Hep C Discussion Forum

rbenny · Newbie

RE: worried wife!!

Lindsay · Senior Member

How are you doing Sona? I hope the more info you get from the doctor, the better you can feel. Renee, my fiancee, had stopped drinking years ago. She did, however (and still does), smoke when she was on treatment. The doctor told her that it was better for her not to quit while her body was going through so many changes on treatment. If your husband will not be starting treatment right away, then maybe it'd be best to quit....but only if he's committed to that change. Certainly eating lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins will be helpful in the treatment journey, particularly if he is on the triple treatment with Incivik to start. Poor Renee. I remember her getting so sick of all the high fat foods she had to eat with the Incivik. She actually began craving healthy foods when she had an appetite!

I hope you can take time to care for yourself in the process too. It can be stressful at times for the partners, and self-care is just as important for us!

Lindsay

Sona · Member

Hello everyone!!

I am so pleased that u all r supporting me so much.

Thanks a ton

Sona

mallani · Guru

Hi Sona,

The ALT can go up and down like a yo-yo. It is often elevated in chronic HepC, but is not a reliable indicator of liver damage or inflammation, unless it gets very high. Hubby's Fibroscan will probably produce a low value, so you will be left with the decision about treatment. Hopefully he will be offered triple Rx with Victrelis or Incivek. At his age , chances of clearing the virus are high. I doubt that HepC is causing his symptoms. Cheers.

Sona · Member

Hello everyone !!!

We went to see his doc today and discussed his report. Doc said that the alt level has increased from 44 to 113 (normal 10-44) and the doc has asked him to stay calm and there's nothing to worry it happens to healthy people aswell. The test was about the bone, liver , diabetes and thyroid. Everything else is normal except from alt level.

Doc has requested for another blood test for liver after three weeks to see if it comes down or rises up!

Will updated again.

Thanks

Sona :)

Loopy Lisa · Guru

Hi Sona,

When I am stressed, I get pains also like your husband describes. All my tests came back normal, and biospy showed no damage. There again, if there is something wrong, I also suspect it has nothing to do with Hep but something else.

Just wait for the tests results and go from there. Worrying too much can make people more ill that the illness itself. Have a lovely day x

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi again Sona, it`s very frustrating for your and hubby having to wait so long for appointments, I think a lot of people here can relate to that.

It`s not really possible for us to say what`s causing hubby`s painful symptoms, but I very much doubt that it`s all related to his liver, so please don`t jump to conclusions. Hep C is a slow moving disease and it can take decades for serious damage to occur, and your husband is still young. You`ll know a lot more when you get your hubby`s blood and fibroscan results, and in the meantime stay calm and try not to scare yourself!

Keep in touch! smile

Sona · Member

Sorry everyone! for not being around for couple of days. My husband went to see the doctor as he is everyday having abdomen ( left and right both side) pain. Sever headache and joints pain. Doctor has asked him to do a blood test. He did it and the result will come on thursday. His liver hurts almost everyday, does that mean his liver is badly affected! We r in london and here docs makes us wait too long. He hasn't yet received the appointment for the fibroscan. Don't know when that treatment will start. Love , Sona

mallani · Guru

Hi Sona,

Welcome from me as well. LFT means Liver Function Tests, and it probably means that one or more of his liver enzymes are elevated, probably the ALT and AST. We have a list of Forum Abbreviations we use in the New Members Section. Let us know the results of the Fibroscan. As he is young it will probably show very little liver damage. In the UK, you should be able to be treated with triple therapy, and as Jill said, it will be funded by the NHS. Don't worry, HepC is very treatable these days. Above all, don't let him drink alcohol! That causes rapid progression of the disease. I doubt that HepC is causing the pains and symptoms you describe, but it's OK to take Nurofen (no more than 4/day). Good luck!

