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743294 tn?1233234358

worried

Iam 27 years old and have had hep c for 9 years. I got the virus from intravenous drug use. I was a heroin addict for about 2 years and have been clean for about 8 years. i have drank heavily at times and sometimes daily.  I owned a bar which kept me drinking alot for about the last 2 years. I just sold it and have cut my drinking down to once every couple weeks.  i have had right upper abdominal pain for the last 6 months and iam going for a ultrasound saturday and blood tests. iam very worried. can anyone relate with me. I am also getting married in 4 months. just very concerned about everything.
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Avatar universal
You made my day by posting! Thank you.

Many people, at least me, have taken you under our wing and want the best for you. Please disregard stupid posts. They're only a reflection of the people who posted them and not at all about you.

You're doing fantastically and congratulations on all your successes.

Port
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743294 tn?1233234358
I have been clean from H for 8 years now not 2. And yes my fiance' does Know.  Iam getting my blood work done this week and biopsy should be next week or after.  Hope everyone is doing good
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Avatar universal
I thought that MH just deleted these threads after they hit a certain number of posts.

Do you mean that people actually try to come back and read them?  I wonder if MH knows this.

; )

-W
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Avatar universal
Have you noted that TMO only posted once and that was about a week ago?

I don't know if he's read the thread or will return to post again.

When I was in college in the sixties, there were many pushers everywhere. Some were pushing LSD, some were pushing Marxism-Leninism, some were pushing burning bras. They all shared the same underlying personality. They were aggressive and bullying about their convictions, used intimidation as their primary tool to spread their product and were wild-eyed, blowing their own horn.

Things haven't changed much - it still seems  the most ignorant are the most sure. Still pushing.
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Avatar universal
Granite, I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment.  I would feel that the goal here is to educate oneself about options and then decide a course of action.  Deciding without really doing any investigation and education it not a well reasoned course of action.

Deciding whether to treat is likely one of the most important decisions one will make in a lifetime.  I hope that no one ever decides based on reading a thread. (well; it would have to be one hell of a thread.)  Just as I would suggest not deciding whether to treat based on one thread I would also suggest that we don't offer advice to treat in a persons first thread.  ; )

One of the most important purposes of reading in a forum is to arm oneself with information about HCV and its treatment.  I think getting a biopsy might be a very important step in that process.  The results can illuminate whether one must treat now or could possibly wait for shorter and more effective treatments.  There are many people on this forum who have failed treatment a number of times and who have had to re-treat.  There are many people who responded slowly to treatment and who had to extend to longer treatment durations.  There are many people who have suffered some form of temporary and sometimes long term issues which may be associated with current treatment.

In deciding whether to treat one may be faced with an approximate 40% SVR rate for genotype 1 naives.  It appears to me that the Telaprevir and Boceprevir trials are coming out with better than 70% SVR rates.  The Vertex seems to offer cutting the treatment time in half for a large group of fast responders.  This will mean cutting the exposure to some toxic drugs and quite possibly some of the post TX issues which accompany current treatment.  

I'd suggest;
1)  Get a biopsy
2)  Decide to become informed about HCV, current and future forms of treatment before deciding a course of action.  It could just be that these people who have done a full course of treatment know something that others who haven't don't.  ; )

best,
willy
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179856 tn?1333547362

"To: TMO
Don't let anyone talk you out of your clean time. Two yrs. off the  H  is something to bragg about. I have been an addict and am clean now. For sure andromedae has not been a junkie and don't know the disease."

Now that is one of the most unstupid comments I've heard in a long, long time.  It is something AMAZING to brag about and anyone who isn't intelligent enough to understand that and give kudos where due shouldn't really be paid any attention to anyway.  

Don't let anybody EVER take that away from you TMO - EVER!
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548668 tn?1394187222
I'm stupid.  I tx'd once in 1994 without doing any research (no computer then).  The tx was unsuccessful which made me not "tx naieve".   I was put on the 'watch and wait';  tx'g again was not forthcoming unless I had 'significant progression'.  

Once blood tests appeared to show progression, I had to do a biopsy to be eligible, and the bx had to show significant progression before tx'g became an option (G3, not tx naieve).

I had blood tests done since 1994;  they showed very little abnormality, as I tried desparately to look after myself.  When I didn't take care my body and bloodtests soon showed me.    The 'watch and wait' almost backfired on me (and my specialist).   Eventually, even looking after myself religiously did not stop my bloods from starting to look awry.

