Does Hep C have symptoms similar to symptoms of Alzeihmers,

Hi Blipette,

Welcome to Healing Well's Hepatitis forum.

We are a group of patients and caregivers who are dealing with liver disease.

And YES, most of us are familiar with forgetfulness and confusion.

Hep C, even before it does serious damage to the liver has its own kind of FOG. A lack of clarity that many patients complain of.

My partner has had Hep C for over 40 years and over time he found he couldn't do some of the things he once did...he was a computer specialist and he can't do that any more. He still uses his PC and is good with the varoius MS products, but he cant do the network stuff or problem solving he once did.

Then, later in the disease, when the cirrhosis sets in, patients are less able to process wastes in their system and various chemicals that once would be eliminated in stool or urine, continue to circulate in the blood. The patients can be tested for the ammonia level in their blood as this may be an indication of Heptatic Encephalopathy. The HE can come and go as the ammonia level goes up and down. Those with HE may have memory problems, are reported to be grumpy or opposisitonal, sometimes very negative with their family. My partner made me cry every day before he got on the good meds -- lactoluse and xifaxan. Check those out on the Internet.

It is important for patients with advanced liver disease (or any liver disease) to have a healthful diet...low sodium, no red meat (too hard to digest), and absolutely NO ALCOHOL. If you are drinking, even just a glass of wine at dinner, stop. NOW.

Should your liver begin to fail (decompensate), you will eventually need a liver transplant to extend life. Those using alcohol are not eligible for transplant programs in the US by policy. My partner quit drinking in 2010 and got his transplant 7 months later, May 1, 2011. He is doing well, but still has the Hep C!

Those with Hep C and cirrhosis are often burdened with Heptocellular Carcinoma. It is a risk you should be checking out.

Are you seeing a hepatologist? If you are not, you need to get a referral or take yourself to a major medical center. Don't fool around with the GI doc, they are find for polyps, but not that good with advanced liver disease.

If this is early in the progression of your Hep C, you could investigate some of the treatment programs now availble. There are studies showing the new 3 drug combo is very effective with 1a and 1b genotpye of Hep C.

If you have more questions, post regularly. There is some educational material at the top of this site with links to very important information.

Good luck, see you back here soon,
Carol

Post Edited (MamaLama) : 5/5/2012 7:57:48 PM (GMT-6)

In short, in answer to your question...yes. My hubby has ESLD and has most of the symptoms of alzheimers, even though we are medicating for the Heptic Encephalopathy. It's sad. If you have a chance to turn things around...do it now...don't wait until cirrhosis sets in. It's an ugly disease. Best to you.
Angie1953

B--

I agree, more education should be done.

The causes of liver disease are many, but the end result is the same...no liver, you die!

Some folks are poisoned by simply taking too much Tylenol!  Can you believe that?  From perfectly healthy to death's door from taking too much of an over the counter med.

A person can have a gene for Hemachromatosis, where you carry too much iron in your cells, which can cause liver disease.

Or copper...

Or you can have Auto Immune Hepatitis, where your own body attacks the liver.  It is one of the family of auto immune diseases like Lupis.

Alcoholic Hepatitis is another.

Hep C, which can be acquired many ways. Some of our posters know full well it was IV drugs or tattoo needles before that industry used new needles and paints for each customer. Or a blood transfusion before they tested blood for HCV.  So many ways to have blood to blood transfer.

It makes no difference.  Somewhere along the way, those with liver disease get very sick.

Let us hear from you,

Best,

Carol

Blipette, Carol isn't in the medical field, but should have a p.HD by now in liver disease, pharmacology, and all things related. She has lived it with her partner, Mike. She's very intelligent and someone had to be the sane one as he was in la-la land from HE before transplant.

I was a medical transcriptionist for 15 yrs., prior to being granted SS Disability in '05. No doubt that knowing the terminology and how to research has been a big plus in my personal journey. Of course, the medical field--drugs, protocols, treatment, etc., are changing daily, so I have to look things up myself, but I've also learned a huge amount about liver disease from the people here sharing their experiences...the ones who went before me with hep C, HCC, transplant, etc. If you research on the Internet, though, you need to be sure to go to reputable sites with solid information. I consider this one of the very best. You can also find information at the American Liver Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, etc.

I can tell you now that hepatologists do not look kindly on OTC meds or herbal remedies. Early on, I had asked my hep doc about taking milk thistle. She said it probably wouldn't hurt me, but wouldn't help, either. So basically, money down the drain. Especially when one is in the diagnostic phase of a new symptom, etc., they want to be able to eliminate any possible OTC substance (and they are unregulated) to make sure it's not causing the problem. Just yesterday, I was told to eliminate aspirin...after first being told to take it because of high platelet counts. That problem is resolved, so no more ASA is needed.

