Please help

[nana317]

i was diagnosed over 12 years ago with hepc, but ive never been able to afford the medicine for it so i'm really starting to be sick. can you tell me what the final stages are an what i need to look for? i'm scared because i'm sick all the time weak. i've got alot of swelling an yellowness in my eyes an on my skin. please help me to understand what is happening an how long you live once you get in the last stages without medical help.

[HectorSF]

Do you have health insurance? (You only state that you can't afford medicine).

Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) can be a very serious condition. There can be many causes of jaundice so you need to see a doctor to find out what is causing it. There is a wide range of things that can cause jaundice. Hopefully you have one of the easy ones to treat. Jaundice is a symptom of an underlying health issue, it is not a disease itself.

You MUST see a doctor. Only a doctor can diagnose your problem and treat you if treatment is needed.

Use your fear to take action now. Don't delay!

Keep us informed as to what happens.

To learn more about jaundice follow this link...
http://www.medicinenet.com/jaundice/article.htm

Best of luck!
Hector

[Diane12855]

I have heard that end stage liver disease is a horrible way to die. Your whole body needs the liver and all of it's functions and when it stops functioning correctly, the rest of the organs stop being able to function correctly. So one by one, your organs begin to shut down. It won't only be very hard on you, it will also be really hard on your loved ones as they watch what you are going through. There is help out there, you can't just sit back and wait to die. I understand that you have no energy and going out is hard, but it is worth the effort. At least call the Health Department and ask what is available.

Diane

[SusieS2010]

Go here: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx

Call these places and ask if they can see you. As coeric said, you can get the meds for free if you qualify.

[coeric]

hello

you need to seek medical advice - we are only laypeople. please seeks professional help.  folks on this board can help you make sense of the tests and advice professionals may give you,  i believe it is irresponsible to tell someone with hepc how long they have to live.  i am experiencing cirrhosis and doctors that specialize in liver disease have never told me how long i might have.

the drug companies have programs to provide medicine free medicine for folks that cannot afford it.


From Mayoclinic.com
Signs and symptoms of end-stage liver disease or liver cancer may include:

Fatigue
Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation (ascites)
In addition to liver failure or cancer, people with cirrhosis may also develop:

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to enlarged veins in the esophagus (esophageal varices)
Brain and nervous system damage due to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy)