My son is newly diagnosed

[hepcson]

My son 30, has battled various drug addictions since about 18.  He was just diagnosed with Hepatitis C.  He lives in Florida, and is uninsured. There are very few treatment alternatives for uninsured patients. I am a registered nurse and unfortunately my only exposure to caring for Hep C patients has been when they are very, very ill.  I know very little about the acute and chronic phases.  

He lives about an hour away, because of his addiction my relationship with him is not one of trust.  I have not seen him since he states he was diagnosed.  He tells me he has horrible headaches each and every afternoon.  He states he does not take tylenol or aspirin.  He states he takes 800 mg of ibprofen with no relief.  My questions are:
1.  The severe daily headache--Does this mean he is acute or has moved to chronic?  Does it mean anything else?
2.  What is the best thing to do for the headache?
3.  Should he expect to feel better, or will he feel this way all his life?

4. He has shared needles with his girlfriend many times.  She tested just after him.  He tells me he had a high viral load and she tested and results for her were normal.  How can that be?  She believes she is in the clear---I told him that is not so.  I read it can take up to 26 weeks for the virus to appear.  Is this true?

[blondie717]

hi sent ya another pm. hope ya did not bow yet...Im sure noone hold you in contempt?? You should remember though lots are on TX or have been on TX or maybe they did do drugs in another lifetime and moved on, or maybe they got it another way and there are many..

[hepcson]

I apologize if I hurt anybodies feelings.  It was not my intent.  I was not passing judgment on anyone.  I have too have been on that side.  5 years ago I was diagnosed with lung cancer and do not smoke.  Everyone that hears about it asks how long I smoked.  I get angry about that.  

I am hurt beyond grief about my son. None of my comments were directed at anyone other than him. You are right this is not an addiction forum and I shall bow out.  It sounds like some of you have some misplaced anger yourselves.

[carol411]

Yes, words hurt.  

[nygirl7]

Yes but a great majority of us who have given years of our life trying to help and council, who made mistakes when we were younger do have this disease and did not get it from transfusion.  Should we not be cured because of the manner in which we got the disesase?

People do need to realize that not everyone who has an addiction problem stays on drugs forever and many of us while we did make huge mistakes when we were younger are now 50+, parents, loving spouses, good decent working class people and we do take it to heart when it appears that someone says that we too should not have been cured.

Words hurt.

[carol411]

I don't think hepcson intended to offend.  I think she has watched her son trying to destroy his life for years and has an understandable horror about what addiction can do to people.  Years ago I made some bad choices, but I don't like being around people now who are on that road.  There is too often a bad destination at the end.  

Hepcson, I hope your son is clean, but if he is hanging out with the same people it's likely he will slip.  Why not look into trials further away?  If he's serious about wanting a different life style it will help to not be where the old life style is.  And Will is right, looking at an addiction forum might give you some insight on how to help without being sucked into the drama.

[willbb]

Talking about lack of funds and avail. of testing for HCV  and funds for interferon at this juncture is a moot point. Your son needs to address the "illness " of addiction before he can even begin to think about  attending to his HCV.


You said:
Actually how, he acquired is of no consequence, he has it, it is history.  I love him as my child.  I have no respect or trust for the person he has evolved into.  I have been on a long emotional, chaotic, and financially stripping journey with him. I have no  more for him.  I can offer him education about his disease processes.  He has two chronic life long diseases--addiction and hep C.  Both of which were completely avoidable with good life choices.


Whether  or not the "illnesses he has "were avoidable "or not is really inconsequential,,I believe what is more important is what will the people that care about him do to help him with his" illnesses" now..


You said:
"When a person becomes an addict, they fall into the forgotten health care population.  "

So  true...thats why  it is so important that people that have NOT forgotten him never stop trying to help.


This is not an addiction forum,  so I may have stepped outside the box here ,however your sons" illnesses" very often go hand in hand  and I hope he gets all the help he can to beat both.

All the best

WILL