Hep C Treatment

[Oceans 80]

I wasn't really sure where to put this so I'm going to test my fate and flirt with the ban-hammer and post this here and in Health & Wellbeing...

I'm an IV'er...I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C about a month ago after my girlfriend came down with jaundice and tested positive....

I followed my pcp's orders and went to a Gastro doctor and the doctor pushed on my stomach and looked at my results from my pcp and said I am positive for Hepatitis C but my liver enzymes were okay, to come back in 6 months and see if the virus is still present and if so, start treatment...

He told me their is about a 10% chance I will fight it off and he also said the treatment is very difficult (1 injection weekly and an oral pill 2x daily i think) and he said it is very rough and has a lot of side effects...When I asked what the medications were, he wouldn't tell me, he said we would discuss it at a later time if need be.

Now, my question is...Is 10% really all the chance I got and should I be happy about 10%? It don't sound like much but it might be a lot in comparison to recovering from other illnesses, I don't know...

but, my main question is, is the treatment really worth it...in the sense that I am a 22 yr old male, now on MMT and really trying to get clean (not just cause of the hep, i'm trying to get my feet back on the ground)...if i go back in 6 months and still have the virus but my enzymes are okay and i'm still feeling okay, should I go through with treatment or do I wait till I need the treatment. It has been described to me as a terrible terrible process and it just sounds like it should really be a last resort because I'll be rendered disabled as far as employment and just be feeling so shitty that I'd probably be wishing for death for 364/365 days of the year...

What are my other HepC having folk's experience? I'm trying to look for info but I can't find anything on what medications they use, I get a laundry list...

Thanks!

Oh yeah...also, is there anything I can do in the next 6 months that will help me fight off the Hepatitis naturally? I know the obvious, no drinking, nothing liver-harsh (tylenol, alcohol, etc.), but anything else I could do?

[nick]

I always recommend treatment,if it's offered.You're lucky many drug users with hep c are denied treatment in the UK-till they kick drugs.

You should be given an antiviral cocktail(normally interferon and ribavirin) and inoculated against other forms of hep.

The side effects can be unpleasant,but if the worst came to the worst treatment can be delayed or in extremis stopped entirely-although this extreme a reaction is rare.

Fingers crossed you fight it off yourself(15% chance)-if not I'd go with treatment.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

EDIT,it takes more than one liver enzyme test to accurately assess your liver and it's quite possible to be asymptomatic during the accute phase.

[Oceans 80]

^i was vaccinated as a baby for hep a and hep b if that should've been in my OP

[Sister]

I was diagnosed with chronic active hep c in 1991. My husband had it also but his liver was in awful shape and they couldn't do anything for him. The treatment at that time was interferon a. I took it for 6 months and it was pure hell. Back then I didn't know I was bipolar, mostly on the depressive side. That medication made me so depressed I could barely get dressed. I have found out in recent years that they can give patients an antidepressant along with the other treatment.

Fast forward 19 years and I have been clear of this virus everytime I have had a checkup. I feel so fortunate and am REALLY glad I took that interferon and stayed on it the recommended time. I don't really know what all they do for it nowadays but I bet it is better treatment procedures than had. Like I said I feel very blessed about my recovery. My husband died from hep c complications in 1995.

Take care and if you are feeling uneasy about your Dr. get a second opinion. I had to try 2 dr.s to find one I felt comfortable with.

[Woody Bear]

The longer you wait to get treatment, the less likely the treatment is to work. So as soon as you get the diagnosis back, you'd be best off getting treatment immediately, rather then waiting. People who wait for 10 years have far lower sucess rates then people who get treated shortly after getting Hep C.

Also treatment works best in people who stick with it, if you don't take the doses when you should, then the sucess rate is much, much lower than in people who take all the doses when they should have. Treatment will make you feel bad, so it's important to take the doses when you should, as if you don't comply with the schedule, then it's not as likely to work, and then you would have got nothing for all the work of going through it.

[Sister]

My insurance wouldn't cover the interferon at that time because it was considered experimental. I called the drug company and turns out they have programs for people that can't afford the medication. I ended up getting my interferon for free. I was so relieved because at that time it was pretty expensive.

[Poppylvr]

I wasn't really sure where to put this so I'm going to test my fate and flirt with the ban-hammer and post this here and in Health & Wellbeing...

I'm an IV'er...I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C about a month ago after my girlfriend came down with jaundice and tested positive....

I followed my pcp's orders and went to a Gastro doctor and the doctor pushed on my stomach and looked at my results from my pcp and said I am positive for Hepatitis C but my liver enzymes were okay, to come back in 6 months and see if the virus is still present and if so, start treatment...


What are my other HepC having folk's experience? I'm trying to look for info but I can't find anything on what medications they use, I get a laundry list...

Thanks!


EDIT: sorry for the double post..i added a PS to the other one (http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=28468) sorry again..i dunno if mods can merge them?
Don't have Hep C myself, but have cared for may who have it.
The medications used are alpha interferon - the injections, and ribavirin, the pills. The combo is famous for giving susceptible people very severe depression, which in some cases has caused suicide. If you have a good group of supportive friends, that stuff is manageable.
If you are going to continue using drugs IV or sharing paraphernalia when snorting drugs, don't do the treatment until you are finished. It's pointless to put yourself through treatment with potentially toxic drugs if you're just going to pick up another does the next time you use.
Have you tried the search engine here - I know we have a bunch of folks with hep C.
Good luck - I hope you can find some good information. Maybe check Google for support groups for hepatitis C. Your gastroentrologist may have some information on support groups.

