Hi Linda,
Mae has given you the HW Hepatitis Forum Grand Tour. I would underscore one thing she said: Avoid alcohol. Somehow it increases the severity of Hep and and reduces the time from infection to serious symptoms.
My partner, Mike, was infected in 1970 and didn't become ill for 40 years.
He was a drinking man and drank, often heavily, all that time, but for one year when he took an Interferon/Ribavarin treatment. As you said the Interferon was a rough course.
Mike did not clear the virus and he continued on his merry way for a long time.
By fall of 2010,he was desperately ill --- very high liver enzymes, very low platelets....plus edema in legs, mental confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), leg cramping, high blood pressure, and episodes of acute kidney failure.
He was seen at a major medical center for Hep C AND Alcoholic Cirrhosis. They found a tumor in his liver...so we fondly say Mike scored a HAT TRICK --- 3 deadly diseases at once!
His hepatologist was wonderful, and very clear. If Mike didn't stop drinking completely, he would die in short order. His MELD score was 24 the day he had his first Hep appointment at U Miami FL. And they told him that folks didn't get on transplant lists unless they were 6 months alcohol free!!!!! And that he had to go to a treatment center, therapy, or AA multiple times a week. And he had to keep a log signed by the doc or AA speaker every time he went.
He was so ill. But he did the AA thing. Never took another beer, wine, or gin and tonic! And still he almost died. But bit by bit, he stayed alive until a liver was found for him. He is now 22 months post transplant, has seen 2 Christmases the doc promised he would not, if he did not get sober. Is he perfect? No. He is alive and 63, retired to a quieter life than he had imagined.
He still has Hep C. It is a blood disease that destroys livers. So his nice new liver is getting messed up. And they have new treatment, but Mike is ineligible...kidneys not strong enough. so they are waiting for treatment until his kidney numbers are better and hoping onemof the new treatment will be Interferon free.
My advice to you: Get to major med center. Get seen by a hepatologist at a center that does lots of liver tansplants. Get started, checked out. Follow the diet. Take the meds recommeneded. Get checked regularly, and when it is "time," they will be there for you.
With good living, no alchol, wt management, low sodium diet, as much exercise as you can manage...it could be years before this gets really bad. Your doc will recommend whether to treat now or later.
I'm sorry you have had to find us, but we will share our information and provide a lot of support. Let us hear from you again,
Carol
Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 2/24/2013 10:57:45 AM (GMT-7)