Vitamin deficiency and Hep C

Hi, I was diagnosed 11 years ago with Hep C.  In 2002, I had a biopsy with results of: grade 3/4, stage 3/4 with bridging fibrosis.  My doctor said that wasnt too good and has had my liver functions tested every six months since.
Recently, I was sent to an endocrinologist (wondering why), she did a complete blood work up.. glucose, etc.  I was told I have diabetes which I was already aware of (I keep it under control by diet luckily).  I was also told that I have a severe Vit. D deficiency and it is a result of my liver not breaking it down for bodily assorption....    I have been placed on a LARGE dose once a week for the next six months when I go to see the specialist again.
What I am wondering is: has anybody else had this happen and what were the long-term results for them?

[RobertBeWell]

Vitamin D deficiency is a pretty common issue among those with Hep C. There are several threads on this site regarding it. I don't know that there are any "long term effects" from it, as long as you get the levels up to where they should be.

What I am curious about is that your biopsy results those grades/stages are pretty far along - their certainly not minimal - did your doctor not suggest treating this disease?

You might want to consider asking your physician if the time is right to try and stop this disease.

Good luck.

[newleaf09]

Yes.  I had 3/4 liver damage too and had undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency due to my liver being unable to convert vitamin D to the form that was useable by the body to maintain bones.  I then had the situation worsen by having long term malabsorption caused by a medication (diarrhea keeps gut from being able to absorb vit. D).  I cleared the virus and liver got well enough to process the vitamin, but malabsorption problem continued long enough to cause considerable bone loss.  A bone scan showed considerable bone loss and bloodtest showed only 32 for vit. D level (normal is 30-80).

I take fosamax to slow down bone break down and am on 2000 units vitamin D plus 1500 mg of calcium to provide plenty of building materials to restore the lost bone mass. My vitamin D3 level is now up to nearly 43 and I feel confident that bone is repairing.  It took a couple of months on high D to normalize everything and stop the bone loss.  The good news is that bone loss from Vit. D deficiency is completely repairable.  Probably a good idea to treat the Hep C if possible so that your liver can do a better job of turning vitamin D into it's bone-friendly form.

[yellarose]

Thank you for sharing with me.  I went through tx. 3 times, I had SVR in Oct.99; then the Dragon flared again in 2002 (that's when the biopsy finally got done).  My first doctor I was sent to was a CLASS A jerk who never explained a thing to me and told me I was "too fat" for a liver biopsy; this of course, enraged my new and present doctor who ordered everything done that should have been to begin with!
Anyway, I unfortunately failed to clear with tx's 2 and 3, and my viral load actually started climbing, my platelets were bottoming out and I was sicker than I had ever been.  So, now I'm monitored every six months (for cancer, and other problems) in the event I don't come in first with a new symptom(s) present.
But, I am okay in general for the stage I'm at, and I just do whatever I have to do (such as a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest, etc.) to keep myself as well as possible.  I am grateful that I still am able to work full-time at a sit-down job.  I have also been able to use what I am going through to testify before the House Legislative Committe where I live on  behalf of others who have Hep C.
Again, thank you both for your input to help me in my journey fighting this Dragon!