Hep C Support?

[Shdwsldy]

About a month ago my husband was diagnosed with Hep C after a trip to the emergency room due to vomiting large quantities of blood.  The last month has been filled with an awful lot of doctors appointments with 5 different doctors.

His poor body is very screwed up.  He has very low platelet levels down in the 48-50 range.  His white cells seem to be "recovering" and his red blood cells are back to normal after having a blood transfusion and additional platelets.  He's currently on meds to help increase his platelets to where they need to be.

He definitely has gastritis, although all the doctors seem to believe that it is a secondary issue to the Hep C.  He has another scope to see how his stomach is healing in the next few days.

Urology did a cat scan of his chest to check out all of his organs because there was blood in his urine.  Fortunately nothing seems to be significantly amiss other than a slightly enlarged gall blader.  This is at least some good news as that didn't show anything concerning his liver.

Unfortunately, the first appointment with the last doctor isnt until next week.  I'm not 100% sure if this guy is a hepatologist or just an infectious disease specialist, although either way it may be all that we have in the local area that can help treat him.

Yesterday I did get tested for Hep B/C for a peace of mind.  From all that I've been told and have researched, the odds are pretty low that I could get it from him, but it is still all scary nonetheless.

I know that depression and such can be quite common.  What kind of support for Hep C is out there?

[orphanedhawk]

There are many online forums and some clinics that do treatment have support groups as well.

I suggest your husband see an experienced hepatologist, liver specialist, as soon as possible, his condition sounds severe.
Also he absolutely should not drink ANY alcohol.

[HectorSF]

OH is absolutely correct.

Vomiting blood, low platelet count can be signs of advance liver disease (advanced cirrhosis). Hepatitis C is a virus and does cause vomiting of blood, low platelet counts. Decades of hepatitis C infection can destroy the liver and lead to cirrhosis of the liver which can cause these complications.

When the doctor performs the endoscopy if your husband has cirrhosis the doctor will find enlarged varices. Enlarged veins in the esophagus, stomach and bowels which can be caused by cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension. Advanced liver disease can be a life-threatening illness and should be treated very seriously.

No alcohol or NSAID pain killers (ibuprofen aspirin, etc.) which can cause internal bleeding.

Good luck!
Hector

[Shdwsldy]

My husband is only 32 and had been having some back problems.  They gave him a new pain medication that they believe caused an allergic reaction.  Which in turn led to the discovery of Hep C after he started vomiting blood.  From the origional endoscope, they could see where the pills had sat in his stomach.

Of course the ER doc wrote this all up as him being a raging alcoholic...  At that point they said no drinking and no pain medications of any type.  However, what we are pissed at is that although they ran all the Hep tests, the never mentioned being positive for C or put it in the discharge papers for follow up etc...

Today he should find out the results of the ITP/APT tests. And we'll see if the meds for the low platelets have helped any or not.

It just really ***** not knowing how/where/when he got this :(  Pretty sure we'll never know.

[crossroadsec]

Take heart. It's overwhelming at first but you will get the support you need. Hep C is such a suprise virus that blindsides us. Yeah. My doc thought I was an alcoholic too. Then they ran the test.
Hang in there. I left you a message in your inbox.
xoxo Karen:)