I don't recommend anyone "tx'g or not tx'g";  it's a very very personal decision, and I find it hard to understand how anyone can recommend for or against.  I'm thankful I found this site which allowed me to make an informed decision to tx, knowing more about what I was letting myself in for.   I feel desparately sorry for those who come through tx heavily disappointed with sx's, lack of support etc.   I cannot 'blame' anyone for my decision to tx this time around, come what may.

I may have watched and waited too long.   I may have done tx earlier and reacted more severely.  By grace I managed to sustain the 6 months tx.   If I was younger, fitter, and less damaged I may have tried to wait for newer drugs.... but that could have also allowed my state of denial to run rampant.

I'm sorry I do rave on, but I think it's better than giving brief, definitive statements which may have huge bearing on another hepper and their family.

And BTW,  the more I read, the less I know!!      Everytime I get another sx, I do some research, and realise that sometimes I have 'guesstimated' incorrectly, when drawn by overzealous empathy to be of some assistance.  There are too many many variables for us to 'sell' the tx'g argument.  

AND (phew), it appears that many of my sx's have been related to my thyroid - next week, no doubt, I'll find out something else new (to me, but not to some of the really knowledgeable folk who thankfully keep posting!!)
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9648 tn?1290091207
tsk tsk tsk. be careful what you say about my home state.
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559277 tn?1330618739
I used the "stupid" word when I was new here and it was EPIC FAIL. I was the big moron who didn't recognize that it was probably a little of the drugs and probably a lot of ignorance on my part.

Fortunately we have things like compassion, love and forgiveness as humans with hearts. The words "I'm sorry" go a long way. And shutting up.
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Avatar universal
Mostly from California, where else :)
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Avatar universal
It seems that the less informed are often the most confident or should I say -  arrogant.
Where do these people come from?
Mike
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Avatar universal
I finally realize why I am thankful I have hepc.  It's because I now have stupidity.  
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Avatar universal
Jackson: soc really only works on about 40 percent of geno 1 in 1 year, so if you had minimal damage why not wait 2 years to increase odds about 30 percent  in half the time
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That's the stupidest thing I heard. I know that because I say that all the time but I'm stupid.
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Avatar universal
why would anyone treat without biopsy if they could have one considering soc really only works on about 40 percent of geno 1 in 1 year so if you had minimal damage why not wait 2 years increase odds about 30 percent in half the time lets see you have now told jim he is stupid desperate husband is a stupid coward if he does not leave wife when you now nothing of him happy to have experiance of hep lets see how happy you would be if treatment did not work or if did and turns out there is still lingring infection in your liver and ongoing fibrosis but you will never be able to understand any of that because you will probably clear in your 6 months i too have had this deasease since birth documented red cross traced back to 1958 6 body transfussions spent month in hospital at 8 over this it does not matter how one got this we our all in same fight i have treated to many times and probably wrong decision at times just maybe you our the stupid one or you have side effects and do not realize it
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Avatar universal
That feeling great you talk of sounds like there is a hint of low level Riba Rage coming out and is just about right on time. I have done and said some asinine things in the past two years but using the stupid word while feeding from the hand was not one of them. Lol

jasper
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476246 tn?1418870914
I want to add myself to the really stupid ones.... I insisted on wanting to have a biopsy, even though I am a geno 3 and had decided to treat right away. My 'clever' decision of treating right away was based on Stupid reasons... like I could financially afford to treat at this time, that it was actually a suitable time in my life to treat etc.

So it really doesn't matter, just treat without a biopsy. Even if you have decompensated cirrhosis, have no money at all, are too weak to treat at the moment, have no help or support group, or whatever. It's a no-brainer... just treat! NO MATTER WHAT... don't watch and wait. Even if you have hardly any damage. Don't wait for the new drugs, you should treat for twice the amount of time with a lower chance of beating this. If you don't beat it, treat again! The more exposure to the drugs, the better.

Okay.... enough of my Saturday ribacasm..... I just couldn't resist. I cannot even believe that we are having this nonsense debate here on the forum.

EVERYBODY should know that, if you can have a biopsy, have it! It is important to know the state of your liver. If for medical or other reasons, you cannot have one that is something different.




