Anything else? 

        This page answers questions
                  that - like so many of us - defy category.

Q.

"I got Hep C in 1985 from a blood transfusion. Is there any successful lawsuits filed against the gov./Red Cross? Why?

Thank you . . . W.M."

A.

Don’t know ... but that’s a damn good question.  I gotta speculate that it’s because the U.S. government’s got around 14 exceptions written into law protecting them from liability.  Bottom line here: justice ain’t blind.   Not surprisingly, there’s quite a few other countries that have compensated their citizens to make amends for giving them hep C.  Got quite a few articles like this listed in Hep C in the News; probably a few in the archives, too.

Q.

"Hey, so I am hep-c negative. My boyfriend is Hep-c positive..... I however, have positive genital herpes and hpv (warts gone, but I have a mild case of cervical dysplasia that's come back.....) we've talked, and are trying to get the research part out of the way so we can cover all the risk factors.....

“So, my question to you, is, if in the event my hsv2(herpes)/HPV is transfered to my boyfriend,  will the hpv/hsv2 affect his hep-c?

“Thanks, T"

A.

It sure as hell is likely to.  Herpes also effects the liver*, and especially for folks with hepatitis C†.  There’s even cases of people who have herpes without hep C going to ESLD (aka, End Stage Liver Disease).‡  

... you might be interested in another Q & A posted - pretty much on this same thing (here), where we found a possible upside: that herpes can prevent liver cancer from developing. 

* Fatal herpes simplex hepatitis type 2 in a post-thymectomized adult. Takebe N, Yokoyama A, Akasaka Y,
    Ishii H, Miyaguchi S, Sata T, Hibi T, Oda M, Hata J, Tsuchiya M. Department of Internal Medicine, School
    of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.

† Herpes simplex virus-associated acute liver failure: a difficult diagnosis with a poor prognosis. Ichai P,
    Roque Afonso AM, Sebagh M, Gonzalez ME, Codés L, Azoulay D, Saliba F, Karam V, Dussaix E, Guettier
    C, Castaing D, Samuel D. Centre Hépatobiliaire, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université
    Paris Sud, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 12 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94800 Villejuif Cedex, France.

‡ Liver transplantation due to Herpes Simplex virus-related sepsis causing massive hepatic necrosis after
    thoracoscopic thymectomy. Biancofiore G, M.D., Post-surgical and Transplant Intensive Care Unit,
    Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy.

Q.

"Hi man, not a sufferer, but only by the luck of the draw. Got freinds who are.  Anyway noticed the comments about daily smokin' of pot but I've read seemingly conflicting evidence that pharmaceutical cannabis definitely helps when having the difficult treatment. This would suggest to me that maybe it is the smokin' that is the problem, and maybe a few herbal biscuits may actually be beneficial if you get my drift.  Also a treatment known as nov 205 appears to have been proven safe in Russia, ie no significant side effects and would appear to help all sufferers of hep b and c, unfortunately its cheap and easy to produce. Do you think people need to fight the pharmaceuticals as well as the disease?  Wish you all the luck in the world,
                                                                       “Mick"

A.

Good question, Mick – quite frankly, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to fight the pharmas.  We explain this on our About page (here).  If it weren’t for them, the scientists & other healthcare folks committed to finding a cure, then there wouldn’t be anyone cured.  ... and face it, they’re still at it, cuz there is no cure. 

But being committed to providing the Straightup about this disease, we give ya the Straightup: the good, the bad & the ugly.  So, when ya check out the Hep C News (here), you get our Straightup analyses (aka, our two cents).

So, while big pharma’s bottom line is their bottom line, we don’t consider them the bad guys.  There’s plenty of blame to go around.  For instance, ya got yer CDC for sitting on info about the hep C epidemic for over a decade & FDA for allowing patents that prevent little pharmas for looking for cures, similar to the example you site, and others.  I could go on & on about these entities (but won’t right this sec). 

So rather than fight the pharmaceuticals, and in the spirit of choosing your battles, we choose to fight ignorance – and give as many people as much info about the disease as we can. 

Mick, it sounds like your friends are real lucky to have you, and you can help us with this battle, by helping to Spread the Word (like it says here).  Hope you’ll help us.  Later!

Q.

