hep c questions

hi everyone happy new years! to all i'm a new hep c i found out i had it in 2003 i dont think i have symptoms i had a liver bisospy and lab done i don't understand all this so i never follow up on anything is that a bad thing and what are the consquences if i don't follow up on it as far as injections? since then all my kids even my ex husband has got tested all come back neg is there a chance later they can get it? the reason why im asking now is because i woke up w red small bumps like blister on both my hands they hurt and are really tendor and i just got over some flu like symptoms is that pertaining to hep c?

[Kalio1]

What did your biopsy results say? What did your doctor say? Did you start injections and then stop them for some reason?
Yes it is "bad" to not follow up on anything. You need to know your condition and monitor your condition with a doctor. It is very common to not have symptoms but you need to have the facts on your biopsy. You have a serious disease, you should avoid alcohol and medications that are hard on your liver. Maintain a good diet and exercise plan.
Yes, others can contract it from you if you have active virus replicating in you. Be careful not to share personal utensils(toothbrushes, razors,etc.) and wounds and don't exchange blood with anyone.

When you have all the facts about your liver status, you can then decide what to do. Ignoring it could compromise your health dramatically.

[GrandmaA]

Save copies of all your labs for your records. Bring them to the doctor when you see him. We have to become our own advocates. If your biopsy says you are stage 1 or 2 you can wait for the new meds in 3-4 years. But if you are a 3 or 4 you need to get treated. Good luck.

[ladybug52]

I was crazy too when I was first dxed because I didn't follow up or monitor my condition for about 12 years. I had 3 doctors tell me not to worry since I had no symptoms, and a gastro who thought a biopsy was too invasive given my low viral load. I think the tests were less sensitive/sophisticated back in 92 or I had the wrong tests done.  I just went along in denial that I could have a serious disease. I even thought I was part of the few that clear spontaneously. Now that I have my high viral load and bx to confirm the illness, I want to learn as much as I can to get rid of the disease. My husband daughter and son have tested negative, I have another daughter and son that I keep bugging to get tested. We no longer share razors or toothbrushes, but had been guilty of that in the past.
I am lucky to have very little damage in spite of social drinking for all these years till I recently quit. I think raising 4 kids curbed my drinking quite a bit, but the youngest is now nearly 19 so I had been drinking a little more after they got older. (bad day at work have a glass of wine)
Get more info, be proactive, take care of your health for your families sake, they need you.

[sallyo]

I chose to ignore my condition after I was diagnosed because I had no symptoms and because I was afraid. I felt fine and had treated with monotheray 5 years before with no improvement.  By doing so I missed my opportunity to save my liver because by dismissing my liver disease, it advanced to ESLD.  By the time I educated myself to the combo therapy and the advantages of treating with or without SVR, it was too late.  I was transplanted (one of the very fortunate) and now I am trying to save my new organ.  Please inform yourself and see a doctor who is experienced with hep C.  Perferably a hepatogogist or and I.D.  Do not ignore this because it will not ignore you at some point.  Not sure if the red bumps are hep related but I know red palms in general are.

[chcnme]

Hi Crazy, since you didn't know anything back then and have questions now, this is a great place to learn!  

Yes, there is a chance of household transmission, and you need to know how to make things as safe as possible for others in your household.  Make sure no one uses your razors or toothbrushes (ever) and that you cover all your wounds with bandaids.  Learn about the risk of sexual transmission.  

If those blisters on your palms are weeping  (as in pustular, got fluid in them, or you see blood, even if you don't see blood, if they are just fluid-filled blisters), my advice it to call doc and keep them covered until you see the doc.

Your flu like illness and the red palms after could be a "symptom" of Hep C. Sometimes people who run high fevers (for whatever reason) can get red palms.  I had red palms back in the early 80s with a high fever.  They got better.  I had Hep C at that time  (didn't know it though - didn't know why I had red palms)

Treatment for Hep C is not for everyone; might not be for you; might be for you, but whatever you do - I think you need be followed so you can know what's going on with your liver and know your options.

Best of luck.  Happy New Year!

[Imagine]

As others have said it is very important to know the necessary essentials such as the amount of liver damage that your bx showed, your geno type. Could go on with some more but without knowing the first two it is hard for anyone responding to address any possible symptoms or oppinions regarding tx. As a matter of fact you can't make any decisions unless you have this information. Since you have "things" going on with you my suggestion is to be aggressive in obtaining your bx and other info as soon as possible and have a two way conversation with your Doctor. It's kind of like a phrase from an old song that had a phrase of "just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in." It sounds like you might already be thinking to refresh your hepatitis status which I think is a very positive action on your part.

Take Care