Hep C/Pancreas update

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Things have been so crazy the past few months that I had to take a holiday

from all my medical BS, so I have not been posting much lately. Is hard to be

encouraging when you have so many doubts yourself. I finally had to stop my

treatment for my Hep C. I fought with all my might to stay on, but to no avail.

It caused my platelets to get into critical levels and I had to stop. The

coumadin, (for my artificial heart valve) was a key player in the platelet

problems. I made 30 weeks of treatment. The most frustrating part is that I was

a responder to the meds and if I could have finished at full doses, I could have

killed it all the way. My viral load did decrease from over 8 million to 1,890,

so hopefully is enough to make me feel better soon. The flu feeling is still

here. It takes 15 weeks for the meds to get out of my system, so won't know till

then if it will go away. The utter exhaustion has gotten a bit better each day.

I can actually get off the couch now for short periods

of times. I am taking it easy and each day brings a bit more improvement. My

next appointment is on December 1st, to reevaluate where things are at. The

maybe plan is, if the flu feeling is gone and I can get back into life, we may

try maintenance doses of the meds to keep the virus calm until easier meds come

out. If I still feel sick, I will get into a trial. I personally want to finish

whacking those varmints before it causes me more problems. This virus has been

destroying my body for years. This virus was the reason for my pancreas

problems. It caused inflammation not only in my liver but pancreas too. Then my

ducts got swelled shut and couldn't drain well. My pancreas behaved thru

treatment and is still doing great. Zero pain and I am eating everything I want.

Also, after about 3 months of treatment I was able to sleep on my back and left

side again. Haven't been able to do that since my pancreas issues started. My

pancreas would spasm and hurt if I layed that way. Laying

on my right side allowed the pancreas to drain better. I hope this

inflammation stays down so my pancreas can drain without assistance. I saw my

MD a few weeks ago and was put on a will see you as needed basis with my

pancreas. Has been a long time since I have gotten that good news. He was

amazed. Hopefully the viral load won't increase fast.

So again, to EVERYONE who has GI/pancreas issues. Please, Please, Please

demand a test for Hep C. Is a simple blood test. It is not routinely given, you

must ask for it. I had it for 47 years before they found it. It was the why for

me with my pancreas/GI issues. If you have ever done any of these, JUST EVEN

ONCE, you are at risk to have this virus. Here is what research has shown that

puts you at risk of possibly contracting this virus. 1) Blood transfusions or

blood products prior to 1998 (that's how I got it, from a blood transfusion

when I was 3 during open heart surgery) 2) air gun inoculations 3) any tattoos

or body piercings 4) any IV drug use (heroin, etc) 5) manicures where they have

made you bleed 6) snorting cocaine thru a straw or other sniffing thing 7)you

are a health care worker 8) perinatal transmission (from mother to baby), she

may not know she has it. 9)sharing toothbrushes/razors with someone who has it

(remember, they may not know they have it) 10) having

unprotected sex with someone who has the virus or multiple sex partners during

your life. These are the documented ways you could have contracted the virus. I

hope I haven't missed one. About 40% of people who have contracted the virus

don't have the above listed risks. So there are other ways it is being

transmitted too that they don't know about. How many of us were blood

brother/sisters in childhood where we swapped blood? The Hep C virus also

causes alot of other health problems besides just pancreas/liver/GI system. Is

truly a scary silent virus that attacks your body with out you knowing it. I

hope EVERY member here gets tested. It may be the why for you.

I will try and post more often as health permits. Everyone here is always

in my thought and prayers.

Love,

w

Wisconsin

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