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.
My hep c specialist wants to start me on one of the new meds.I am really apprehensive due to the difficulty in stabilizing my other medical issues. She wants to change all the doses on my current regimen. Only interaction has been by phone. Just do not feel comfortable. What have people experience regarding side affects and success?
You need to see who is managing your treatment and build a trust relationship, get questions answered, assurance that you will have support.
Your other doctors have to agree to changes in current medications. A hep dr can't prescribe your psych, diabetes, etc whatever if you are already under the care of a specialist in those areas.
Is this hep dr ready to take full responsibility for consequences for other conditions, I think not, and your insurance would not go for it.
I feel you need an appointment, go in with all your questions.
OOPS sorry I did not answer your question!
Which new regimen are they suggesting for you? Side effects depend on individual, which drug, how long, any combination drug, etc.
I had to get my PCP to do it......He checked over all my meds and then since my Lisinipril was only 2.5 mg (small dose) for my blood pressure, he thought it would NOT be a problem.....Turned out that med contain potassium and my levels went off the charts, so PCP had to find me new BP med.
Even having problems with UTI's, and the antibiotics not working, he would not give me anything - was told to go back to PCP, even though I was seeing me more than my PCP.
I had to do 24 weeks of SOV/Riba and I did run into kidney pain and my new BP med was diuretic and that caused my other levels to be off.....It was a frustrating rollercoaster, however in the long run, I am 8 months POST treatment SVR - in other words, he say I am cured!!
Just hang in there, work alongside your PCP, and if you have to, find a new Hepatologist. I know it is easier said than done.
I have a new UTI now and it brought back the memories of all I went thru with the treatment, but I did the old treatments in the past and this was a "cakewalk" compared to the old stuff!!
Good luck and post any questions
There is no way to correct.
My nails are getting in the way.