Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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Having to make some hard choices

wiccanwolf1
wiccanwolf1
Over the past 2 years I have been able manage the symptoms of my BP 1, with a combination of meditation, mindfulness and self-discipline skills that I have learned and self taught over the years.

However, recently I tried to begin a treatment for a medical condition (Hep C), that includes some very heavy duty medications who's side effects include severe depression, suicidal ideation, severe anxiety and aggression

After taking the treatment for only 3 days, I was forced to stop treatment because I woke up engulfed in anxiety and agitation (I literary wanted to rip the house apart).

My manic, as well as depressive episodes have always been marred by extreme dysphoric behavior.

My dilemma at this point is just how much to disclose to my medical treatment team in order to get just enough help to get through the Hep treatments, at the same time not divulging to much and having them try and over-medicate and zombify me.

I am in need of a tool to help with the tools I already possess not something to turn me numb and dumb.

PS: Cross posted on the Bipolar support Group
deleted_user
deleted_user
Howdy Wicca. As you've said, the triple therapy for hep c is tough. Your doctor will have to be kept abreast of what your going through so that he/she can adust your meds when and if necessary. It also makes you tired and usually anemic, so that you might not mind being too numb... but you would def have to keep your doc in the loop - for your own good.

Best of luck to you. There are others on this forum w/similar issues that will probably chime in at some point w/their view.
jester18
jester18
Most likely interferon was the culprit. New treatments that don't include interferon should be available in a couple of years. You might have time to wait. Have you had a biopsy? That will tell you how urgent it is to start treatment. I hope this all works out for you...
Trissa01
Trissa01
From my experience; they may not recommend treatment for HCV if the treatment is too dangerous for you.
I won't tell how to get around it, because hcv treatment will do you know good if the BP gets you.
Talk to the psych dr about it and if he is willing to work with the hep dr and accept responsibility for consequences, then maybe you can do both.
It sounds like the hep tx is not compatible from what you've said.
Priority is your life.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
The reason I have not been treated yet and am waiting for non-interferon treatment is because it is counter-indicated with my other diagnosis and treatment.

I agree - see if you can wait... what are your biopsy results like?