Aa
Newly diagnosed
I've recently been diagnosed with the hepatitis c antibody...I'm freaked out...my doctor has plunged in and ordered an ultrasound and AFP's...now I'm thinking I have liver cancer...I'm going through with the testing but I have a business trip to go on before the test....should I cancel the trip??? I have absolutely no symptoms...in fact....the diagnosis was made on a hunch because of a prior drinking history....can anyone calm my nerves???
Give yourself some understanding and pamper yourself just a little bit.
But make sure you don't "wallow" in self pity... Cause that surely won't help you one iota.. LOL! In fact it might even really make you mad at yourself.
And --- REMEMBER --- NO ONE --- NONE of us ASKED for this disease. Not a single one of us said --- "HEY HepC --- come pop yourself into my body... Come take a ride".
Don't blame yourself for getting it... NO MATTER WHAT.
Nothing you did created this virus... and you didn't beg it to jump on board.
So don't start thinking about all the things you could have done - or might have done - or should have done to not get it... Cause none of that matters at all.
Be honest with yourself and stay true...
I am so freaking happy about you saying that you can be of use to people --- cause that is a GREAT _--- FABULOUS attitude --- and this world needs more folks like YOU!
It really is super nice to meet you --- and bear with the board at times when it sounds "cliquey" --- or when folks fight...
Remember that everyone here is going through some sort of issue.... Just learning they have HCV --- Going through TX (which can be super difficult emotionally, physically for some folks) and some people not clearing, etc.... Just remember that each of us can only see from our own personal point of view --- and sometimes we all disagree with each other...
We're kinda like one big family home for an extended Thanksgiving.... LOL!
Check ya later when you come back with some great questions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Meki
But make sure you don't "wallow" in self pity... Cause that surely won't help you one iota.. LOL! In fact it might even really make you mad at yourself.
And --- REMEMBER --- NO ONE --- NONE of us ASKED for this disease. Not a single one of us said --- "HEY HepC --- come pop yourself into my body... Come take a ride".
Don't blame yourself for getting it... NO MATTER WHAT.
Nothing you did created this virus... and you didn't beg it to jump on board.
So don't start thinking about all the things you could have done - or might have done - or should have done to not get it... Cause none of that matters at all.
Be honest with yourself and stay true...
I am so freaking happy about you saying that you can be of use to people --- cause that is a GREAT _--- FABULOUS attitude --- and this world needs more folks like YOU!
It really is super nice to meet you --- and bear with the board at times when it sounds "cliquey" --- or when folks fight...
Remember that everyone here is going through some sort of issue.... Just learning they have HCV --- Going through TX (which can be super difficult emotionally, physically for some folks) and some people not clearing, etc.... Just remember that each of us can only see from our own personal point of view --- and sometimes we all disagree with each other...
We're kinda like one big family home for an extended Thanksgiving.... LOL!
Check ya later when you come back with some great questions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Meki
Anytime --- very nice to meetcha!
The flashbacks are normal --- LOL!
But --- this too, shall pass.
Get to work. and do get your feelings settled... If you need a helpmate (xanax, lorazepam, etc...) ask the doctor if he can prescribe you a couple of days worth until you settle down.... just enough until you figure it out.
It took me about a week to absorb the reality of it... It felt surreal - and I felt like death was hovering over me with his grand scythe ready to swing at a moment's notice.
I felt like I could feel each internal organ dying and screaming out in pain...
Turns out --- well --- I got SVR. It surely wasn't pleasant - that's for sure... I also ended up with a divorce and a hysterectomy (not due to the TX --- at least not the hysterectomy... LOL!)
Anyhow - keep a good attitude... that helps very much so... And just take your time to learn...
It's kind of interesting after awhile.... At first - you will read until your eyes get blurry --- LMAO --- kinda like for an exam... yanno?
And you'll fall asleep dreaming about what you learn --- and having arguments with yourself over what you want to do about each step.
So - give yourself the freedom to feel... Because that's NORMAL.
The flashbacks are normal --- LOL!
But --- this too, shall pass.
Get to work. and do get your feelings settled... If you need a helpmate (xanax, lorazepam, etc...) ask the doctor if he can prescribe you a couple of days worth until you settle down.... just enough until you figure it out.
It took me about a week to absorb the reality of it... It felt surreal - and I felt like death was hovering over me with his grand scythe ready to swing at a moment's notice.
