hello

 hello everyone

I am 53 and I live in small town Ontario,with my husband my 3 kids and my 3 small dogs.And was told I have hep c two weeks ago. Today is the first day I have acknowledge, I have this darn virus! I have done the crying thing for two weeks now I am ready to find out about hep c. And try and beat this thing. So here I sit waiting to hear from the specialist.

                       Ice

Hello Ice and welcome to HealingWell. Pix is right. This is a great forum with a lot of wonderful compassionate people just like Pix.

Go ahead a read up on some of our older posts. There is a wealth of information here. And if you have any questions or just want to vent we will be here to help and/or listen.

Take care......thoughts and prayers...........

Hi Ice,

Just jumped in to say hi and to welcome you to the forum. I hope that you find it as helpful and supportive as I have. Between the caregivers and patients, there is a phenomenal amount of information and caring. I echo what Connie said -- become an expert. The doctors often don't pass along enough information unless we know the right questions to ask. It's not that they want to hold back, but rather that they deal with so much every day and sometimes assume we know things that we don't.

I've had Hep C since '77 and diagnosed in '78. So after 30 years, I am now dealing with the damage that the disease has done. I hope that all of your upcoming news is relatively good and that your management of the disease is easy and always successful.

Hang in there - try to stay positive - and when you can't, feel free to vent here - we all do sometimes. It really does help to share.

Be well, John

Hi Ice_Queen

Again welcome to the forum. The only thing I can add to everyone else's input is to remember to ask questions to your doctor. It has been helpful to me to make a list of all the questions that I have and take it to the appointment with me so I don't forget. Things can become so overwhelming during appointments that I could forget my own name let alone what I need to know. I also write down the answers to soecific answers or information that the doctor gives out as I have a tendency to again become so overwhelmed that I don't know what they said when I leave.

It is devasting to hear this kind of news. Recently I received the news that my AIH has progressed into cirrhosis. Keep in mind that you have to be in charge of your medical care and that this news does not have to end in the worst scenerio.

Keep us posted.

Lucy

Welcome Ice,

I can only say from a caregivers views that you will always worry even about the little things but, it will do you no good as it can make you sicker!

As everyone else has mentioned do the research and ask questions as it will help ease your mind on certain issues.

My son Wil is 22 yrs. old  at 16months of age he was diagnoised with AML Leukemia had 2 bloodtransfusions in 87-88 as you said they didn't test for HEP at that time ony HIV. He went into remmision in 1993 and we were told we didn't need to return for 10 yrs. at 16yr. of age  he was 12years in remission AML but, we were told he had contracted HEP B and was chronic for atleast 12yrs.(2002). Now he has cirrhosis of the liver still in compinsated stage which means it is still functioning they have found 2 lesions as of April 08, Dr's.  say he will need liver transplant possibly by the end of the year as he is active and this disease is continuosly damaging his liver .Dr's. also have a way of sugar coating prognosis an such, so please tell them for your peace of mind tell them to be very forward and use lamen terms so you understand whether good or bad. Get copies of all your bloodwork and reports from your visits as this will help you get to know how to read them and what to look for. Alot of people here on the forum can give you many suggestions and be very helpful for finding the info! You have definatley come to a wonderful place here on healingwell as I have also been blessed to find and get info for helping my son. And, everyone is very compassionate so you can get angry, vent, even cry on your keyboard if you want someone is listening and always here to help! Thanks All!

 

 It sounds to me that you are having early signs fatigue, weekness, pain even flu like symptoms, nausea, weight loss ect. I know my Wil has had same symptoms except for  the right side pain he insists that his is mainly lower backaches sometimes his legs. But, I am mom and I can read threw him.

Again, don't worry get knowledge! Good luck!!!

Thoughts and prayers are with you All.

Huggs and smooches!

Toni

Deb, I think that is good news if your liver hasn't been affected yet.  Did the doctor mention treatment and when they might begin that?

The symptoms you describe are really not common in hep C patients (I can't speak for the other hepatiitis types.)  There is really no pain.  Overwhelming fatigue is common, as well as increased liver enzymes.  The nausea, etc., sound like someone who has just contracted the disease.  However, since you contracted the hep C in the 80s, that is not the case with you.  If your liver hasn't yet been affected, then you should not be having symptoms associated with end-stage liver disease.

I suggest you ask your doctor about treatment.  He will need to do blood work to get your genotype, if this has not already been done.  The treatment you receive will be based on that...at least that's what was told to me.

Hugs,

Connie