Sona · Member

Thank u so much friends :) that was a great help. We received a letter from his doc yesterday where he has mentioned that his LFT mildly elevated .... I have no idea what does that mean...does anyone know what is it? Will update everything ..... Love Sona :)

Loopy Lisa · Guru

Hi Sona,

I think we have all had spells where we have pain, tired, and generally feeling like poop. It is nothing to worry about in the general sense. I had this for years, smoked and I don't have fibroses even though I suspect infection for over 20 years. I have to confess, I feel lots better when I eat a good diet with no sugar and processed food, but I have allowed a slip into McDonalds this week opps! I quit the smokes as well, but it is stressful quitting! ;)

My Doctor said that smoking is not good for you per se, but not particulary bad for Hep C. If your husband has severe damage it might not be a good idea, but considering he is not even 30 I highly doubt he has much. If he is going to start treatment sooner rather than later, I wouldn't even worry about quitting, I think the stress of quitting on top of heavy mediction would be quiet difficult. Saying that, some people do find it easier to quit than others.

I know its hard, but like i say to my husband, "No point worrying until there is something to worry about."

Stay strong x

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi Sona, welcome! I live in the UK and did my treatment in 2010/11. You don`t need to worry about how you will pay for your husband`s treatment, all the medicines and costs will be covered by the NHS, it won`t be a problem for you.

Ideally it would be good if hubby could give up the cigarettes but the most important thing is that he avoids alcohol completely, so I wouldn`t worry too much about it. Giving up smoking at the moment would just give him added stress I should think.

As far as his diet is concerned, aim to give him plenty of fresh food, and try avoid heavily processed and ready-made meals. A lot will depend on hubby`s appetite and what he likes eating. If he takes a mutli-vitamin product make sure he gets one without iron.

You must be exhausted working so hard but please make sure you take the time to look after yourself as well as your husband, you need to stay strong. Keep moving forward step by step and try not to worry so much, your husband is young and will be cured of this disease!

Stay in touch and feel free to ask any questions you have, one of us will always try to help! You`re not on your own! smile

2oldman · Member

The last time I asked what it cost, cash, it was around $10k a month. Yes, that's 10 thousand!

Sona · Member

Hi,

My name is Sona and i was looking for some help. My hubby is 28 yrs old diagnosed hepc geno1A about an year ago. he is waiting for the fibroscan test at whipps cross hospital. I see him on pain everyday and it makes me feel helpless. He gets severe headache, hip joint pain and tummy pain almost everyday. He gets tired after walking or standing for 10-15 minutes.He has taken ibuprofen 1tab once when he couldn't take the pain but i am afraid if those painkiller damages the liver. He is not working at the moment as i work in two places to cover our daily expenses. Im always worried about him even when i am at work. My hair is thinning and i have tinnitus because of the stress.

Something i am not liking is he smokes cigarette sometimes and i really don't know if it makes the hepc more bad. I want you all to help me by guiding me with his diet and things that he should do and should not do! I also want to know ''do we need to pay for the medicines during the treatment and if yes then how much does it cost??

thanks

Sona

Tig · Admin

Hi Sona and welcome to the forum. I'm very sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis and your stress because of it. First thing I can say is that he is very young and damage to his liver should be mild at best, but the tests will be definitive. At his age the chance of beating this is quite high! As far as his current symptoms, he does seem to share some of the most common, headaches and joint pain. One tablet of ibuprofen is a very small dose and it shouldn't have any negative effects on his liver taken as recommended. But you should always clear any medications with his doctor. I take two or three 200 mg ibuprofen when I need to and my doctor is fine with that. Taking a couple before my interferon shot each week reduces the ill effects from that very well. We have members that live in the UK and will have some things to share as well, especially regarding financing there. The drug companies offer assistance as well as cost free studies. Just hang in there and don't worry! You've got a promising future with many new treatments on the near horizon. Talk to his doctor and get a treatment plan in order and everything will take care of itself! Good luck!

-- Edited by Tig56 on Friday 6th of September 2013 07:04:13 PM

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