I have Hepatitis C....is there a better tx than there was 5 yrs ago?
489566
Yes, the new pegelated interferon and ribavirin combo treatment (available from Schering or Roche) have greatly increased the response rate from the older 3X week interferon only treatment regimen. If you are symptomatic or have a high viral load, you should see your hep Dr and ask about the new treatment regimens.\n\nhttp://www.pegintron.com/peg/application\n\nhttp://www.pegasys.com/?SOURCE=GOOG&KEYWORD=p\n\nThese links are for the new types of interferon. You also have to take pills along with the shots. Both interferon manufacturers have their own proprietary name for the ribavirin (generic drug name) pills but if you read these links you will learn about the full treatment regimen.
981215
Hepatitis C can not be cured.  Talk to your doctor and keep an eye on your liver.
44386
Hi-\nFrom what I hear, liver failure sounds like a tough thing to suffer. I had a kidney transplant and have spent some time on a transplant message board. Seemed like people who had to wait for a liver transplant were the worst off. I assume a transplant is not in the cards? I know hospice has a great reputation for aleviating suffering and helping the family, so it's probably good for you to get hooked up with them.\nHere is a web site that lists some symptoms and other info about hepatic encephalopathy:\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000302.htm\nAnother good resource might be a yahoo group on liver failure. You could try joining this one: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Liversupportgroup/\nThere are also hospice support groups on yahoo, too:\nhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hospiceroom/
49604
Of course you can.  Nothing in Hep C prevents children.
323120
The best way to see how infected you are is have a liver biopsy, there are specialists that deal with hep c. You control it or it can end up controlling you (your health)\n\nMAKE SURE YOU GET hep A & B shots and boosters because you sure wouldn't want one of those along with C\n\nAlcohol is the worst thing if you have C  :example for each beer you have it is like have 6 of them to your liver
1138715
HEPATITIS C is contracted through blood-to-blood contact. Things to ask: Risky sex, acupuncture without proper autoclaving of needles (ask if needles are disposable-safest), Tattooing with repeat needle use, Using someone elses razor, needle stick of used needle,.There are vaccinations for hep. A, and hep. B, but none for Hep. C.  There are, however, treatments. Hep. C may lie dormant for years, so early detection is best if you suspect you've been infected. There are more behaviors that cause C., so I would suggest that you research yourself. Call your local health dept., and they will provide you with all the information you need. They will advise you as to whether you should be tested. Contact your physician, too\n\nAsking or answering any medical question online, is very dangerous. You will find that laymen, or people who are not qualified to do either, will anyway. They don't seem to get  the picture of possibly putting someone in great medical danger. There is no substitute for education. One of my concerns is that many of these people think that they really do know what they're talking about, and you are likely to choose an answer from one of them, and take their advise. So, I would advise anyone reading this to stop giving unprofessional opinions, as that is all they are. Remember, as well, that giving medical advise without a license, is a federal offense.Even as a professional, I give nothing but direction. This is not my field. That's why I suggested that you get your answers from the ones who are better qualified.
491330
You can order it from the Texas Department of State Health Services. You may be able to get it at the site below.
975255
Honestly, you need to speak with your hematologist.  I also have itp, and after a bad spell in 2002 and transfusions followed by steroids, luckily, my levels have been fairly steady, in the 65k-90k range generally.  I'd make sure that you are taking regular vitamins and just speak with your Dr.  Good luck!
348317
that is very interesting and usefull information and  would normally concern me if i had not already had a test done in the recent months due to elevated liver enzymes, i also had a blood transfusion at birth . before 1979 . thanks
368386
Different with who you are and your genetic traits.  There is also other ways to get cirrhosis, which is called nonalcoholic cirrhosis.  It is not a good way to go and liver transplants are few and far between.  Consider all the pain before you take too many drinks!
940511
Hi There\n\nHere are some methods to get healed. Be sure to do a colon and liver cleanse. You must clean out the toxins and you'll be on your way to a healthy body.\n\nause\nThe most common cause of hepatitis is a virus that can occur in five potential forms: A, B, C, D, or E. Other causes include excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse (including pharmaceutical drugs, such as acetaminophen), overexposure to chemicals, and, sometimes, as a reaction to properly prescribed medications. \n\nIn recent years, hepatitis C has been on the increase. It is most frequently caused as a result of blood transfusions. Typically, people with hepatitis C are identified either because they have abnormal liver tests or because of a hepatitis C antibody test. A positive test does not necessarily mean serious liver disease, however. People with hepatitis C may have no liver disease, a mild form of chronic hepatitis, or a more serious form of hepatitis that may progress over a number of years to cirrhosis. The usual indications are a positive antibody test for the hepatitis C virus, abnormal liver tests for more than six to twelve months, and a liver biopsy that shows chronic active hepatitis. Approximately 20% of patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus will go on to develop cirrhosis. \n\nNote: Infectious hepatitis can be easily spread two weeks before and one week after jaundice appears. The feces of people with hepatitis contain the virus. Therefore, very strict toilet hygiene and hand and cloth washing should be observed during this time.\n\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nNatural Cures\n\nAromatherapy: Rosemary can help stimulate liver function. \n\nDiet: Follow a diet low in protein and high in fresh vegetables to minimize stress on the liver. Also eat small meals throughout the day, and avoid foods such as refined sugars, alcohol, and caffeine, which cause stress on the liver, and be sure to drink plenty of filtered water. Drinking fresh lemon juice water every morning and evening followed by vegetable juice is also recommended to help liver function. Easily digested grains, such as millet, buckwheat, and quinoa, are also good food choices. \n\nEnemas: Three warm enemas administered daily can help boost liver function. \n\nHerbs: The liver-cell regenerative properties of herbs such as milk thistle and licorice can be helpful. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture three times a day. Tumeric combined with milk thistle has also been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of hepatitis B. \n\nHydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. \n\nJuice Therapy: The following juice combinations can be helpful: beet, carrot, and wheat grass juice; or garlic, burdock, flax, and black currants.\n\nNutritional Supplementation: Supplement with vitamin C, beta carotene, liver glandulars, milk thistle extract, vitamin B complex, adrenal glandulars, lipotropic factors, pantothenic acid, free-form amino acids, betaine hydrochloric acid (HCL), multi-enzymes, and evening primrose oil.\n\nAlternative Professional Care\nIf your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hepatitis: Ayurveda, Acupuncture, Detoxification Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, and Oxygen Therapy\n\nBest of health to you\n\nCheers
1166930
Hep C is called the silent killer.It is a slowly progressive disease caused by a virus which wasn't identified until the 1990's,which ends in liver failure.It is caused by receiving "tainted blood" which would have occurred years ago,sharing needles with an infected person,tattoo with infected needle or ink,rarely by sex.If discovered in the very early stages and depending on the proto type of the virus you have you can be cured with pegylated interferon and ribaviran.It can be confirmed with a simple blood test.My Hubie caught in from "tainted blood" in 1968 did not become ill until 1998.Was in liver failure in November 2000 and received a liver transplant in 2000 and his new liver is doing fine.Anyone with Hep C should make an appointment with a hepatologist at a major medical center for treatment and possibly added to the transplant list if needed.,
325955
Hepatitis A, while capable of making you ill for quite some time, does not do the long term damage that Hepatitis B and C do.  You should be fine.
977805
Hepatitis is a group of viral infections that affect the liver causing acute/chronic inflammation which eventually may lead to liver failure or cancer and ultimately death. The B, C, and D group are blood borne and/or sexually transmitted or by vertical transmission from mother to child. Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) is notoriously known to cause chronic liver disease and the risk for liver hepatoma/cancer is much higher than for HBV.\nJust like most viral infections, there is no definite cure by antiviral or antibiotic therapy. However, some antiviral drugs such as lamivudine (sometimes used to treat HIV) may hold some promise but no definite cure. It is important to note that most people do not die eventually from chronic hepatitis since it is a chronic disease. They may die of other causes. If you are sexually-active, also consider protecting your spouse/partner from picking up the infection by using appropriate barrier methods. \n\nI would advice you go on a high carbohydrate diet/low protein diet; take multivitamins supplements. have your doctor keep an eye on your liver function tests say on a yearly basis. Most other drugs used as supportive therapy are fraught with bad side effects.
500677
Current standard of care treatment is a combination of (pegylated) interferon alpha and the antiviral drug ribavirin for a period of 24 or 48 weeks, depending on genotype. Should treatment with pegylated ribivirin-interferon not return a 2-log viral reduction after 12 weeks, the chance of treatment success is less than 1%. Current indication for treatment include patients with proven hepatitis C virus infection and persistent abnormal liver function tests. Sustained cure rates (sustained viral response) of 75% or better occur in people with genotypes HCV 2 and 3 in 24 weeks of treatment, about 50% in those with genotype 1 with 48 weeks of treatment and 65% for those with genotype 4 in 48 weeks of treatment. About 80% of hepatitis C patients in the United State have genotype 1. Genotype 4 is more common in the Middle East and Africa.\n\nTreatment during the acute infection phase has much higher success rates (90%+) with a shorter duration of treatment.\n\nThose with low initial viral loads respond much better to treatment than those with higher viral loads (>2 million virons/ml). Current combination therapy can only be supervised by physicians in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology and infectious disease.\n\nthere is more info in the link below as well
901314
there is no ratio for either transplant list, the wait time on kidney listing is probably smaller. for the liver an unstable patient gets the preference at some times otherwise no matter what race, if they are on the list, they get the liver on their turn, you could get the numbers on the waiting list from transplant centers, just write to them, good luck
339537
I would buy the best medical care for my mother.  she has hepititas c.  (blood transfution)