HCV relationship to other problems?

[DoinTheTime]

I was dx with HC a couple of years ago, had biopsy a month ago -grade 2 stage 2, vl-5,000,000,
have had it about 30 years, doc told me should wait for treatment, but have had a lot of small health problems and wondering if they are related, or just age related,have had to have the colon thing every couple of years, and they always find polyps, have had a lot of gum problem's (no drugs for about 25 years, good hygene, family history of good gums and teeth) came down with type 2 diabettis year ago,stopped drinking, vl dropped fromm 13,000,000 to 5,000,000-tryglycerides from 1200 to 330,
alt and ast fell to normal, diabettis a little better,but keep having sore's in mouth, and skin tags growing in the back of my throat (the doc tells me caused by a virus) , and have had some problems wiht my feet, numbness in my big toes and feet, the doc said peripheral neuropathy,(am not overweight lost 40lbs. when I quit drinking) question: are these problem's related to hep c , or am I just getting old and whining? would appreciate any input from the people in this forum because they have been there, and it will help me in my decision to tx soon or not.. am 53 yer's old..so what do you think ready for the home yet or not?

[JRenquist]

Thanks!

[hippygem]

Here is some info on peripheral neuropathy.

Neuropathy is a medical term for any disease of the nerves.  There are four major forms of neuropathy – polyneuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, mononeuropathy and the most common form, peripheral polyneuropathy – more commonly called peripheral neuropathy (PN).  Peripheral neuropathy damages the nerves in the legs and arms.  Usually the first area that PN affects are the feet and legs before the hands and arms.

This article will discuss the HCV-related form of peripheral neuropathy including the cause, symptoms, and treatments. (See below for a related article on PN.)

Cause
The exact cause of HCV-related PN is not completely understood, but there is some speculation that it could be caused by HCV RNA deposits in blood vessels that supply oxygen to the nerves, HCV infection of the nerves, an inflammation process in the nerves, and/or an HCV-related immune disorder.  In the past it was believed that only people with cryoglobulinemia developed HCV-related PN but it has been proven that HCV-related PN can occur even in the absence of cryoglobulinemia.  Studies have found that up to 15.3% of the HCV population has PN.  The most common cause of PN is diabetes – in fact it is estimated that 34% of the diabetic population has PN.  This compares to the prevalence of 2.4-8% in the general population.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of PN are numbness, tingling, sharp pain or cramps, loss of balance and coordination, and pain.  The pain is usually perceived as a steady burning, ‘pins and needles’, and/or like an electric shock. The symptoms of PN are usually worse at night.  PN can also cause muscle weakness, loss of reflexes (especially in the ankles), and foot problems including sores and blisters that could potentially lead to infections of the skin and bone.  PN doesn’t always progress or become worse; so just because a person develops symptoms of PN it doesn’t mean that it is going to become worse.

http://www.hepcaustralia.com.au/symptoms-news/extrahepatic-manifestations-peripheral-neuropath.html

[JRenquist]

I read that insulin resistance which leads to diabetes is associated with HCV.  I have a frozen shoulder with peripheral neuropathy - horribly painful at first, now it just won't move.  No one ever mentioned HCV might be related, but I wonder if it could be. Also  had a lot of cavities at the gumline, which the dentist said probably came from me vomiting so much when I was on therapy- but you haven't treated yet,so I guess that wouldn't be the cause for you.  For me the worst symptoms that I'm pretty sure come from the HCV are depression and exhaustion. Then again, a lot of people I know have the same kind of issues, but don't have HCV. So, maybe we're just old and whiny.