"dose hep c  show up in your blood work within a short time of contracting it  or can it stay undetected in the blood?"

A.

Well, it depends on what kind of blood work you have done.  Like, if you just go to the doctor for a regular check up, or get a physical to go to work, you could have it for years, and it won’t come up.  Such is the case for most of us who figure we’ve had it for decades.  There’s a very specific – and expensive – test for hep C.  First, they check for a hep C antibody (more on that here).  If they find ‘em (cuz there’s never just one), then they check for the virus itself, just in case your immune system beat it on its own. 

You asked how long till it shows up.  Well, that one’s hard to say, since it’s pretty rare to catch the virus when ya first get it ... aka, the acute phase.  There’s not even any symptoms for about 4½ months.*  Then most of us usually figure it’s something else, like I’m so damn busy, no wonder I’m tired ... stuff like that.

So ... if ya think you might have been exposed to hep C ... fear not.  You mighta, and coulda beat it already.  But to know for sure, then ya might wanna get tested.  Good luck.

*  Acute Hepatitis C: Clinical Presentation, Laboratory Findings, and Treatment Outcomes. Rohit Loomba,
      MD, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD. Abstract
      Presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Q.

"Hi Every one,

"Don't if any one else has heard this but, Coconut oil [virgin] in some reported help with cirrhosis?????

"My husband checks thing out the best he can on the net.

"We decided it worth a try. I am starting the gel cab as soon as I get them and let you know if it work for me at all.

"Sincerely,
Brenda Higgins"

A.

Hi again Brenda!

I’m glad you asked this question.  Typically we don’t focus a bunch on alternative stuff.  We’re not opposed – Hell, I take milk thistle & lots of B vitamins  every day (practically).  But I did find some really cool info about extra virgin coconut oil & cirrhosis. 

Like ... that it gives us something real important called, medium chain glycerides* that happen to – as you said help fight cirrhosis & fibrosis. 

Sounds like your ol’ man did some good research.  I’m gonna give this one a try myself.  Later!

*  Production of medium chain glycerides from coconut and palm kernel fatty acid distillates by lipase-
      catalyzed reactions. S. Nandi, MD. Dept. of Chemical Technology. University of Calcutta, West
      Bengal, India. 2004.

Following up ...

(Brenda had some more info about coconut oil to share with y'all.  So here ya go!   --editor)

"Hello,

"The best and most affordable way to take the extra virgin coconut oil is from the jar like 3 tablespoons a day.  Its not bad if you get the good stuff. When you open the lid you should have strong smell of coconut. The caps are ok  but, you don't get what you do in the jar. Its much more concentrated.

"I got mine from Bob Red mill in Oregon. There is other place to get it. You can put it on cracker or in food or even in coffee.

"I did the milk thistle back when I did the 1st interferon. It help allot with the nausea. I try it again lately and it is making nausea now so I only do the coconut. I hope this helps . At least I feel I am doing some thing to help me self . The doctors just want to sit and wait for my Liver to fail and then put on transplant list.

"Sincerely, Brenda"

Top o' the page

Q.

“I'm a long way away, in the UK, and haven't been able to find any answers to my questions, specially from my liver doc, who is fairly useless but the only hepatologist in my area.

“The story goes like this. A locum for my family doctor gave me a hep c antibody test when I was her because I felt so bad a couple of months after my husband died. I didn't have a choice about testing and was given no information. The antibody test was positive and the lab asked for a repeat.. also positive. I don't know if they were both ELISA tests or if one was a RIBA.

“So, referred to the only liver doc in the area. He told me I had chronic Hep C and may have advanced liver disease, then ordered bloodwork for viral load and genotype. He expected me to wait 5 months for the results, but waiting made me feel really ill and after complaining I actually saw him at the end of August, only 2 and a half months after the PCR tests were done. This soc was rather annoyed with me for making waves, told me that no virus was found and no way would he give me treatment without any virus (anyone want treatment when there's no need must be crazy).

“Later I found that not only was no virus found but I also had a negative antibody test. As far as I know a false negative only happens if your immune system is bad, and mine isn't. So now I don't know if I had 2 false positive antibody tests and one true negative, or if my blood got mixed with somebody else's last time.

“The doc took more blood in August to check results, but my next appointment isn't until December 18 and it seems to be impossible for anyone to get results out of him before he sees you.

