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Hep C
My brother was recently diagnosed with hep c.His liver is enlarged,his red cells are high,and his platlets are low. Come to find out,his liver has been enlarged for many years,and he has suspected that he has been infected for many years.I haven't seen him in years.He is a major alcoholic and has been all of his life.He has also used needles to do his drugs when he used them.He says that he is no longer using hard drugs,smoking pot often.He drinks vodka.I am completly ignorant to this virus,doing some research.Am really needing some input on this whole situation if possible I would be very grateful.
You need to be strong and practical, especially since it seems like your brother and your mother are both in denial. Sometimes if the voice of love and caring, doesn't work, the cold hard facts can gain some ground.
Bring up the matter of a living will to your brother. Explain to him that with his condition and his continuation of drinking, you need to know what his directives are in regards to end of life. Tell him you need to discuss with him his own feelings on medical directives, especially since your mother is having health issues of her own. Tell him you need to know because if he continues, his ammonia levels will make him at some point unable to think for himself and care for himself and clean himself, so you're just looking to be prepared ahead of time since he's chosen to take that route.
Ask him if he has his affairs in order. If he claims he's not afraid to die, then he should be up front in discussing with you his end-of-life plans. Does he have a will and last testament? Does he plan burial or cremation? Does he have a plot ready if he plans burial? Or does he just expect others to take on this burden for him? You should let him know that you expect him to take on these responsibilities since he has the capacity and money to continue drinking.
I hope I haven't contributed to more pain for you. Sometimes having to deal with cold harsh reality can shake some sense into people too. You need to put guilt and anger aside, and do everything you can so you don't have regrets later about holding back. Love him, but don't justify his behavior for him, and don't let them make you feel bad for caring... follow your heart, do your best to knock down whatever obstacles stand in the way of your caring for your brother, and may God bless you and your family with strength and understanding. ~eureka
Bring up the matter of a living will to your brother. Explain to him that with his condition and his continuation of drinking, you need to know what his directives are in regards to end of life. Tell him you need to discuss with him his own feelings on medical directives, especially since your mother is having health issues of her own. Tell him you need to know because if he continues, his ammonia levels will make him at some point unable to think for himself and care for himself and clean himself, so you're just looking to be prepared ahead of time since he's chosen to take that route.
Ask him if he has his affairs in order. If he claims he's not afraid to die, then he should be up front in discussing with you his end-of-life plans. Does he have a will and last testament? Does he plan burial or cremation? Does he have a plot ready if he plans burial? Or does he just expect others to take on this burden for him? You should let him know that you expect him to take on these responsibilities since he has the capacity and money to continue drinking.
I hope I haven't contributed to more pain for you. Sometimes having to deal with cold harsh reality can shake some sense into people too. You need to put guilt and anger aside, and do everything you can so you don't have regrets later about holding back. Love him, but don't justify his behavior for him, and don't let them make you feel bad for caring... follow your heart, do your best to knock down whatever obstacles stand in the way of your caring for your brother, and may God bless you and your family with strength and understanding. ~eureka
I just bawled my head off reading your post.I have been trying to justify how he feels as that's his choice,and even though it hurts,it's his choice. You are right ! It's not just about him and his feelings dangit,we are all involved in his illness.I think that he has been shutting me out as I have always been the "voice" in our family,and maybe he is afraid and would rather act like he's okay with it all so he doesn't have to face the facts and his fears.You have opened up something in my heart that so needed to be ! God Bless You and thank you so much !
It's hard to say what quarantine measures might have been in place 40 years ago with regards to hepatitis, but hepatitis just means inflammation of the liver... could be viral or other causation, and simply means your brother was symptomatic for liver swelling. Could be a result of his initial hep c infection, but could be unrelated as well.
I'm very sorry to hear that your brother is refusing to stop drinking. It's a common way to avoid discussion to just deny fear of death... but not being afraid to die has nothing to do with what's at stake here. Of course, no one should be afraid to die, everyone dies some day... what is unfortunate is the suffering that has to be endured before we go, and the suffering of the loved ones left behind.
Your brother may not be afraid of dying, but someone should point out to him that his condition is not just about him... it's about you, your parents, and any family he might have... there will come a point when he won't be able to take care of himself if he continues to drink... and he needs to understand that what he is doing is selfish because he has people who care about him. You and your family should not hesitate to pursue whatever needs to be said or done to get him to stop drinking and face the facts... otherwise the prognosis for him will be very poor. My heart goes out to you and your family. ~eureka
I'm very sorry to hear that your brother is refusing to stop drinking. It's a common way to avoid discussion to just deny fear of death... but not being afraid to die has nothing to do with what's at stake here. Of course, no one should be afraid to die, everyone dies some day... what is unfortunate is the suffering that has to be endured before we go, and the suffering of the loved ones left behind.
