I also am newly diagnosed and new to the board....

[sprighet]

First of all I will say hello to all, and Thank You in advance for reading and caring enough to read my post. I have never gotten on any boards like this and talked, so this is all new to me, forgive the ignorance. I will start off with the story of how this came about, my honey got very ill and was hospitalized they found out then that he had hep. still not sure about his situation, as not really sure about mine, I don't understand all of this, he ended up having to have his Gallbladder taken out as well, they said his body cleared itself of the hep b and c, like i said i dont understand all of that. I on the other hand got tested and it came back that yes I had both hep b and c, so went to the hep doctor he said that my levels were low, the next time I went he said that it was there but my body was holding it off? I guess? Then he wants me to keep coming back, so he can keep an eye on my levels, so he can start me on treatment when it comes time. My honeys I guess isnt really there now, now that his gallbladder was removed he got to feeling alot better. I missed my last appt. I have to call and reschedule that, I am so tired of doctors that only confuse me, we don't know where we came in contact with this disease? I have racked my brain and thought and thought, the only thing I can come up with is when we both got a tattoo at the same place one right after the other, I went first then he got his, I was stupid and wasnt watching I cant remember if he changed his stuff or not? I know how stupid were we, but we were in a professional establishment so I just assumed they were following the rules. I feel so stupid because I was in the medical field for years, I am an LPN and still I do not understand all of this, I no longer work due to alot of other health reasons, my memoery isnt that good anymore, I am told due to alot of meds that I have to take has caused some of that. (memory loss) I no longer am in the medical field as I dont trust myself to remember things IMPORTANT things, and due to other health reasons. I am curious if everyone hurts like I do, I have read some, and I know it does say that your joints and stuff will hurt, but it is alot easier to TALK to someone that is going thru the same things. I wake up in the mornings, that is when I can sleep, and my fingers are swollen and hurt to move. I know I am having depression as well, there are times I sleep for days then there are times I dont sleep for days. I am so sorry to get on here and sound like a cry baby. I dont talk to anyone about these things, I dont tell my children anything as i dont want them to worry, but my 16 yr old son knows something is going on. I have been sick for awhile now, so i am hoping he is just thinking it is because of all that. I was really bad at first when they told me, if you guys think this is bad I would have really driven you crazy a few months ago. I stopped getting on the net and looking it up for a while, but I am starting to have more symptoms so thats what lead me here. I am sorry if it sounds like I am rambling I know I probably am, I just have so many questions, sometimes I dont know where to begin. I would like to know, (I hope this doesnt gross anyone out) has anyone else out there had a problem with the way their urine smells? I have noticed for a while now my urine has this very very strong odor and is very dark at times. I was just wondering if this is part of the hep. or not? I also was wondering why the shots that i recieved for hep. while I was in school, and when I worked for the hospitals didnt help? I hate sounding so stupid, as I went to school for all of this, but when you dont stay in certain fields of medicine, well nurses dont know everything.... also like I said my memory has gotten horrible. I am only 36, shouldnt be that bad, lol but it is. I have forgotten alot that i have learned, they say if you dont use it you lose it, I have found that to be true as well. I havent been told anything about how far along this disease is, like I said this is all new, I have only been to the hep doctor 2 times. If anyone would like to chat and tell me what to expect I would appreciate it. Thanks! I hope everyone is feeling ok today and has a GOOD day!

[Bill1954]

Um, I think bile pigments can stain urine dark?

Bill

[his3707]

LOL   Learn something new everyday.  Ive seen old posts pop up before.  That took me a good 3o minutes to work on that post.   Trying to find the specific reason Hepatitis turns urine turns dark.  Oh well, I need to get as much practice as I can to try and help with questions.  
Thanks

[Bill1954]

The original post was generated nearly three years ago; it’s doubtful the questions are still relevant. When an old Medhelp thread is addressed in the archives, it ‘bumps’ it up to the top of the list again. It’s wise to look at the dates before responding in here.

-Bill

[his3707]

Hi and welcome.   I am going to go through your post and try to respond to some of the things you said.  

You said  My honeys I guess isnt really there now, now that his gallbladder was removed he got to feeling alot better.

Unfortunately taking out your gallbladder wont get rid of HCV.   He was most likely was having gallbladder issues that were causing him not to feel well and removing it is what made him better.  

You said:  my fingers are swollen and hurt to move. I know I am having depression as well, there are times I sleep for days then there are times I dont sleep for days.

Most people wont experience symptoms from HCV until the disease has progressed.  Some people feel tired at times.  Your immune system is constantly working against the virus.   You can experience a flare up and that could be where the fatigue comes from.  
You said that you had s lot of other medical issues and were taking other medications that could be causing you depression and swelling and other side effects.  Just finding out that you have this virus can make you feel depression/confusion/shock/at a loss, ect.  Best thing for that is to educate yourself as much as possible by coming to forums and other websites devoted to educating the public about HCV.  There is a lot of mis information out there.
You said:
I have noticed for a while now my urine has this very very strong odor and is very dark at times. I was just wondering if this is part of the hep. or I also was wondering why the shots that i recieved for hep. while I was in school, and when I worked for the hospitals didnt help? I hate sounding so stupid,

Depdending on how your liver is processing toxins you it could effect the color of your urine.  Also being dehydrated can make it have a strong odor and be dark.  The immunizations for Hep A and B wont protect you from Hep C.  There is not immunization for Hep C  "yet"    Also even though you were immunized from Hep B it may not have worked.  I was probably immunized as a child, I dont remember, but since I did not have antibodies when I was first diagnosed I had to get reimunized and it still didnt show and I have to go back and have the Hep B series again.  

You can get HCV from a contaminated tattoo needle but you will probably never know for sure that is how you got it.  You can get it also from medical, dental procedures,  A lot of people in the medical field are exposed to HCV. Any exposure to blood to blood situations can carry a risk.   I wouldnt even be concerned about it now
Best thing to do is to be seen by  a hepatologist that specializes in Hepatitis c and b.  The doctor will get your tests done to know your current situation.  Find out your Geno-type  etc.
Get a good look at your liver condition with an ultra sound, liver biopsy  and or, there are also new blood tests called Fibrosure to see where how much damage if any is going on with your Liver.   Dont drink alcohol, Dont share things that could have blood on them like razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers etc.  take care of yourself, relax, get educated, learn about all the options you have for treatment.  New medications are on the horizon which will up the cure rate and shorten the treatment time. Wait for that if you can.   come back and ask questions.  Go to the archives here and read the posts   Most of the questions you seek answers for you can find there, since most of us had the same questions you have now when we first found out we had it.    The only stupid question in my book is the one that wasnt asked!  
All the Best to you

[MOMMA39]

my Mom just got diagnosed like 6 months ago, and is experiencing the EXACT same problems and complaints that u are. My best advice is to NOT put off getting treatment ASAP. My Mom hasn' got any ins. so we're working with a clinic for people without ins. and are trying to get her declaired physically and mentally disabled so she can get some real help from some real doctors for her debiliating pain, extream fatigue, mood swings, and severe memory loss and confusion! If I can be of ANY help, my personal e-mail address is ***@****, or I will bookmark this site and connect with u through here. I hope this has helped u in some way!  

[copyman]

hello and welcome to the forum. please don't feel like you are bothering us. This is what forums are for. you have come to one of the best forums for hepatitis on the internet. you have some questions better answered by a doctor. you wrote that you are seeing a hep doctor, if you want to be sure that a doctor is up to date on treatments , etc make sure the doctor is a "hepatologist" (liver specialist). best of luck

PS, check out this website for more support and info.
http://www.janis7hepc.com/index.htm