The love of my life has hep c?!
Question: The love of my life has hep c!?
He was diagnosed in 1998!. Aside from being tired he doesn't seem sick!. Still I worry!. What are the signs when you start getting sick!. What can I do to help him!. Does anyone have experience on either side of this disease!. I love him so much it breaks my heart!. He's on medical and they say he's not sick enough for interferon but its been awhile since he was told that!. Any info you can give me would be appreciated!. We were in love when I was 14 and he was 22!. Now I'm 48 and he's 56!. He found me again last April and I want to keep him as long as possible!. Thank you so much for your input!. You guys are always so helpful!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Many heppers "don't seem sick", but in all reality, they are! They may or may not show symptoms!. What you can do to help is by being supportive!. Attend doctor's visits, read up on treatment- HCV is treatable and in some cases those that do treatment and "respond" to treatment and stay sustained are considered cured!.
By his doctors telling him he is "not sick enough" for treatment is a red flag!. We all know now that the earlier to treat, the better chance of sustaining the virus!. Some diseases hcv can cause are not always reversable, so with that being said, treat now!. The lower the viral load pretreatment, the better- so again, treat early- He needs to find another doctor who knows more updated information regarding hcv and treatment!. If a Veteran- the Veterans Clinic often fail to help those with hcv and do not even want to take responsibility for the many who acquired HCV via jetshot vaccination gun!. Some doctors just wait because the patient is aging, so why treat them!? (ABSOLUTELY NOT a reason to not treat someone with HCV)!.
Being more tired than usual- many heppers who didn't know they carried the virus blame their age for taking more naps, not as active as they once were etc!.
Depression often accompanies HCV infection and many are told that they are simply depressed prior to hcv diagnosis!. Brain fog is also often a complaint!.
Achey bones and joints, stiffness, ie, fibro or other arthritic pains also can be caused by hcv!.
Reality of the matter is, one day you can be fine, the next day seriously or deathly ill!. That is just the nature of the disease!.
I know some who suffered side effects within a year of transmission (like myself at age 8) and I know some who have had hcv for 10+ years and have had very few side effects of HCV!. Those side effects of HCV are called "bi-directional" or secondary diseases of HCV!. They are often not associated with HCV by the untrained or ignorant doctor!. Chances are side effects are directly the cause from having hcv!.
Again, he needs to see a doctor who is willing to pre-test him for qualifying for treatment and shortly thereafter, if everything goes as planned, he will then begin treatment!. Not all are approved for treatment because of certain contradictory diseases that interferon can make worse!.
As for sexual intercourse, HCV doesn't typically spread that way simply because there is usually no bleeding and no window for that blood to enter the bloodstream!. The CDC and others who put the worry in those seeking information do not clearly state why it is "sometimes spread" via sexual intercourse!. But, if it makes you less worried, I am a woman and with that being said, I had needs during anytime during the month and neither husband has hcv infection from me!.
I did treatment over 7 years ago!. I am sustained and considered cured!. As always with any virus, it can resurface, however, as long as you remain void of risk factors, the chances of it coming back are null!.
Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
By his doctors telling him he is "not sick enough" for treatment is a red flag!. We all know now that the earlier to treat, the better chance of sustaining the virus!. Some diseases hcv can cause are not always reversable, so with that being said, treat now!. The lower the viral load pretreatment, the better- so again, treat early- He needs to find another doctor who knows more updated information regarding hcv and treatment!. If a Veteran- the Veterans Clinic often fail to help those with hcv and do not even want to take responsibility for the many who acquired HCV via jetshot vaccination gun!. Some doctors just wait because the patient is aging, so why treat them!? (ABSOLUTELY NOT a reason to not treat someone with HCV)!.
Being more tired than usual- many heppers who didn't know they carried the virus blame their age for taking more naps, not as active as they once were etc!.
Depression often accompanies HCV infection and many are told that they are simply depressed prior to hcv diagnosis!. Brain fog is also often a complaint!.
Achey bones and joints, stiffness, ie, fibro or other arthritic pains also can be caused by hcv!.
Reality of the matter is, one day you can be fine, the next day seriously or deathly ill!. That is just the nature of the disease!.
I know some who suffered side effects within a year of transmission (like myself at age 8) and I know some who have had hcv for 10+ years and have had very few side effects of HCV!. Those side effects of HCV are called "bi-directional" or secondary diseases of HCV!. They are often not associated with HCV by the untrained or ignorant doctor!. Chances are side effects are directly the cause from having hcv!.
Again, he needs to see a doctor who is willing to pre-test him for qualifying for treatment and shortly thereafter, if everything goes as planned, he will then begin treatment!. Not all are approved for treatment because of certain contradictory diseases that interferon can make worse!.
As for sexual intercourse, HCV doesn't typically spread that way simply because there is usually no bleeding and no window for that blood to enter the bloodstream!. The CDC and others who put the worry in those seeking information do not clearly state why it is "sometimes spread" via sexual intercourse!. But, if it makes you less worried, I am a woman and with that being said, I had needs during anytime during the month and neither husband has hcv infection from me!.
I did treatment over 7 years ago!. I am sustained and considered cured!. As always with any virus, it can resurface, however, as long as you remain void of risk factors, the chances of it coming back are null!.
Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
There's nothing you can do to help him!. All he can do is stick with his current antiviral medication and keep his viral load low!. There's no reason to be put in interferon if his viral load is low, because the risks of interferon outweigh the benefits!. There's no cure for Hep C, nor is there a vaccine, so there's not much you can really do!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Hep C, as you may know, is a virus that damages the liver!. It is transmitted primarily by infected blood!. You should never share razors or toothbrushes with someone who has Hep C, because the virus can live on those items for up to 4 days, and can be transmitted that way!. In very rare cases, it can be transmitted sexually!. It is not transmitted by casual contact or by saliva!. People who have severe liver damage often experience jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), fatigue, loss of appetite, and pain at the location of the liver!.
Encourage your friend to follow his doctor's advice!. He will have testing periodically to determine when treatment may be most appropriate!. Treatment for Hep C can be difficult to deal with, but with support, it can be manageable!.
Also: People with Hep C should NEVER drink ANY alcohol, because alcohol is processed by the liver, and if someone who has Hep C drinks alcohol, the rate of liver damage increases significantly!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Encourage your friend to follow his doctor's advice!. He will have testing periodically to determine when treatment may be most appropriate!. Treatment for Hep C can be difficult to deal with, but with support, it can be manageable!.
Also: People with Hep C should NEVER drink ANY alcohol, because alcohol is processed by the liver, and if someone who has Hep C drinks alcohol, the rate of liver damage increases significantly!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com