I felt like I could feel each internal organ dying and screaming out in pain...
Turns out --- well --- I got SVR. It surely wasn't pleasant - that's for sure... I also ended up with a divorce and a hysterectomy (not due to the TX --- at least not the hysterectomy... LOL!)
Anyhow - keep a good attitude... that helps very much so... And just take your time to learn...
It's kind of interesting after awhile.... At first - you will read until your eyes get blurry --- LMAO --- kinda like for an exam... yanno?
And you'll fall asleep dreaming about what you learn --- and having arguments with yourself over what you want to do about each step.
So - give yourself the freedom to feel... Because that's NORMAL.
You really gave me a lot to think about...you spent a lot of time on this ...THANK YOU... no I'm not breathing normally yet...spent the night doing flash backs of my life...but you're right...I can sit and boo hoo....freak out ...and feel sorry....or gain a positive perspective of myself. I'm a nurse ....so if I can get a handle on my feelings...I think I can be of some use to people....once I take care of this and put all my ducks in a row...Meki...again thanks...I am so very grateful I came upon this web site.
You now know that you're not invincible --- and that alone is probably one of the scariest things to learn about yourself --- when you have to come face to face with the reality that life isn't going to go on forever... and you may have something that will shorten your life... Or could cause you undue pain, etc.
It does change you.
BUT --- you can make it a more positive experience by staying ahead of the game --- learning what treatments are available --- talking to others --- and educating the rest of the world --- so that MORE FUNDING will become available...
You will also have to decide whether to tell others about your disease... And that can be a very touchy topic for some folks.
FOR ME --- it was simple --- I tell EVERYONE... And I make fun of their reactions to their faces, if they are negative...
But the funny thing is --- the only negative reactions I really had was from my husband --- and from 2 girls at work... AND their reactions were bad because they were UNEDUCATED about Hepatitis C...
So --- you can choose to educate others once you become educated --- and that can truly help the HEPATITIS C community around the world --- because I believe each voice strengthens us....
Anyhow - that is a choice YOU have to make... And no matter what you choose - we will still make you a family member.
Much luck to you - and very nice to meet you.
Have you started breathing normally yet?
Don't worry - you will.... as soon as you figure out that you have a lot of hard work in front of you --- and you learn a lot more about everything...
Just remember - your reaction is pretty darn normal.
Meki
It does change you.
BUT --- you can make it a more positive experience by staying ahead of the game --- learning what treatments are available --- talking to others --- and educating the rest of the world --- so that MORE FUNDING will become available...
You will also have to decide whether to tell others about your disease... And that can be a very touchy topic for some folks.
FOR ME --- it was simple --- I tell EVERYONE... And I make fun of their reactions to their faces, if they are negative...
But the funny thing is --- the only negative reactions I really had was from my husband --- and from 2 girls at work... AND their reactions were bad because they were UNEDUCATED about Hepatitis C...
So --- you can choose to educate others once you become educated --- and that can truly help the HEPATITIS C community around the world --- because I believe each voice strengthens us....
Anyhow - that is a choice YOU have to make... And no matter what you choose - we will still make you a family member.
Much luck to you - and very nice to meet you.
Have you started breathing normally yet?
Don't worry - you will.... as soon as you figure out that you have a lot of hard work in front of you --- and you learn a lot more about everything...
Just remember - your reaction is pretty darn normal.
Meki
Yeah --- pretty much EVERYONE goes through the "OH MY GOD I"M DYING" phase...
Grab your bootstraps --- read Janis and Friends --- it's a VERY informative website...
Read through about 3 months worth of posts here.
You will probably do quite a few things and these are generally the steps:
1) test pos for HCV antibodies
2) Get a VIRAL LOAD TEST (PCR) to determine if you have an ACTIVE Virus
3) Get a Genotype test (which will determine what type of treatment you may respond to)
4) Decide to Treat, wait or do nothing
There are a lot of people who spontaneously clear the HepC Virus --- which is absolutely amazing to me.
There are a lot of people who have HCV for YEARS --- DECADES ---- and longer --- who have had NO side effects...
There are some folks who have the HEPC virus for only a little while and get very sick - very quickly.
Each person is different in the way they react to the virus --- and how they also react to the treatment (chemotherapy) for the HEPC virus.
Stop thinking you are going to die ---- immediately.
