV infection is, however, associated with multiple extrahepatic manifestations as well, including recently recognized effects on the lung. These include primary effects on lung function, as well as secondary effects in the settings of progressive liver disease and drug treatment for HCV. In this article, we discuss the emerging clinical data that support a role for HCV infection in lung disease, describe the multiple pulmonary manifestations of this viral infection, and outline the therapies available for specific pulmonary complications of chronic HCV infection.

PMID: 16236966 [PubMed - in process]
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Avatar universal
Whew!  What a relief!  Congratulations on your great news.  I hope each day moves you closer and closer to feeling normal again so you can put this chapter of your life permanently behind you.

Warm regards,
Susan
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Avatar universal
I came across an abstract last month of a study that was presented at the Liver Meeting in San Francisco that made a connection between HCV and lung disease.  I don't have time to look for it now, but I'll post the link to it when I have more time.

Hope you're doing okay post-tx. Sorry to hear about your husband.

Susan
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Avatar universal
Right back at-cha from the far right.  Hannity and Colmes, watch out...here comes Tallblonde and Califia! LOL  At least there won't be any arguments between us when it comes to herbs and supplements.    I've learned so much from you about them and will always be grateful for that.

Susan
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Avatar universal
You know, assuming we're both videogenic--but of course we are--and given our delightfully diametric politics,  we could become the perfect tv news Odd Couple.  Maybe Foreseegood could pitch something to CNN.     Which is just to say, look out, world at large!  The energy is back.  Susan, I just want to tell you how much I've appreciated our exchanges and your ongoing encouragement and support on this board.   A big warm hug from left field.
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86075 tn?1238115091
You are totally right my friend, hopefully I can learn from my mistakes and not be lazy...what would it have cost me to take my big rear end to the medicine chest to be sure of what I'm writing about???Especially when it comes to dosages??Mea culpa! 2mg is what I have to take to make sure Lunesta works.

As far as the soy milk, this is still controversial, and if you look at the studies pro and con, they are not the best either way. I have read that if you keep it under 5 oz a day, youre probably fine. I think there are people who give huge doses to small children, babies, and it's been my experience that when you give large doses of anything to developing bodies it might not be a good thing, they tend to develop allergies to it because their bodies can't process it very well, like what happened with me and dairy milk as a small child, once again, moderation....as the Buddhists say, always the middle way.....If you are concerned because you have thyroid probs, there is always rice and almond milk. I just "tend" to think that a little bit of soy milk (I get organic vanilla) is not harmful.

What I do is use a little bit of creamy yogurt, a few oz of vanilla soy milk, bluberries, strawberries, a half banana (lots of sugar in bananas) some whey protein powder, and blend it up. I have that with my supplements. Always feel really good after that. Wish you the best.
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86075 tn?1238115091
about the lunesta thing, yeah, you you have to play with it. And it doesn't work unless you take at least 5mg's of it, and I'm very drug sensitive, maybe someone else would need more. When I take it, I put it way on the back of my tongue and and then flick my tongue back really fast and chase it really quickly with some juice mixed with water.I have no problems then with the nasty taste. I guess youre taste buds already go through the rigors of hell with just the tx though. To sleep perchance to dream huh? what we won't do for sleep nowadays.
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Avatar universal
You get congestion later in the treatment. I'm on week38 out of 48 and at about week 29 or 30 I started getting a cough that has to be treated daily. They said it normal but not all get it. As far as him going ot the doctor by himself it was part of my agreement with them that someone always went with me. Sometime we get a little bit of a brain cloud and will need someone to ask the right things and tell what really is going on. I also had a liver transplant four years ago.  

Don
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Avatar universal
about time you share that little secret of yours with MH! I expect a whole thread for the 6th month negative, ok?

It is just that we hold our breath waiting for the results and it gets a tad lightheaded to do that for too long.
well deserved SVR! El fruto de tu ardua labor.
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Avatar universal
May the Goddess shine upon you all.  And to Snook (thanks for the nudge), the answer is no.  I still believe in supplementation, but in practical terms you can say I am lapsed.   Just need a good long winter's rest from checking my watch four times a day and swallowing pills.   Nonetheless, I am certain that kicking off the first six months with herbal and vitamin overkill held me in very good stead.   I continue to be very careful with my diet, eat locally grown organic food,  make shitake tonic soups, and so on.   As you are on a similar regime, it wouldn't surprise me at all if you get the same happy news as I have.
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Avatar universal
Hey dutchboy, you helped me too!  The last time I checked on you was a long time ago (seems like), but you were definitely having a rough patch.  I'm so glad you got through it without having to discontinue treatment!  And only 5 wks left, that's great!  I have to say, the last 2 weeks of treatment were the hardest for me, not because of anything physical, but just because every minute seemed like it lasted a day.  Stay busy/distracted during that time!!

Good luck to you--

Laika
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Avatar universal
Congratulations on your neg PCR!  This is wonderful news.  I so admired your attitude through it all--despite your long & brutal treatment, offering info, a laugh or comfort to others--often not just witty or clever, but beautiful.

