Symptoms

[TDBrown]

Hello I am writing from Las Vegas and 1 of the 40000 Endoscopic Center of Southern Nevada (and more now as soon as they release the number of Desert Shadow Endoscopic patients) that were exposed to HEP ABC&D and HIV.  I am told it may take more than a week to get the results and I obviously am a little anxious about this whole mess.  I have been sickffor about 18 months since about 5 or 6 weeks after a colonoscopy with the following symptoms and was hoping you could tell me whether they are all symptoms of HEP C or one of the others nd if you think maybe also symptoms of something else as well.  

yellow skin a lot more yellow after being in the sun, sunburns very easily now, eyes dry and bloodshot, chronic kidney/bladder infections, also sometimes ear  infections and once pnemonia, abdominal pain.  I also had renal, liver, etc. radiological exams last year showing a slightly enlarged liver, with a small scarring or scerosis  of the liver and I am not a drinker (except when I was on vacation in the Phillipines and I get the runs and not sure it is the water I drank bottled beer a few times a day for a week - LOL).  Another symptom is white spotting on the skin and swelling of the skin - water retention maybe which could be associated with the kidney infections, but today I have an infection and no swelling,  Also my ankles swell up after being in the sun for a short time and are extremely yellow looking.  I suffer all of these but the worst symptom I am having is night sweats with palpatations that are so bad when I lay down I have to force myself to get up and go get a drink... just about every single time I lay down.  After the worst of that my heart just palpatates so hard I feel like I am bouncing.

thanks for any commment.  

[Bill1954]

Hi there,

Welcome to the discussion group. There are lots of folks here that can help you and your husband navigate through all this; but do yourself a favor; go to the top of the page and click on ‘post question’ button. This will open a new thread, and you’ll get more feedback; the thread you tagged on to was started in 2008.

Good luck—

Bill

[jpattenaude]

my husband just found out he had hep c he has had meny surgerys in the past 4 yeart due to a broken back. he has never been a drug user or had any other risk factor so i believe he must have got it suring one of his surgerys. how would we find out? does onyone have any advice for us please??

[Wassup]

Re: symptoms, the website she suggested is excellent.  I haven't seen one better. With regard to the palpitations, I wonder if this could be a 'panic attack'. When you lie down, perhaps you start to think of all the things that concern you right now, and your body, having that fight or flight self preservation thing sends a rush of adrenalin throughout your body.  Try having something else to listen to , (besides your own concerns), when you lie down.  Then, (ask your Dr. first), try to stand and run in place or do a few jumping jacks, to get the adrenaline out to your larger muscles, (instead of your heart and lungs). Good luck to you, A hug for good measure, Ant B    

[Kalio1]

I agree 100% with pigeonca. It seems like a simple thing, add Hep C to the list of the standard things they test people for both at our regular treating physician and also in all STD clinics.
So many are walking around undiagnosed due to the doctor's refusing to accept that there are a substantial number of "community acquired" people because they don't fit into the cookie cutter profile, past IV drug use or transfusions.
When I mentioned this to my own doctor his response was "oh, a few people still acquire HIV in hospitals" like it was no big deal.
(!!!!)
Let's hope our whole healthcare system is soon revamped and prevention along with disease screening become commonplace.

[pigeonca]

When you think about the number of people who contracted hcv in a medical, dental or cosmetic setting, and also remember that up to 20 percent of us have no hint of an idea how we caught it, you realize that this Nevada thing - like Kalio's experience - is only the tip of the iceberg.  

Once again, we need to militate for universal testing so that - when this sort of malpractice or carelessness or ignorance goes on - we can take care of ourselves before our bodies suffer excessive damage.  This story makes me so angry!

[Kalio1]

I was so sad to hear of the outbreak in Nevada, but I was very glad it was big enough to make the National news. The outbreak at the out patient clinic in the hospital I got mine from only infected 6, then one at a nearby hospital only infected 4, the only reason I found out about it was the filed suit and that made the papers.Rhese and many other cases of outbreaks in clinical settings ( particularly dialysis clinics and settings like the one I was infected in, outpatient hosp. doing spinal epidurals) are smaller, so they often don't even make the papers.
I am sorry so many are facing this, I hope it wakes people up to the fact that contracting Hep C is a danger if you are visiting hospitals and these types of facilities.Doctors and nurses swear up and down getting Hep C isn't a risk, that really bugs me. They should warn patients this is one of the risks they face.

