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Question: Hepatitis C
| dawn
- Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:19 am |
I am 47,
female,
diagnosed last year with Hep c.
I am a truck driver and live in a small rural town in Kansas.
I do not have a physician locally as of yet.
I was not feeling well and went to a doctor near our company terminal.
I asked him to run extensive blood work as I thought I had Diabetes.I am tired all the time.
Results came back and was diagnosed with the disease.
Apparently I have had it for quited some time as he said there were signs of Jaundice in my eyes.
He indicated that treatment probably would not work but wanted me to find a permanant physican close to me.
I know I am dying,
and I am facing it,
I think with a good attitude.
However,
I need help with alieviating symptoms.
Right now my joints are swelling and in pain.
Can you recommend anything otc that would help?Most of the discomfort is in my hands and my knees.
Also is there anything I can do to keep from being so tired?I am currently taking calcium with D as I am post menopausal.
I appreciate your time and patience and your help,
so very very much.
Thank you,
Dawn
|
| Dr. Leigh Anderson
- Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:33 pm |
 Hi Dawn
Something to keep in mind: NOT getting treatment for hep C is an important decision with long-term consequences for your health. It's not simply giving yourself more time to think about it or looking for the right time to come in your life. You are choosing a course of action—making a conscious, active decision. The short-term benefits of not getting treatment are obvious. The long-term effects of this decision may not be so apparent.
Here's what you risk:
Scarring of your liver (fibrosis), which may have been slowed, prevented, or even reversed by treatment
Cirrhosis: severe liver damage that may lead to liver failure
The development of liver cancer
The need for a liver transplant
There are people who have Hep-C and still live a fullfilled life once they went thrugh the treatment. If insurance/cost is determining factor then I suggest go to your local county hospital to begin treatment and I suggest you join a local support group of individuals who are going thru the Hep-C treatment.
You may want to take Centrum Silver to get the additional vitamins your body needs. I am suggesting Centrum Silver as you indicated you are post- menopausal.
I wish you the best
Dr. Anderson
|
| dawn
- Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:06 pm |
Yes,
I know what lies ahead if I don't get treatments.
Its going to be a difficult road,
and I will not go through a transplant only to infect a liver that someone else could have used.
I appreciate your recommendation of the vitamins.
I know there are some that I need to avoid with this disease.
I will go for a biopsy and see what the options are.
I do have insurance but not sure if I can afford to take a year off of work for the treatments.
That is a bridge I will cross when I get there.
I appreciate your time and kindness to help me through this process.
I have never used drugs and I am uncertain as to how I aquired this wonderful gift,
lol.
Again,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and advice.
God Bless,
Dawn
|
| Dr. Leigh Anderson
- Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:38 am |
Hi Dawn,
Hep C cn be contracted thru any sexual relationship with an infected partner, Body Tattoos, Body Piercings., because Hep C is a difficult disease to detect when 1st infected, he can manifest 10 to 15 years later.
I wish you the best, keep in touch with your progress.
Dr.
Anderson
|
| a_medico
- Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:18 am |
| dawn wrote: |
I have never used drugs and I am uncertain as to how I aquired this wonderful gift,
|
Other probable causes :-
Blood(or blood products) transfusion is a very important cause of Hepatitis C.
Sexual transmission is relatively less (but is one of the causes ofcourse)
Other causes have already been quoted by Dr. Anderson.
If I am statistically correct, Hepatitis C is one of the commonest indications for liver transplant in United States.
Few points you must be aware of :-
Chronic Hepatitis C can (statistically variable) progress to Cirrhosis. And Cirrhosis again can progress to liver cancer.
Combination therapy of α-Interferon and Ribavirin before the development of Cirrhosis has shown very promising results in Hepatitis C. High cost is the major factor in this mode of treatment.
Regards
|
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