Chronic Hepatitis C !!

[Amandag78]

Hello, i have chronic Hepatitis C and never attempted treatment. The past 4 months, i have had ongoing agonizing symptoms. At first it was every 3 days the pain would come and put me in bed for 3 days. Now, the pain is constant.
My symptoms..
Aching bones and joints, worse at night. Feel like bones are going to break. Aches in fingers, hands, legs, feet, toes, thighs, inside of thighs, hips.
Different than normal migraines everyday.
Red palms, looks like there is blood under my skin in big patches, spider veins on chest and face.
So cold all the time, shivering fever daily.
Sore dry eyes.
Flakey dry skin.
Swollen burnt tongue.
Angry, irritable, forgetfullness, confusion.
Bloating abdomen.
Itchy skin all over body including soles of feet.
Weak, fatigued, tired, lethargic, no motivation, no energy.
Feeling giddy in the stomach, sick like, lasts for hours.
Shortness of breath, cant breathe properly. Pain in side of rib and goes around to my shoulder and chest.
All these symptoms happen at the same time and when they come on, it puts me in bed for days and i cant walk properly, i feel like im going to break when i walk, my bones hurt so bad and feel brittle.
Now im emotional, i never cry, and today i havent stopped.
I feel like im going through psychosis.
I know my symptoms are vague, but this is too much to bear everyday.
I cannot get to a doctor for a quite a while for testing.
Please tell me what you think.
I know i cannot get diagnosed over the internet, i just need some input please.

[Livelife777]

Wonderful news Amanda that you are going to be seen.  Please let us know how you do and perhaps we can help with any questions after your appt.
Hopefully this new Dr will be able to help you.
Take care and please keep us posted.
....Kim

[Amandag78]

Guys thankyou so much, i had no idea if anyone would even respond to me, but all of your support has been overwhelming. Thankyou so much !!!  I have made an appointment for Friday morning to get everything checked and tested. Because i live in Australia, medicare covers every doctor visit, so i dont have to stress about that. I can get a biopsy also for free and i just pay for the ultra-sound which is only about $45. All my blood tests are free and to see a heptologist. Its just going to my appointment and not cancelling because i feel too sick to go. But i think i would be pretty silly to not take this seriously, so i will definantly be going to the doctors. Thankyou all again, i am blessed to have you all care a show a great deal of concern : )

[andyhawaii123]

Hello, sorry to hear you are so symptomatic of late.  The problems and concerns you listed are textbook Liver Disease.  I too have suffered from some or all of them at one time or another, and some just do not go away.  I must say though, it is imperative that you seek out and get medical attention at this point.  This isn't something you can postpone, and a Prescribing Doctor will provide very specific medications to address many of your concerns.  They will also assist you with diet and limited exercise you can tolerate.  One of the biggest problems is malnutrition and anemia regardless of how much you eat... We develop hyper-metabolism combined with not effectively absorbing what we take in.  Some of your symptoms relate to secondary conditions, like Ascites (Bloating Abdomen), Hepatic Encephalopathy (Forgetfulness & Confused State) and Anemia (Cold all the time, swollen tongue) These are very serious and can be life threatening. If you don't have insurance visit a City Hospital ER or one of the neighborhood clinics.  Either way you will get much needed professional attention for you illnesses.  They will also assist you greatly in getting State Medicaid (MediCal in CA) Hep C will progress to cirrhosis and a long list of secondary conditions if left untreated, but you can, if treated timely, stop further progression, and in some instances reverse some damage.  But you MUST GET MEDICAL TREATMENT ASAP. PLEASE SEE A DOCTOR SOMEHOW, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU TO DO RIGHT NOW. I wish you, and all, The Best, Andy

[fntn]

Amanda -

Just so you know you're not alone, I'm dealing with the same "Aching bones and joints" and muscles as well, full body basically. I have a different chronic liver disease than you but suffer just the same. I hate gravity basically and cannot maintain any given position for very long. It's very disabling wrt my old quality-of-life but there isn't much that can be done, in my case, so it's simply a matter of getting used to it and moving forward as best you can.