[Forseegood]

Hi, I am also very sorry for what happened there, it's really inexcusable in this day and age...you have to realize that symptoms are a tricky thing, many diseases share some of the same kinds of symptoms...and this is an especially weird disease, in that some people can have cirrhosis and have no symptoms, and some people can have stage 0 or stage 1 (low to no liver damage) and have many symptoms...

many docs and researchers think it's because it's the virus itself that wreaks havoc with the immune system, etc...and that;s what's causing many symptoms...when you get a common flu, the reason your system expresses symptoms is because the immune system is fighting off a virus, some of this same phenomenon is at play with our virus...but everyone is different, and this disease plays out differently with everybody...some times I think some of us have a few things going on that are tag-teaming us, like some of us women with menopause, the hep is making the menopause worse, and vice versa....sometimes a patient can express one set of symptoms that go away, and others come later, etc....

Here is a good website that explains a lot about the disease, and it's symptoms that some of us express....some people actually express in flare-ups (me for instance) where I might have a raft of symptoms that mostly go away after a period...the only symptom I have all the time is fatigue, and occasionally some other things...good luck to you and I hope they can do all they can for you guys...as you can see, if this is the case, there are many here who go on and have good lives despite all this....best of luck to you....

http://janis7hepc.com/Symptoms.htm

[TDBrown]

Thank you to all who responded.  I am okay with this.  I was at the doctor for a kidney bladder infection the day after the news broke and after having all the infections and other problems cropping up with no diagnosis to date, then having been an endoscopic center patient, the doctor thought I should be tested for HEP C.  I was just a little concerned when I first heard about this, and after the blood tests I checked my medical records and all  symptoms except hotflashes and bowel obstruction came after my colonoscopy.  I kept hearing that it was individuals who received anesthesia at the Endoscopic Center of Southern Nevada.  I visited my doctors at that center, but they sent me to the Desert Shadow Endoscopic Center for the colonoscopy.  I started to worry a little more when I tried to find out from the Health Department if this place was included in this mess and if the doctors brought the same anesthesiologists to this center as it is owned and run by the same people.  The Health Department said they didn't know the answer to that question, why don't I ask my doctor? !^$@$#!!!  It was the next day that they released the news that the Desert Shadow clinic was also investigated, they found violations, they say not as severe or the same as the other clinic, but they won't tell us what until they are corrected.  Okay, so why didn't they answer my questions before.  I can't help from feeling they are protecting the owners of this clinic and not the people as I always thought their job was to do.  (Why else would they try to get me communicating with these doctors, just forget about the incident, they know how to do their jobs now, they taught them, just go on as business as usual)  They are also the ones that investigated and watched the doctors and nurses do their procedures with the vials and let them go ahead and inject patients while they waited just to see what else they may be doing wrong throughout procedures!  They later explained this in today's newspaper as "they did it for the greater good".  It was that afternoon that the Mayor had the first center closed down.  How am I suppose to believe in our Health Department now when the city has to override their decision and close the center down.  Because I couldn't get a straight answer whether the Desert Shadow clinic was also using dirty tools during surgery from our own Health Department, is why I went to the blood drive to also get the HIV test done.  I was really worrying after all this and then the doctor at the blood drive asked me if I was having nightsweats, and a couple other symptoms that I did have and wanted me to do all HEP tests again as well as the HIV test.  I do have the nightsweats but always felt like it was just another form of hotflash.
I don't know the exact type of tests any of these are, but if I find out, I'll let you know as you asked.  I'll also let you know the outcome.  You are also right, I am done worrying.  If I have hepatitis, I can deal with it but this is why I came here.  I can't put my faith in the doctors here and need to learn about this.  At least I will know if I have it and can treat and finally work on getting better.   It has been a long time trying to figure my illness out.
If any of you would like more information go to the Las Vegas Sun's website, search for endoscopic center or Hepatitis and read about it.  At the end of each story is a place to leave your comments.  It would help the entire United States by keeping the issues of this mess alive and at the top of the paper to ensure our politicians know this can't be swept under the carpet.  The best way to keep it on top, is to show an interest by continuously posting comments where it will be read.  Thanks and I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.

[TDBrown]