[nick]

I see no reason why folks who continue to IV(as long as they follow basic HR procedure) shouldn't have treatment.
Hell,I had to put up with doctors who thought like that and it was annoying.

[abner]

i went through interferon @ a long term residential treatment facility. it can be a bit overwhelming at times, but i'm really happy that i went through with the treatmeant as today, i still have the virus, but am asymptomatic. being in rehab probably helped, i'd imagine.

[Poppylvr]

I see no reason why folks who continue to IV(as long as they follow basic HR procedure) shouldn't have treatment.
Hell,I had to put up with doctors who thought like that and it was annoying.
The issue, nick, is that the treatment is costly and there is limited funding for treatment. :(
If someone is going right back out and getting the virus again, the medics are reluctant to waste limited resources. Here in the US most providers will drug test you and will not treat unless you have a documented period of sobriety - usually 6 months clean from drugs before they will offer treatment.

[nick]

The issue, nick, is that the treatment is costly and there is limited funding for treatment. :(
If someone is going right back out and getting the virus again, the medics are reluctant to waste limited resources. Here in the US most providers will drug test you and will not treat unless you have a documented period of sobriety - usually 6 months clean from drugs before they will offer treatment.

Yeah,it's pretty much the same in the UK and it sucks.I'm aware the treatment requires discipline and is physically draining ,but see no reason why ALL drug users should just be written off.As I say,as long as IV users follow injection protocol they should be allowed treatment-which should be on a need basis,not a need provided you're clean.

and I'm aware of the cost for a course of antivirals,but it's a lot cheaper than paying for all the health care complications that are highly likely to occur down the line without treatment.

Basically,I believe it sucks to deny the sick treatment just because they're IV drug users.

[Oceans 80]

i have all intentions to stay off the opis after i get through MMT...we all know how that goes but I really don't want to go back and everyday i'm on MMT and dont have a buzz it gets easier and harder to answer the question as to why i did the shit i did everyday...a feeling i havent felt before in previous attempts at quitting...

im just scared treatment is goign to put me in a worse position than where i would be without it...my luck, i wouldnt have any symptoms my whole life and go through hell of a treatment, but the people i hear that treatment is terrible is not first-hand experience, but from he said-she said stuff...hence why i came here...

i have been using the search also with this thread...

is there anything i could/should be doing to aid myself in fighting off the hepc in this 6 month period? i know the no alcohol stuff but like any vitamins/diets/etc.?

edit: i think the reason i might be so scared of treatment is this is my first bout with something serious like this...besides a surgery in 7th grade that i barely remember, my biggest medical procedure was probably removing my wisdom teeth...

[pokergooch]

I just found out last week that my Brother and Sister-in-law both have hep c. They were Iv drug users but have been clean for about 10 years. My Brother was trying to get life insurance when he came back positive. He just started taking the shot once a week and the pill regimin. He says that the shot is the worst. Makes him feel like shit, throwing up, etc. Hes got it worse than his wife (who found out the same time he did). It's weird that their iv use came back to haunt them like this. I am proud of them for getting clean and are regular church attendees. To me, this is a wake up call to IV users. I remember asking him about sharing needles, etc. he always said that he used bleach to clean his needles if he had to share. I wish that states and communities would push harm prevention as much as trying to arrest drug users..

From now on he has to watch his tylenol usage, etc. good thing hes not drinker, too..

[Chipper]

My friend had Hep-C; he beat it with the treatment that Nick outlined. I've heard that you have a %20 chance of beating it yourself. He said that he felt pretty lousy and I remember encouraging him to continue with the treatment, no matter how rough it gets.

Like I said, his treatment worked and it does so in the majority of the cases ... so don't let it get you down.

[Tony]

: i think the reason i might be so scared of treatment is this is my first bout with something serious like this...besides a surgery in 7th grade that i barely remember, my biggest medical procedure was probably removing my wisdom teeth...

To the OP,


You have every right to be scared! Being scared is natures way of getting our attention and
taking a look at what is going on and maybe making some changes to help stop the possible
damage being done. So scared is good! Some are to tough, cool, dumb to be scared!

Lets start here, I was infected with Hep C 24 years ago. I have type b. Most folks in the states
have type a. Both can be cured and both can be fatal. I am just telling you what I would do.
Please learn as much as possable you talking to people mostly one on one or also some hep C groups on the net. The net can be overload and very scary. Be careful of who you listen too and always
get a 2nd opinion.

Please " the biggest thing you can do to save yourself it to stop all drinking. I mean no
booze at all ever. No fooling. If you do you will die a horrible death. I am sorry but I am
an alcoholic and I have seen it too many times to mince words! Stop it....

I would for sure stop using IV drugs. I say that only because it is my opinion that it is very unlikely
you are able to get your hands on pure drugs in the states or have the ability to be able to clean
them up enough to either get reinfected or harm yourself with impurities.

Also please start on Milk Thistle. I take 4 Mg caps of freeze dried Milk Thistle from the Eclectic Institute. They have 3 to 5% Silymarin. And are almost 1/3 the cost of other brands! I can feel
the difference when I forget to take my daily dose. If you can not find these please find another high
quality brand and start straight away.

As to the treatment. I tryed it and could not tolerate it. I am waiting on another combo or solo drug to
be approved by the FDA.

You have a lot going for you. You are young. You can find out your viral load when you get to
that point. You can do a lot even if you could not take treatment. Some strains only require 24 weeks
of treatment. Thats much better than the 1 year everyone needed before!

Good luck and if you ever have any questions please feel free to send an IM.

Peace!