Losing weight with hep C

[pvk]

I was just diagnosed with hep C and have probably had it for about 30 years.  No obvious liver symptoms at this point except some spider veins on my chest.  Just prior to my diagnosis I had a sudden and unexpected weight loss (about 10 pounds, from 150 to 140, and I'm 5'11') over about two months.  I have a good appetite and feel pretty normal (although anxious about the diagnosis) but have been unable to regain any weight.  Had a CT scan of chest/pelvis/abdomen and they couldn't see anything that might cause weight loss (also no sign of cirrhosis).  Could hep C be the reason for the weight loss?  Everything I read suggests cancer but my doctor doesn't seem to be worried...

[NYgirl]

I guess anything is possible but I had this disease for 25 years and never even knew it and didn't lose weight until I began treatment.

Have you had a biopsy yet to determine how much liver damage you have or anything yet or any other blood work done?

[GrandOak]

I experienced a large weight loss about the time that I think cirrhosis was beinging to occur, as I evidenced by black somewhat tarry stools.  When I began TX I actually gained a bit of weight at first because I was eating more often to calm the sx's of the tx.  Now I think I'm loosing weight again, but that's primarily due to my loss of appetite and sometimes forcing myself to eat something in order to take meds.

Before getting too concerned about the possibility of cancer, I would look at getting a CBC with Hepatic panel differentials  done to see what indicators are there.  If there are elevated LFT's (i.e. liver enzymes) you may want to talk with doc about running a test for Hepatitis.  One might also want to consider a biopsy, even prior to knowing LFT's, to see if there is any signs of fibrosis or cirrhosis occurring there.

[NYgirl]

Are they still monitoring your thyroid cause that is what happened to me when it went totally hyper (remember all the ice cream binges and LOSING weight LOL).

Still that DOES sound ideal doesn't it? People are going to be jealous of us and want treatment as a weight loss.

[beamishboy]

trx for weight loss??! ..lol ,i would recommend amputations first!! there are now as many obese americans as there are starving folks worldwide..,.i have a purely brilliant diet plan: Quit stuffing  faces and get off fat a55 and work,walk,do anything besides ride around in cars & shopping...how about the stomach staple procedure? how obscene is that? i know it works & i suppose it is only effective 'quik fix' for super fat people,but doesn't it say something about american diets,lifestyles,the meaning of life and everything??.....'.bread & circuses' have become fastfood and t.v.& video games and internet...ooops !!!

[FlGuy]

For me, the presence of the spider marks (spider nevi)on my chest was an indicator of significant fibrosis.  That, with a few other 'signs' such as red palms, wacky blood sugar, periodic night sweats, unstable weight were alerts to the doc.  You didn't say if you had a biopsy.  If the condition of your liver was assessed by a scan - you and the doc might not have complete information to give clear direction.  I've had hcv for about 33 years and the effect can be cumulative over time.  You might talk to your doc, or a new doc who has a lot of hcv expereince to determine if there is more diagnostic stuff, including a biopsy, that you may need to pursue.

[NYgirl]

And isnt it ridiculous to blame it ALL on fast food like they do? Heck I have NO money and eat fast food too - but instead of thte Super Value meal know the meaning of CONTROl and CALORIES and EXERCISE.

To me, there is no excuse. Unless you need another worthless lawsuit in America today to get the quick easy buck.

PS I was being quite sarcastic about the "treatment for weight loss" thing but I have heard that some people are willing to use things like tape worms ... so go figure, right? ;)

[beamishboy]

tapeworms??? as a condiment or garnish on their big macs? as replacement to freedom fries? ....to attack the 'jewel encrusted eggplants that our man goofydad is growing out the backdoor?? i am nothing but kidding and ya are welcome to pull my leg...but if you feel my thigh,well i mite get high......with apologys to all those w/ serious ques. & responses.....

[Kalio1]

I couldn't agree more with FLGuy. Although it is a good thing you have had the tests you have had so far, without the biopsy you do not know, nor does your doctor know, your level of damage. If he says he does he is basing that on "experiencce" not the reality of actually looking at a sample. Liver damage can be very sneaky and show little or no clues or symptoms for many years. Once you have clues like your spider nevi, you really want the only true measure of damage, the "gold standard" to ascertain damage and that is a biopsy.
What were your platelet and bilirubin readings and are they normal? Do you have red palms? Any sweling in your legs or feet at times? Aside from the liver function tests AST ALT you want to know a few other things like how you are proccessing protein, is your spleen enlarged and a whole list of other things to paint a clearer picture of your status.

[hippygem]

Hi, with your unexpected weight loss, have you had a glucose test to see if you are diabetic which is extra hepatic to hcv.
I lost a lot of weight to drinking huge amounts of water.

