Can anyone think of any specific questions I should be asking - other than the obvious - treatment, prognosis, what happens next, etc.

Also wanted to know if anyone dxed with this disease has panic disorder, thyroid problems, fat padding on the back, high cortisol levels, thickening of the abdomenal skin, weight gain. I think I'm fighting a double dragon - thyroid and liver disease. But still the blood tests don't bear this out as far as the endocrinologist is concerned. :(

I could use your thoughts, suggestions and most of all, prayers. I still have school age girls to raise - alone.

Can anyone think of any specific questions I should be asking - other than the obvious - treatment, prognosis, what happens next, etc.

Also wanted to know if anyone dxed with this disease has panic disorder, thyroid problems, fat padding on the back, high cortisol levels, thickening of the abdomenal skin, weight gain. I think I'm fighting a double dragon - thyroid and liver disease. But still the blood tests don't bear this out as far as the endocrinologist is concerned. :(

I could use your thoughts, suggestions and most of all, prayers. I still have school age girls to raise - alone.

Are you talking about HCV?

Yes. My test for HCV was reactive - but the endocrinologist ran the test since thyroid tests keep coming out differently each time. Was asking if anyone already DXed with HCV has any of the symptoms I asked about because those are the symptoms that sent me to a doctor. High resting heart rate, panic disorder, thyroid problems, fat padding on the back (dorsal fat), high cortisol levels (24 hour urine test), thickened abdominal skin, big weight gain. Is any of this related to hepC virus?

Yes. My test for HCV was reactive - but the endocrinologist ran the test since thyroid tests keep coming out differently each time. Was asking if anyone already DXed with HCV has any of the symptoms I asked about because those are the symptoms that sent me to a doctor. High resting heart rate, panic disorder, thyroid problems, fat padding on the back (dorsal fat), high cortisol levels (24 hour urine test), thickened abdominal skin, big weight gain. Is any of this related to hepC virus?

I had zero symptoms prior to DX and the only way I was DX was by giving blood at a blood drive. I got a big fat letter from the Red Cross a few weeks later telling me to get to the doctor.
Coincidentally, I'll be going for my 9 month post TX bloodwork to check that the virus is still undetectable, and the doc added thyroid testing....hhmmmm?

Went to liver doctor today. He tells me that the test I already took shows I have the antibodies to HepC, doesn't mean I still have virus. Also told me I have immunity against HepA and HepB. I keep wondering why - I know I was not immunized against either. strange. Anyway he took four vials of blood and will call me in a week to let me know what the results are and then we can go forward. Meanwhile the thyroid symptoms continue to march on... I'm just so confused at this point, I'd like one of them - endocrinologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, hepatologist - to tell me what is going on! :( Keep praying for good results. I have placed everyone on this board on our work prayer circles. Extra prayer can't hurt!

Keep a good thought for me and be well!

Thats good to know that if you told you have the antibodies it does not mean you have the virus. Which tests would prove you have the virus, the viral load test?

neena1127,
I pray for your health and for your well being. I also appreciate the kind words and prayers you left with my last posting. God Bless.

Thats good to know that if you told you have the antibodies it does not mean you have the virus. Which tests would prove you have the virus, the viral load test?

I think it's called an HCV,RNA,PCR,QN but there are a bunch of HCV choices on my bloodwork sheet--- that's what I'm taking next week to check my load.
There's also an HCV,RNS,genotype and an HCV,AB,RIBA & a couple of others that begin with HCV

I didn't even get to see the list of tests ordered, but I know I was down either 5/6 tubes - 4 regular, 2 small. I was dizzy like **** when I left there! I have to tell you, between all this and the extra visits to endocrinologist I feel like I'm on information overload: so much to know, and still so much to learn. But I am certainly gearing up for the battle, no matter how small or how fierce and my prayers are with everyone who fights these battles. :angel: hugs to you all and prayers around the clock!

hugs,

neena

Your doctor should give you such results.

What genotype you are?

This will determine the amount of time on treatment if needed at this time.
Genotype 1, is the worst one to get, the hardest to treat, also the longer one to do treatment, 48 weeks to be exact, some do more if slow responders.
Then there are the other genotypes, like 2,3,4, these are 24 weeks of treatment.

Then he should give you your viral load, the vl is the amount of little buggers in your blood.

Anything under 2 million is consider low, 5 million high, over 5 million very high.
Then whenever you have the biopsy done, the results should include the stage and grade of your liver damage, if any.

For example, my husband had no damage whatsoever, grade 0, stage 0, genotype 1a, viral load 1 million.

In my case, I had fibrosis bridging carring, stage 2, grade 2, viral load 665,000and genotype 1a.

We both did treatment for 48 weeks, and we both killed the dragon (virus of hep c).

I did Shering-Plough combo drugs, which included; pegetron/ribavirin.
My husband was on a clinical trial treatment, from Roche, he did interferon/ribavirin.

I have been cleared of the virus for over 4 years now, and my husband for over 6 years.

I hope this has shed a bit of light on your situation.

Treatment is no bed of Roses but doable.

Mckenzie, if you want to contact me, you may do so via: email :angel:

One more important thing I wanted to reply for you on the issue of thyroid.
When most people do treatment for hep c, they lose weight.
Like my husband lost 32 pounds, during his journey.
I gained weight, and still am gaining.
I look like I'm 8 months pregnant.
During tx (treatment), I got my PCP to test my thyroid, but it was ok according to the one test we did at that time.
But I've heard lately that a person can get checked for his thyroid, and get different results almost every time.
All of the symptoms you have wrote in your post, applies to me.
The lump on my neck/back, swollen abdomen, and the gaining.
I have an appointment of the 26th may, and have a list of questions and tests I want him to pass on me, and getting tested for corisole levels was one of them.
Now I just need to wait and see.... Keep us posted. :angel:

McKenzie, Would love to email you but don't know where to find the email address for you. It is not on your profile. Any way, now the thyroid thing i've been investigating for a few months now, still without resolution. I've done three seperate blood tests with another one coming up shortly. And a cortisol suppression test - my 24 hour urine collection came up with a 53 on a range of 24-50, so now they have to investigate adrenal fatigue. It never stops once your body is 50!