help

[casher78]

I have no idea what to do. I got a phone call from my Dr. two days ago after going in for a UTI. The Dr. thought my urine was cloudy and I had high sugars and proteins so he had blood work done. He called and told me I had tested positive for  hep c. I am a former IV drug user but haven't used in nearly four years. I' m 34 years old and I' m just plain scared. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Advocate1955]

Yes, my husband worked a very physically demanding job throughout all 3 times that he has treated in the past 5 years.  During each of the treatments, he may have taken one or part of a day off due to side effects, but otherwise he was able to push through and not miss any work.  It wasn't easy, but it was do-able.
Best wishes and keep us posted as you get the results of your blood work and other tests back.
Advocate1955

[casher78]

I went to the G.I. doc yesterday. He said my liver functions are normal. He ordered ALOT of blood work. I guess this is a long process. He gave me some good info but I'm not so sure I care much for the guys bedside manner. The nurses were all very encouraging and friendly, however. The thing is, I don't want to jump into anything treatment wise without a lot more info. He gave me the rundown. Nausea, depression, "temper tantrums", etc. It sounds pretty terrible but I'm willing to do it to get well, and I've never been one to quit something without seeing it through. Has anyone worked a physically demanding job while going through treatment?

[ceanothus]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this very informational thread. I hope we didn't frighten off our original posters with the demonstrations of our sometimes high levels of emotional involvement. HCV is such a powerful virus that I guess it's only natural that it inspires us to highly charged responses. They get a little scary at times but in my 1.5 years on this forum they always seem to end peaceably. In this case it seems to me that Idyllic's last post caps off the whole thread, encompassing all those strong views and emotions in a peaceful way - soothing but still focused on the power of knowledge. Great informational thread!

[Idyllic]

Wow sorry you are so scared & freaked. All of us have been there.

The more you learn the less panicked and shamed you will feel.

There are so many misconceptions about Hepatitis C and it seems as if you may have a few. As one recovering from substance abuse it was thing after another in my family for years. Just when things were stable and coming together I tested positive for the antibody.

The Internet wasn't around back then and I read that 20% people clear the virus on their own and I figured that can't be me. Then one day (a few years later) I was reading something I realized I need to have the PCR and Lo I had a VL in the millions.

There was only one treatment back then so the issue of treating was "when" and not "if."

I had a biopsy in 2005 & found out I was stage 1 & treated in 2007.
I did not clear.
I had another biopsy in 2011 was still stage 1
I treated again last year.

So far so good. I have my 24 week SVR labs next month.

I was so certain I contracted the virus when I was using back in the late 80's. The thing is the more I learn and put things together I am not entirely certain when I got infected.

´★¸¸.☆ •*¨*I would schedule a biopsy and share this with my family. Their feelings will mirror yours since you will be the one to educate them.

This is a great thread with a boatload of good info.
Notice the variance in opinions.
Notice the level of expertise in each.

I trust and respect each person who has posted in this thread and have learned so much from them.

We have to be like that since we have ALL learned firsthand just how many people in the medical profession are not experienced and educated about Hepatitis C.

I hate it is like that but the sad reality is Hepatitis C is a disease where you have to learn a lot or you could blindly trust the wrong doctor and make the wrong choice.  I get you are freaked and this is going to take time but don't let that keep you frozen.

I know not much time has lapsed but things are not that bad. You don't have to get healthy and turn a 180 at once. Knowing how far your fibrosis has progressed is a good next step.


Oh btw get vaccinated for Hepatitis A & B next.
Start keeping copies of all your labs too.

Best of luck

I hope you keep posting and let us know what happens♫

[can-do-man]

Thanks Mike, good info. The statement I copied below this has been known for quite awhile yet few here seem to either know it or they choose to ignore the truth........

"Interestingly, they also found a cofactor that was a subset risk, which was genotype 3. If you are genotype 3 and not treated, then you are 2 times more likely to have all of these consequences. We do know that genotype 3 tends to be a much more rapidly progressive disease, although genotypes 2 and 3 are easier to treat. If you don't treat them, they tend to more rapidly progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. They also tend to be more associated with hepatic steatosis, an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. For patients who are subset genotype 3, we need to be very germane in pushing this into a new paradigm shift of prevention of death and much less decompensation and all the consequences of cirrhosis. The endpoints here are so strong for all-comers and even more so for genotype 3, that we need to be treating these people.

[James10500]

cDM- I said that in regard to her scaring someone without having any info on his true condition.  I appreciate her wanting to support those of us who have had or have HCV. But there is no need to scare someone who is frightened already.