curiousabout my hep c

[meanhepc74752]

I was told that I had contracted the hep c at Brandon regional hospital.there they took blood test and some other things I just don't know...I don't know how severe my hep c is at this point I do know that I haven't had the meds Im supposed to take since I left the hospital.i have no insurance I have nothing...iknow of a place that helps you out with treatment but its all the way in st pete fla.i just don't know and before I wqs diagnosed I told them I had moderate liver damage done from an overdose.what do I do its been a year and I don't know where to start.

[Dee1956]

You have received the best advice from the above posters.
I just wanted to wish you good luck.
I hope you will let us know how you are doing.
Take care
D

[ceanothus]

I agree with all of the above and would also suggest that you start to educate yourself about HCV - how it is transmitted, what tests are important, how it affects your liver and your overall health and what treatments are available (and how they work). A great place to find all of this information fairly easily is at http://hcvadvocate.org. You have to copy that link and paste it into a new browser window. You can also learn a lot just by browsing around this forum, but its a slower way to find all the info. Education is really the key to getting a grip on your health. Good luck!

[HectorSF]

First find out if you really are chronically infected with hepatitis C. They might have not done all the testing to determine you are actually currently infected. Get a copy of your hepatitis C antibody and HCV RNA tests. Only by having the results from both will you know if you are really infected.

"What to Expect When Getting Tested for Hepatitis C
Two different types of blood tests are needed to tell if a person has Hepatitis C.
The initial screening test is a blood test that looks for antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus. Sometimes this test is called a Hepatitis C Antibody Test.
The test results will take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to come back, although new Rapid Antibody Tests are available in some settings.
What do the Hepatitis C Antibody Test Results Mean?
A non-reactive or negative antibody test result means that a person is not currently infected with the Hepatitis C virus. However, if a person has been recently exposed to the Hepatitis C virus, he or she will need to be tested again.
A reactive or positive antibody test result means that Hepatitis C antibodies were found in the blood which means a person has been infected with the Hepatitis C virus at some point in time. Most people who get infected with the virus, stay infected with Hepatitis C. This is known as chronic Hepatitis C. However, some people are able to get rid of or “clear” the virus. Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood. This is true even if they have cleared the Hepatitis C virus.
What to do if the Hepatitis C Antibody Test is Reactive
If the Hepatitis C Antibody Test is reactive, an additional, follow-up test will be needed to see if the Hepatitis C virus is currently in the blood.
If the additional blood test is:
Negative—this means a person was infected with Hepatitis C, but the virus has now been cleared from his or her body.
Positive—this means a person currently has the virus in his or her blood and is chronically infected.
If a person has a reactive antibody test and a positive follow-up test, he or she needs to talk to a health care provider experienced in treating Hepatitis C."

"I had moderate liver damage done from an overdose."
If you have a history of drug abuse you need to stop the abuse of drugs as hep C infection is commonly transmitted through IV drug use. If you have a history of depression you will need to manage our depression before starting and of the current interferon based treatments. Interferon can cause depressive episodes. Hepatitis C treatment is expensive and requires doctors visits and tests besides the medicine to be done properly. You will need health insurance to cover your costs if you need to treat a chronic hepatitis C infection.

The county of Hillsborough Florida has "Hillsborough HealthCare" a managed care program for Hillsborough County residents with limited income and assets who do not qualify for other health care coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid.

If you do not qualify for any of these programs you can then get health insurance coverage at the Florida Marketplace where you can buy individual health insurance. The insurance coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2014.
https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/individual/#state=florida

Good luck.
Hector