Your brother may not be afraid of dying, but someone should point out to him that his condition is not just about him... it's about you, your parents, and any family he might have... there will come a point when he won't be able to take care of himself if he continues to drink... and he needs to understand that what he is doing is selfish because he has people who care about him. You and your family should not hesitate to pursue whatever needs to be said or done to get him to stop drinking and face the facts... otherwise the prognosis for him will be very poor. My heart goes out to you and your family. ~eureka
I would also like to say that when I was 12 yrs old,( I am now 51) my brother was put in quarantine in the hospital for hep. I have no idea what kind of hep requires this. Any ideas maybe?Thank you
Thank you all so very much for your response.Sadly enough,he has stated that he isn't afraid to die,and has no intent of quitting his drinking.A part of me can't help but doubt that statement as he did go to the Dr. for testing for his loss of energy.God bless !
CORRECTION:
"What he is experiencing is known as decompensation" should actually state "what he is experiencing MAY be symptoms of decompensation..." Without your brother's full medical history that's a rather hasty assumption, my apologies for not being more specific.
"What he is experiencing is known as decompensation" should actually state "what he is experiencing MAY be symptoms of decompensation..." Without your brother's full medical history that's a rather hasty assumption, my apologies for not being more specific.
Terribly sorry to hear about your brother's condition. What he is experiencing is known as decompensation of cirrhosis. His liver has sustained long-term damage, and the abnormal lab results are indicating that he is having increasing liver dysfunction.
Unfortunately, your brother's liver is sustaining insult and injury from two separate fronts: one is his alcoholism, and the other is his hcv. In order to have any chance of improvement he must abstain from alcohol completely, and if he is successful in doing so, he may have the opportunity to improve his condition by treating his hcv, or possibly getting listed for Transplantation if his liver continues to fail.
However, none of that is possible unless he stops drinking first. His current circumstances require that he must take an active role, recognize the severity of his condition, and be willing to make a complete change in lifestyle to save his own life. I truly hope your brother has the will and the support of family and friends to be able to stop drinking and pursue treatment for his condition. Hope that helps, and best wishes. ~eureka
Unfortunately, your brother's liver is sustaining insult and injury from two separate fronts: one is his alcoholism, and the other is his hcv. In order to have any chance of improvement he must abstain from alcohol completely, and if he is successful in doing so, he may have the opportunity to improve his condition by treating his hcv, or possibly getting listed for Transplantation if his liver continues to fail.
However, none of that is possible unless he stops drinking first. His current circumstances require that he must take an active role, recognize the severity of his condition, and be willing to make a complete change in lifestyle to save his own life. I truly hope your brother has the will and the support of family and friends to be able to stop drinking and pursue treatment for his condition. Hope that helps, and best wishes. ~eureka
Sorry to hear of your brothers diagnosis of HCV and also the fact it sounds like he is currently only making the situation worse with his drinking and drug use.
He would need to get that part of his life under control before he can address his problem with HCV.
If His liver is enlarged (hepatomegaly),and his platlets are low and he has had this and the HCV for many years, he very well may have cirrhosis and if he continues to drink and drug unfortunately he would most probably would end up with end stage liver disease .
Has he voiced any inclination to you that he wants to get help ? Often and sadly family members are witness to what is happening to a loved one and have no control over the outcome unless the person themselves is of mind to want to get better.
Hopefully someone ..maybe yourself can help him to see that there is always hope for recovery before this ends poorly.
All the best to you and your brother..
Will
He would need to get that part of his life under control before he can address his problem with HCV.
If His liver is enlarged (hepatomegaly),and his platlets are low and he has had this and the HCV for many years, he very well may have cirrhosis and if he continues to drink and drug unfortunately he would most probably would end up with end stage liver disease .
Has he voiced any inclination to you that he wants to get help ? Often and sadly family members are witness to what is happening to a loved one and have no control over the outcome unless the person themselves is of mind to want to get better.
Hopefully someone ..maybe yourself can help him to see that there is always hope for recovery before this ends poorly.
All the best to you and your brother..
Will
He has to stop drinking! Not only does alcohol further damage his liver, it makes it harder for him to make clear headed decisions.Drinking alcohol when you have hep C is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Does he realize what a serious condition he is in? He can die of this if he doesn't stop drinking.
Now, the good news is he can get treatment.
He needs to see a doctor, a hepatologist, a liver doctor, asap.
Good luck.
Does he realize what a serious condition he is in? He can die of this if he doesn't stop drinking.
Now, the good news is he can get treatment.
He needs to see a doctor, a hepatologist, a liver doctor, asap.
Good luck.
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