HIV & Hep C

Hi to all

I hope everyone is well, i have been a member of the forum for a few months now but have been visiting the HIV forum. I will tell you my story, a close family member has been diagnosed with HIV & Hep C coinfection about 10 weeks ago. I am naive to this disease, i thought because doctors siad there was a cure it was not really that serious, i have been to the reading some of the posts on here and have discovered that it really quite is!! I am really quite worried as the consultants are not treating either of the disease and my father virral load i 338,000 and cd4 is 302, i keep reading about how HIV effect blood counts but did not realise Hep C attacks them at the same time,

Do this this mean that progression to AIDS is quicker!

My dad has the Hep inch and his skin is suffering, but he is not ill yet but he does drink bout 7 cans of strong lager a day and now and again Barcardi - which will be damaging the Liver, would i be able to tell if he had Liver cirrois - also after 10 weeks and 3 visits to the consultants my dad has not been prescribed any medication for either diseases, does anyone know why this would be with such a high viral load and cd4 count(he has only had 1 blood test now waiting for results from fresh test that was taken on Friday at his latest appointment that the Dr did not even turn up to).

Is Hep C curable as the doctor told me it is, so i thought a couple of injections and my dad will be cured but as i have read on here some people have had it 30 years.Mean what is the life expectencey of someone with this coinfection - I know with bone or the other life can be normal and long, but with a Drink & Drugs (crack cocaine), HIV, Hep  C & a chain smoker (Cannabis) how log do you think it will be before you have lost it - Cause i can never see him changing his lifestyle and there is no help for him here, the doctors do noy seem to give a toss, when i have been with him, the Dr gets snappy at me asking questions and has not even explained these disease and there effects to my dad - i only know so much as i have been using the internet - my dad is a tcno phobic so he has no chance as still does not want to talk about it.

hi don,
sounds like alot on your shoulders,,,Im not sure what the life expectancy is with both diseases, but im sure that it could be greatly increased if your father participated in his own fight for life.. i know that drinking GREATLY increases the chance for cirrhosis when you have hep, and i know it does speed the process along.. again,hep and drinking are a BAD combination....you didnt say your age,,but then again at any age its hard to see a loved one not fight for their own life....at least for a better quality of life with what is left...maybe you could print some info out for him and lay it near his favorite drinking chair,,,,,or on the table along with a good healthy breakfast for him,,,,,as far as no meds for him yet,i doubt a dr will treat him while hes still using and drinking,,,my hubbys dr said,,,,,No drinking or no treatment,its not worth the 1500 a month for injections,,,,,if their are goin to undo all the good that is done..good luck with your father,,,,i know its tough to watch but dont blame yourself if he doesnt change,,,,,its his choice,not yours,,,,,,take care of YOURSELF too,as you ll need to be strong through this,,,:sendin ya a huge hug:
trish