Chronic Hepatitis C
(Pattie)
Hello, My name is Pattie, and I have Chronic Hepatitis C.
I am 54 years old.
About 35 years ago, I recieved a Tattoo, before the Law required "Change Needles, after every use"
Also, in the Past, I used intravenous drugs with shared needles.
At age 45, I went for my yearly physical, where my blood-tests came back abnormal.
After different tests, and a biopsy of my Liver, it was known that I had Hep C.
(Fact) Hep C takes 15 years or more to detect in your blood.
I began a Strict course of Combo-Treatment, that included Interferon and Chemotherapy.
I was self-administering my own injections, 3 times a week.
In addition, I was taking up to 11 chemo pills daily.
I was tested by blood once a month to watch progress.
The side effects I was experiancing were Harsh:
Fatigue
Depression
Mood Swings
Loss of Appetite
Hair Thinning
Very Dry Skin
Sore, Cracked Tongue
Things I did to tolerate side effects:
Drink a gallon of water throughout the day
No caffine or alcohol
Eat small amounts during the day
Rest
I have gone through various treatments that in the end, have not worked.
They are working on a new treatment, but won't be available for about 2 years (2011)
Hepatitis, What is it?
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, resulting in liver cell damage and destruction.
Hepatitis can be categorized in two groups:
Acute Hepatitis
Chronic Hepatitis
There are 5 main types of the hepatitis virus that have been identified, including:
Hepatitis A - This type of hepatitis is usually spread by fecal-oral contact, including:
touching an infected person's stool; consuming food made by someone
who touched infected stool; drinking water made dirty by infected stool
(a problem in developing countries;) or having anal sexual intercourse
with an infected person.
Hepatitis B - This type of hepatitis spreads mainly through contaminated blood and blood
products; sexual contact; and contaminated intravenous needles. Hepatitis B can lead to
chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Hepatitis C - The symptoms of this type of hepatitis are generally less severe than
hepatitis B. Hepatitis C spreads through contaminated blood or blood products, sexual
contact, and contaminated intravenous needles. With some cases of Hepatitis C, no mode of
transmission can be identified. In addition, people with alcoholic liver disease also tend to develop hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D - This form occurs together with hepatitis B,
making the hepatitis B infection
worse.
Hepatitis E - This form is similar to hepatitis A and occurs most frequently in
underdeveloped countries.
What is acute
hepatitis?
Acute hepatitis is
quite common in
the US: 20 to 30
cases reported
per 100,000
people each
year.
Causes:
Common causes
of acute hepatitis
may include:
Infection with
a virus
(viral hepatitis
A, B, C, D, or E)
Overdose of drugs
(such as
acetaminophen)
Chemical exposure
(such as dry
cleaning chemicals)
Symptoms:
Acute hepatitis usually starts with flu-like symptoms.
The following are
the most common
symptoms of acute
hepatitis.
However, each
individual may
experience symptoms
differently:
Jaundice
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Fever
Tender in the right,
upper abdomen
Sore muscles
Joint pain
Itchy red hives
on skin
The symptoms of acute hepatitis may
ressemble other conditions or medical
problems.
Consult a physician for
diagnosis.
Diagnosis:
In addition to a
complete medical history
and medical examination,
diagnostic procedures for acute
hepatitis may include:
Specific laboratory tests
Liver function tests
Treatment:
Specific treatment for acute hepatitis will be determined by your physician's based on:
Your overall health and medical history
Extent of the disease
Your tolerance for specific medicatications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disease
Your opinion or preference
Treatment varies, depending on the type
of acute hepatitis (viral versus non-viral).
Most people recover without treatment.
Severe acute hepatitis may require
hospitalization.
People who have had acute viral hepatitis
may become chronic carriers of the
disease. Proper precautions need to be
taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
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What is chronic hepatitis?
Some people do not recover fully from
acute hepatitis and develop chronic
hepatitis, as the liver continues to sustain
more damage and inflammation. Hepatitis is considered chronic if symptoms persist
longer than six months. Chronic hepatitis
can last years.
Different forms of Hepatitis:
Alcohol-induced chronic hepatitis - continued damage throughout the liver from heavy alcohol consumption.
Chronic active hepatitis - an aggressive inflammation and destroyer of liver cells, which usually leads to cirrhosis.
Chronic persistent hepatitis - a milder inflammation of the liver, which usually does not lead to cirrhosis.
Causes:
Certain viruses and drugs may cause
chronic hepatitis in some people,
but not in others. Some common causes include:
Viral hepatitis
Heavy alcohol consumption
Autoimmune disorder
(when the body attacks its own tissues)
Reaction to certain medications
Metabolic disorder (such as hemochromatosis or Wilsons Disease)
Symptoms:
Symptoms for chronic hepatitis are
usually mild. Although the liver damage continues, its progression is usually slow.
