worried

[tmo727]

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.

[fretboard]

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.  

[Trinity4]

Where's Mr. Liver when you need him?

[granitekonig]

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.

[Maxy2181]

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

[jmjm530]

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.

[jmjm530]

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