hep c and continued drug use.

[educate]

My brother in-law contracted hep c about 10 to 14 years ago.  He has continued to use drugs, meth in patrticular and drinks heavly.  At this time he has brooken out with blisters on about 50% of his body, in addition he has thrown up blood and past it threw his bowel movements. My question, is this a an indication that he may be in the last stage of hep c.  What are some of the other indications of last stage hep c and what treatsment may be out there if it is not to late?

[Mister beagle bailey]

I'm sorry to hear about you brother in law but I don't think it's the hep C doing this to him.  I would get him to a Dr as soon as possible.  It sounds more serious then hep C to me, and I think he needs help like yesterday.
Please keep us informed as to what is going on.

God Bless

Beagle

[hep62pj]

he is prob in the last stages of something...

that is messed up, obviously he doesnt care what he has, until he gets off drugs and stops drinking there is no point in even thinking about other medical problems really

throwing up blood could be an ulcer or very irratated stomach and throat from drinking way too much and passing blood in the stool could be internal bleeding, neither i know of are symptoms of a failing liver...

[hep62pj]

the last stages of hep c are liver failure ... and it sounds like he has way more problems than that...

hope he sees the light before it goes out...

[chcnme]

wow - 50% blisters?  That could be herpes zoster (which can come on during weakened immune system - in his case could be from the hep or lifestyle).   Has anyone looked at these blisters.  Is he wiling to go to the doc?  

So sorry the meth and drinking have him.  The combination with hep is .. well - deadly.  And unfortunately the ones who are doing it will be the ones who will die sooner.

Throwing up blood?  WIth cirrhosis (advanced liver disease which he could very well have by now), esophageal varicies form  (blood backs up from the liver, and blood vessels burst in the esophagus or gut), and... these can bleed out quick (the patient can hemorrhage.)  Can you get him to the doc?

And yes, from the little you have said about him, it's an indication he is possibly very very sick from the Hep and that this is ... well - a sign of ESLD (hopefully not the point of no return, but - with continued drugging and drinking, or if he  is not able to stop, it's possible he could be in big trouble and...to the point of no return.

Other late stages of Hep C and advanced liver disease?  It varies.  Vomiting blood and passing blood is big warning sign something is seriously wrong.  On that one, he needs to be admitted, but then again - he might be refusing to go.  But if you can get him to go to the ER, I would get him there.  I've seen some die bleeding out like that and refusing care.  

Other signs of ESLD can be easy bruising, confusion, vomiting, yellow eyes, yellow skin, itching all over, swollen abdomen, infection, real messed up lab work, weight loss - down to skin and bones. It just varies.  With the meth use, it  might be hard to distinguish from what's the meth and what's the Hep.

As far as treatment for him, he would have to be seen and evaluated first by a GI doc to see if he's even a candidate for treatment - and that would be only after he stops the meth and drinking.  They won't start him now - not with the problems you have listed.  But that doesn't mean he can't treat at some point.  

But first things first - off the meth, off the booze, get the GI tract looked at, and see what these blisters are.

I'm so sorry this is happening to him.  Best of luck to him. It's great you are trying to help him and see what his options are, and I hope I didn't sound too uh... like this might be real bad news for him, but - it could be.   Hang in there.