I had a friend some years back who took L Tryptophan (OTC) for sleep. He lost all motor function, was falling into glass tables, got a pistol and threatened to kill himself, which bought him a bed in the psych unit of a local hospital for a week or so. The docs just couldn't figure it out. Finally, after a muscle biopsy, they found that what he took was from a contaminated batch of the supplement manufactured by Showa Denka in Japan. Some died from it. He came back from the brink, but was never able to work again (he was in his 50s and a journeyman electrician) and his intellect was never the same. He won a 6-figure lawsuit. But that doesn't really make up for what was lost. If you're worried about intellectual function, think about that. Just telling this story gives me chills.

Do not lose faith. There is the hep C "fog", HE, and other symptoms associated with liver disease, but they can be treated.

Should you be evaluated for transplant, they will require that you cease taking anything not approved by them. Don't lose faith in the medical community. But do make sure you are being seen at the best possible transplant/liver disease facility available to you. If anything, I find that they have become too specialized. PCPs know next to nothing about liver disease, GI docs aren't much better. So you want a specialist, a hepatologist.

Hugs,
Connie

"There is a liver problem where sodium gets too low. I forget the technical name"

It's hyponatremia.

Hugs,
Connie

A certain number of folks can recover from Hep C without it becoming Chronic. I hope that this is the case for you and that clean living has worked.

If your virus comes back there are meds now that can cure Hep C virus.

Best to you,

Mama Lama

Thanks for the welcome back and feedback. I forget now, but think Im genotype 2 and diagnosed like 7 yrs ago. It wasnt till last yr when my thyroid began going hyper and meds prescribed that ultimately took me hypothyroid that I started having alz type symptoms (these issues are all about the auto immune system). Now gotta say, one of the reasons I kinda faded away from this site is because Im really not responsive to or willing to be reliant on modern medicine. Ive come to believe that drugs produced help one thing but hurt another intentionally, or megapharma just makes meds so costly, many cant pay for it. I mean, come on, one pill $1000. I dont think so. Clearly they are not about healing. Hence I look for more natural options. So far doing pretty well at it. It will be interesting to see what they charge for the one shot cure that is in clinical trials. Like $2 million????? Can you imagine with this pandemic how much these companies are making. Yikes!!!
I believe we're on the horizon for real health care. There is some INCREDIBLE things being discovered that are alternatives to our traditional health care that Im sure the megapharma is working hard to keep silent. Like the work being done with sound, light. They are actually getting real scientific research behind these approaches now, and seeing cures for cancer, diabetes and a myriad of illness' and NOT ONE PILL is taken. The bottom line is; all physical matter is at its core 'waves', even bodies and they are learning how to alter the waves and wave interactions, i.e. molecules. So will just hope my clock keeps ticking till the truth comes out about real cures that is not all about money!!!!

I agree with you totally that everyone has the right to their choices for care. But for me, where I didnt even have the option for a med, was forced to look to other things. And there are many whose insurance will not cover the excessive costs, so if we want to live we must look at possible alternatives. As indicated I have been astounded from my research, and its not from blogs or just suppliment companies, it is medical research labs, universities and experts in the fields. This is where I came to learn of the new trends in healing. Its really fascinating to learn about them and the real med scientists that are doing the research. For one thing the guy who invented much of the electronics used in medicine now, like xray machines, and several others, was really the first to learn that the body's matter was made up of waves an altering the waves altered the body and anything attacking it. But of course since the pharmaceutical companies pretty much own our medical care this info does not go out, and they and their allies do not invest in the research. After all, even the UN has listed American medical as 3rd world, (i.e. dont have the money??? Go die). So its up to us citizens to decide about our care.
I wish all well in their journey and just suggest you keep your doors open to anything that heals or at least helps till the real and healthy cure happens and with a med that heals, but doesnt create another ailment!!

I suppose you wont understand this but will give it a shot for you to consider;
1. Quantum physics explains that we are both particles (matter) and energy waves. As stated in the first law of thermodynamics: energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed from one form to another. The research going on now is about altering the cells to defeat/reconstruct invaders such as virus’ or other ailments
2 From Forbes magazine (money oriented,yet still reflecting the issue); Harvard professor, Bill George; re; the spate of pharma companies seeking to merge with foreign companies (ie. Pfizer trying to acquire AstraZeneca)with the intent of lowering their corporate tax rates, which is in alignment with the common concern that the pharmaceutical industry is primarily focused on making money, ie.. they preferentially work on life-style enhancing drugs, or drugs that offer minimum improvements for which companies then charge exorbitant prices.

Have you ever wondered why it took decades for the pharma companies to produce meds???? After millions globally have contracted it.

Anyway, I have made my contribution to this site and will move one. Wishing all wellness and encourage all to research and learn as your health should be in your control. Not corporations.