Thank you to all who responded.  I am okay with this.  I was at the doctor for a kidney bladder infection the day after the news broke and after having all the infections and other problems cropping up with no diagnosis to date, then having been an endoscopic center patient, the doctor thought I should be tested for HEP C.  I was just a little concerned when I first heard about this, and after the blood tests I checked my medical records and all  symptoms except hotflashes and bowel obstruction came after my colonoscopy.  I kept hearing that it was individuals who received anesthesia at the Endoscopic Center of Southern Nevada.  I visited my doctors at that center, but they sent me to the Desert Shadow Endoscopic Center for the colonoscopy.  I started to worry a little more when I tried to find out from the Health Department if this place was included in this mess and if the doctors brought the same anesthesiologists to this center as it is owned and run by the same people.  The Health Department said they didn't know the answer to that question, why don't I ask my doctor? !^$@$#!!!  It was the next day that they released the news that the Desert Shadow clinic was also investigated, they found violations, they say not as severe or the same as the other clinic, but they won't tell us what until they are corrected.  Okay, so why didn't they answer my questions before.  I can't help from feeling they are protecting the owners of this clinic and not the people as I always thought their job was to do.  (Why else would they try to get me communicating with these doctors, just forget about the incident, they know how to do their jobs now, they taught them, just go on as business as usual)  They are also the ones that investigated and watched the doctors and nurses do their procedures with the vials and let them go ahead and inject patients while they waited just to see what else they may be doing wrong throughout procedures!  They later explained this in today's newspaper as "they did it for the greater good".  It was that afternoon that the Mayor had the first center closed down.  How am I suppose to believe in our Health Department now when the city has to override their decision and close the center down.  Because I couldn't get a straight answer whether the Desert Shadow clinic was also using dirty tools during surgery from our own Health Department, is why I went to the blood drive to also get the HIV test done.  I was really worrying after all this and then the doctor at the blood drive asked me if I was having nightsweats, and a couple other symptoms that I did have and wanted me to do all HEP tests again as well as the HIV test.  I do have the nightsweats but always felt like it was just another form of hotflash.
I don't know the exact type of tests any of these are, but if I find out, I'll let you know as you asked.  I'll also let you know the outcome.  You are also right, I am done worrying.  If I have hepatitis, I can deal with it but this is why I came here.  I can't put my faith in the doctors here and need to learn about this.  At least I will know if I have it and can treat and finally work on getting better.   It has been a long time trying to figure my illness out.
If any of you would like more information go to the Las Vegas Sun's website, search for endoscopic center or Hepatitis and read about it.  At the end of each story is a place to leave your comments.  It would help the entire United States by keeping the issues of this mess alive and at the top of the paper to ensure our politicians know this can't be swept under the carpet.  The best way to keep it on top, is to show an interest by continuously posting comments where it will be read.  Thanks and I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.

[debnevada]

unbelievably, Jim, they have had six definite acute cases so far.......since september of last year...most reported in late dec. january.....

TD, this does not mean you, i think.  I know the symptom set of those cases and it is not similar to what you describe.....but in any case you won't know until you get your tests back.  The health department sent a fax to every doctor in town making recommendations as to what tests to get, not just the antibody but an initial viral load as well.  By the way, they shut the endoscopy practice down, but not the GI practice attached to it. and this group has a total of five endoscopy practices.

[jmjm530]

In most cases, Hepatitis C has no symptons in the acute stage. The symptons you describe could be from any number of things and not necessarily from Hep C or your endoscophy. Try and remain optimistic and calm until your test results come in next week. If you can, please come back and let us know what the tests results were. Also, it would be informative if you told us exactly what tests you were given. I assume they will give you a copy of the results. If not, you should request your own copy and then you could post the name of the tests here. Again, don't worry too much because it could turn out to be nothing. My guess is that only a very small percentage of those at the clinic will come down with something.

-- Jim

[Eileen104]

It sounds like all the classics signs of Hep B.  I had that as a teenager and it sounds like acute hepb.  Once you get the results everyone you have immediate contact with also need to get checked if it is a or b.  If it is C those symptoms are extremely aggresive.  Also I have been married 16 years and my husband does not have it so hep C is not as easily transmitted as a and b.  Definitely sounds like B too me.  Good luck.  I think what happened in Nevada was an absolute disgrace and that place should be shut down for good.

[debnevada]

i made a mistake, it was november of 06 that i got hep c at the hospital.

[debnevada]

TD, I am in Vegas too. I got hep c from a hospital infection about a year ago.  I am very aware of what is going on as I was interviewed by the health dept. for both my case and in the case that you received the letter for.

First, you are going to have to wait for the results of the HCV test. Have you had it drawn? It seems like you did, but its hard to tell.

Those symptoms might not be related to Hep C at all.

However, keep us posted. If it turns out that you DO have hep c from the endoscopy center (and I got a second opinion from Dr. DeXXX, by the way at that practice, but no endoscopy), I can steer you toward a good hepatologist.

My doctor, Dr. Gish and his nurse are working with the drug companies and a couple of other sources to get funding for a hep c support group for folks who have hep c as a result of this outbreak and other medical or hospital acquired infections. I will be involved in that group as well.  Please keep us posted and I believe the health department will be distributing the flyers that we are working up.

Try to stay calm until you get the results of the test. Feel free to email me from this site.

Deb

[hippygem]

Ive read about what happened in Nevada and I feel sorry for all you people, its a terrible thing to have happened.
You have quite a list of symptoms and ailments, a few of them dont apply to hepatitis c, and possibly apply to the other hepatitis's like A and B.
Having to worry about all this and waiting for results is probably causing you a lot of stress and anxiety, all I can say is 'hang in there' and wait to get the results.