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.
I was recently asked by BestWishes how I accidentally discovered I was HCV Positive.
I began dating someone for the first time in about five years last summer, who has since become my partner. She has Stage 4 Sarchoidosis, and has been on rat poison meds for over four years, trying to attain remission. Consequently, she has to be very careful about being exposed to anything. Before we made the decision to become intimate, she asked me to go and get checked for any STDs, which was fine with me. About the same time, I got into a Scooter accident. My arm became VERY infected, and I had to have blood work done, as I'd become septic. Due to the testing involved in these two events, which occurred within about a week of each other, my liver enzymes came up very high. They did further testing, and found HCV. I've since had a biopsy. I'm genotype 1-A, Stage 3 fibrosis, level 2 inflammation (not sure I said all that the right way, but the facts are correct). My VL is 2,600,000, which is fairly high, but doesn't really mean too much, I guess. Apparently, I've had the disease for more than 25 years. I'd have to say, the results of the biopsy pretty much took me by surprise. I didn't think I really had much liver damage.
I am discovering, the more I research this disease, how many symptoms I actually have. I thought the joint pain, fatigue, acid reflux, IBO, muscle weakness & pain I've experienced over the last few years were just by products of being over 40, I guess because I'd nothing to compare with.
Anyway, I am planning on starting tx this summer, as soon as school is out. I recently canned my gastro-guy, for a variety of reasons, and am seeing a new one next month to plan & monitor tx. I am blessed to have good insurance.
Mostly dealing with fear and sadness, at the moment, just like everyone else here, I'd bet. I walk around feeling like I want to bawl, most of the time. My partner sees my glass as way more than half full, as tx is not open-ended, and as she pointed out, a 40% possibility of curing the disease sounds great from where she's standing (less than 10% chance after four years in). I have to admit, she has a good point.
In the meantime, it's a nice spring day! I'm going to try to concentrate on that for now. Nice to meet everyone -
Woujer
I began dating someone for the first time in about five years last summer, who has since become my partner. She has Stage 4 Sarchoidosis, and has been on rat poison meds for over four years, trying to attain remission. Consequently, she has to be very careful about being exposed to anything. Before we made the decision to become intimate, she asked me to go and get checked for any STDs, which was fine with me. About the same time, I got into a Scooter accident. My arm became VERY infected, and I had to have blood work done, as I'd become septic. Due to the testing involved in these two events, which occurred within about a week of each other, my liver enzymes came up very high. They did further testing, and found HCV. I've since had a biopsy. I'm genotype 1-A, Stage 3 fibrosis, level 2 inflammation (not sure I said all that the right way, but the facts are correct). My VL is 2,600,000, which is fairly high, but doesn't really mean too much, I guess. Apparently, I've had the disease for more than 25 years. I'd have to say, the results of the biopsy pretty much took me by surprise. I didn't think I really had much liver damage.
I am discovering, the more I research this disease, how many symptoms I actually have. I thought the joint pain, fatigue, acid reflux, IBO, muscle weakness & pain I've experienced over the last few years were just by products of being over 40, I guess because I'd nothing to compare with.
Anyway, I am planning on starting tx this summer, as soon as school is out. I recently canned my gastro-guy, for a variety of reasons, and am seeing a new one next month to plan & monitor tx. I am blessed to have good insurance.
Mostly dealing with fear and sadness, at the moment, just like everyone else here, I'd bet. I walk around feeling like I want to bawl, most of the time. My partner sees my glass as way more than half full, as tx is not open-ended, and as she pointed out, a 40% possibility of curing the disease sounds great from where she's standing (less than 10% chance after four years in). I have to admit, she has a good point.
In the meantime, it's a nice spring day! I'm going to try to concentrate on that for now. Nice to meet everyone -
Woujer
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
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My ENT sent me for more tests last week...one where they had me lie back in a chair, with blacked out goggles on so I couldn't see while they administered water into my ears one at a time ( first warm, then room-tempurature, then cold) while they video taped my eyes and asked me questions to determine how cognizant I was... This test went HORRIBLY. They were about 20 seconds or so into...
It sounds like you are good at the research end. We'll be here for you on the support end. Welcome to DS!
I couldn't help but notice the you are from GA.(My home at heart)
I'm sorry for You and your partner.And many of us here at DS know what it feels like to be blind sided by the Hep C Dragon.
I have just last week started my TX.So, I don't have alot of advice.I can offer my support and friendship though.
Love and Hugz,
Rudy
Boy you have a fantastic sounding partner! With such a positive person in your life, even if the ride on tx is rough for you, you will still have a caring person at your side to ease those aches.
So yeah, this virus sure is a sneaky one. You sort of have symptoms but they are all the kind that we just chalk up for other reasons. That's partly why they call it a silent killer. Before you know it, your liver is barely chugging along, and you find out how come and just be accident!
Well, you have about the most common genotype, no suprise there. Your viral load is actually not all that high, and it doesn't mean much at all until you are on tx, and only then will it be of use to see if you are responding to tx or not! Otherwise, it means squat.
So now you have a bit of time to clean up your life and eating habits to give your liver a hand before you start tx.
Grab a bottle of water and go out to enjoy the weather.
I truly believe that what happens in life happens for a reason. For you, you have met a wonderful person who is now your partner and who in a way has saved your life by bringing you to learn of your own condition.
Welcome to the site. It's a pleasure to meet you as well.
This on-line group is great. It sounds like you are blessed to have personal support from your partner and it also sounds like you are an important part of her support system.
I understand what you said about dismissing symptoms as "normal" aspects of aging. I think I've done the same. Now, I think I've gone the other way and think that every little thing (blood when I blow my nose, stomach ache, etc...) is a sign that the damned virus is attacking me.
It's difficult to both be accepting of the card we've been dealt and, at the same time, take on the attitude of a warrior prepared to slay the dragon.
I think we need to give ourselves a break sometimes; which brings me to my question. Do you still ride your scooter?