What is your experience with Hepatitis C??I have a friend that has been ill for a few days and was tested yesterday and found that she had antibodies for Hep C. She has a f/u with a gastronologist tomorow. Do you have it, or know someone, have tips? And do you know how I can make her feel better because she feels now that everyone is going to think she is a drug user etc. Which she has never been. Sigh...... thanks in advance.
Ψ Party-On! Ψ
none....i'm happy to say
lovin life
Not good. Just be there for her. At this point she cannot worry what other people think of her, because it really doesn't matter.
mightymite1957
My aunt has hepatitis C, she got it from a blood transfusion years ago. She's been healthy, watches her diet carefully, exercises, works on keeping a healthy outlook on life. It's not curable, but you can live a productive life with it. Tell your friend not to worry so much, to concentrate on what she needs to do to stay healthy, and wish her good luck.
no name
take good cair of it i know people that live long lives with it if u dont over due it!!! what i mean is hep c kills the liver the liver is like a filter for all the poisons you take in on a daily..... just keep them healthy don't drink!!! or do drugs i know people that don't take cair of it and they die!!!! and b cair full it is more contagious than aids!!!!
Stephanie
many folks do not know how they acquired hcv because truth being, hcv can be contagious and transferrable in any "right" situation.
mass innoculations done on children in the 70's as well as veterans have hcv, spread via jetshot gun.
peircings, tattoos, dental, getting your nails done, sharing a razor or toothbrush-anything that may have hcv infected blood on it (wet or dry) that somehow enters the bloodstream can result in hcv infection. other ways those before 95 acquired hcv are through blood transfusions and blood by products where depending on the situation led a person to need a life saving dose of blood-and before 95 no one knew to test for hcv because they only knew it as nona-nonb hepatitis.
the newer cases of hcv infection are clearly those who do drugs more than any of the ways i've listed above. certain age groups have higher concentrations of hcv infected.
i got hcv at the age of 8 in the mid 70's (if not earlier as i had three surgeries prior to then when osha didn't regulate sterilization methods in hospitals. regardless of when, i developed my first physical symptom at age 8-spider nevi. from then i developed more symtpoms-ie, bone loss, menstration issues, weight problems, hair loss, lethargy, brain fog, depression and a host of other issues.
it wasn't until i was 34 that someone took me seriously and didn't say it was "all in my head, ie, depression".
although my alt and ast levels always appeared normal, i found out i still had hcv infection. my liver disease didn't result in severe damage, but enough to cause panic attacks and other skin rashes.
i was approved for a study trial of interferon, ribavirin and amantadine after i made a valid point with my doctor about mental illness (to treat or not to treat?). those with hcv suffer from depression because of the disease itself. it's not always a case of "seperate issue" because the virons as well as toxins from the damage livers inability to filter the toxins out of the body DO pass the blood brain barrier.
since one of the first noticable symptoms are depression, i was approved.
i did 48 weeks for genotype 2b (much easier to treat than that of 1a or 1b). now they treat genotypes 2b for only 6 months.
i have a sustained viral response. i did a follow up biopsy which showed no new or old viral activity. i am post 5 years and was considered cured at my second year post.
all of my symptoms (bi-directional diseases) went away and have not returned except one- the brain fog, ie, short term memory issues. some days i still know i should not drive.
i blame partly the brain fog/damage from hcv, but moreso i blame all the antidepressants the psychiatrist insisted i need over a 10 year period. this has permenately changed the way my brain chemistry works. with a damaged liver, medications go a long way compaired to those without liver disease.
your friend may also find that she has nash or maybe even type 2 diabetes as usually with hcv a person can have one or the other. they aren't sure what the correlation is as of yet.
some start out with acute hepatitis c, but that isn't always the case. flu like symptoms wax and wane throughout a person hcv infection. many of us have low grade fevers.
things she can do:
no iron-(food or vitamins)
no sugar-stevia (gnc) seems to be the best alternative for heppers-it's not sugar nor is it artificial
no red meats-they are high in protein which can cause an issue with the kidneys.
try to have her get most of her protein from vegetable sources.
NO alcohol-not even the rubbing kind!
drink water, tea or coffee-unless she has panic attacks-this shows the liver is damaged and unable to proccess the drink, which will overload her body.
low or no sodium.
have her ask about a trial study. see if the doctor can qualify her for one. treatment is expensive, but it is an option. those in studies will have medications paid for.
as always, have her over informed on hcv, regardless if she's correct or not correct-this is how the confusion is stopped.
last but not least, hcv corpuscles found in semen, vaginal fluids, mucus, tears or saliva are not transferrable. as always one should respect their "self" by wearing protection, yet if she is in a long term relationship, most doctors will tell the couple no need for a condom, but if you feel uncomfortable wear one.
hcv is blood to direct blood only.
last but not least, support your friend. hcv is not easy and treatment can be hard (if she does treatment, water (ice water) will greatly reduce side effects and keep them minimal. read read read.
hugs! thanks for asking this for your friend.
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