The following are the most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms
differently. Some individuals may
experience no symptoms, while others may experience the following:
Feeling ill
Poor appetite
Fatigue
Low fever
Upper abdominal pain
Jaundice
Symptoms of chronic liver disease
(such as enlarged spleen, spider-like
blood vessels in skin and fluid retention)
The symptoms of chronic hepatitis may
resemble other conditions or medical
problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.
Diagnosis:
In addition to a complete medical history
and medical examination, diagnostic
procedures for chronic hepatitis may
include:
Specific laboratory tests
Liver function tests
Liver biopsy to determine severity of
inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis and
underlying cause
Treatment:
Specific treatment for chronic hepatitis
will be determined by your physician"s based on:
Your overall health and medical history
Extent of the disease
Your tolerance for specific medications,
procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disease
Your opinion or preference
Treatment of chronic hepatitis depends on
the underlying cause of the disease. The
goal of treatment is to stop damage to the
liver and alleviate symptoms.
Treatment may include one/more of the
following:
Antiviral Agent - When caused by
hepatitis B or C, inflammation of the liver
may be stopped with the antiviral agent
interferon-alpha.
Corticosteroids - Corticosteroids may be
used to treat chronic liver disease caused
by an autoimmune disorder. Inflammation is suppressed, but scarring of the liver
may continue.
Discontinuation of certain drugs -When chronic hepatitis is caused by certain
drugs, discontinuing those drugs usually clears up any symptoms.
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All about the liver:
The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the
abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach,
right kidney, and intestines.
Shaped like a cone, the liver is a dark reddish-brown organ
that weighs about three pounds.
There are two distinct sources that supply blood to the liver, including:
oxygenated blood flows in from the hepatic artery
nutrient-rich blood flows in from the portal vein
The liver holds about one pint (13%) of the body's blood supply
at any given moment.
The liver consists of two main lobes, both of which are made up of
thousands of lobules. These lobules are connected to small ducts
that connect with larger ducts to ultimately form the hepatic ducts.
The hepatic ducts transport the bile produced by the liver cells
to the gallbladder and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
Functions of the Liver:
The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product
called "bile," which helps carry away waste products from the liver.
All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver.
As well as delivering to the intestine a material that solubilizes fat
in the diet so it can be digested and utilized for energy.
The liver processes this blood and stores the nutrients
and alters the structure of drugs into forms that either activate
or inhibit their function. More than 500 vital functions
have been identified with the liver.
Some of the more well-known functions include:
Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and breaks down fats
in the small intestine during digestion.
Production of critical proteins in blood and plasma.
Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help
carry fats through the body.
Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage.
(This glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy.)
Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form
the building blocks of proteins.
Processing of hemoglobin for its iron content. (The liver stores iron.)
Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea.
(Urea is one of the end products
of protein metabolism that is excreted in the urine.)
Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances.
Regulating blood clotting.
Resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria
from the blood stream.
When the liver has broken down harmful substances, they are excreted
into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and
ultimately leave the body in the feces. Blood by-products are
filtered out by the kidneys, and leave the body in the form of urine.
Prevention:
Preventing the spread of viral hepatitis: Proper hygiene is the key
to preventing the spread of many diseases, including hepatitis.
Other preventive measures include:
Vaccinations - A hepatitis B vaccine is routinely given to toddlers as part of their
immunization schedule. A hepatitis A vaccine is available for people at risk for contracting the disease while traveling.
(There are no vaccines for hepatitis C, D, or E at this time.)
Blood Transfusion - Blood transfusions are routinely screened for Hepatitis B and C to reduce the risk of infection.
Antibody Preparation - If a person has been exposed to hepatitis, an antibody preparation can be administered
to help protect them from contracting the disease.
Resourses:
American Liver Foundation
1425 Pompton Avenue
Cedar Grove, N.J. 07009
1-800-465-4877
Books:
Hepatitis by John LaPook
The Invisable Invader by Peter Radetsky
Web sites:
http://www.liverfoundation.org
http://www.Web M.D.Com
http://www.HepatitisNeighborhood.com
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hepC.html
http://www.hepnet.com
http://hepatitis-central.com
All of this info is available on my website:
http://dreamclouds.250free.com
UPDATE:
I am now 54, and I still have Hep C, there is no cure. I give you this information, not for pity, but for knowledge.
Did you know that over 5 million Americans alone have or will have Hep C?
My Hep C has spread further into my liver, which now is also Cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis:
What is Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when scarring damages the liver. This scarring replaces healthy tissue and prevents the liver from working normally. Cirrhosis usually develops after years of liver inflammation. When chronic diseases cause the liver to become permanently injured and scarred, the condition is called Cirrhosis. Cirrhosis harms the structure of the liver and blocks the flow of blood. The loss of normal liver tissue slows the processing of nutrients, hormones, drugs, and toxins by the liver. Also, the production of proteins and other substances made by the liver is suppressed.
