Hi

I have not been here in awhile but what I usually write about has nothing to do with my medical. I am in totally new territory here. I hope someone cn help me. I am sorry it is lenghty but i feel you need to know all details.

A week ago my daughter said she wasnt feeling good. She was running a slight fever and said her jaw was hurting. She was swollen in the jaw and i felt she had an abcess tooth. It was middle of night so my only choice was taking her to ER. Well they said there was nothing they could do about it so she was givng and a numbing agent and Tylenol 3 Codine for the pain. Was told to go to dentist. Come to find out since she is on TennCare she is not covered unless her regular doctor says it is medically needed. She made and appointment but they couldnt see her until Thursday. Wednesday night she started complaing of being hot and was sweating. This went on about a couple of hours. She couldn't sleep. She then started feeling nauseated. Then she got sick and came to me and said she was feeling better. About ten minutes later she was sick again. this went on every ten minsutes so I decided that she needed to go to the ER again. I took her to different hospital. We informed then of the night before. He looked at her skin all over and said do you always have a yellowish tint to your skin. She said it didnt look any different than usual. I didnt think so either. hey then did blood work and told her that her liver enzymes were way too high. They gave her Ultram said it would help with the headaches. I asked what headaches and they said that she has started complaining of headaches while there. Guess i stepped out on that part. Anyway she went to her regular doctor the next day. They said they were waiting on blood test from the hospital. BUT this is what gets me....tell me if i am wrong in this or if this is my right. As they are talking to my daughter they tell her....it is 85% chance of her having hepatitis C. This is with no test in front of them not even from hospital just going by what we told them the doctor said last night. Then before we get home they have called and wanted her back to doctor the next day that the test had to be redone. Now my daughter is legally blind...she is only 21 and is not completely understanding all that is going on but she is scared due to fact of a stepsister who she was exceptionally close to having hepatitis and having two liver transplants and passed away. I am really upset with these people who who told her this without even knowing what is actually going on and no test ran.

Can you please tell me if I am wrong but i was under the impression that when you take Tylenol it will show your liver enzymes high. Is this true? She had taken some that the Tylenol 3 with codedine. Also what can i say to her that will help her and hot make her worry about it until there is something definite. She thinks cause a doctor spoke it is gospel. As we all know there are lots of quacks that will do things like this. I am worried about it myself but she doesnt need this stressed on her she already has lots on her plate at such a very young age.

I apologize for writing so much but it helps to get it out ya know? Please....i am pleading to you....help me with what you can on this cause she cant go on without sleeping and crys alot when she is thinking or talks about it. I have her asleep right now with Ambien but that wont work forever.

Thank you for any help you can give me on this. I am at wits end. I just dont know what else to say to her. Thank you in advance

From a loving mother

i can't understand them naming a -type- of hepatitis w/o a test in hand.

i agree. I cant either but like i said they were going by papers the hospital handed us that she was to take to doctor

i agree. I cant either but like i said they were going by papers the hospital handed us that she was to take to doctor

Hi HH,

It is imperative that you make them explain to you everything that is on those papers. These medical files belong to you--or actually, to your daughter. They are HER medical records, even if they are in the possession of a dr. or hospital. She must have easy access to them, and must have an explanation if she can not understand, or if you acting for her cannot understand, everything on them. Especially considering her disability, you are the one she needs to read and understand them.

If you go back to the hospital, look for or ask for their Patient Bill of Rights.

All rights come with responsibilities, though, and it is up to you to demand an explanation, and then to demand of yourself that you read through and study what is there, and evaluate carefully what you read or hear there or anywhere.

A hep c test for antibodies can be done quickly, but I'd be surpriseded if it were done so quickly as you described, if I understood correctly your description of events. An antibody test is also not as dispositive as a PCR which is not quick at all. I agree with the other folks here that a diagnosis of hep c without tests is absurd. Maybe one could diagnose hepatitis, but not that it was viral, what type (a, b, c, etc.) and so on.

Just the general term Hepatitis without other words before or after it, is just a description of a symtom--inflamed liver--although people forget this. There
is autoimmune hep, toxic hep, many types of viral hep, and so on. A doc. might well decide from jaundice, fever, palpation of the abdomen, and so on that a patient might have hep, but not what kind.

I do believe tylenol can elevate liver enzymes, but I was under the impression that this only occurs with overdose. Individual variation is so common, though, with the liver. You are right to suspect that elevated enzymes may have many sources, and further testing is needed to figure out if its hep, hep c or another, or whatever.

Meanwhile your daughter is fighting a serious oral infection. Except for hep A, which I sure hope they tested for if they are worried about her liver, most liver diseases are not an immediate, urgent issue like the oral infection. Find an emergency room with a dental surgeon if you have to --these er's do exist.

hope this helps.