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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Hep C treatment can be hard on the bones

deleted_user
deleted_user
If your docs haven't kept an eye on your bones, make sure they do. I had a baseline bone density test in 2004 and it was normal. When I found out that I had Hep C, my Endocrinologist (treating me for hypothyroid) suggested that I get a bone density test prior to starting Hep C treatment because the meds can deplete calcium in the bones.

Well, at my general physical yesterday, I requested a post treatment bone density test (remembering that my Endocrinologist said treatment could be bad for the bones) and YUP...my bones are showing signs of thinning and I need to start taking a special medication for osteoporosis now. I don't technically have osteoporosis but it's very close to it.

All during my Hep C treatment I took 2 calcium + D supplements a day and that was still not enough to combat the negative effects of the treatment meds.

So...keep any eye on your bones. Get a bone density test before starting treatment so you have a baseline and for sure get one after treatment. This is for men and for women. If you didn't get one before treatment, no big deal...but do get one after treatment.
oOoREBoOo
oOoREBoOo
Karymelly, what exactly do they do for a bone density test?
deleted_user
deleted_user
RBM, it's a very easy and painless thing to have done. I had it done this morning before work. You lay on a table fully clothed and a scanner moves over your body (but it's very open and the scanner is small so it's not like you're in a tube or anything). It only takes 5 min or so.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes everyone who is on TX pay attention to all your blood work while on TX , All of my treatments cause me to have luekepenia which is cousin to leukemia, I had to have a bone marrow byopsy and now I have to take bone marrow pills for the rest of my life.
deleted_user
deleted_user
thanks for reminding me about this. gotta get this done...
deleted_user
deleted_user
my fingernails are stronger now since treatment? how is everybody elses? they were thin before and now they're REALLY strong! it's amazing!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good post and very true. My bones also are thin and have lost many teeth since tx. The Calcium + D aren't enough to combat it on it's own as she says..especially if you have cirrhosis.
Keeping an eye on the thyroid is another must. A full thyroid test
should be done each year, not just the limited one. I fluctuate between hyper & hypo all the time. Another side from tx...alas.

Josi
deleted_user
deleted_user
On your blood work look for the results on your

Monocytes,
Eosinophils,
Basophils,
Normal ranges are 2.0-12.0 on Monocytes,

0.0-8.o on Esosinophils,

and 0.0-2.0 for Basophils

Hope this helps ya
deleted_user
deleted_user
thats f-in heavy, tatt.....
deleted_user
deleted_user
good advice!
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