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.
Being that I am 28 years old an don't know exactly when I contracted the virus since both parents of mine have had it long before I was born. I have no side effects and live a healthy life of minimum alcohol and no drugs. Do I treat or not? I found out I had the virus about 4 years ago and I see my doctor once a year for blood work and the typical conversation if I am ready for treatment yet. My doctor tells me he can not see anything in my blood work that shows my body is in any distress from the virus and that he would only be able to tell what is really going on is if he did a biopsy, which I have not yet done. Last visit he told me he was in no hurry to treat me since I wasn't emotionally and financially in a position to feel comfortable doing so. He told me he would like to see me do treatment with in five years without even seeing a biopsy. I am a single mom of a very active 7 year old little girl and working a job an a half. I can not jeopardize my job or my responsibilities as a mom. If I am not having side effects of any kind and wouldn't even know today that I even had the virus if it wasn't for both parents having it, then should I even treat it? My mother passed away July 23rd from complete liver and kidney failure due to years of heavy drinking, drugs and Hep c. This made me that much more terrified of making the right decision. Any advice is helpful! God Bless!
You've already seen what this virus can do. I assume you know the rules of the road - no alcohol, good nutrition etc.
The prob with hcv, it keeps doing its damage. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
"With in the next 5 years" sounds good. The treatments available will only get better. Your life may not slow down. It would be wise to plan for treatment before your health deteriorates.
now are very hard & your sick almost the entire
time. If you opt to treat now you will have to
do it for 24 or 48 weeks depending how well you
respond to it. I finished 24 weeks in May and I
cleared. There are new TX coming out within a
year that are so much easier on the body. With
far less side effects. If I were you I would
find out the shape your liver is in. If it's in
good shape I would wait. And by the way your
describing your situation, I would assume your
OK to wait. The people on here are good folks
who have seen, heard & done it all. So good
luck to you & welcome!!!
Ozzie
Wish you didn't have to bere, but welcome! Sorry about your mom. Glad you are smart enough not to live a healthy lifestyle and nor drink or drug! That really helps! There's a HCV Comlementary & alternativegroup here with lots on natural ways to help your liuver while waiting for treatment or for those who cannot take treatment.
WAIT! Definately wait. New, less toxic and easierr to tolerate tretements are on the way, starting the end of this year, depending on your genotype. You should be able to continue your life and your job if you get a non-Interferon and non-Riba treatment.
Good luck!
There are medical reasons to treat now, and even financial ones (insurance expiring soon), but most people can wait.
I just finished 48 weeks of hellish treatment. I could not even care for myself much of the time, I could not imagine trying to care for a 7 year old at the same time.
The only thing I would add is to try and get a biopsy done soon. Then you will have a better understanding of the condition of your liver. Until you do treat, you should try to eat right, exercise, and drink very little, if any.
God luck,
Bob
Don't take the path your Mom did. Take care of yourself...avoid alcohol and smoking, eat well, and get plenty of exercise. You can live with HCV for decades if you take care of your liver.
You'll beat it...don't worry! And your daughter will have a mom until she gets old :-)
Sorry to hear of your mom's passing. If you feel okay you may be in good shape and should probably wait for the new drugs that should be available around the new year 2014 ! (fingers crossed).
I am alot older than you but have been recently dx and my doctor wants me to wait. Like the others here suggest, take care of yourself and avoid drinking, drugs, etc.
Keep us posted !
I would say it's a no brainer but it is still your decision.
Will keep you in my prayers!
Bill
Can you cite where it states that a fibroscan can produce similarly accurate results as a biopsy regarding the state of your liver???
I ask this because from what I have read, the fibroscan does give conflicting results that are not as accurate as a biopsy and visa versa...
And yet, I do know that a biopsy is much more accurate down to the cellular level in determining the extent of liver damage if any and not just by finding some damaged cells like most folks assume...
It's much more complex than that because it's really the markers of certain types of cellular material that can be found all over the person's liver which they pathologists use to determine if there's any liver damage or not.
I doubt very much that a fibroscan is capable of duplicating that level of sensitivity and accuracy.
Respectfully,
Henry