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I Have Liver Damage, Hep-C, Fibrosis Result F3. If I Have Hep-C Treated, Will I Ever Feel Better?

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Posted 7/7/2015 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, this is my first post here.
Thank you for this forum.

I am male, 36 years old and 5 years drug free. I was an IV heroin user for 13 years. I am now starting a business and spend my time studying electronics design engineering (I design electronic stuff) and computer programming. Around 10 - 14 years ago.. I can't remember exactly, my time keeping is very bad. Anyway I found out I have Hep-C, I will call it 12 years ago. Today I went to see the specialist who told me that my fibrosis scan results are just above 25 which I think correlates/translates to F3, though the specialists descriptions were rather vague. They told me I can go back to find out what treatment is available to me in 6 weeks. I am afraid.

I live with my partner and her son and I work from home selling and studying online. I sell computers, when I am not doing that I am studying and designing which is my new addiction. But I get so tired, I ache, I can't go for a walk without having to recover for 45 minutes in my chair, by the way I am 6 foot and 11.5 stone so I don't carry much weight. When my partner asks me to do a small task like change the bedding I have to gather my strength first, it is such a big task that takes all the energy, will and determination I have, and I ache.

What I would like to know is, is it the virus in my system that makes me feel like this, or the damage to my liver? If I have successful treatment, will I ever feel any better than this? I don't want to get any worse but I need to know what to expect. I am scared of the treatment and what it will do to me, my business and my family.

I want to feel better. I am sick of feeling like this. I don't want to be told I will feel better, I want to know what to expect, if I'm going to feel like crap even after treatment I need to know this as it will affect my decision.

I have been told that after treatment I will have to be seen on a regular basis for the rest of my life due to the damage done. I was also told that my liver could one day just decide it has had enough and stop passing fluid.

All those years ago I was told that people have Hep for 25 years and don't even know it. So I thought I would be ok, now I am being told that I have badly damaged my liver but they can't tell me a percentage or the chances of anything but "80% success rate for the treatment" thats great but what about how i'm going to feel and cope after.

Well thats all the stuff I needed to say and thank you for reading. Maybe someone could give me any sort of answer? the specialist didn't.

Thanks, god bless
Posted 7/7/2015 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Judging from your post, you're British or from one of the Commonwealth countries.

If your liver is not cirrhotic (scarred) successful treatment should get you right back to being healthy. The new treatments have far less side effects than what many of us went through. The cure rate is close to 95%.

You feel bad for a couple of reasons, Hep C and poor liver function.

I had Hep C for 45 years, and have now been undetectable for over 3 years. My liver failed, but I had a transplant 6 years ago and am now fine.

You can help yourself by not drinking any alcohol, cutting your salt intake way down and avoiding red meat. Eating healthy is essential. If you smoke tobacco, it would be wise to quit that as well. Cut down on sugar and drink lots of water, too. Don't take over the counter meds, such as aspirin and tylenol.

At some point, you need to have a liver biopsy to determine exactly how much, if any damage there is. You need to be tested for cancer markers, as Hep C makes one more prone to HCC (liver cancer). I'm not trying to throw a scare into you, but you must not let this go. Stay on top of your disease, push for treatment from your doctor. If they don't pursue your case, find another one that will.

Don't be afraid, be proactive. The only person who can make this happen is you. Never quit. There are lots of us that have faced short odds and many of us have made it through. Stay strong!
Posted 7/7/2015 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Hep forum, G. My husband is the one with the sick liver due to Hep C cirrhosis. He treated with the old treatment ...twice. He was cured the 2nd time, but too late to avoid end stage liver disease. Themister is now on the list, waiting a liver transplant.


