i have not attempted treatment. perhaps when the PIs show up in a year or two i will have a go at it. i was in an accident in 1981 that resulted in a fractured liver among other injuries. i was transfused with about 70 units of whole blood and additional units of platelets. since that time i have experienced elevated transaminases. three years ago the docs said that the disease had progressed to cirrhosis. i seem to recall reading that after about 30 years with this disease about 40 percent develop cirrhosis. a more recent article states "Most HCV patients, if untreated, are expected to develop cirrhosis at about 65 years, irrespective of the age at infection. Thus, age itself seems even more important than age at infection for predicting the occurrence of liver cirrhosis." from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554637
I tried drugs in 1972. One time deal. Got it then, most of the people who were at that party are very sick or dead now. I consider myself lucky in that I quit drinking and doing any drugs back then and have not touched a drop since. So I have had Hep C for 38 years and dx 7 years ago.
Oldhepper, How are you sir? read your post, thanks, So you have hep c since 65 and you have no treatment? Your sleepy all the time, and your stomach is swoolen in the evening? You sound like your going to live utill your 92 , how old are you now??
Contracted 2b in 1965 via blood transfusion. Finally decided to do tx and gastro said "You want to add more poison to your body?" Then, he prescribed Nexium for digestive problems. Which gave me IBS that I hadn't experienced for 30 years. Threw them in the toilet. Gastro says I'm basically very healthy. Doesn't matter that I sleep way too much and have a swollen ab every evening. I gave up. I drink and eat any damned thing I want now and wear loose clothing and expect to live until I'm 82.
Best guess is that amazing year of 1970 and doc is on board with this as most probable.
Diagnosed by fluke in 1995 and treated in 2008-2009. Went on to 'SVR', which is what we call a clinical cure around here.
Yup, glad it's gone but I'm one of those who didn't think about it much and was symptom-free. Decided to treat for strange reasons, one being that my older son kept bugging me to take the plunge. There were times during treatment that I wished I hadn't but now I'm so glad I did.
Susan
I am 61 and had a blood transfusion as baby. Had my first biopsy in 1970 and was diag with non a non b.have no idea other than that. Biopsy was because of elevated liver enzymes.
Barb
You're a relative newb as far as length of infection goes :-)