Not sure what's driving your osteo-dystrophy but mine is autoimmune related plus a combined effect of prolonged cholestasis with it's malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins, etc and which leads to severe vitamin D deficiency and my not so healthy bones, joints and muscles.

You might have them check your auto-antibodies to see if there maybe an additional underlying issue as well going along with your chronic Hepatitis C.

[Dbzc2]

Ok cvs is like Boots.  Ask your chemist about the over the counter meds.  You know if the wait is too much the emergency service is next best option.

Best wishes dbz (I lived in London for a while.  I'm in Houston, Texas.)

[Dbzc2]

Ok, blood in urine not good, but CVS has one OTC that will help with discomfort until you get a proper test.  It's the med that has the dye and anesthesia.  Drink lots of fluids and go to the doc.  I'm a single mum too, and you'll be amazed, when dealing with something serious, how many people really will help you!  Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Good luck, I so know what you are going through and I'm so sorry. Do not let your fear get you down!  Best wishes! Dbz

[Amandag78]

Thankyou "Livelife" for your concerns, your very sweet.

My beautiful Gina, thankyou also. Im sorry i have made you worry.
I will go to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

I do have ambulance cover as well, but its not that bad, i will just go to the doctors.

I just thought it was more withdrawals at first, or the subutex playing with my body, but as ive been off it for 10 months, i realised it was something else.

It started when i reached my 6 month clean, so its been going on 4 months.

At first it was just flu-like symptoms with sensitive to the sun and cold chills and aching bones.

Now, i feel like my bones are being eaten away, ans its almost constant now along with the other symptoms.
I keep banging into walls and have these clear bubbles floating in my eyes.

Anyway, i will get myself sorted out, thankyou all for caring, it means a lot.
Thank you Gina, as always xoxo

[jugglin]

My dear friend Amanda....honey...I know your life is hectic with the kiddos and  Chris working so much, but can you at least make an appt first thing on Monday and take a taxi to the Dr.?  These are serious symptoms that should not be put off.  You have mentioned not feeling well, but I had no idea things were THIS serious.
I agree with the wonderful folks above that you should seek immediate care at hospital, but I know that you will put everybody before yourself.  The problem with that is when you are down you are not doing service to your family MUCH LESS yourself.
I wish we lived near and I could come and help out with the kids while you take care of yourself.  I would do it in a heartbeat.  Is there a mom from school or a neighbor who could give you a ride or watch the kids while you take a taxi?
You have beaten horrendous withdrawals, you have fought so hard to get your life together.  You are a never-ending wealth of support to others.  But you must take care of yourself honey.
I love you dear girl and am saying never-ending prayers for you.
Please, please, please consider an alternative to waiting to seek medical advice.  Getting help now rather than a month from now could make a significant difference in your healing...in your life.
xoxoxo

[Livelife777]

I'm reading your post and very worried for you.  If you can't get a ride to the
ER you can call an ambulance.  Time is of the essence.
The symptoms you have described can be life threatening.  We urge you to
go to the hospital.

.....Kim

[Amandag78]

Thankyou both. No i dont have blood in my urine, its a blood orange color some days and a very bright yellow other days.
I will get to the doctors as soon as i can.
Thanks again, i appreciate you both commenting.

[HectorSF]

I agree with Nam...go to the Emergency Room.
Blood in your urine is something to take very seriously.

Hector

[nan535]

Amanda
I don't mean to frighten you but I think you need a reality check.  Your kids need their mother. Find the time to get to the ER now  or your partner will be caring for them when you are gone.  So sorry to be so blunt.

Nan

[Amandag78]

Thankyou Nan.
We have medicare, but i have 3 kids and my partner works and i cant drive my car for a while. He is always working overtime.
I will work something out.
Thanks again.

[nan535]

"I cannot get to a doctor for a quite a while for testing."

I'm very sorry to hear of all of the difficult symptoms you are happening.
I don't understand why you are unable to get to a doctor. I see you live in Australia. I don't know much about medical care in Australia by I would recommend you get to an emergency room as soon as possible.  You need a doctor's care NOW.

Please keep us posted. I wish you the best.

Nan

[Amandag78]

I also go to the toilet about 15 times a day and my urine is blood orange.