interfuron treatments worth the pain?

[caiti87]

I was recently diagnosed with hep c, weird thing is that for months now my blood work had been showing really high liver enzymes and my doc screened me for hep a,b,and c three times and they ALL came back negative. Finally I was feeling soo sick and in so much pain that they admitted me to the hospital, and did an ultra sound and more blood work, when they got the results they decided to fly me to another hospital in a city two hours away, I was too sick to even be scared. after being there for a day the docs came in and told me that i had hep c and it was in the chronic phase, which is also odd to me since i've read that people have hep c their whole lives and dont suffer any symptoms. Why is mine so aggressive soo early? The doctors advised me to start interfuron and rivabbaren (sp?) as soon as im able, that if I dont I will almost certainly need a transplant or develop caner down the road. I've been reading  and trying to educate myself on this disease as much as possible, but everything I'm reading states that most people dont have many issues with it, not like mine anyway. also i've read that the treatments have terrible side effects, a nurse even compared it to chemo, which i found a little excessive but still sounds awful. So my question is, are starting the treatments immediately really that necessary and important enough that it will save me from having to get a liver transplant an or possibly cancer?? And is it worth the horrible side effects? i cant imagine going through those for up to a year, but if it means saving my life, I'll do it.  

[jules2551]

lmao  "Can"t believe Em is still on coffee break..haha."

I hope she just enjoys her coffee...she deserves it..she puts up with a lot in here

How are you doing Will?  Good I hope!

Jules

[nygirl7]

Good bye and best of luck with everything you have going on.  
I hope that the doctors can help you.

[caiti87]

Thank you, your post literally brought me to tears.. I dont know how this attempt at getting some answers has turned into me trying to defend myself against hateful comments about me throwing my life away, intentionally leaving out pertinent info and attacking people. I'm so much more lost than before but I pray to find the answers somewhere.... Thank you for reminding me that there is kindness to be found.....

Desert, all I have to say is AMEN!!! lol it is difficult and very costly to find even barely competent healthcare in this remote area, having to drive as far as 9 hours to san antonio or 6 hours to lubbock even can be trying. Thank you also

[caiti87]

Thank you, i'd be more than happy and gracious to accept your support and give mine as often as you may need it. Just not on this forum....

[caiti87]

I was quoting him when calling him an "old folk" if you care to go back and carefully re read his post. also saying that im throwing my life away before it has began, that he pities me and my choices or life is "truly very tragic", don't quite seem like helpful advice to me..... I will be the first to admit that i am naive about my test results and the fact that my opiate use was pertinent info, besides the tylenol of course... Thank you to all those for the support, but as i stated before I will seek counsel from my doctors from here on out, they know and understand my medical history and test results far better than I do. I also know I will not be told I have given up my life before it began, but told how to hold on to it for many many more happy years to come. My intentions were never to leave out pertinent info, but whats done can not be undone. only a lesson learned......

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

Please remember that some in this forum have used drugs, some may still.  It doesn't seem as if anyone was judging about the drug use, only saying that it is important to know in regards to health care decisions, especially around hep C.

There is no reason to continue to debate the question of who meant what and why.  Please move forward and offer the great support and info you all are so good at.  :)

Emily