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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It's all in your head????

deleted_user
deleted_user
My husband went to see his primary care doctor this morning, She asked why he has dark circles under his eyes, I don't sleep good lately. This woman told him that he isn't sleeping because he's worried that he is going to die. And that he needs to exercise. The way you are feeling is all in your head, and she has seen worse in people with Hep C and that he is a healthy man. Meanwhile the liver doctor has prescribed Xifanax, for his sleep patterns being off, his mild confusion, forgetfulness! So my husband comes home Angry and decides that since his doctor says "it's all in his head" he is now drinking after being sober for 7 months and going for evaluation next month and supposed to start Hep C treatment. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis in May of this year. i am so angry with her but i am also angry with him that he would let something like this ruin the last 7 months of sobriety. He says he's done going to the docs and he's not having treatments. I JUST WANT TO SCREAM!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
many docs are condescending buttholes but shes kinda right about one thing. you can make yourself sick from worrying. your husband should do the treatment . unfortunately many drinkers have resigned themselves to an early death. sobriety sucks but with it comes a great feeling about yourself thats almost as good as getting stoned..
im not lecturing. i drink every now and then too but its not very wise..
dillytime
dillytime
u got that right captn..once u make u're mind up and become sober it's very,very good feeling..from an alley skidrow drunk..to sober mind...i wouldn't trade my sobriety for anything..no more hangovers no more cravings...i can honestly say i'm a new creation...thank u jesus.one day at a time..............
a1napadude
a1napadude
I have no great sage advice, but like dilly and capn have said..and now me. Sobriety is way better than the alternative. When I quit doing drugs to get high and only take "prescribed for me" meds life got so much better. A place to live and call my own, money in the bank, no more chasin the bag/bottle, and a lot of self respect. People ask if I went through treatment. Well other than the three years in the pen, NO. When I finally decided to get my head out of my ass I did. It was a matter of choice, my choice, from inside my head..period.
I hope for his and your sake that he will make the RIGHT choice also. But it does have to be HIS choice.
Hope this helps some.
Barb99999999
Barb99999999
Most primary doctors only know the basics bout the liver. Either they scare you to death or they over look the oblivious. I was allergic to sulf and the pills my doc gave me had sulfa in them. The nurse said you need exercise you'll feel better but keep taking the pills. I didn't thank god as it turned I was allergic. The doctors should listen to the patients as no one knows your body better than you. There is nothing you can do. he is an adult and he knows his options. Sounds as if he is depressed. I hope the best for you both. Try to get him to come here on DS and talk to others who have the same thing.Than he might get the support he needs.Even if he doesnt post he could read.
OldRmeBrat
OldRmeBrat
So sorry the doc is an idiot. As the others said, the drinking is HIS choice, HE has to choose to quit again. I'll pray he sees the light and stops soon.....
deleted_user
deleted_user
I too tend to use whatever I can find as an excuse to drink when I'm angry.

It seems like I've been fighting the same battle my whole life. People say it's a choice, and many have chosen to remain sober successfully. Me, I made that choice a thousand times and sadly, was never ever to maintain it in the long term.

I imagine how frustrated you must be...I wish you both the best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
should have read:

"was never *able* to maintain it in the long term"
deleted_user
deleted_user
Its the opies for me. I cant seem to let em go, and my dr says to wait on detox, dont over medicate, stay the course and we will catch the detox on the back end. Seems to me that the feeling from the pegysys is so similer to opie w/draw that now would be an excellent time to deal w/ it. I have RA that may or may not be caused by the HCV. One thing for sure, my joints are giving me hell w/ or w/ out opiates so I dont think that part matters. Do you all think it would be wise for me to go ahead and detox myself during tx even if my dr says to wait.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know that the drinking is his choice and it is also MY choice that I don't have to sit by and watch him kill himself, so like I have told him in the past if that is what you choose then he needs to choose to do it else where. The weight that I thought was lifted has just been dumped right back on my shoulders. He is still not home and not sure if he will be but he will wake up wanting his tramadol for his body aches and who is gonna be there for him????????
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry your doctor is such an a** - no wonder your husband is having a relapse. Be patient. I offer no advise as I am in constant recovery and I do not believe one relapse ruins attempts at sobriety or negates spreads of sobriety. It is a setback and it is a journey. Good luck you sound like a real good wife.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Nmr, have you tried going to Alanon meetings? I went for a year awhile back. I was so frustrated with hubbys drinking & bad opinion of me, which he voiced frequently. I had almost lost myself in his downward spiral. The group helped me figure my own feelings out and how best to deal with his issues. Or, better yet, how not to deal with them. His issues in his own lap.
I became stronger and more able to live my own life and let him decide what he wanted to do. I did not like the religious overtones of the whole creedo, but chose to overlook it while using the support & learning to cope. When I was strong enough, I didn't need the meetings anymore.
Just a thought....
deleted_user
deleted_user
so sorry to hear this, nmnr1962. this must all be very sad and frustrating for you. it's definitely frustrating to deal with most doctors concerning anything! i've learned more on here about hep C than i did from either my primary doctor or my liver doc.

life isn't perfect. it's mixed up and nutty. and when it comes to health care you have to be your own advocate. you have to do a lot of research on your own.

i've seen enough life to know that when someone wants to drink they will find an excuse to do so. there's nothing you can do. your husgand needs to find the will to want to not drink.

i really don't know what else to say. everybody on here has given wonderful and good advice. hang out on here with us if you like.

have you tried alanon yet?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm sorry to hear what you are experiencing & I hear you that it is hard & heart breaking. I agree that you need to focus on taking care of your own self through some support like Alanon that was created for people who catch the flackand drama from problem drinkers. You'll learn coping skills and possibly find some joy and friendship.
Your husband is dealing with two disease processess at the same time. His 7 months abstinence & subsequent relapse is not unusual when hearing the news he received as he is new in recovery and obviously is still using his maladaptive coping skills to deal with stress and tension..
Take care of your self and learn your own coping skills & you may or may not see changes in your husband.

Be Well & I hope & pray for the best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thank you all for your support. I have thought about some kind of counciling for myself. I guess I need to stop thinking and do something. I also has suggested the same for him but that is out of the questions. He won't even go to a support group for his cirrhosis. Again thank you all for your support.
deleted_user
deleted_user
He's drinking to help the pain he feels. It is in his head but it's also in his liver too. I hope he stops drinking.
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