hep c

[markmeyer]

I have hep c.im having trouble with anyone to help me.my insurancenever seems to come through.i cant believe my country would let this happen

[Giddyup5]

Markmeyer,
I know the feeling that you can not get insurance or see a doctor. I never had insurance until I was 38 years old. Don't worry
You will get the care you need. There are a lot of  people here who have been in your situation. Like what was said above let us know some facts.
Go to whoever told you you have hep c and ask for the lab reports.
Have you had insurance before?
Are you eligle for Medicaid or Medicare.?

Best

[patra_]

M:  Id reminded me of the other thing I wanted to ask/tell you.  

Id:  You are right on with your comments.

I meant to aske M id he was given his diagnosis by a regular MD (not putting regular Drs down - where would we be w/o them?) or by a hepatologist?

M.  If you don't have a specialist, after you get your test results, if anything indicates that you positively do have hepc, you want to look for the best hepa specialist, with the most hepc experience you can find.

This is not to say that someone with less ecperience can't read and learn and do an excellent job, but that is hard to find.

[Idyllic]

Greetings and welcome.
Like Pat says the best place to start is with your medical records.
First of all confirm you actually have Hepatitis C (HCV).  Call the place that diagnosed your Hepatitis C and ask for copies of all the labs you had done.

You probably at some time had the test for Hepatitis C Antibody (shows you have been exposed to the virus) first and then maybe later had the Hepatitis C PCR (which confirms the virus is actually in your blood stream & you are infected).

I cannot begin to tell you how many people have come on here worried and scared to the max they have Hepatitis C when they only show presence of the antibody.

The only way anything is going to happen for you is you take this first step on your own.  Unfortunately many family doctors / PCPs do not always interpret results accurately and it is up to you to be sure you are infected.

If nothing has happened yet then nothing will until you take the next step. There are people on here who can help you interpret labs and reports but we (and you) need a factual place to start.

[patra_]

M:  What is your genotype?  Do you have a clear liver or do you have Fibrosis or cirrhosis?  Have you ever had treatment before?  What are your liver Function Test numbers (AST, ALT, Bilirubin, etc).

Answers to those questions will help get answers for you question.  There are a number of treatments being used right now, and those depend on the Gt and whether or not you have treated beforand to what result.  

And help with getting the meds depends on which meds so someone will know where to refer you..

Oops, welcome to the Forum.  

Now, Take a deep breath and know that information is at hand.  Remember, though, we are not doctors, just patients like yourself, or caregivers of patients, many with LOTS of experience as they have treated many times.

Hang in there.     Pat