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Posted 3/25/2007 9:26 AM (GMT 0)
scool  

Hi everyone. I just found this website a couple of days ago. I have been mostly reading the other posts so far, but I really oughta introduce myself to Trish & everybody.

 

My name is Doug. I live in Colorado, if you couldn't guess already. I have chronic HCV, genotype 1a, that was dx'd in 2002 when I was hospitalized for esophageal varices. I found out at that time that I had cirrhosis. I used to drink, but I quit altogether at that time & I haven't had a drink now in 5 years. I can't say that I was ever physically addicted to alcohol, but I certainly enjoyed the beer, some wine with dinner, etc. It really helped me to stop when I was told that drinking with HCV is like thowing gasoline on a fire.  Since then, I developed ascites in 2005. I have been evaluated & accepted for a liver transplant & I am currently on the waiting list. I did the combo therapy (interferon & ribavirin) for 48 weeks in 2006. My viral load went down to undetectable, but the virus came back strong after the combo therapy ended. I'm on 5 different medications now to try & keep the symtoms under contol. Looks like I will be taking numerous meds daily for the rest of my life. 

 

I'm not sure exactly how I got HCV. I have a couple of good ideas, but it really doesn't matter after approx 30 years now. I was totally unaware that I had it until 2002. It doesn't have any symptoms, & I was blissfully unaware that there was a problem until it had already ruined my liver. 

 

Well, I don't have any questions at this time. I think I am more here to help others, & to throw in my 2 cents worth from time to time. But I expect I'll have plenty of questions that pop up from time to time as this disease progresses. 

 

Doug    

 

Posted 3/26/2007 4:02 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Doug and welcome to HW!! My husband had ESLD and hepc, he was too sick to treat when it was discovered. He recently recieved  his Precious gift of life on March 16th. He is doing well and came home from the hospital today. Just hang in there and your time will come!!!

Teresa

Posted 3/27/2007 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Doug!  I've been following your posts and wanted to give you a proper welcome.  It's nice to have a man participating, as we seldom do.  It's also been interesting to read what you have been through thus far.

Good luck with moving on up the transplant list...even if that means getting sicker first.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 3/27/2007 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the kind words
i have been reading far too many posts from the healthy wives of sick men, and not enough from the sick ones themselves, & especially frustrating to me to see the posts concerning alcohol abusing spouses who refuse to take any resposibility for themselves, even when they have to know they are deathly ill. This seems to be more common with an alcohol problem alone, as opposed to a Hep C problem. I don't have much patience for this, & my posts are likely to reflect that.
I stopped drinking as much for my wife as myself. I try to be a good patient for my doctor; I'm sure he appreciates that.
Besides, getting involved here is good therapy for me. I think I gain more knowledge reading the posts of others. And I like to think I can help someone else out, or at least let them know they're not alone.
Doug
Posted 3/27/2007 4:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Doug,

I have learned so much from this forum, and the alcohol abuse I have no tolerance for either. The site did help me manage my husbands disease, I am also a member to another message board with more of the sick ones than the spouses. I can give you the site address just e-mail me. I did test positive for the virus in January, the viral load came back undetectable, I was one of the lucky ones, that kicked the disease on my own. I still have more testing to be done in August. My husband definitely went through severe ascites and did not respond to diuretics, he ended up having to have a TIPS for that reason. Thankfully, his varices were not bad, no banding. He is currently taking 18 medication, he will come off at least 6-8 of them within 3 months. My husband has felt just about an instant difference in the way he felt, his skin color in less than 24 hours was so much better too! I wish you the very best in your wait and if you have any questions, my husband or my self would be very happy to talk to you!! Just e-mail me if you like.

Teresa

Posted 3/27/2007 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Doug,

 Welcome,and I agree with Connie that it is nice to see a man posting here. We would really appreciate your input on this forum.   Im sorry this is a short post this time, I just started spring quarter plus am keeping my best friends kids the rest of the week,running them back and forth while shes in Vegas on business,,,,(I wanna be on business in Vegas!! lol) I look forward to getting to know you better and hope you come back often. :)

Posted 5/4/2007 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I want to say Hi to you as well Doug. I'm new here as of today. And, I was just diagnosed with Hep C a few weeks ago. My viral load is 575000. I see the gastroenterologist on Monday, and a bit anxious about that. I'm hoping to start treatment before too long.
Posted 5/5/2007 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mars
575,000 doesn't sound like a bad viral load. Do you know what kind of shape your liver is in, or will you find out when the biopsy is done? You'll have to let us know.

My viral load was about 30,000,000 at one time. I was on combo therapy for 48 weeks through most of 2006. My viral load was undetectable for most of that time. But since I ended treatment, it has come back. The last time my blood labs were done, it was back up to 3,350,000. I am genotype 1a, so it was really no surprise to me that the virus came back. I just started treating again, this time on interferon monotherapy (also called maintenance).
Doug
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