Laika
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Avatar universal
I'm so glad you were able to continue on with treatment.  My husband's chest pain keeps moving around too (has had since 11/15).  He took amoxicillin for 2 1/2 days and was no better, so I pushed him back to the dr.  He was given something else...can't remember what, not Zithromax, has finished those pills and it's not gone--has just moved into the right side of his chest, as well.  So you are fortunate that yours went away so quickly and you were able to go on with treatment.  He was out of the country for the first 2 days of it--maybe he didn't get to a dr or on the right meds fast enough.  Today we will find out more.

Thank you for your story...

Laika
Helpful - 0
107513 tn?1232286464
Well, I've congratulated you already about your 3 month PCR, but never hurts to hear it again!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got my fingers crossed that I can share that same news come mid January!!

One another note, are you still taking supplements post tx?
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Avatar universal
NYgirl,  I'm celebrating for you!  Getting your anemia under control is a huge battle with this tx and you have it well under control!  I'm happy for you......and a little envious I must admit.  Mine dropped almost 7 months ago to 7.3 and even with 60,000 units of Procrit weekly it is still stuck at 7.3. I've tried to get my dose of Procrit up to 80,000 but the doctors tell me I don't weigh enough with all my weight loss. So for the past many months I've dug down deep, told myself to grit and bear it....and keep living my life.  I am one of those "oddballs" that Procrit didn't jumpstart my Hemoglobin but at least it did help in keeping it stable at 7.3 without going any lower! Now that you have your Hgb under control maybe you will feel like YOU again!  Congratulations again.

Laika, So good to see you post again.  I am so happy you are doing well.  I have no words of wisdom for your husbands situation.....Some good suspects are above however.  I hope he finds out soon what is causing the problem and hope he is able to resume his tx.  Good luck to you both. You were one of those people who helped me a great deal at the beginning of my tx journey last January......I only have 5 weeks to go! What a ride!
Best to you, Scott
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96938 tn?1189799858

hgb, platelets and ANCs..That stinks, the trifecta of TX.  At least with your Ambien you can sleep through it.  Got my Rx for Ambien this am, pick it up on the way home.  Ah, sleep, perchance to wake up 8 hours later.  (Apologies to the Bard)
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Avatar universal
LAIKA,  it's great to feel human again, isn't it?   It's too bad that the two of you can't share a victory over  the evil entity.  Yet, that is.....

Well, thanks so much for asking, and here's the news I've been keeping quiet about:  my 3-month PCR shows NEG.   Am truly springing back to life, although the hair remains pretty scraggly.  Perhaps ratty is a better word for it.  And speaking of ratty hair,

COUG, back in the day when I looked like this _intentionally_,  of course I frequented the Sound of Music, being a bit flipperized, if you get my drift.    However, perhaps in deference to Dirk, I never committed any heterosexual acts on his club's premises, or that of any other musical den of iniquity for that matter.   (Too busy shmoozing, I guess. )    It's sad we carried away this souvenir from what was in many ways a remarkable scene, but at least we're still walking.  Lots of good people left us far too early.
Helpful - 0
92903 tn?1309904711
NYgirl: "I feel like I would like my hgb to stay right here so I am going to be watching that it doesn't get too high -"

Good move. I read where if they get too high they can blow the top of your head right off. No kidding. I saw a picture on the internet - looked like a giant zit filled with cream of elephant soup. Like John Belushi meets Mt Vesuvius or something.  

Jim: "I wouldn't be surprised if Goof shows up soon and asks for a low-cost platelet loan..."

No ****. I'd trade a night with Merrianne and Ginger for a pickle-jar of platelets right now - 40 and falling last week.

Neumega is nasty stuff and can cause complications. Not often prescribed. Procrit can also be platelet friendly. It seems vioxx had some pro-platelet properties not shared by other Cox II drugs, but they ain't making that no more.

Hoping to get #12 in this week at full-dose, then we'll see what next week brings.    

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Avatar universal
hey! great news about ur hgb!!! now, will you still take the procrit?  (you are on procrit, right?)  glad to hear your good news, and hope all is well with you and your family!
be well,
chelle
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86075 tn?1238115091
Hey, you know where I stand Sweetie, couldn't be happier, you so, so derserve your SVR, ... 60 weeks in the jungle, whew!!!And everyone loved your witty and thoughtful dispatches from there as well...
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92903 tn?1309904711
One great big ol' fat ass <b>Horaaaaaaay</b> for you!
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Avatar universal
Hi Laika,,,,Sorry to hear your husband had to stop his tx but his other health issues are more important now.  I know its got to be hard on you going through all of this but know you are a strong lady and this will be one more hurdle you will get over!

Califia,,,ha Whats the big secret???  This should be a day of celebration and yesssss,,,,we are all very interested in this great news!  Congratulations,,,,,Looks like you got it licked!

Ina,,,I'm glad you are still on the meds and feeling better! I'm sure its not much fun to be sick on top of interferon sick! Glad to hear that someone jumped in to help you through it and keep you going.  Take care of yourself!
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