... (snip!) ...

“I've decided not to do treatment if I am positive, my age and my normal liver functions are against me, the treatment is too harsh and dangerous for somebody almost 60 living alone with no family or friends to support, and I can't afford to take any time off work.

“So, anyone know if I'm more likely to have the bug or not? Any ideas on how I can get my results out of this doctor? There's no need for me to see him unless it's for his own curiosity and he doesn't seem to know much. He didn't know that you couldn't make a diagnosis only on antibody results and he things that if results go from positive to negative that means natural clearance. Well, if I got the bud it would have probably been 40 years ago, do if I'd cleared it would have been back than, not now.

“Anna”

A.

Hi there, Anna in the UK. 

Wow, that’s a pretty trippy story.  I’m sorry, but I can’t really tell ya your liklihood on having the virus.  I mean, really girl ... how the hell would I know????  But what I do know is this ....

False positives aren’t all that uncommon – especially with the antibody tests, aka ELISA.   And while there aren’t too many false negatives, they do exist.  Geez ... we’re sorta left to speculate whether they used faulty tests ... or maybe faulty clinic staff that either screwed up the blood draw, or lost your file, or ???.   

In the alternative, it sounds like there’s a possibility you cleared the virus on your own, aka spontaneous recovery (like it says here & here & here).  We sure hope so, Anna.  Ya know ... it doesn’t necessarily have to happen right away.  For instance, it can happen when someone gives up booze & stuff (like it says here).  Plus, I got at least 2 good friends with hep C who happen to be incarcerated, and after a few years, their viral loads went undetectable.  Got another good friend – a Viet-nam Vet – who got it around ’69, & for some reason, between 2000 & 2004, his viral load plummeted, then went undetectable.  So, it could happen.

Anna, it sounds like you have a real good handle on your decision about treatment.  ... and that's great. 

As far as getting the info out of your doc ... I’m not up on the laws there across the pond.  Here in the U.S., your doc would have to give you the info.  In fact, they aren’t supposed to share it with anyone but you – and the insurance companies – if you have insurance, that is.  One of the hep docs I know, just automatically sends ya out a copy of the lab report – like a week or two after they take a lab.  But not all the docs are that way – which is probably obvious if ya read through these Q & A. 

Let us know how ya come out.  Sounds like you’ve already had a tough enough year.  Take’r easy!

Q.

I recently decided to test for hep c on the advice of a friend. I was unpleasantly surprised to find out I am positive. My test says “hepatitis c antibody” reactive. 

Then it states “signal to cut-off” 28.8H. What the hell does that mean? I am an alcoholic who stopped drinking and using 2.5 years ago. When I was tested 3 years ago my liver enzymes were through the roof but now they are normal. My bro told me knowledge is power but right now I feel like I wish I hadn’t even gotten the dam test. Any advice is appreciated, thanx.

A.

... Well, first of all, congrats on your sobriety.  Not always an easy thing to do.  I gotta agree with your Brother that knowledge is power – but what’s also true is that having this disease stinks.  ... it’s friggin’ hard – and hard to deal with – especially when you’re sober.  More often than not, our well-meaning family & friends greatly underestimate the impact on accepting this hep C – for ourselves.  Hell ... took me 6 years from the diagnosis to quit drinkin’.  But I digress ....

“signal to cut-off?  ... beats me.  But here’s the more important thing.  It sounds like what that test has determined is that you have the antibody for hep C.  That doesn’t necessarily mean you have the hep C virus.  Ya with me?   If not, and you have the antibody, that means you’re one of the ones who’ve beaten it on your own, aka spontaneously recovered (like it says here).  So, if I were you, I wouldn’t go getting all freaked out yet.  Go see a liver doc, and get a better test done.

Take it easy .....

Top o' the page

Q.

"I was just diagnosed with hep c last week and really don't know how to tell my husband I am 40 years old and told I had hep c for over 20 years. Can you suggest how to break the news. 

"Michell"

A.

Hi there Michell.  Ya know ... like it says on the main Q & A page, "if there's something you're wondering about - with regards to hep C ...."  But this sounds like an issue about communication between you two – a personal thing – not necessarily about hep C.

