Death and Hep-C

[lulu567]

How long do you think I will live if ive had Hep-C for about 10yrs and im an active heroine iv drug user and an alcoholic who drinks maybe 2 24oz cans of beer at least 6 times a month?

[babs824]

i have seen many people lots sicker than you turn their lives around. all the issues you complain of from the nightmares to the liver disease are a result of your drug use. maybe if you deal with that first by seeking counseling you will want to live longer to have a good life and even rid yourself of the hcv. most people asking this question do not want to die. they just feel there is no alternative. i am here to tell u that there are. please look into drug treatment first. with some sobriety under your belt things may look different and treatment for hcv could be a viable alternative to counting the days to a very miserable death.
ps if you have done drug treatment before do it again. check out the drug that nygirl posted about that blocks the effects of heroin. that could work for u. dont give up.

[fretboard]

It's a shame that you're still using but I'm sure you know that, otherwise you may not have mentioned it.  Nobody could possibly know how long you will live even if you weren't using dope but chances are very high that you will die far sooner than if you were clean.  Are you looking to prolong your life or are you simply going for broke and trying to pinpoint how much more using you have left to do?  I used dope for a long long time and I practically ruined myself to death!  The trouble with Heroin is that it makes you feel so good that you don't pay attention to how it's ruining your life.  I'm sure you know what you need to do and how to get there.  good luck to you and God Bless

[Bill1954]

Hi Lulu—

More than anything else, those substances will likely prevent you from treating or properly managing your disease; doctors often require six months clean and sober to offer treatment drugs. One of their concerns is compliance; active IVDU/alcoholics often don’t take their meds on time; this is critical for success in antiviral therapy. Additionally, if works continue to be shared, it’s highly likely to become reinfected again.

Additionally, if the need arose, you wouldn’t be considered for organ transplant; again, sobriety is a must.

As to your longevity, a liver biopsy is the best gauge as to the amount of fibrosis that has developed to date. At later stages of the disease, the MELD score can offer a glimpse as to morbidity/mortality.

Have you thought about getting clean and sober? I’m sure stranger things have happened… :)

Good luck—

Bill