High Enzyme Part 2

[sw1014]

I didn't want to include this information in my initial posting, but I got such a helpful and supportive response, so here goes.  My husband is not in a position where a doctor is readily available.  He is in prison at the moment.  He has only been there for six months and he hasn't gotten any tattoos or been in any fights, and it isn't a place where I need to worry about other forms of transmission, so I don't think he could have contracted hepatitis while he was there. My concern is that he will be coming home next week (hopefully) and it takes at least a month or two to submit a medical request and be seen by a nurse, let alone tested for anything.  I am a full-time student and a full-time employee, but my company doesn't provide health insurance and he won't be employed when he gets out.  I have called around, but the cheapest we can get a Hepatitis screening done is $200.  My concern is that his liver will be damaged further before we can find out what is wrong.  There was mention of certain drugs being the cause, and my husband used to do drugs fairly often.  He went to the hospital for dehydration from ecstacy on one occassion.  Other than that, he hasn't done many drugs besides marijuana (that was an everyday habit).  Could any of this have contributed to his liver problems? He's a big guy. He is 6'4" 265lbs. and his body temperature is always at least a degree or two above normal.  His mother told me that she had a high liver enzyme count and was told that she had a fatty liver.  She has never been a drinker either so could this be hereditary?

[Califia]

Really sorry to hear this and regret that I can't offer you any concrete assistance.   But here's the thing--his situation is not going to worsen appreciably in two months  (or so it seems from what you've described).   And keep exploring local community resources.  Maybe there's a city clinic that will do hepatitis testing.  Call your local health department?

[new-sojourn]

His mother should be tested.  And his lifestyle has all the 'markers' for hep c.  Hep c is rampent in prisons.  B/my money is the mother being infected.

  The prison probly doesn't want to run a hep scan b/c the cost of treating hep c is so high.  so its an unofficial policy not to screen for hep c b/c of the cost of treating the millions of prisoners that have it.

You should have him demand a test or work w/a prisoner-family group who can help.  Believe me, hepatitis infected prisoners are nothin' new to the prison system.

[LvdByGod!]

are you sure his drug use didn't ever expand to shooting up or snorting cocain...both these can transmit the virus via blood vessels...hepc is transmitted blood to blood...

but, it is really not that important to figure out how he could of gotton it...cause no one ever knows for sure...so the only important thing is getting the proper testing done and finding out what is wrong and then getting the proper treatment for it...

fatty liver or "NASH" non alchoholic steatosis hepatitus sounds like it is probably genetic and is more common in heavy people with high bmi's...it is the fat cells in the liver causing cirhosis eventually...if you do a search you can find alot of info on it.  but, viral problems are much more common and should not be overlooked.

viral testing is the next step...then perhaps a c-scan and liver biopsy if indicated...then the "wonderful" treatment...

keep trying for some form of financial assistance...if he does have a virus try to get into a research test...they will pay your way...your dr should be able to help you get in one...