Aa
hepititis c
I am a 64 year old female and have been carreing this desiase for years. I have been told that I have a high viral load and have severe cirrosis of the liver. My doctor ( cold as he may be ) that I should take the interfuron treatment or my condition may give way to liver cancer or worst yet death! I have not made up my mind as of yet because I am scared of the treatment. Some say that the treatment is sometimes worse than the hep c. And My husband does not understand the severity of this. And even if he did know, he is not very supportave. I live in ft pierce fla. and I would like to if you know any doctors that could give me a second opinion. Help! ginger
Thank you everyone for your respones. Today I was at a picnic and ran into someone has not been in contact with all of people for about 3 yrs. He said he was on his way to a hospital that he goes to in sunday. He told me that he was half-way there when something came over him and he knew GOD wanted him to turn around and go to this picnic. He then shared his experience with hep c and cirrosis. He also told me get a different doctor. (one who cares) that will sit down with me and explain to me my options and treatment. These places are far away from me, so he told me he or his wife would take me these places. He said I should do this asap. He said that he too was terrified of the treatment, but he wanted to live. I think it is really wierd that in a matter of days, I have talked to you guys and him. There is hope. But he did say not to take this lightly. because without action there would be no life. He is a wonderful man and I am grateful for the suppot I now have through you and him. Getting tired again so I'll talk to later. God bless you Bluebird 305
Much depends on how severe your Cirrhosis is. Do you know if your liver is compensated (working well) or decompensated (not working well)? If your liver is compensated, you could treat your Hep C, but your care should be managed by a hepatologist in a liver transplant center, which is usually found in a university based medical center. If your liver is decompensated, it is probably not possible or safe to treat your Hep C with the current treatments as they could cause your liver to fail. Either way, you should be under the care of a hepatologist in a transplant center so that your Cirrhosis can be properly monitored and you can be screened for liver cancer and signs of decompensation. The Mayo Clinic and the University of Florida Shands Hospital both have liver transplant centers, and you would be able to find qualified hepatologists in either location, but so far as I can tell by googling your location, you would need to go to either Jacksonville or Gainsville. Keep us posted and good luck. Don't try triple therapy without the advice and care of a good hepatologist who is experienced in both Hep C and Cirrhosis.
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
" I have not made up my mind as of yet because I am scared of the treatment. "
Hi Bluebird,
It is a scary thing to consider taking such an intense treatment. I had every fear in the book before starting tx. It all went away after about the second shot. I began to realize the pace of the medicine and side effects and that it is just one force fighting another in your body. The good thing is that if the side effects get to intense the doctor can control things by cutting back on the meds or giving a specific med for each side effect. Honestly, the worst obstacle for me was the fear of what sides could happen. Once I settled down to business, it hasn't been all that bad. Just some fever and chills after the first shots and an icky feeling from time to time. A Tylenol for those sides is sufficient. I have been able to work through most of the tx. If you can also work, fine, just find a pace that you can live with and don't over do it or you will get an icky and weak feeling the next day.
I will also Ditto copyman in saying "I would treat asap". Your age and cirrhosis demand urgency.
You will probably need some support from your husband. If you find a good way to approach him about this, perhaps it will bring out "the Gift in him". I would suggest a prayer first.
Lots of Love to you from all of us who are in the same boat.
Nuhepper (on week 17)
Hi Bluebird,
It is a scary thing to consider taking such an intense treatment. I had every fear in the book before starting tx. It all went away after about the second shot. I began to realize the pace of the medicine and side effects and that it is just one force fighting another in your body. The good thing is that if the side effects get to intense the doctor can control things by cutting back on the meds or giving a specific med for each side effect. Honestly, the worst obstacle for me was the fear of what sides could happen. Once I settled down to business, it hasn't been all that bad. Just some fever and chills after the first shots and an icky feeling from time to time. A Tylenol for those sides is sufficient. I have been able to work through most of the tx. If you can also work, fine, just find a pace that you can live with and don't over do it or you will get an icky and weak feeling the next day.
