Re: newly diagnosed with Hep C, now what

Posted By marcia on June 02, 1999 at 23:50:44
my friend was diagnosed with Hepatitis C by her gynocologist after having bloody stools & urine. She was told to find a doctor and begin treatment. What type of doctor would be most appropriate and what can she expect as far as further tests, treatment, etc.
She suspects that she contracted this some 25 yrs ago while using speed, but has not used needles since then.  Does this make her condition more serious since she has potentially had this for many years?
thanks for any info

[HFHSM.D.-D.M.]

Posted By HFHSM.D.-D.M. on June 09, 1999 at 17:24:25
Dear marcia:
I appreciate your concern about your friend and Ill give you some general information.
First of all, as a general rule, hepatitis C does not cause bloody stools and urine so your friend will still want to have that checked out.  We usually start the evaluation of hepatitis C with a set of blood tests including the hepatitis C PCR (also called the HCV RNA).   Other blood tests rule out other causes of liver disease and give us a feel a very rough feel for how the liver is functioning.  Well often get an abdominal ultrasound and consider a liver biopsy.
I think your friend should see someone with experience with hepatitis C.  Liver specialists or hepatologists typically have a lot of experience with hepatitis C as do some gastroenterologists.  Occasionally I run into an infectious disease specialist with a lot of hepatitis C experience.  If you tell me where your friend lives, I can sometimes recommend a good physician.  
I see a lot of patients who have hepatitis C as a result of intravenous drug use 20 to 30 years ago when it was common and  many of these patients have early disease on biopsy.  This is a very chronic disease and, in up to a third of patients, hepatitis C doesnt seem to cause significant progressive damage.  The critical thing is that people not use alcohol in excess.  In a lot of my patients, the more they learn about their hepatitis C, the less frightened they are.  Hopefully, this will be the case with your friend.  
Your friend might also want to consider a hepatitis C support group and she might consider these websites:
www.liverfoundation.org (American Liver Foundation)
www.hepatitis-central.com (Hepatitis Central)
www.hepnet.com (The Hepatitis Information Network)
www.shn.webmd.com (Web MD Wellness Center)
Good luck to your friend.  I hope this information is helpful to you.  If you have additional information or questions, I would invite you to post the material to MEDHELP.  The direct number to our Liver Clinic at Henry Ford is [phone]. We have an active group of liver specialists and we have a strong interest in and experience with hepatitis C and liver transplant.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation.  Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.  

[marcia__0__0]

Posted By marcia on June 09, 1999 at 21:56:53
Thanks for the info. I'll pass it along. My friend lives in the Palo Alto California area, if you know of a physician in that area.
Thanks again










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