hcv relapses and light colored stool

Does anyone know what a hcv relapse is I know I have had three or four for sure over the past 40 years and increasingly worse symptoms the last 5 years of anxeity depression fatigue and congnative degression
now I am having very light stools  IS this a cause for worry  I have been on a good diet and started excercising had terrible pains in my upper right quaudrant late in the evening after I went to bed  I am feeling very week this morning and lifeless but gotta go to work so I will force myself   But does anyone out there have this problem that Has HCV?  

I am not on interferon treatment as yet just found out I AM IR so waiting to talk to my doctor about that   He did prescribe a anti inflamatory for a lump under my jaw and he did prescibe a medicine for my colon which I have IBS it made me feel better last time I took it  

I take lexapro and minimum Vicodin for joint and body pain which is constant xanex 5mg when needed for panic attacks
I am only grade 2 and under stage 1    Do or did any of you have relapses were any of you diagonosed with Hep B in the early 60's as no one knew what Hep C was  I had full blown HecC at that time took a month to recover then periodic relapses or what

I determined as relapes and just rode it out taking Vitamin B and eating good the relapses on lasted a week but totally kept me bed ridden
  but I have not had one for a long long time maybe 25 years just in my 20's as I drank pretty heavy at that time
So with these very light stools should I excercise should I push my self to work ?  Any Advice

[jdwithhcv]

I've always thought of relapse in the context of treatment, SVR and then a PCR that indicates a viral load.  You're not in tx yet are you?

[bajawoman]

no not yet but I am of the belief that I have have had serious hcv relapses over the years and now I am feeling abnormally week with very light stools for the past three days and a lot of pain when going to the bathroom  I did decide to tx have the meds but then with this site went for a HOMA test it was not required by my doctor but here we can order what ever tests we want from any lab and not have an order from our doctors so I showed it to him and he said all was normal but with further investigation with experts from this forum I turned out to BE IR  so have sent all websites and resent my blood work up to my GI to show him I am IR and the new info On Metaformin learned here
going to see him this week but the very light stools are scaring me

[jmjm530]

I had three or four "relapses" of let's call it "acute-like" Hepatitis C during the first five years after infection. I'll informally define "acute-like" Hepatitis C as extreme fatigue ALWAYS with highly elevated enzymes (1000 level) sometimes accompanied by jaundice and light stools.

Have you had your liver enzymes checked? If they're not highly elevated, then I doubt if what you're describing is a "relapse" as discussed above.

[Trinity4]

Bile is created in the liver and stored in the gallbladder and released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum) while food is passing through. Bile gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, the result could be stool that is pale.  
I experienced the same problem prior to treatment. I am a stage 3.  Since treating, I no longer have pale colored stools or discomfort.
Trinity

[bajawoman]

so what test should I get at the lab to see if this is liver related? and will  going on tx clear it up?
I am going to find out if I can get the metermorfin prescibed for IR from my GI as recommended here by CO
  I am confused I have not eaten anything that would produce light stools in fact just the opposite stopped with carbs and sugar however with IBS I am unable to eat a lot of fiber
thanks for your response
baja

[JennyPenny]

Do you also have dark coolored urine (tea or cola-like)? That normally goes with the light stools when it is jaundice related. You should get a bilirubin test. I doubt if it is something too worrisome with a biopsy score like yours. I also wonder if an intestinal bug can cause this. I've had light (yellowish stools), slightly darker urine than usual,  with cramping and diarrhea lately.

[cathy77]

I have pale stools sometimes and frequently dark urine, however I have cirrhosis, I dont get much liver pain but do get IBS but not much, it probaly isnot much to worry about but get it checked.
Cathy77

[jmjm530]

For starters you want your liver enzymes tested, namely ALT and AST. Frankly, I'd be very surprised if your doctor hasn't already tested for them given your HCV postive status and your symptons both past and current. If not, well, maybe this is the wrong doctor.

-- Jim