Fatigue, chronic fatigue

A prudent doctor.....I had no symptoms that by themselves screamed hep c.
My ALT was elevated 1 point, three visits in a row. He wanted to know why so he tested me and here I am today.

I didnt realize the symptoms I was having were from hep c until after I was diagnosed, unexpectedly. Once I started doing research I realized that the things I was experiencing were not in my head. My most noticeable symptom is fatigue! I also get foggy headed. I feel dumb sometimes. lol

Signs are objective, like lab results.
Symptoms are subjective, like fatigue
Everybody is right!

I also did not realize that the horrible joint pains and fatigue I was feeling was hcv until my x hubby called and told me he had it so I went to get checked and yup there it was hiding lil bastarldo... my x hubby went to doc because he had a lot of lil freckle like specks all over his legs and arms the doc was alert asked svrl questions and he made the call to test him and there it was hiding the Bastarldo.....my x did the inteferon and graduated with flying colors no bad sides and got svr.. me not so lucky until now.. :) we'll see
also I always thought I was ok because my blood work was always good clean as a whistle... till they came up with the TEST...

I also think as far as I was concerned and those whom I know with hcv once we were feeling the aches and pains of hcv it had already been in our system for years.. thats what I think anyway...

My GI doc said he would have never tested for one point.

All these comments are very helpful. Actuall, I have been having a lot of them-especially the fatigue, pain, and the foggy headedness. I also have Gastroparesis which is a stomach disorder where the stomach does not empty food properly, etc. All these symptoms are actually symptoms of that disorder as well. It is brought on by severe stress. (which I have been under the past few months and assumed I was having a flare up). I have an appt. with my gastroenterologist in a few weeks so I can discuss this issue with her. In fact, I just had lab work drawn this week. All my liver enzymes were normal but I do believe they CAN be at this stage. I was infected in 2006. At that time my viral load was not too high so did not receive treatment. I will surely ask to be checked again.

NOW I KNOW WHEN I CAUGHT IT - but initially I got so VERY, VERY sick. Running a fever so high, wearing a few pairs of pajamas, unable to do anything.
Sweats and chills - awful.....By the time I finally got to the doctor, it passed. I WAS REALLY SICK - thought it was FLU or urinary tract infection or something like that instead.

Now when the gastro asked me was I ever really sick, that week comes to mind and I am SURE that was it - I'll never forget it.

Fatigue, joint pain, eyesight seems a little different,
belly pain, dark urine!!

Like Trissa - (triss - :)) - severe fatigue was the only symptom I had. In fact. it's the only symptom I had the entire time since dx in 2002. Thought I had mono so went to doctor - she tested for HCV. Yep.

I also developed gastroparesis, but it was after tx, so I have always assumed it was the Riba or Sofosbuvir that caused it.

fatigue , dark reddish urine , liver swelling ..

Love fall, you don't become I'll like you described, upon infection. That sounds more psycho-symatic

First comment is to ClayB, I have read that some people do experience this & some are lucky at that time to clear it. But most of us have had it for so many years we have forgotten if we had a flu like sickness at first (thinking it was just a bad case of the flu).

I have had a progression in the last 35 yrs of being very ill. Drs keep finding all kinds of things wrong with me (heart, thyroid etc.) but upon taking meds for all those problems I was still VERRRRRY fatigued. I have also had lots of digestion problems & esophagus dilated several times. I also have severe joint pain (told it was good old arthur). I don't understand why that gastro, hepa dr never put it all together. I finally changed my gp dr because I wasn't getting any better & upon first visit to new dr & going over med history he checked (without telling me) & sure enough this pac man was eating my liver. When he told me I had no idea how serious it was for several years. Until I was so sick I couldn't work any more. I guess everyone reacts differently.