Stop feeling sorry --- or freaking out... Take a LOT of deep breaths...
Your life - from the moment you found out you have a disease --- will change....
But --- how it changes is entirely up to you.
I won't say that all of this is going to be pleasant ---- LOL ---- quite the opposite, in fact. HOWEVER --- YOU CAN DO IT!
You can do your research ---- find out what this virus means for YOU... and you can attack it in the best fashion for YOU.
This forum is a fantastic learning playground... and there are a LOT of REALLY good people on it.
Take your time --- you're not going to die tomorrow from HCV --- it's a VERY slow progression from point A - to Point B... But don't dawdle --- learn... get yourself educated.
Grab your bootstraps --- read Janis and Friends --- it's a VERY informative website...
Read through about 3 months worth of posts here.
You will probably do quite a few things and these are generally the steps:
1) test pos for HCV antibodies
2) Get a VIRAL LOAD TEST (PCR) to determine if you have an ACTIVE Virus
3) Get a Genotype test (which will determine what type of treatment you may respond to)
4) Decide to Treat, wait or do nothing
There are a lot of people who spontaneously clear the HepC Virus --- which is absolutely amazing to me.
There are a lot of people who have HCV for YEARS --- DECADES ---- and longer --- who have had NO side effects...
There are some folks who have the HEPC virus for only a little while and get very sick - very quickly.
Each person is different in the way they react to the virus --- and how they also react to the treatment (chemotherapy) for the HEPC virus.
Stop thinking you are going to die ---- immediately.
Stop feeling sorry --- or freaking out... Take a LOT of deep breaths...
Your life - from the moment you found out you have a disease --- will change....
But --- how it changes is entirely up to you.
I won't say that all of this is going to be pleasant ---- LOL ---- quite the opposite, in fact. HOWEVER --- YOU CAN DO IT!
You can do your research ---- find out what this virus means for YOU... and you can attack it in the best fashion for YOU.
This forum is a fantastic learning playground... and there are a LOT of REALLY good people on it.
Take your time --- you're not going to die tomorrow from HCV --- it's a VERY slow progression from point A - to Point B... But don't dawdle --- learn... get yourself educated.
I am grateful for your input...the comments so far have eased my tension like you wouldn't believe...thank you for taking time to post your input
There is no difference in you today compared to yesterday, except for a minor piece of information that in the end may just be insignificant. Go about your life, take the biz trip and don't screw it up. And, for goodness sake, don't blurt it out across a conference room table. As a matter of fact, retain any information to yourself until you know more and have processed it thoroughly.
Scrib,
Just want to add that sometimes antibody tests will show a false positive. That is why it is SO important to have the HCV RNA test. Also, drinking has nothing to do with exposure to hepc. Consuming alcohol will not give you hepc. If you engaged in risky behavior while under the influence, that's another story. Alcohol does impact negatively on the progression of liver disease with those who have hepc.
Just want to add that sometimes antibody tests will show a false positive. That is why it is SO important to have the HCV RNA test. Also, drinking has nothing to do with exposure to hepc. Consuming alcohol will not give you hepc. If you engaged in risky behavior while under the influence, that's another story. Alcohol does impact negatively on the progression of liver disease with those who have hepc.
Thank you so much for your comment ...in regards to your question...no...I have not been tested for the HCV RNA...I thought that would be the most logical next step..I really appreciate your time...she is my primary care physician and she is good ..but I will look into getting a good hepatologist....again...thank-you
You have tested positive for the antibodies. That does not mean you have the active virus. What that could mean is you have had hepc sometime in your life but your immune system fought off the virus and you no longer have active hepc. You will more than likely test positive for the antibodies the rest of your life. What actually determines if you have the active virus is an HCV RNA by PCR test. Did you have that test performed as well, and if so what were the results? Do not think worst case scenerio until you have all the facts. Advise you see a liver specialist if you have the active virus in your blood so that the necessary tests are perfomed. If you have hepc, don't change your plans. You aren't going to drop dead - just carry on with as normal a life as you can. Once properly diagnosed, you and your doctor can make the best decisions for you. Many factors play a role in how a person with hepc should proceed. Just too much info to post at this early stage - visit the website janis7hepc.com. Good information there and in the archives of this forum. Slow down - get the answers you need and people on this forum can help if you need additional information once you know exactly what your situation is. Good Luck and Welcome
Trinity
Trinity
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