HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

hep c

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/18/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone. I have posted on here before back when I first found out that my mother had some pretty bad health problems from drinking for so long. Since April we have had a real up and down emotional rollercoaster espicially since I'm her primary caregiver and take her to all her appts. We just found out yesterday that she does for sure have hepatitis c. So m my question is : is there anything that I need to worry about as far her grandchildren and possibly spreading it. She also has varicies in her esophagus and stomach and when or if she bleeds internally she projectile vomits...is this something I should worry about for myself or children.
Posted 1/18/2012 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Mommasgirl! Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, transmitted by blood to blood contact. Your primary concern, regarding both yourself and your children, would be to avoid her blood. If she should cut herself, let your children know not to touch the cut. She should advise all medical personnel about her hep C status, if they don't already know.

For more information on hep C, I suggest you read the info in the folder at the top of the page, entitled Hepatitis Resources. Another good source of info is this site: http://hepatitiscentral.org/

Is her hepatologist planning hep C treatment for her?

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 1/18/2012 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
She is seeing a GI Dr right now because it was close to impossible to get her in with a hepatologist. She hasn't drank in about six months and they want to wait another six months to do any treatment. The other thing that the Dr said was that he wanted to wait that six months but can't promise anything bc he doesn't know how advanced the damage might be. Does that sound right.
Posted 1/18/2012 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
If there is too much damage, he may not want to subject her to treatment. He may be thinking transplant instead. However, with not drinking for so long, her liver should get a little better or at least not have rapid disease progression. Giving up alcohol was the best thing she could do for her liver. That said, without treatment, hep C does progress over time, causing cirrhosis and liver cancer.

I would still seek a second opinion via a hepatologist.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 1/18/2012 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mommasgirl, Mama Lama here.

My partner has Hep C and we hve been together over 30 years and I have not contracted the disease..through nose bleeds, broken bones, cuts and bruises, etc.

We are very careful about personal grooming contact.... We don't ever share tooth brushes, bars of soap, drinking glasses, not even water bottles, etc.

I keep latex gloves on hand in case he has a medical emergency. And I've used them.

My best to you in this difficult time.

Mike had a transplant in May 2011 and is feeling very well these days. After having Hep C, cirrhosis, and Liver Cancer! It has been a miracle to have him BACK.

Carol
Posted 1/19/2012 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have been with my husband since 1995 . . he had HepC the whole time, and I had no idea!! I have fixed him up, cuts etc., and I do not have it. Since you are aware, take the precautions . . no sense taking the chance, for you or your children!!

Best of luck to you and congrats to your Mom for not drinking!! Keep us posted!!

Debbie
Posted 1/19/2012 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Is there a vaccination?or something for prevention? My mom lives with my brother in law and hes freaking out about it and I need to be able to make him aware of everything.
Posted 1/19/2012 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
As far as I know there are no shots you can take to avoid  Hep C, just the precautions listed earlier.  I have been with my hubby for 15 years and we have been careful about not sharing personal items, but I have not used rubber gloves...I have them, but he doesn't have bleeding problems...yet. 

I would think the grandchildren should be educated about not getting grandma's blood on them...(I don't know a good way to do this without it sounding like grandma is "contaminated"  Not having children we haven't had to deal with this issue.)

The more your brother in law educates himself, the more comfortable he will be with the situation. 

So sorry you are going through this and good for your Mom giving up the drinking.  Be sure to let her know how proud of her you are for doing so.  Can't have been easy.

Angie1953 

Posted 1/19/2012 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
There is no vaccination against hep C, though there is for hep A and B.

Tell your BIL to calm down. It's not AIDS and not easy to transmit.

Hugs,
Connie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply