Re: doctor appointment

[Guest guest]

Hi, Hoku Lani. I'm VickieG, aka: LilDelta. I have had hep c since Dec. 1984 after a car accident. I just finished (tx) treatment the 27th. of May with Geno type 1b. It's quite possbile to have hep c and not have symptoms for 20 to 30 years. I didn't have any and when I finally got tested and decided to treat I had very little damage to my liver due to the hep c. You could have had symptoms, however, and thought they were something else. (a cold, the flue, low energy, fatigue etc, etc, etc.) It could be just enough and last long enough that you might think it's nothing to worry about. You're right to want to be treated, if there is a viral load at

all, I believe one should be treated. Try not to worry as you wait on your appointment as the stress is not good for your liver. Good luck and Hugs, VickieG

doctor appointment

I recently have been diagnosed with HCV. I went to a HCV meeting at Kaiser and now I have to wait for over two months before I see the doctor. Is this normal? They say that they are very busy and can't handle all the people who are on treatment because they recieve a lot of phone calls. I wanted to get a liver biopsy but they said I have to wait until I have my doc appointment in August. I have genotype 2b and viral load of 5,490,000. Quite possibly I had HCV for about 25 years and never knew. Sometimes this worries me. Any opinions or suggestions?

Hoku

[Guest guest]

Hi Vickie,

thanks, will try not to worry. How did your treatment go? Side effects? Did you clear the virus? Did you have a liver biopsy before treatment? Yes, I possibly had things going on in my body. I went to the doc a couple times for large areas of brusing. She had no explanation for me. I had fatigue that I sometimes thought if I didn't work for myself it would be a disability, but only occasionaly on one day only. I had my drinking days, but now I get so sick if I drink, I don't even have one. I will be patient for my doc appointment.

Hoku

[HepatitisCSupportG roupForDummies] doctor appointment

I recently have been diagnosed with HCV. I went to a HCV meeting at Kaiser and now I have to wait for over two months before I see the doctor. Is this normal? They say that they are very busy and can't handle all the people who are on treatment because they recieve a lot of phone calls. I wanted to get a liver biopsy but they said I have to wait until I have my doc appointment in August. I have genotype 2b and viral load of 5,490,000. Quite possibly I had HCV for about 25 years and never knew. Sometimes this worries me. Any opinions or suggestions?

Hoku

[Guest guest]

Hi again, Hoku. I did have a liver biopsy before starting tx. but, not until just before starting the treatment. My numbers were way low after being infected since 1984 after a blood transfusion and I had almost no damage to my liver. I had no symptoms at all. I just finished 48 weeks of tx last Tuesday. Tomorrow will be a week off tx. I did test nondetectable at 12 week of tx. My sideds: lots of dizziness especially in the first three months of tx as my body was adjusting to the medications the white and red blood counts went down. At one point I thought I would end up taking the shot for the white count, but it went back up at

the last minute. During tx, I had lots of fatigue to the point of staying in bed or on the couch most of the time. I could stay up some days 20 minutes and be so worn out then other days, I would be able to stay up all day but the next day paid for it in fatigue. Also, I had to go on antidepressants. I normally am a very quiet mild mannered person but tx changed that for the worst. During tx. I woke up three to four times every night usually by 1:30 am and could go back to sleep sometimes but not always. This is a weird virus. I passed out one morning in the bathroom after a full night's sleep. Then, one day after having a very good day of up and doing things and feeling normal for a change, I lost all my strengh and was unable to move. Hubby had to pick me up and put me in bed. I was ok the next morning, but that was a weird experience. I could see and hear, but I

couldn't move at all. It only happened once and my dr said it is one of the rare sides. I almost believe he had never heard of it happening. I lost 30 lbs during tx and my hair broke off and thinned out but didn't come out like others. I had some itching, but it wasn't bad and didn't last long. and, the chemical taste in my mouth caused me not to be able to taste most foods. Only certain things were enjoyable to eat. Others, I ate because I had to eat something even though I wasn't hungry. Sorry to fill your ear with so much. That was most of the sides I had. Do you have someone there with you to help you through this? Guess I better get off the soap box. Hugs, VickieG

