I am suffering from Hepatitis C. What can I do to minimize damage to my liver?

Welcome to the forum ArabellaW,

I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with Hep C.

Where once this was a dreadful diagnosis, there are now medications that can cure the virus.

And if your virus was recently acquired, you may not have serious damage yet.

My partner, Mike, contracted Hep C long before it had a name or treatment...in the late 1960s. He didn't become ill until 2003! So that virus was in there causing all kinds of problems for a long long time. Once diagnosed there WAS a treatment that was difficult and did not cure more than half who tried it. He did poorly and the Hep C continued damaging his liver.

By 2010 he was in terrible shape. They said he was in End Stage Liver Disease with all the symptoms: fatigue, sleeping during the day, restless at night, confused with incephalopathy, he had edeme fron his ankles to his knees (some have swollen belly too), he trembled, he had leg cramps in the night, etc. etc. We got him to a Hepatologist at a major medical center and although he was dying, they put him into a Transplant Program. BUT, he was drinking alcohol...so he had to sober up for 6 months before he could qualify.

So long story...if you have been recently diagnosed...it would be years and years before you got this sick. If you have been infected for al ong time you need to get started on a treatment program. Find a hepatologist or get a referral from primary or a local GI doctor. They will figure out where you are. And the new treatments, a pill or two a day with few side effects, can cure your liver.

After Mike's transplant he still had the Hep C and it started doing damage to his new liver. Oh, NO. But once the new treatments were approved, he was once of the first to go on them. He was cured the first time...So now he just had his 6th anniversary post Transplant, and 3 year anniversary Hep C free.

Things you could do to make a difference: No alcohol. (Mike's doc says also to stay away from high frutose corn syrup in ingredients because it digests the same as booze.) Easy on the red meats. Limit salt intake.Lots of fruits and veggies. Keep your wt under control or lose wt if you are overweight.

I am hoping this is a recent diagnosis and you can get on top of this quickly. Come back to see us if you have more questions.

Mama Lama

You should have your hep c evaluated. The sickest get treated 1st..

I had hep c for 45 years, before the new drugs were available.. its a slow progressing infection. I had to quit drinking and eat better, while waiting for a cure.

Let us know what you find out

hi bijoux, sorry about your cancer dx
have you been evaluated at a transplant center? What have you been told?

my brother also has liver cancer. he was evaluated and approved. at his 3 month check his tumor got bigger, and his AFP went over 500. 500 is the threshold for transplant. he was no longer transplantable. that's when he started treatment with nexavar.

I have not heard of cancer treatment while waiting for transplant..please let ne know.

if you start a new thread, you will get replies if you want.

bijoux, do you know if the liver cancer came from the HCV treatment?