I fathered kids while hep c positive

[arpren]

I hate to go against the doomsayers on hep c. But  I must tell the positive side. HepC is rarely a death sentence, only 10-15 percent develop liver cancer or cirrhosis in there old age from hep c. I ve had hepatitis C for over 17 years and I am still in good health . I have fathered 2  daughters in that time who are healthy, normal and free of hepc. I have had regular sex with my woman and she also has not contracted hepC. Hep C is rarely contracted by sex, in fact everyone I know who caught hepc it was either through drug experimentation using needles or through blood transfusions
I think  doctors have  exaggerated the fear of hep C  by naming  the condition  HCV which sounds  awfully like HIV.
The 2 conditions are a world apart


This discussion is related to Help understanding Hep C treatment.

[Bulldoggergal]

I agree about the sexual transmission being overstated...I've had a baby, had unprotected sex for over 20 years with my spouse...so that is true...it's not impossible, but not as much a worry as HepB or so many other STD's that can go untreated and undetected  (especially in women) and can lead to some tragic complications....

I've had the HepC for over 20years...the stats are outdated...but someone is forgetting to tell the doctors that.  I tried time after time to find a doc who actually wanted to see me on a semi regular basis...who believed that fatigue was a symptom...who thought treatment was worth a try (and yes, I did the Intron/Riba combo for 48 weeks and attempted two times the Peg combo...but doctors still treat it like it's not really going to develop into anything.

The treatment caused many issues...that itself may be moving it along.  The docs need the info BEAT INTO THEIR STUBBORN LITTLE HEADS!!  One shouldn't have to beg for treatment or a biopsy.  It's very frustrating!!

It also ***** find any doc, but especially a specialist, who will accept a Medicare patient!!  How convenient that their allotted amount of Medicare patients has always been met...this should also not be allowed.

I have sympathy for some docs...the good ones...they are getting screwed with the insurance companies these days...it all goes up the line to our government...don't get me started!!

Then again...I could get hit by a bus tomorrow...and the statistic won't mean a damn thing...  Thinking about this can drive one CRAZY!!!!  And that's another story for another time.....

xoxoxo

[HCA]

I don't bookmark this stuff,but I have read several reports which conclude that the old stats.are out of date and,as Marc says,the ageing Hep C population is predominately cirrhotic around age 65.
The statistic you quote is an oldie from around year 2000.
Another factor which has skewed the figures is the emerging belief that a modified immune response over a long infection itself causes disease progression.This is also mentioned by Marc who has obviously read the same stuff as me,so hopefully he can provide a link.

[desrt]

If there's any actual evidence that contradicts the statistic that 80% of those infected and left untreated will die of something other than cirrhosis or HCC, I'd be interested in reading it.

[R Glass]

Aspren-
If you choose not to treat your HCV, that’s your business and I respect it. Don’t be deceived by the numbers claimed in studies. I agree with Marc1955’s post. I do suggest you have a Liver Biopsy before making your decision. Some people progress faster than others.

Marc1955-
Knowing that the SOC is fairly new, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for our health due to long-term tx related health issues. Only time will tell. I am not agreeing with aspren’s approach but it seam’s to me, It’s all a gamble.

[HCA]

Marc is right-we now know that a significant majority of patients will develop cirrhosis by age 65.
The risk of sexual transmission is indeed trivial,however the disease is nothing like as benign as you paint it.
Symptoms such as severe fatigue normally manifest themselves after about twenty years.
With respect,you need to adjust your expectations,which seem to be that you'll cruise to a happy healthy old age and prepare to undergo anti-viral therapy.

[Marc1955]

It's good to have a positive attitude but I think you are painting a rosier scenario than is accurate. It used to be thought that the majority of people with HCV would not progress to cirrhosis. Now as the population is aging, that thinking is being revisited. As people age, the ability of their immune system to keep the virus in check diminishes. I think it is now believed that a majority of patients with HCV will develop cirrhosis by the age of 65. Certainly that's not everyone, but it is a very substantial fraction and it does represent a great deal of medical cost, human suffering, and higher than normal mortality.

The advice for everyone with HCV is to be under the active care of a hepatologist and to monitor the progress of the illness. One cannot afford to be overly confident. I hope you check in regularly with a hepatologist.