hep c and what to expect

Question

Hi I was recently diagnoised with hep c and I have had it for over 20 years untreated. I am scared and at this point planning my funeral. I was wondering if someone who has gone this could help explain what this disease is going to do to my body. I have read already that it effects everyone differnty and so I am asking what you all have experienced with or without treatment. My husband has been cleared he doesn't have the virus thank God! I just don't know how to feel or at this point how to deal. I have already experienced life by being raped over 1800 times and this is how I got this damn hep c. I just need some help! Thanks!

rivll · Answer

I cannot imagine why you are planning your funeral.
If you have Hep.C see a liver specialist and find out the condition of your liver.
Discuss with her/him treatment options.
Take the medication, don't drink alcohol and take care of yourself. There is no reason you have to become sicker or die if you step up and get some medical help.
It is not over until you decide it is.
All the best

cheflady · Answer

hi welcome to forum. It is totally normal to feel scared and upset but please take a deep breath. My hubby nearing end of triple tx with teleprevir and was und at wk 4 he to had hep c for 30yr without any tx like rival said go to see hep c doc find out what geno type you are and talk about options of tx. Im no doc but if you have had no symptoms like my hubby didnt then your liver might not be damaged as such, but the only way to find out is get the ball rolling. Keep coming on this site, read loads ask loads of questions we will do our best to alliviate your fears and to support you. Best wishes and good luck. Keep us posted

christinatas · Answer

i am new and i am learning-i am no doctor,i am 39 yrs old.i will overcome this,you are not in this alone.i will beat bthis all by myself.
you dont need to plan funeral.
i work 6 days a week and my legs hurt me so bad i want to cut them off.
my right side hurts me pretty bad but i go on,you have to go on,.
i havent started treatment yet BUT I HAVE HAD THIS  for 20 years also.;
dont give up
i have very very bad anxiety but i will beat this and you will too.
my son ranaway from home,i havent saw him since wednesday,i am very sad.
but i will prevail

countrygirlcansurvive · Answer

Welcome to the Forum!
 I had(yes HAD) HepC for 27yrs and just went through my 1st treatments and beat the virus and so can you,BUT only through treatment..First you must get with a Hepatologist and get started.I am not saying its going to be easy,but the new drugs out now have way less side effects than a long time ago.You have a very good chance to clear HepC so get started right away.

Good Luck to you and stick around.You will find you are not as sick as you think you are or as a lot of very educated people on this Forum.Take Rivils advice and take care of yourself.

~Country~

racky2012 · Answer

Hi and welcome to this site as everyone just told you take a deep breath and do some research when we all got the news we had Hep C we all went through a very hard and scary moment in our lives i was really freaking out i am now sitting here posting this and at the end of my treatment and am undetectable 

First thing is to calm down and find a good good hep c / liver doctor treatment is hard on on all of us but we are all here to help see you through 

Best of luck to you

wifeofbelo08 · Answer

Thank you all for the encouragement. I see a specialist April 9th. My family doctor and I have gone back a few years and I have had some syptomms for a while. I am not planning my funeral literally, I just can't believe with all I have already gone through I was just starting to enjoy life and move forward. I am dedicated to continue that. I am just surprised and doing my best to deal with it. Thanks look forward to hearing from u all.

sammyandb · Answer

I had hep C for over 20 years before discovering it. I had minimal scaring and now i am 2 months post treatment. It was a commitment but verything worked out great for me and I am grateful I went through the process. Stay positive; you got this!

racky2012 · Answer

That sounds better dont let this thing beat you down we are all fighters here and we are all here for the same thing to win our fight and many many of us have done just that and i know many many more of us will 

Make sure you come back to let us know how your appointment went 

Best of luck to you

JasmineT · Answer

I finished tx just over 1 year back, triple with incivek. I cured! Those of us that cure tend to be less active on the forum post tx.  I thought it might be good to mention there are many of us that have cured. It was not easy but I know others that have struggled through worse than this.

I feel better than I have in years.  The acid reflux seems to be gone even though I know I have some permanent damage from that.  The asthma is a bit better.  The digestive system is better.  My knee joints are better.  The meds take a long time to clear out but I am pretty much back to my well state now and have been for some time.

If you can take the newer treatments that are coming, it would be good.  If you cannot wait, you have been through worse.  You are in control and the cure rates are good now.  Research, listen to the docs, and don't worry.  The good people here will help you though.

morganmagdalene · Answer

thanx so much for sharing your success. i am awaiting whatever treatment medicaid will approve. im terrified....need to hear about successes.

wifeofbelo08 · Answer

ok I was going through my old medical records and I found a report saying in 2000 they viewed my liver and the liver demonstrated a homogeneous parenchyma without evidence for a ductal dilatation. and they also found the same thing on my spleen. My labs show my white blood count high my rdw high my platelet count high and my mpv high and lymphocyte low. does anyone have any idea what this means? I think it means that I had this in 2000 for sure and they did not give me the test.

Idyllic · Answer

The ultrasound is 13 years old and  I don't want to mislead you or anything since the wording on imaging reports is specific but based on what I have seen on here I do not think that report is necessarily indicating abnormality. "Parenchyma" just means liver tissue. 
_________________

It sounds like a you are ready to deal with your Hepatitis.  Your positive and determined attitude is a great asset. If you are interested in how far your fibrosis has progressed I would start from the beginning and have a PCR (measure your viral load), find out your genotype and ask about finding out how far your fibrosis has progressed (like maybe a biopsy). Be sure to ask about get vaccinated for Hepatitis A & B.

Not knowing where you stand could be contributing to your anxiety but the bottom line is that at this point you just do not have enough information. April 9 is right around the corner so I encourage you to hang around and read posts so you will know what to ask and what to expect. 

I hope you let us know how things work out.
Take care

wifeofbelo08 · Answer

Man I am sore and tired today. I talked to my chiro about things I can do to make things a little better. I want to say thank you all for the support.

wifeofbelo08 · Answer

ok update. I got my blood test back. I have hep c but really low number. Still seeing the specialist. I don't know my numbers but the nurse said they were low numbers.

shepaj13 · Answer

I'm new, just found out I have hepatitis C, genotype 1, at stage 3 for scarring. They say I will need the drug treatment right away. I have not drank alcohol for 6 years, which of course is great!! I feel completely healthy. I would like to know if you guys think I can wait 6 months before I start the treatment as I am just starting my work season, April to September. After would be much better financially. What can I expect to go through w/ this drug treatment?? Any info would be great. Thank you...