Personally, I’m of the opinion that honesty is the best policy.  Call me crazy, but that’s just my opinion. 

Sorry we couldn’t be of more help.  Good luck.

Q.

“I am looking for a doctor in the Peoria area-I was just diagnosed with Hep C(apparently chronic) & have stage 3 liver disease with only fatigue as a symptom.  I am currently seeing a nurse practitioner at a gastroeneterology office. I do not feel comfortable with this person & need to find a doctor I can relate to. I have never been sick in my life & need to see a real liver specialist. Can you direct me to someone or somewhere to begin?

“Thanks for your attention-R Hutchison”

A.

... Nope.  I’m actually not familiar with any particular doc there.  What I do know, is that Illinois has an over abundance of hep docs – particularly around the Chicago area – so one would think they’d be competing for your time.  Shit! 

Anyway ... no matter where you live, you sure as hell have a right to see someone who respects you, and that you feel comfortable with.  My friend Skeeter explains it best (here).  Docs are like boots ... if they don’t fit, for God’s sake, don’t f—in’ buy ‘em!  Try on another pair, and another, and another ... till you get a fit.  Ya with me here?  

Good luck to ya!

Q.

“Dear straightup,

“After having a six month affair with a guy who I still love (he dumped me), I found out I have hep c and herpes, both kinds.  I was tested for std's about 9 months ago (thought that included hep c ... waiting for med records from that doc.)  I am certain the herpes came from this relationship, however my research indicates that it is unlikely that I contracted hep c from the guy, even if his hepc was active, even if he had multiple sex partners.  My question is: Do you know if the herpes will have a great impact on the hep c in that perhaps it could wake up a sleeping disease?  I have geno type 1a.  Just finished more extensive blood testing and ultrasound....” 

... (snip!) ...

“Can you shed some light?

“Kait”..."

A.

Well, Kait ... I’m not sure if I can.  I didn’t find anything that documents the herpes virus’ effect on hep C.  I’m tempted to speculate on how hep C can effect other chronic viral diseases that require a lot of work from your immune system, though.  But we really do try not to talk out our butts here.

I did, however, find a possible upside.  There was one study that used the herpes virus to combat liver cancer* – I shit you not.  They called it “suicide gene therapy.”  Now, I don’t really know if that cheers ya up or not, but it’s the Straightup.

Take’r easy.

*  Enhanced Antitumor Effects of Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase/Ganciclovir System by Codelivering
     Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 against Intrahepatic Cancer Cells. Kaheita Kakinoki, MD. Kanazawa
     University, Kanazawa, Kenya. Poster presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Q.

" Hi,

“I had a liver biopsy in 1999 and the result was stage 1-2 grade 2.  I had another biopsy in 2005 where I arched my back while the needle was in my liver due to not being properly medicated.  The result was stage 0-1 grade 2.  How can that be?  I can’t get a straight answer from anyone including the hepatologist who did both.  He said I have mild hepatitis and don’t worry about it.

“Thanks."

A.

hmmm ....  My best guess is that the part of your liver where the doc caught ya the first time is worse off than the part he caught the seond time.  It’s been a real down side to standard liver biopsies.  So a lot of docs are using a new, easier method called Fibroscan*.  It’s basically a blood test, can be done in like 5 minutes, and is pretty damn reliable.

As to your doc telling you not to worry about it ... again, I gotta wonder .....  But shopping around for a second opionion is sure an option, too...

*  Fibroscan® is a new non-invasive method for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in children: a prospective
     comparison with Fibrosure® and liver biopsy. Victor de Ledinghen, Hopital Haut-Leveque, Pessac,
     France. Poster presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Q.

"Hi just been surfing the web and found you web site which is very informative and as it is stated straight up.This is my question. I was treated three year back and was negative ,till about 3 month back, after my 3 month blood test they found very low virus reading of 2,000 IU. Both my primary and liver specialist Doctors feel this is nothing to be concerns about they feel it is a false positive and low reading like this my not be an active virus because all the other blood work is fine. Also they have performed other test and is looks like my liver is healing. Just wondering if anyone out there have heard of this happening.  I forgot the viral load tests was performed three time at different labs and they were all the same at each one. The last one was performed last week."

A.

Hmm ....  pretty interesting. 

I guess I’d be concerned about a low virus – hell, any virus – after going through the hell of treatment.  There’s data out there that says even a teeny bit of virus can “significantly increased risk of relapse after completion of therapy.”*†‡  Plus, the immune systems of folks that have gone through treatment, typically don’t bounce back to clear the virus another day.††

A false positive is a whole other ball game.  See ... usually when hep C is stumbled upon, it’s cuz a hep C antibody pops up in a blood test (like it says here).  So, then a different test is required.  When virus is present, hep C is confirmed; if there’s just an antibody, then that person has cleared on their own ... this is what we understand to be a “false positive.” 

So ... ya know how your docs “feel.”  How do you “feel?”  Whether or not to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion is your decision, and your right.  Good luck!   

†  Detection of minimal residual hepatitis C viremia at treatment week 12 is associated with a high
     probability of relapse. Alexandra Bergk, M.D., Medical school of Berlin, Dept. of Gastroenterology,
     Berlin, Germany. Abstract presentation. AASLD 2005.

‡  Utility of TMA Testing During Antiviral Treatment of Advanced Hepatitis C. Chihiro Morishima M.D.,
      University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Abstract presentation. AASLD 2005.

†† Does Treatment-Induced Recovery from Hepatitis C Result in the Same Immunological Memory as
      Spontaneous Recovery? Christina Weiler-Normann, MD, Liver Diseases Branch, NIDDK, NIH,
      Bethesda, MD. Abstract presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Top o' the page

Q.

"I was treated for Hep C 3 yrs ago and i have a sustained viral response, which means when they do a viral load it is undetectable. can i still get life insurance? where i don't have to pay a high yearly rate."

A.

Great question!  But the Straightup is, we don’t know. 

However ... I gotta speculate that you should be able to, based on the fact that you no longer have the chronic condition that eliminates you from the “healthy person” discount.  If I were you, I’d apply – then contest it, if denied, based on that.

Q.

"What is the average life expectancy for a hep c patient?"

A.

Not real good ... if ya walk in front of an oncoming train. 

But seriously folks ....  There really isn’t one for a hep C patient.  Much like there isn’t an “average life expectancy for a healthy person.  There’s too many variables ... like age when one got infected,* whether or not they still drink† & drug‡, smoke, or if they’ve done the peg & riba regimen.*

So, your answer: it depends.  Sorry there ain't a better answer, man.

*  Negative impact of aging on hepatocarcinogenesis after viral eradication in patients with chronic
     hepatitis C: A long-term observation study of 1,672 patients and an effect of PEG-interferon/ribavirin
     therapy. Yasuhiro Asahina, MD, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Poster
     Presentation. 2005 AASLD.

†  Alcohol Treatment increases HCV-RNA and viral Protein Expression in Huh7 cells expressing HCV –
     replicon, and this Effect is Modulated by 5-UTR HCV Region. K.D. Trujillo-Murillo, M.D., School of
     Medicine, Hospital Universitario, UANL, Monterrey Mexico. Poster Presentation, AASLD 2005.  

‡  Elevated serum alphafetoprotein predicts long term prognosis in chronic hepatitis C: independent of
     deaths related to hepatocellular carcinoma. Stephen Barclay, MD. Station 9, Ayr, United Kingdom.
     Poster presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Q.

"My last blood screen come back & my alts were at 204 & aft was at 125 what dose it meen"

A.

It means they’re higher than normal, aka elevated.  A normal range is anywhere from 0 – 42 for AST, and 0 – 50 for ALTs.  But if ya have hep C, it really doesn’t mean anything bad, or absolute, like, you’ve only got 50 years to live, or something.

Without knowing more, like if you’re on – or were on – hep C treatment, it’s kinda hard to say.  No disrespect intended, lest I sound like too much of a smart ass here (tho it comes naturally to me), a high ALT/AST count may suggest a couple things. 

