Hello, I am new to this site.

Hello,

I am from Idaho and found out that I had hep c about year and half ago. I was very shocked scared and thought I was going to die. Never knew much about it. I did do the Interferon and Rebotol treatment for about 7 months. My viral load was not really into the millions yet. I had caught the hep c in time, due to other health problems and lots of tests. The Interferon and Rebotol treatment worked and while I was on treatment every joint in my body hurt. The doctor just assumed it was treatment. However, since that dreadful treatment I still get pain in the joints and have a very hard time sleeping. Has anyone experienced this with treatment or after treatment? Is this part of having bad liver, or what? I need lots of help, I hope you all can help me understand. I need friends. I had moved so had to find a new doc. I am going to go to an internest. Medical docs are scared to treat me just for a cold. haha. So I will be checking to see if the hep c has returned. I am crossing my fingers.

Thank you for all of your help and can not wait to get to know you.

Hello teasabug,

What a cute name! Welcome to the HealingWell forum. I cannot help you with your trouble, but I sure hope there is someone here who can.My husband has HCV, but has not been treated for it because he now has HCC. Have you looked at medhelp.org? They also have a HepC Community forum. Lots of people there going through treatment and one's who have been there done that.
This is a great forum, too. Lot's of freinds here.

Carol

Hi, Teasabug/Teresa!  Welcome to the forum!  I'm so glad to hear that the treatment has apparently worked for you.  I pray that you will stay in remission or clear of the virus.  I was diagnosed with chronic active hep C in '93...contracted it in the late 60s from sharing dirty needles/IV drug use.  about 2 1/2 years ago, I developed liver cancer from the HCV.  A year ago, after having chemoembolization and TheraSphere treatment to shrink the tumor (which was huge), I had the right lobe of my liver removed.  Since then, I've developed 2 incisional hernias at the same site.  Will be having the 2nd one repaired on the 29th.

I also suffer from osteoarthritis and ostenecrosis (bone death.)  I have had bilateral hip replacements and the left one has been redone twice.

I tried interferon treatment early on, but couldn't tolerate it.  I'm now considering the combo treatment after I heal from surgery.

I don't believe your joint pain problems have anything to do with your liver.  They may be residual side effects from treatment, or you could have some form of arthritis.  Does the pain wake you up or make it difficult to fall asleep?  You do need to mention this to your doctor and perhaps see a rheumatologist if your symptoms persist.

I know you have your hands full with a 9-month old!

Good luck with your tests and please let us know the outcome!

Hugs,

Connie

Hi Teresa,

As you see, there are plenty of supportive friends here. I'm certain that you will find that things are easier to deal with when you can share your and their experiences.

Regarding my time on the transplant list: I only got pre-screened a year ago and while I was set with 2 clinics, my MELD score is only 13 and they don't get serious until it's around 15 or 16.

In the meantime, I had to change insurers and my new insurance company won't work with ANY clinics in CT so now I have to restart the process in NYC or Boston, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours each way. I am appealing the insurance co. policy but don't yet know how that will turn out.

This week I begin the screening process again. Nothing is more fun than a full week of tests at the hospital.

I hope that your test results are all great! And enjoy the baby -- they grow up way too fast.

Be well, John