What else can go wrong?

[mainer04256]

HI everyone,

I have been reading the boards hearing of the triumps and tribulation of many.  Readings these stories is helping me walk the path I have been given.  Today I was given another stone to step over on my journey and I just need to vent to people who like me face hurdles every day.

At the beginning of the year I was diagnosed with parathyroid disease.  The cause of my severe osteoporosis.  In April I gave blood and 2 weeks later received a letter stating I have Hepc.  Three
days before graduating college (at 47) it was confirmed.  

June came and I had surgery for the parathyroid disease and I am cured.  I am now working on building back my bones.  I saw the gastro in August and had an ultrasound of my liver as a prelim to having the biopsy on Oct 5th.

I just received a call for my pcp telling me the results of the ultrasound shows I have gallstones and did I want her to set up an appointment with a surgeon.  What else can go wrong?  I am trying to find a job and now I am having to make doctor appointments right and left.  I was hoping to get a job and get established before starting treatment.  I wanted to show what a good worker I was in case the treatment started kicking my butt.

Do you think the hepc has exacerbated things in my body?  Has anyone else had gallblatter problems while dealing with hepc and treatment?  Did you have to put off treatment until after surgery?   It's a good thing I have been trying to live a healthy lifestyle.  God knows what shape I would be in if I didn't try to take care of myself.

I have decompressed a bit from the beginning of this post.  Thanks for letting to whine.

Best wishes to everyone who has or has been touched by this disease.  May you win the fight.

Mainer

[mainer04256]

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom.  I did get to talk with the gastro. and he said, like copyman, many people have gallstones and don't even know it.  When I talked with the nurse at my pcp she didn't say how many I had just did I want the doctor to refer me to a surgeon.  Well, the gastro said I only have one (small stone) and unless it bothers me I should leave it alone.  Guess I'll leave it be, now let's hope it doesn't act up once I start treatment.

Thanks again for your help.

Mainer

[copyman]

many people with and without HCV have gallstones but i have read that HCV can cause gallstones. if they are not bothering you leave them alone. there are many horror stories of being worse off after getting the stones out, running to bathroom 5 mins after every meal, etc.  i also have several stones and i had 2 top heaptologists tell me to leave them alone. of course if they start bothering you then you should have them out. if you do decide to have it out then have them take a liver sample for biopsy while in there. sort of killing 2 birds with one "stone". no pun intended :-)

[frijole]

Well, congratulations on graduating from college at 47.  That means the old brain is still working even if the body is falling apart!.  You certainly have had your share of problems but taking care of the parathyroid has got to be a good step forward.

There are several people here who have undergone surgery while treating. While not the best thing to do while treating, it is possible.   I am unclear whether you are treating.  Can you give some stats -- pre-treatment viral load, genotype, and most importantly, whether you are responding to treatment.

Okay, in rereading your post, I am sure you haven't started yet.  The biopsy is Oct 5th.  I don't know, but can they remove gallstones and do the biopsy at the same time?   Worth a question.  Also, I thought they zapped those things with lazers and you didn't need surgery anymore.

In answer to your questions about hep C.  The virus causes inflammation.  The liver is the most widely recognized organ that it does harm to, but the inflammation can be widespread.  There is a connection between hep C and lung & bronchial inflammation.  Many who have hep C have joint problems.  There could be a connection between hep C and thinning of the bones, altho it seems that I tried to find the answer to that and was unsuccessful .

I suggest you check out this site.  It has much valuable information.

http://janis7hepc.com/

Hey, veggie - how are you doing?  WHat's this about being insulin resistant?  I didn't know that.

frijole

[sfwandwow]

i will pray for ya

[Alady1620]

I would definitely put off treatment until after the surgery.  

FYI- the hep is a pre-existing condition probably so you will have to wait a year before insurance will pay for you to treat anyway.

I'm sorry you're having so many health problems.  I hope things start to look up for you soon.

[PSP-n-Me]

I was symptomatic before I started treatment and I feel my thyroid issue was brought on by HCV and I am also in a Insulen Resistant study, that is showing IR isbrought on by HCV - so yes, I had stuff brought on by the virus.