hep.c

[mikelj]

how  deadly  is  hep  c

[SusieS2010]

Below is wht the CDC has to say about the long-term effects of hepatitis C. I am reprinting this here because I think that my post may have been a  bit too reassuring and some of the others here may give you the impression that hep C is mostly deadly, which it is not. The problem is that when diagnosed it is not  usually possible to predict who will end up with end stage liver disease and who will live a normal and relatively healthy lifestyle.
..............................
What are the long-term effects of Hepatitis C?

Of every 100 people infected with the Hepatitis C virus, about

75–85 people will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus infection; of those,
60–70 people will go on to develop chronic liver disease
5–20 people will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years
1–5 people will die from cirrhosis or liver cancer

[SusieS2010]

Below is wht the CDC has to say about the long-term effects of hepatitis C. I am reprinting this here because I think that my post may have been a  bit too reassuring and some of the others here may give you the impression that hep C is mostly deadly, which it is not. The problem is that when diagnosed it is not  usually possible to predict who will end up with end stage liver disease and who will live a normal and relatively healthy lifestyle.
..............................
What are the long-term effects of Hepatitis C?

Of every 100 people infected with the Hepatitis C virus, about

75–85 people will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus infection; of those,
60–70 people will go on to develop chronic liver disease
5–20 people will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years
1–5 people will die from cirrhosis or liver cancer

[milliehepc]

Thank you printze: I too cannot tolerate hot humid weather.  It has to be winter for me. lol.  And, boy o boy - I sure would love for those orals to come out - I'm jumping on any trial that comes out that does not have the interferon - and Incevik. I'm going to a Hep C conference in NY February 9th - hope they bring us good news - something I haven't heard on the forums already.  
Thanks so much for you input - cross fingers we will be fine.
millie

[printze]

I am in the same situation as you , I am still scared about tx when I start late this summer( I am waiting till summer has passed because I cannot tolerate the hot humid weather)  I discussed this with my hep specialist and I can wait the extra 6 mths , however I totally agree this forum has helped me deal and provided me with great knowledge to lessen the fears. I continually read the posts and occasionally like now post my little comment. It is not a death sentance as a lot of  us thought when first diagnosed. Good advice from above and learn as much as you can ,you will feel a lot better for it . You will be ok, do not worry. Good luck.

[milliehepc]

I just want to say that when I first was diagnosed I was in a daze after discovering what it really is to have Hep C.  Though I knew I had it for years (now counting 37) I was unaware that there were stages (I am stage 2/3 type 1 abd 63 yrs old.).  

However, 2 months later after reading the post on a daily basis and interacting with the most caring and knowledgeble people I have ever come across - I now know there is hope, though the thought of tx frightens me terribly.

There is a person name Hector here whose post leave me speechless.  I am always in awe of the knowledge and bravery he poses.  Though there are quite a number of like minds on this forum.  And, even when they don't agree with each other particularly when it comes to trials, to wait or not to wait - along those lines - the discussions are enlightening.  

Point is - you've come to the right place.....

Good Luck
millie

[pooh55811]

I agree with you. Hep C (and liver disease) is very serious and I hope my posts did not indicate that I thought otherwise. I also agree that Hep C leads to other diseases/ailments as you mentioned. I know that personally as I had systemic vasculitis in 1994 and was very, very ill with it, thanks to my silent Hep C.

I was not diagnosed with Hep C until July 2011 even though I have had it for 30-35 years. However, I am not sitting on the sidelines doing nothing, and I would hope other newly diagnosed people would not be either. I immediately got in to see a gastroenterologist, had needed tests and exams, and began treatment as soon as I could (Sept. 2011).

I think newly diagnosed people need to learn as much as possible about Hep C, get a good GI or Hepatologist, get the needed tests, and discuss treatment options.

I just wanted to reassure mikelj  a little that he probably won't die in a year (which I actually thought I would be dead in a year when I first discovered I had Hep C).

[fretboard]

Well I've lost three friends in the past year to HepC related issues.  Now granted two were still drinking but one was not.  Liver disease is very serious stuff.  HepC by itself leads to all kinds of stuff so in a way it kills you slowly but not directly.  Mostly it starts with something that's not too bad like gerd (acid reflux disease) then maybe it will help create gall stones or something else.  Pancreas issues or something else nearby.  HepC is a killer, no doubt it just goes back to who, what and when.  

[pooh55811]

I think my previous post was heavy on some facts but not others. I was answering your question but after posting I realized that you may have Hep C and may be newly diagnosed and very concerned that you may die from it. I think we all were when we discovered, usually by accident, that we have Hep C. In fact, I think most of us were freaked out and worried we would be dead very soon. Becoming informed with the facts  helps alleviate those fears. There are many good sites on the web that will give you information. In addition, this site is a great place to ask questions and discuss fears.

I should add that Chronic Hepatitis C can be diagnosed and treated with medications. Depending on the Hep C Genotype that one has, there can be as high as a 90% clearance rate. Even the most difficult to treat Genotypes are having 75-80% response rate with the current (new) triple medication treatment. There are more drugs in the pipeline, although they could be 3-5 years away.

Hep C is not an automatic death sentence, although that does not mean a person should ignore it. I am just saying that most people will die with Hep C, not of Hep C.

If you have Hep C you need to find a good Gastroenterologist or a Hepatologist who is familiar with Chronic Hep C and the treatment regimes. That doctor can do specific tests to see how much, if any, liver damage you have, and discuss treatment options with you.

[pooh55811]

That is a difficult question to answer because the disease does not affect each person in the same way.

Some people clear the virus on their own after being infected and they do not develop chronic Hep. C.

75-80% go on to develope chronic Hepatitis C. Many people have the disease 20, 30, 40 years before they are diagnosed because Hep C does not have obvious manifestations. It can be very silent until a lot of damage is done to the liver. However, even some people who have had the disease for shorter periods of time can develop damage to the liver. The rate of progression of the disease ( chronic Hep C) varies with the individual. Also, certain activiries such as drinking alcohol can speed up the progression. In addition, as one ages the disease progression tends to speed up.

Hep C can be deadly to some people. It just depends on how fast the disease progresses, and no one can predict that.

Here are a couple sites that give you some statistics:

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/cFAQ.htm#overview

"What are the long-term effects of Hepatitis C?"
"Of every 100 people infected with the Hepatitis C virus, about
•75–85 people will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus infection; of those,
◦60–70 people will go on to develop chronic liver disease
◦5–20 people will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years
◦1–5 people will die from cirrhosis or liver cancer "

Another site:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001329/

The bottom line is, you cannot predict exactly what will happen or how fast it will happen in terms of prognosis. One thing for sure, if one has chronic Hepatitis C it is not going to go away on its own.

Hope this information helps.

[SusieS2010]

Hep C is NOT deadly for the vast majority of people. It is a slowly progressive disease and can take decades to get to the point of serious liver damage. For some few people it is the reason for liver transplantation, liver failure and/or liver cancer. However, it is treatable and curable in many many cases.

I hope this has put your mind at ease. I hope you are being cared for by a liver specialist....either a hepatologist or a gastroenterologist who will discuss your prognosis with you and tell you about your treatment options. The people on this forum can also share their experiences with you.