bunky7648
02-17-2005, 12:21 PM
I was diagnosed with hep c 4 years ago. I went to my primary doctor because I was feeling slightly fatigued. She did extensive blood work and that is when the diagnosis of hep c came about. Was then sent to a liver specialist who in turn did a liver biopsy. Results came back good- only mild fibrosis.
I opted not to do treatment, because I felt the cure was worse than the disease, and my symptoms of hep c were minimal. She concurred that I did not need tx at that time.
Since then I have done extensive research on the subject and the treatments and I have surmised that treatment is not for me. I would rather go the holistic route.
I have not returned for follow up appointments with the liver specialist after my initial meeting with her 4 years ago. Because I opted not to do treatment, I saw no reason in going back. I do have annual liver funtion tests via my primary
doc and my liver enzymes are only slightly elevated- the numbers have remained stable for the past 20 years.
My question is- I received a shot for hepatitis A when I first went to the liver doc and was explained that this shot would prevent me from contracting hep A in the future. She never mentioned a second shot (booster). I assumed at that time only one shot was required. Anyway, I am a nurse and work in a retirement home with the elderly and a week ago the majority of the patients and staff came down with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea lasting 1-2 days. I too became ill. It was probably a stomach virus, but because of my compromised liver, in the back of my mind I worry that it may have been a hep A outbreak.My colleagues as well as husband think that I am worrying over nothing, but I am paranoid concerning this outbreak, It came on so abruptly without any warning.
A week ago wednesday is when the outbreak began- I work the 3-11 shift and within a 6 hour period 10 patients became viiolently ill. I became ill the following morning with vomitting and diarrhea which lasted 24 hours. By saturday i felt better, but still feel queasy , especially in the evenings. I feel okay when i get up , but then start feeling worse when i get to work(all in my head maybe),
So now I am obsessed with finding out if there have been stomach flu outbreaks throughout the nation and have found several states that have had the virus. I also learned in my research that you need 2 shots of hep a- i only received 1.
Sorry that this is so lenghty, but now i am fearful that this was hep a due to the fact that i work in an institution that caters food to the patients as well
as the staff. A few of the staff members families also became sick with the stomach virus after contracting it from them.
I just dont want to cause any further liver damage and if this was hep a, I am screwed.
And yes, i could go to my doc to be tested, but am afraid that it will come back positive because of the one hep a shot i received 4 years ago.
At a loss and dont know what to do.
The patients and the staff have recovered, but i still feel queasy.
I opted not to do treatment, because I felt the cure was worse than the disease, and my symptoms of hep c were minimal. She concurred that I did not need tx at that time.
Since then I have done extensive research on the subject and the treatments and I have surmised that treatment is not for me. I would rather go the holistic route.
I have not returned for follow up appointments with the liver specialist after my initial meeting with her 4 years ago. Because I opted not to do treatment, I saw no reason in going back. I do have annual liver funtion tests via my primary
doc and my liver enzymes are only slightly elevated- the numbers have remained stable for the past 20 years.
My question is- I received a shot for hepatitis A when I first went to the liver doc and was explained that this shot would prevent me from contracting hep A in the future. She never mentioned a second shot (booster). I assumed at that time only one shot was required. Anyway, I am a nurse and work in a retirement home with the elderly and a week ago the majority of the patients and staff came down with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea lasting 1-2 days. I too became ill. It was probably a stomach virus, but because of my compromised liver, in the back of my mind I worry that it may have been a hep A outbreak.My colleagues as well as husband think that I am worrying over nothing, but I am paranoid concerning this outbreak, It came on so abruptly without any warning.
A week ago wednesday is when the outbreak began- I work the 3-11 shift and within a 6 hour period 10 patients became viiolently ill. I became ill the following morning with vomitting and diarrhea which lasted 24 hours. By saturday i felt better, but still feel queasy , especially in the evenings. I feel okay when i get up , but then start feeling worse when i get to work(all in my head maybe),
So now I am obsessed with finding out if there have been stomach flu outbreaks throughout the nation and have found several states that have had the virus. I also learned in my research that you need 2 shots of hep a- i only received 1.
Sorry that this is so lenghty, but now i am fearful that this was hep a due to the fact that i work in an institution that caters food to the patients as well
as the staff. A few of the staff members families also became sick with the stomach virus after contracting it from them.
I just dont want to cause any further liver damage and if this was hep a, I am screwed.
And yes, i could go to my doc to be tested, but am afraid that it will come back positive because of the one hep a shot i received 4 years ago.
At a loss and dont know what to do.
The patients and the staff have recovered, but i still feel queasy.