The new treatments are amazing! Side effects are tolerable. That is the good news. I hope you are able to get started and get rid of this deadly virus. Again, Welcome. Big Hugs
Posted 7/7/2015 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. very perceptive! I am in the UK. They told me that my liver has suffered permanent scaring and I will need to be seen once a month forever. They said I don't need to have a biopsy and the scan for says F3/F4 25 which on a logarithmic scale looks pretty bad, but I guess Log scales can be deceiving. I'm well up into the red. So is what I have been told wrong? Do I still need to have a biopsy now I have had the fibrosis scan?
I think I will take the treatment but

themiz, how are your husbands energy levels now?
Does he still ache and feel lethargic?
Mood swings?

**David** 45 years!
I'm at 12ish and I feel pretty bad already
what were the effects to your health from the damage done to your.... "old" liver. I don't think I h have ever typed anything quite like that last sentence before

Thank you for your input and experiences
Posted 7/7/2015 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
The description of your weight in stone is a big tip as to your location.

I have had hep c for at least 30 and maybe more like 40 years. No awareness of it until my liver function test numbers began to rise and even then it took a couple of years before the hep c test was done. Found out in December of 2013, biopsy showed bridging and early cirrhosis . Have had an interesting road to treatment but the short of it is I just finished with harvoni earlier this week. Had more sides than many but tolerable throughout and could feel myself feeling better underneath the sides. Have an energy back that has been gone for years. Many of the aches are gone, they were more pronounced for me while treating but are now virtually non existent. I had no idea how badly the hep c was making me feel until it was gone and i realized how much better i felt. The treatment was only 12 weeks and it flew by.

Assuming from your 5 years drug free (congratulations and if you can do that you can do most anything) that you are also alcohol free. If not stop drinking today.

By the way, I was also afraid to start treatment, but much less afraid than when interferon was on the table. It really is a wonderful time to treat and those of us who are able to take the new medicines are truly blessed. My suggestion, reframe; it really is a good time to treat and you have an opportunity to feel sooo much better without going through the older nasty meds.
Posted 7/7/2015 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
G Beard.

I am like themiz, it is my partner who HAD Hep C. He HAD Hep C for 44 years. He tried treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin in 2003, but that did not work though he kept at it for 26 weeks. He was very ill on treatment. In 2014, he had treatment with new meds, Sovaldi and Olysio. AT that time this was the treatment for people who had failed the old treatment AND were Genotype 1a AND were deemed unable to take an Interferon treatment again.

His treatment was 12 weeks, he had only one issue with the combo...he was very sun sensitive. He got his energy back after the treatment very quickly.

But Mike was different than some because he had his treatment AFTER his liver transplant. themister had his treatment and is still waiting for transplant.

The bad part of this is that the Hep C started causing problems for Mike's new liver already. So he is not 100% after treatment, as his liver is still messed up.

I think that is your situation. Your liver will not in 100% good shape even after treatment.

The symptoms are likely partially from Hep C and partially from Liver disease. And with treatment the disease may reverse somewhat if the liver cells are not fibrotic...ie if you do not have cirrhosis already. The liver is one organ that can regenerate, so without Hep C you can get somewhat better. This can be good news!!! And a strong argument for treatment.

I am not certain if they are still using Interferon with treatment there. They are using some new drugs I know, but only for those deemed very ill. Maybe that is you. and if so, get treated as soon as possible. Your liver will hold on longer once the Hep C is gone.

And like David says, there are risks from liver cancer if you continue to have the virus swirling around.

It is important to be alcohol free. Mike was an IV drug user in the late 60s. He continued to drink alcohol however, and that really made the whole liver thing WORSE.

He was very ill from the Hep C, alcoholic liver disease, and had liver cancer in 2011 and was successfully transplanted. It is a miracle.

Then in 2014 got the new medicines.

Today he is better than in 20 years. But at 65, he is not perfect. He is alive, productive, less tired, no aches, no voming, no crazy bloody noses, no swollen ankles, no crazy mood swings. And did I say ALIVE.

We are so blessed to have him with us. I hope that your journey has a happy ending also.

Hugs,

Mama Lama
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