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Avatar universal
I also fall into the "stupid group" and I can't imagine how I've gotten this far.  I must have lucked out despite my stupidity when I had my biopsy and weighed the pros and cons of treating upon diagnosis.  I was additionally stupid when I looked at how treating may impact my life physically, financially and emotionally and whether it was absolutely necessary in my life at this time and how prepared was I in the event of catastrophe.  
When I first arrived on this board I must really have been stupid and listened to some extremely wise advice given by older members who were never accusatory or judgmental despite my OBVIOUS BLUNDERS and certainly they never berated me.  They gave me spot on, well researched, intelligent advise so in my humble opinion I will continue to stumble down my path of stupidity and heed the words of those older and wiser who speak of what they know.  
Trinity
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Avatar universal
GK:....the only reason anyone should watch and wait is if they've failed tx already. Or the sides were too much for them to handle. That's my firm opinion. It's been proven that waiting doesn't help anyone in itself...So, if someone has just been diagnosed with hep c, then start treatment. Period... Choosing to wait when you don't even know how you'll react to the current meds is stupid.
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I guess we have a lot of "stupid" people here and I'll include myself as doubly stupid per your definition.

The "Watch n' Wait" versus "Treat Now" has been debated here numerous times and while I most certainly fall into the "Watch n' Wait" camp, I do respect many of the arguments presented by the "Treat Now's" and their variations, and hopefully many of them respect my arguments as well.

But in all due respect, I just have the feeling that you really haven't done your homework here so there's really nothing to discuss except you might find more respect here if you refrain from calling people names like "stupid". Personally, I don't care because I think it just makes you look that way for those who have put time into this subject.

Oh, and that "stupid" suggestion I made to you when you first started treating about increasing your riba to weight based -- since when do you listen to stupid people :)

-- Jim
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408795 tn?1324935675
Welcome and big congrats for kicking stuff, I was hooked for a long, long time.  I don't want to sound like I'm talking war stories or anything like that, but you have reached a height that not many ppl are able to attain.  I'm sure you're starting to trim down the use of the alcohol because that will take you out quicker than a person who can still think could ever imagine.  It's been suggested already, so I won't say it again, but if you worry about something you have no control over then you will become known as a worry wart.   My message is only that it doesn't do any good to worry.  If you live the good life then things will fall into place.  You're getting married and your dropping the bottle, so think positive, live positive and treat everything and everyone well.  If you found out you were HepC positive at 27 and HepC is known to stay inactive for 6months to a year and a half or so, you really haven't been chronic for that long.  You should get a biopsy, so you can get a better picture of what your damage is to your liver.  good luck.  
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Avatar universal
Where's Mr. Liver when you need him?
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Avatar universal
I hear what you're saying Jim, regarding the watching and waiting. But really, the only reason anyone should watch and wait is if they've failed tx already. Or the sides were too much for them to handle. That's my firm opinion. It's been proven that waiting doesn't help anyone in itself.

So, if someone has just been diagnosed with hep c, then start treatment. Period. If you fail treatment or can't handle the sides, then get a biopsy and see if you can AFFORD to wait till new meds come out. OR, get on board with some of the trials going on with new drugs. Those are the three choices. Treat, trial, wait AFTER you've failed. Choosing to wait when you don't even know how you'll react to the current meds is stupid.
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Avatar universal
My situation is very similar to yours.

27 infected 9 years from IV use & heavy / binge drinker at periods through-out the 9 years of infection.

Everrybody reacts differently to HCV, but this is my current situation.

I got referred to a liver specialist and had a biopsy done. THe results came back Fibrosis 2, which really isn't good news for a 27 yr old.

Realising that new treatment isn't likely to be available in Australia untill 2012+ i felt i had no option but to start tx. I'm due to start in 2 weeks.

You should definately get a biopsy done, even though the results can be tough, it really is important to know where you stand.

All the best

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Avatar universal
Last post got cut off... here is complete post...

GC:
I hear people telling you a biopsy is important, yet everyone is pushing you to treat anyway...

Fact: If you want it gone or want to start down the path to rid it from your body, then start treatment.

You do NOT need a biopsy to tell you what you need to do. Is it a the best way to tell you how your liver is doing?
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First, not everyone is suggesting treatment. Second, you seem to have made up your mind -- either treat or treat :) Fact is that Watching and Waiting is a reasonable choice for those with little or no liver damage. The pro's and con's have been discussed in this thread and others. The biopsy gives critical info to make an intelligent decision unless of course your mind is already made up. The other thing, even if your mind is made up, a biopsy can guide you how agressively to treat should things get rough during treatment. Someone with low liver damage may reasonably treat less agressively in light of significant sides.
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Avatar universal
GC:
I hear people telling you a biopsy is important, yet everyone is pushing you to treat anyway...

Fact: If you want it gone or want to start down the path to rid it from your body, then start treatment.

You do NOT need a biopsy to tell you what you need to do. Is it a the best way to tell you how your liver is doing?
------------------------


I started treatment without a biopsy. Why? Because knowing how my liver is doing won't help me. Treating will.
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