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Hepatitis C positive

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SHRED Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 10:04 AM
Original message
Hepatitis C positive
Why in the heck is Hepatitis not part of a standard blood screening?

I met my wife in the mid 1990's and we have been together and monogamous ever since.
We just now discovered she has Hep C after her insistence with the doctor to check her liver due to symptoms she narrowed down online.
In her past life she had engaged in "risky behavior" a little bit but that was 25-30 years ago. She is 51.
The ultrasound showed what appears to be a mildly fatty liver. All else looks good but ultrasound alone is not conclusive.
She has quit the evening wine two months ago and is eating less to lose 20 pounds.

The last five years have been hell trying to find out what is wrong with her.
We would have thought that at least one doctor would have screened her for hep C considering the extreme fatigue.
Oh well...we can't look back.

To be safe I am getting tested also with results due next week.
Also the type and C she has and how active it is are being tested with results within two weeks.

Any links to good sources of info on treatment would be helpful (alternative and standard).
Also any support groups?

This is devastating us.

Sad and scared in SoCal
:scared:
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 10:08 AM
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1. very frustrating. very sorry to hear of your difficulty.
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SHRED Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 11:10 AM
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5. thanks
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Angry Dragon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 10:18 AM
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2. Doctors in Spain are doing a lot of stem cell research in that area
I have a link around here somewhere but can not find it right now
Will keep looking for it
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lector Donating Member (61 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 10:41 AM
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3. I understand
When I was in the Army I came down with Hep. A. Then in a hosp in Japan they gave me Hep. B. Then After a series of Operations at the VA in LaJolla CA. I came down with hep. C. They told me it was B because they didn't understand back then that you could only get B once.
After having difficulties I was tested by my current Doctor who told me I had Hep.C. At the age of 57 I was on the cusp of being too old for the treatment. The doctor and I decided to try the treatments. I am not a wimp. I have a prostheses in my right arm and have had way too many surgeries to correct wounds received. I have beat Lymphoma. 10 years clean now. Thank god and be peaceful.
The Treatment for Hep C. is a long one. Mine was 54 weeks. The 1st thing they put you on is an anti-depressants that is to offset the Interferon injections (you give yourself every week in the stomach) because it would drive you insane if you didn't take them. Suicide is a bad side effect if you don't stay up on the meds. To say it was the worst 54 weeks of my life would be an understatement. I lost allot of weight and about 8 months of work.
It would have been impossible to do with the support of my family. If it hadn’t been for my wife I would have just stopped. The key to surviving the treatment is “drink tons of water and have a true long term support net work" This treatment isn't to be taken lightly. I am clear of any sign of it now for just over 1 year. Did I mention that sometimes the treatment does not work?
To close, if I had to do it over I would not do it. People live for a long long time with hep c. Loot's of folk’s die of natural causes and they never
Even knew they had it. So think hard on it, do your due-diligence and I wish you the best of luck. Lector
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SHRED Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-11-10 10:47 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. thanks for sharing
:hug:
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