I will also Ditto copyman in saying "I would treat asap". Your age and cirrhosis demand urgency.
You will probably need some support from your husband. If you find a good way to approach him about this, perhaps it will bring out "the Gift in him". I would suggest a prayer first.
Lots of Love to you from all of us who are in the same boat.
Nuhepper (on week 17)
Like the others said get a 2nd opinion from a Hepatologist. Many people treat with cirrhosis. Even if treatment don't cure you it will give your liver a much needed break.
Your doctor is correct that treatment could make it worse but there is also a chance your liver could regress in damage.
Personally if it was me I would treat ASAP. You want to avoid end stage liver disease and/or liver cancer. Best chance to avoid this is getting rid of the HCV.
Best of luck
Your doctor is correct that treatment could make it worse but there is also a chance your liver could regress in damage.
Personally if it was me I would treat ASAP. You want to avoid end stage liver disease and/or liver cancer. Best chance to avoid this is getting rid of the HCV.
Best of luck
Welcome to the forum! I'm so sorry that you don't seem to have much support. The treatment for hep c is a difficult one, its true, but it is immensely easier than the problems that the virus may eventually cause if left untreated. It's hard for many to really grasp how serious it is because most people don't show any sign of being sick until they are near the end of the line. Long time infection with hep c causes ever-increasing risk of cirrhosis, and cirrhosis greatly increases one's risk of liver cancer and/or end-stage liver disease. Either of these conditions are much worse than the hep c treatment. However, f your doctor has not done a biopsy he probably can't really say if you have cirrhosis yet, unless you are already experiencing some of the symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis. Have you had a biopsy? Do you have ascites? Are your blood tests showing very low platelets or high bilirubin?
I would encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible by reading here at this forum and also at http://hcvadvocate.org, to consider that you might need to change doctors, and to seriously consider trying treatment. If you have reason to want to live a while and to avoid dying in a particularly unpleasant way, then it is worth it to treat. I had hep c since 1984 and treated three times. The first two were unsuccessful, but that was with less effective drugs than what is now available. I did develop cirrhosis and I did treat a third time, and I did succeed in eliminating the virus. My doctor tells me my risks are very much lower now. I'm sure it was worth it even though it was difficult.
People on this forum can be a huge source if both information and support, and have made all the difference for many of us. I hope you will think hard about it.
I would encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible by reading here at this forum and also at http://hcvadvocate.org, to consider that you might need to change doctors, and to seriously consider trying treatment. If you have reason to want to live a while and to avoid dying in a particularly unpleasant way, then it is worth it to treat. I had hep c since 1984 and treated three times. The first two were unsuccessful, but that was with less effective drugs than what is now available. I did develop cirrhosis and I did treat a third time, and I did succeed in eliminating the virus. My doctor tells me my risks are very much lower now. I'm sure it was worth it even though it was difficult.
People on this forum can be a huge source if both information and support, and have made all the difference for many of us. I hope you will think hard about it.
Hi, welcome to the forum.
Is your doctor a liver specialist?
Either way if you have "severe cirrhosis" I would advise to to contact a Hepatologist (liver specialist) at a hospital near you that has a transplant center.
It does not mean you have to be eligible for a transplant but the staff there will be able to determine the right treatment for you and if you have to take the current meds available, they can closely monitor your liver and treat any side effects that rise as a result.
If you google liver transplant center in your region you should be able to find the nearest hospital/s.
Good luck to you
Is your doctor a liver specialist?
Either way if you have "severe cirrhosis" I would advise to to contact a Hepatologist (liver specialist) at a hospital near you that has a transplant center.
It does not mean you have to be eligible for a transplant but the staff there will be able to determine the right treatment for you and if you have to take the current meds available, they can closely monitor your liver and treat any side effects that rise as a result.
If you google liver transplant center in your region you should be able to find the nearest hospital/s.
Good luck to you
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