[HepatitisCSupportG roupForDummies] doctor appointment

I recently have been diagnosed with HCV. I went to a HCV meeting at Kaiser and now I have to wait for over two months before I see the doctor. Is this normal? They say that they are very busy and can't handle all the people who are on treatment because they recieve a lot of phone calls. I wanted to get a liver biopsy but they said I have to wait until I have my doc appointment in August. I have genotype 2b and viral load of 5,490,000. Quite possibly I had HCV for about 25 years and never knew. Sometimes this worries me. Any opinions or suggestions?

Hoku

[Guest guest]

Hoku, I too had my drinking days but the day I was dx'd(diagnosed) HCV+ I quit drinking - I don't count the time I killed a mickey of 's 'cause that was the day the told me I had liver cancer & it was an analgesic. I quit in 1990 & I don't miss it at all! I did tx (treatment) twice & did not respond, not everyone does. My major side effect was fatigue - I didn't think it was possible to get any more tired than I already was but I did! That was the old tx - the new one is more effective. I've had two biopsies - no prob - I'm having another one next Tuesday to find out if I DO have cancer. The bruising could be from a low platelet count, I bruise if someone looks hard at me. I have spleenomegally(sp) from the HCV. All that means is that my spleen is swollen &

destroys more platelets than it should, ask your doctor check your spleen & see.We're here if you need us.SuZie & Sir SpYke the Furry - outside enjoying the sunshine.gail wrote: Keep in mind your drinking days are gone,even occationally.We have to keep our livers as healthy as possible especially until you have treatment.I have been undetectable for 9yrs with genotype one and I am very

kind to my liver. Gail -----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ]On Behalf Of Hoku LaniSent: June 2, 2008 11:56 AMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: doctor appointment Hi Vickie, thanks, will try not to worry. How did your treatment go? Side effects? Did you clear the virus? Did you have a liver biopsy before treatment? Yes, I possibly had things

going on in my body. I went to the doc a couple times for large areas of brusing. She had no explanation for me. I had fatigue that I sometimes thought if I didn't work for myself it would be a disability, but only occasionaly on one day only. I had my drinking days, but now I get so sick if I drink, I don't even have one. I will be patient for my doc appointment. Hoku

Next time I'm coming back as a cat

[Guest guest]

Keep in mind your drinking days are gone,even occationally.We have to keep our livers as healthy as possible especially until you have treatment.I have been undetectable for 9yrs with genotype one and I am very kind to my liver.

Gail

-----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ]On Behalf Of Hoku LaniSent: June 2, 2008 11:56 AMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: Re: doctor appointment

Hi Vickie,

thanks, will try not to worry. How did your treatment go? Side effects? Did you clear the virus? Did you have a liver biopsy before treatment? Yes, I possibly had things going on in my body. I went to the doc a couple times for large areas of brusing. She had no explanation for me. I had fatigue that I sometimes thought if I didn't work for myself it would be a disability, but only occasionaly on one day only. I had my drinking days, but now I get so sick if I drink, I don't even have one. I will be patient for my doc appointment.

Hoku

[Guest guest]

Genotype 2 is easier to clear and only 24wks of treatment.Get used to drinking lots of water or juice cause while on treatment you need that gallon of liquids a day and that doesn't include coffee.

Gail

-----Original Message-----From: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies [mailto:HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies ]On Behalf Of Hoku LaniSent: June 2, 2008 1:24 AMTo: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies Subject: doctor appointment

I recently have been diagnosed with HCV. I went to a HCV meeting at Kaiser and now I have to wait for over two months before I see the doctor. Is this normal? They say that they are very busy and can't handle all the people who are on treatment because they recieve a lot of phone calls. I wanted to get a liver biopsy but they said I have to wait until I have my doc appointment in August. I have genotype 2b and viral load of 5,490,000. Quite possibly I had HCV for about 25 years and never knew. Sometimes this worries me. Any opinions or suggestions?

Hoku