MAN! I've been posting on about every forum on this site! I stumbled across this forum, and I think this could be my answer, I HOPE!
About 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 1A Hep C, have had a biopsy, and they constantly check my enzymes, I am still at a stage 1 even though they think I contracted it about 25 years ago. But I have an amazingly high viral load, in the 17 millions! They have been doing MRI's every month because they have found some "spots" on my liver, but they say it's not cancer, they don't know what it is. Although, I did have a "tracer" in my blood that said cancer, but they are still telling me "no."
Anyway, when I was diagnosed, everything in my body started to go whacky!! They said I had hypothyroidism, then I gained 70 lbs! in 6 months! (I HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THIS TWICE BEFORE IN MY LIFE, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THEN, EITHER). Then, I had to have my gallbladder out, then they said I had high blood pressure, then an asophogeal stricture, then paranthesis of my stomach, then HORRIBLE GERD, so bad that I take double the amount of meds. Then, they said I have a hiatal hernia, and my esophogus closed almost all the way, so they had to go in and "stretch" it, then they said I have a "stiff" heart, and I get heart palpitations, rapid heart rate (they don't know why), edema, I'M EXHAUSTED all the time, I have brain fog, I have RLS so bad that I had to TRIPLE the medications, and I have it 24 hours a day, and now I ITCH all over, it is driving me insane.
I have noticed that a lot of these symptoms are due to autoimmune hepatisis, can this occur with Hep C? And who do I go to now? I have been to 5 endocrinologists, 2 cardiologists, am seeing the best hepatologists in the country, (and they haven't said a word about this disorder???), and my family doctor. EVERYONE says there is a problem, but no one knows what it is!! I also am now pre-diabetic with high blood pressure. I have a lot of weight to carry, but my stomach is extremely extended.
Please help???