Aa
hepatitus c
i was just recently in the er with a terrible case of what i thought was the flu, the dr. did all kinds of tests and told me my sgot ast was 1267 and the alt was 1000 (may have that backwards) and my liver was attacking me im terrified because i was tested earlier and i was clear and on top of that the er dr told me if i didnt get treatment id be dead in a year 2 at best and told me to find a gastroenterologist???? granted i have no clue what to do and i have no insurance at all my ? is what should i do now? can i get help at the health dept?????
Hello Orphan Hawk and Hector have both given you great advice.
My only addition would be to say that the ER doc should never have said that if you don't get tx you would be dead in a year. That was an irresponsible thing to say and really shows a lot of ignorance. I would find one of the docs that Hector has provided to you.
My best to you
Dee
My only addition would be to say that the ER doc should never have said that if you don't get tx you would be dead in a year. That was an irresponsible thing to say and really shows a lot of ignorance. I would find one of the docs that Hector has provided to you.
My best to you
Dee
Were you diagnosed with hepatitis C?
The ALT and AST are enzymes that are located in liver cells and leak out and make their way into the general circulation when liver cells are injured and die. The ALT is thought to be a more specific indicator of liver inflammation, since the AST may be elevated in diseases of other organs such as the heart or muscle.
In acute liver injury, such as acute viral hepatitis, the ALT and AST may be elevated to the high 100s or over 1,000 U/L.
In chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, the elevation of these enzymes may be minimal (less than 2-3 times normal) or moderate (100-300 U/L). This is what most of the people here infected with hepatitis C experience.
You liver is being damaged by something. There are many things that can cause acute injury. Drug overdose such as taking too much Tylenol. Known as acetaminophen toxicity. The acute phase of hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis. Ischaemic liver (decreased blood supply to the liver).
"What should i do now? can i get help at the health dept?????"
As OH mentioned you need to see a specialist ASAP! Hopefully it is only acute hepatitis. The other reasons for levels this high can be very serious and you must get treatment quickly or risk serious damage to your liver.
Unfortunately the care you need can only be found at Liver clinics and hospitals with specialists doctors (gastroenterologist or hepatologists) who care for patients with liver disease and hepatitis if you have hepatitis..
You might want to call... Dr. Deepti Karnati who is a gastroenterologist at the Clinch Valley Medical Center. Dr. Karnati is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist. Dr. Karnati’s office is located at: Clinch Valley Gastroenterology and Associates, Suite 2900 in the Clinch Valley Medical Plaza.
To make an appointment, call 276-596-6780.
Tell her you are seeking treatment and tell her what your AST and ALT numbers are. Ask her if she will see you as a patient without insurance or ask her how you can get health coverage so she can see you. Ask for her recommendations for what you should do. She is probably the best person in your area to help you can get the health care you need.
If she can't help you, contact the admissions department financial counselor by calling 276-596-6241 and see if you can work something out with payment of coverage.
If you do have hepatitis C if will be difficult or impossible to obtain private health care medical insurance as the insurance companies say you have a preexisting illness.
If you have liver disease you should be thinking of calling your state's health exchange when it becomes available January 1, 2014. You will be able to obtain health care insurance at a low cost or if you are poor you will be referred to medicaid in your state. All discrimination against people with so-called preexisting condition will be against the law. Insurance companies will not be able to charge you more because you have hepatitis C.
Living without health insurance is a risk and now you see the down side. After Jan 1, 2014 millions of Americans who don't have health care insurance will be able to covered due to the Obama health care act. Currently it is those of us who are insured and tax payers that end up paying for the uninsured folks that end up in Emergency Rooms.
Best of luck to you.
Happy New Year!
hector
The ALT and AST are enzymes that are located in liver cells and leak out and make their way into the general circulation when liver cells are injured and die. The ALT is thought to be a more specific indicator of liver inflammation, since the AST may be elevated in diseases of other organs such as the heart or muscle.
In acute liver injury, such as acute viral hepatitis, the ALT and AST may be elevated to the high 100s or over 1,000 U/L.
In chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, the elevation of these enzymes may be minimal (less than 2-3 times normal) or moderate (100-300 U/L). This is what most of the people here infected with hepatitis C experience.
You liver is being damaged by something. There are many things that can cause acute injury. Drug overdose such as taking too much Tylenol. Known as acetaminophen toxicity. The acute phase of hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis. Ischaemic liver (decreased blood supply to the liver).
"What should i do now? can i get help at the health dept?????"
As OH mentioned you need to see a specialist ASAP! Hopefully it is only acute hepatitis. The other reasons for levels this high can be very serious and you must get treatment quickly or risk serious damage to your liver.
Unfortunately the care you need can only be found at Liver clinics and hospitals with specialists doctors (gastroenterologist or hepatologists) who care for patients with liver disease and hepatitis if you have hepatitis..
You might want to call... Dr. Deepti Karnati who is a gastroenterologist at the Clinch Valley Medical Center. Dr. Karnati is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist. Dr. Karnati’s office is located at: Clinch Valley Gastroenterology and Associates, Suite 2900 in the Clinch Valley Medical Plaza.
To make an appointment, call 276-596-6780.
Tell her you are seeking treatment and tell her what your AST and ALT numbers are. Ask her if she will see you as a patient without insurance or ask her how you can get health coverage so she can see you. Ask for her recommendations for what you should do. She is probably the best person in your area to help you can get the health care you need.
If she can't help you, contact the admissions department financial counselor by calling 276-596-6241 and see if you can work something out with payment of coverage.
If you do have hepatitis C if will be difficult or impossible to obtain private health care medical insurance as the insurance companies say you have a preexisting illness.
If you have liver disease you should be thinking of calling your state's health exchange when it becomes available January 1, 2014. You will be able to obtain health care insurance at a low cost or if you are poor you will be referred to medicaid in your state. All discrimination against people with so-called preexisting condition will be against the law. Insurance companies will not be able to charge you more because you have hepatitis C.
Living without health insurance is a risk and now you see the down side. After Jan 1, 2014 millions of Americans who don't have health care insurance will be able to covered due to the Obama health care act. Currently it is those of us who are insured and tax payers that end up paying for the uninsured folks that end up in Emergency Rooms.
Best of luck to you.
Happy New Year!
hector
You should take a deep breath and try to calm down.
What you need is to see a hepatologist, a liver specialist.
Try phoning local hospitals and universities to find out which ones have a liver clinic. Then ask if they have any kind of financial assistance or charity care.
You haven't told us whether you have hep C or not but those levels are disturbing.
First off, you should not drink any alcohol. You should eat as health, meaning fresh and organic, as possible. Avoid tylenol, ibuprofen and iron.
And see a specialist as soon as possible.
Good luck~
What you need is to see a hepatologist, a liver specialist.
Try phoning local hospitals and universities to find out which ones have a liver clinic. Then ask if they have any kind of financial assistance or charity care.
You haven't told us whether you have hep C or not but those levels are disturbing.
First off, you should not drink any alcohol. You should eat as health, meaning fresh and organic, as possible. Avoid tylenol, ibuprofen and iron.
And see a specialist as soon as possible.
Good luck~
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