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.
By older I mean 50 or older.
Did you get tx and did your age affect your tx and/or whether or not you decided to get tx?
If you got tx, how did your age affect how you felt, say compared to a younger person?
This is all assuming your only health problem was the HepC and nothing else was affecting your health such as diabetes.
Did you get tx and did your age affect your tx and/or whether or not you decided to get tx?
If you got tx, how did your age affect how you felt, say compared to a younger person?
This is all assuming your only health problem was the HepC and nothing else was affecting your health such as diabetes.
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
I had no horrible sides and worked through tx.
I had no other health issues aside from migraines for decades but oddly, I did not have a single one while on tx.
Of course age factored into how older people feel while on tx. When you reach 50, you are not in as good a physical condition as a younger person. It's nature.
It is for that very reason that younger people have a better time on tx because they are stronger and better able to manage any symptoms.
I am pretty sure that if I had been a few decades younger, I would have done better on tx. I would have done tx, no matter what age, because I want to be rid of the virus. I worry about my liver and want it to be healthier.
Hope this helps.
Yes, most people have a few handsful of sides, common to all. And that's where the similarity ends.
I think every person will agree that tx is no walk in the park, but some have next to no problems (me) while others are on a nitemare rollercoaster all the way through tx.
I don't think you can tell ahead of time which one you will be or to what degree you will react to the meds. As I said, age does factor into the picture but not to the point of saying it's tougher on older people. Even the success rates I think don't tell the real picture because of the various reasons that people stop tx.
I have to say that if I were one of the people who had a terrible time on tx, or one who had life threatening reactions to tx, I sure would hesitate to do tx again.
That is why it's very important to make a fully educated decision.
Depending on the condition of your liver, your choices may be limited where giving tx a chance will at least give your liver a break even if you relapse.
While many people may not have any large damage to their liver and be young, the choices are wider. Sure you could afford to wait and maybe never do tx, but some think that fighting the battle while they are young and strong and their bodies are up for the fight is the way to go.
This topic is a terrific one for a discussion because there are so many ways to look at it all.
If you don't get your dx till your fifties, and your biopsy shows that you have pretty much no damage, it may well be a consideration to roll the dice and maybe ride it out, not do tx.
You could easily do the clean up your life stuff and be ok. But it's still taking a chance. My grandmother died of liver cancer, so my choice was easy. Do tx and get rid of the virus if I could.
There are many people who are possible predisposed to other conditions and those conditions are brought on earlier or made worse by tx. There are issues such as RA which can come into the picture and thyroid issues as well that must be considered. Again I was lucky because tx stopped my migraines and postponed menopausal symptoms for the year; I was super grateful for both of those sides!
It is no snap decision for anyone to make, at any age. People need to read everyone's reactions and they are all correct.
Tatt's is correct and so is mine and everyone else's. Some clear, some relapse, some don't respond at all.
There's no strong reasons why, so you decide based on your own feelings, condition and history.
Then you cross your fingers, roll the dice, and hope for the best with your decision.
I've been watching this thread unroll, not being able to put my personal experience since I was 43-44 when I did tx, but if I would have replied, I would have responded pretty much the same wording and logic as Justblue.
Great opinions all together.
Great Post, thank HEPCinRVA for bringing it up.
Mckenzie
one day at the time
Best wishes and whatever ya decide we (I dare speak for all) will be here for ya!
I chose to do it because I just hated knowing there was something inside of me that was taking control of my life. Wanted to stop feeling crazy and lazy.
I'll never do the treatment again. Can't for one reason. Think I am allergic to it and it gave me madcow disease to boot.
But, your question also was, "If you got tx, how did your age affect how you felt, say compared to a younger person?"
I ain't got a clue about that question and really don't know how to answer it because I'm not a younger person. Being old or young...we all have the same goal in common...living.
That was a good question. You'll get responses from both. This will be interesting to watch and get both sides of the story.
Thank you,
Tasmoe
Oh yea, Goose.