[cuteus]

didn't you say that your sugar stabilized on tx? how is it post tx with the relapse? I just remember you mentioning this a while back and was wondering if your sugar got wacky after relapsing?

[hippygem]

thanx for the links, I wish you well.

linda

[cuteus]

there might be something wrong with the first few links?

[FlGuy]

As a matter of fact, it is high again. For a few months post-tx I didn't want to check it. Over the past few weeks I've been using the glucose meter on a reqular schedule (am, after meals, pm) and it has been consistently too high again. And, I've kept up with some of the better habits I adopted with respect to better diet, fewer carbs, less sugary drinks etc. Not as high as pre-tx, but getting there.  Have a full endocrine work up scheduled in a couple of weeks and expect the hg A1C to be up there again.  It's one of the reasons (and there are several others) that I won't wait for a vx trial and will get back to combo. When you have hcv, it's not just hcv.  Thanks for asking.

[cuteus]

now they work, maybe it was a cookie thing with the PC at work, it was only the first three. thanks for the links!

flguy; bummer! your situation is so clearly dependent on the presence of hcv, classic extrahepatic condition! to me proof enough that it is not a liver disease.
I HOPE you get the SVR with the next round!

[NYgirl]

You know it would be much easier to list the foods I actually am able to EAT anymore rather than don't like anymore.

I am simply just mostly not interested at all in anything so I eat frozen yogurt for lunch and maybe a bagel for dinner right now. Yeah I know where are the vitamins but...looking at a big plate of food has made me feel ILL with the thought.

PS Do NOT try and eat the candy called Atomic Fireballs (shut up FLG, Goof, Beags etc.) they were always my favorite and I could uh suck on them all day long but I tried to just eat one the other night and after not even 3 seconds was just crying.

There.............that should do it for the resident pervs for the day ;)

[FlGuy]

Thanks. Next time will be the charm.  In addition to the blood sugar is the LDL.  For as long (about 20 years) as I've been tracking it, it was always in the 60's.  On tx it got up to 110. Now, back down in the 60's again.

[friole]

On the one "New Hope...."

"As there is no vaccine or cure for HCV, the only treatment on offer for patients is interferon therapy, which aims to slow the progression of the disease. However, there are six different genotypes, or strains of HCV, which all react differently to treatment," Professor Williams said.

I would still like to think of INF as a CURE -not as slowing the progresseion!!!

On the one ..on LDL Chloresterol and Hep C...

Am I nuts, or is it saying LDL cholesterol is good for hep C OR are they saying hep C hides in LDL?  I don't trust my brain

"...an elevated serum LDL level may actually reduce the efficiency of HCV infection of hepatocytes"

[copyman]

although the symptoms that FLGuy lists can be symptoms of "significant fibrosis" they are also symptoms of just having HCV. i lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks when i first found out, just from being so scared from what i read on this and other forums i could not eat. i had no sx until my doc told me i had hcv now everything i read about sx i think i have and blame on hcv. all of us newbies have to keep this in perspective that these forums are a GREAT help, sometimes even more help then you get from your doc! but lets not forget that most that post in forums are in need of support and having trouble with tx. there are many, many more that have no serious sx from tx that do not need to post in forums. i looked to this and other forums to educate myself about this disease so i can proceed to do everything to beat it. thanks everyone for all your help so far and when i start tx soon.

[merlino]

Copyman, I totally can relate to losing weight from fear.I didn't eat or sleep for months after dx. I am due to start tx Oct. Before I came here I had myself dead and buried. In the outside world Hep C is a death sentence. I don't always post but just coming here and reading and learning and the support I get has helped me cope.

[Kalio1]

I had a whole raft of HCV symptoms and was misdiagnosed as having an "allergic drug reaction" the symptoms did not come after diagnosis but nearly a year before. I was relieved to finally find out what was causing them. One of my symptoms was rapid weight loss/rapid weight gain for no apparent reason. I dont think Ive heard of people developing symptoms upon diagnosis that they didn't have before diagnosis other than psychological ones like depression from finding out they have it. I can see how that might happen though with the trauma of finding out you have this disease but I'd say it is anxiety related. Things like fevers and intestinal problems and a raft of other extra hepatic issues are not psychosomatic at all. You can't invent a fever. I think for many it finally explains what has been happening to them when many doctors miss it or misdiagose them and for many more it induces anxiety and depression to find out you have any disease especially one so stigmatized.

[bustingout]

I've had Hepc about 22yrs. My weight goes up and down. When I was tx I lost more weight. Because I never wanted to eat. But as eveyone has been telling you a biopsy is the best bet. Of course that is something I have not yet had done, and need to.