THANBEY, SEAN, & ALL PLEASE READ - Hepatitis Message Board

DRSLETMEDOWN · 05-08-2002, 07:17 AM

I haven't been on the boards in a long time now.
I remember when I first found out I had hep c how freaked out I was & how you and everyone else here were so great at putting answers in the place of those fears.
SOOOOOOO ! I just decided to take all the good advise you all gave me & go out and continue LIVING instead of the waiting to DIE that I guess everyone goes through at first.
I do want everyone to know that you can get on with the business of LIVING & DON'T get caught up in that poor me syndrome, although easier said than done.
I guess I drove you all crazy with my questions at first, several a day sometimes but my best answers came from you all not the doctors.
My advise to anyone newly diagnosed with hep c is come to this site often, ask questions, you will get answers and then forget about the hep & LIVE YOUR LIFE.
The doctors I have been to were just blown away by my knowledge of hep c & it all came from here & I don't know that much it's just that they know less ( scary )
My new mentality is one day at a time, I got out of bed this morning and I thank the LORD I did,I thank him for today, yesterday, & tomorrow in advance.
I have totally given it to the LORD and I can honestly say I have a peace I have never had before.
It's almost like the hep c gave me a new life.
OK ! I GOT SOME QUESTIONS ??
Is anyone having problems with pimples ? acne ?
All of a sudden lately I have been getting these big knot like pimples on my face and they are slow to go away, 49 and now I get pimples ?
I think I ask this before, do your joints hurt alot with hep c ? my knees, shoulders, back & neck feel like what I assume arthritis would feel like.
My liver sonogram was normal & all my blood work so the doctor basically said come back in a year and do all tests again.
These are the results I would appreciate your opinions of what they mean.
All blood work was in range ast 37 in range 2-50
alt 58 in range 2-60
Here is where I am confused antinuclear antibodies w/ refl titer & pattern ana screen ( negative )
mitochondrial ab w/refl titer 1:20 in range, ref range negative 1:20
I am at 1:20
1:20 - 1:80 intermediate level may be present in autoaleregic or other liver diseases.
1:80 elevated level strongly suggestive of primary biliary cirrhosis.
Smooth muscle ab w/refl titer 1:20 negative ref range 1:20 negative.1:20 - 1:40 weakly positive may be presentin accute viral hepatitis,lupoid hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis and malignancy.
1:40 high positive, highly suggestive of active chronic hepatitis.
Alpha - fetoprotein, tumor marker 4.0
Ferritin 133
Tsh w/reflex to ft4 2.04 all of these were in range.
SOOOOOOOOO !! can you tell me in short what this all means ??
Good luck to all, GOD bless & keep you & remember you always have someone who cares & will listen 24 - 7 when you need strength go to thr B.I.B.L.E.

TADPOLE40 · 05-08-2002, 07:38 AM

I TO SUFFER FROM JOINT ACHES AND MUSCLE PAINS,GLAD TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR SYPTOMS! I REALLY HAVE LEARNED ALOT ON THIS FORUM AND SO GLAD I FOUND IT!DOES ANYONE ELSE SUFFER FROM CHRONIC FATIGUE?I KEEP TELLING MY GASTRO DOC ABOUT FATIGUE AND I THINK HE THINKS ITS ALL IN MY HEAD!!BEEN ON PEG AND REBETOL FOR 3 MONTHS ,VIRAL LOAD IS STILL SKY HIGH DOC WANTS TO KEEP ON TREATMENT 3 MORE MONTHS THEN CHECK VIRAL AGAIN, GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!! TADPOLE40

thanbey · 05-08-2002, 08:10 AM

First of all, you are in great shape. Second, I am still going to recommend a biopsy. Insist on it.

All the symptoms are typical of someone of your age and expected duration of infection. My husband found relief by using a hot tub daily and excercising moderately. Sometimes, if the fatigue is great, get extra sleep and lay around on a weekend day watching old movies and supervising someone else doing the chores.

If it get really intolerable, a neurological exam by a knowledgeable neuologist might produce a strategy.

Thanks for the kind words! How lovely to get such feedback. As always, this is a team effort. For a pick up team, we do quite well.

Good on you for getting on with it. I believe attitude makes a huge difference and you sure have a great one!

best wished,

thanbey

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 05-21-2002).]

joann jennings · 05-08-2002, 11:02 AM

I use to have trouble buttoning up my sons shirts and tying his shoes..now that I have watched what I eat (no tomatoes) and am a vegitarian I don't have the muscle aches anymore..I have had Hep C for 25 years..(give or take a few) I am waiting to start treatment on the 17th.. Good luck

Neil B. Stratton · 05-08-2002, 11:06 AM

Hi Tadpole40 and drlmd
Hey Tad, I have this CF [chronic fatique], my worst symtom of HCV right now, the longer days and sunlight is making me more active and better now, however I just added an other topic to the forum concerning fatique, some interesting stuff there.

get outdoors, enjoy life- Neil