The first being, that a person’s ALTs spike when they first get hep C (aka, acute hep C).  Happens about 2 to 8 weeks into it.  If this is the case for you, I’d say it’s real good news.  Because a bunch of people clear hep C on their own.  We don’t have an exact number of how many, because folks who’s immune systems can beat it (aka, spontaneously recover), typically don’t go to the doctor for the symptoms, which are hardly nothing.  It’s a hard one to catch.*

Secondly – and if that’s not the case, and you’ve been having hep C for a while – and if this ALT result is different than your first ALT (aka, a baseline), then it might mean there's been a slight change in how your liver’s doing.  Like when it gets a little more fibrosis (like a calous on your liver), then ALTs can spike.†  On the other hand, if this is your baseline ALT, then no problem.  A little over half of the people with hep C have elevated ALTs.  The rest of us (46%) have ALTs in the normal range.  But it means nothing about how you’re liver's doing.  A person can be walking around with sores on their liver, and have normal ALTs,†† or a person with elevated ALTs can be walking around with a slow-burning virus and die of old age or something before their liver craps out.

If you’re on, or just finished hep C treatment, then it’s a whole other deal. If that's the case, zip me another email .... ok?  I think I’ve gone on enough for now.  Hopefully this is helpful to ya. 

Take’r easy.

*  Thomas Shaw-Stiffel, MD. Consultant Editor, Center for Liver Diseases. University of Pittsburgh.
     Pittsburg, PA. Reference to Hepatitis C Infection (p 28). © 2004. Science Press, Ltd. 

†  Spontaeous Fibrosis Regression in Untreated, Noncirrhotic, Persistently Viremic Irish Women with
     Chronic Hepatitis C Contracted Initially from Immunoglobulin Anti-D: Final Report.  Robert Levine,
     M.D., SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, Schuyler Sanderson, M.D., Mayo Clinic
     School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, Frank Murray, M.D. Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
     Poster Presentation. AASLD 2005.

†† Viral and metabolic factors influencingalanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in patients with chrnic
       hepatitis C receiving peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in randomized phase III trials. Daniele 
       Prati, MD, Ospedale Maggiore Milan, Italy. Poster presentation. 2005 AASLD.

Q.

"Dear Straight-up,

“I found out I had Hep C 18 mos ago.  Drs said I was unable to do Tx, due to possible bleeding I wasn't even able to give a liver biopsy..I'm 1-A and have really been suffering from this, but I manage to ride my FXR just about every day.  I just can't ride very far, <200miles or so.

 I found your site from OBworld on the web...Is there any 'joining' here, or message/chat boards that people use. 

“Your site looks good, and I'd like to join if there's something there like message boards, chat rooms.

“Respects, Mike"

A.

Thanks Mike!  There’s no need to join here.  Sounds like you’re one of us (tho, as you know, that’s not such a great deal).  OB world’s a great site.  Just added them to our links page, too (here).  When we finally get through this damn 501(c)(3) application, we’re hoping to do a chat room thing.  People've been asking for chats for singles & stuff. 

If ya want, you can sign up for updates.  There's a link on the home page (here).

But, as I’ve said to ya offline, you’re welcome here.  Sorry ya had to need us, but we’re glad you’re here. 

Stay in touch – kc

Q.

"Hi kc, Good to hear from you. I have a couple more questions, if you don't mind.

What does the HCC stand for? And....would you mind telling me if you have cirrhosis?

We're trying to move to the north coast of California, hopefully in the next few months. High altitude is not s'posed to be good for hcv. Not enough oxygen, and the liver needs oxygen to rebuild cells. I feel that my hep c has progressed very quickly since moving to these mountains. I hope moving will help some. It could be that it's just the length on time I've had the dragon in me that has done the speedy progression. Any thoughts on that? I also have difficulty drinking enough water to compensate for the high altitude and the hep c as well. I often feel dehydrated. Ocean here I come!

I had brain fog so badly the day I went to the doc, I went and asked for the wrong test! I got order for ultra sound instead of ct scan! I hate it when I do things like that. Especially when I think I'm doing well that day! UGH! sigh................

So now I have another app't to get the right order next Wed.

I don't know that I would do anything differently even if they found anything w/the ct scan. I don't have much faith in cancer drugs. But I'm hoping they wont find the dreaded "C".

Well, gotta get going here and try to accomplish something.

Hope you are having a good day.

 Crystal"

A.

Hi again, Crystal.

HCC stands for hepatocellular carcinoma.  More simply put, it means liver cancer.  I hope your ct scan’s clean, too, girl.  We’ll be thinking of ya.

Northern California coast, eh?  That’s sure a beautiful part of the country.  But you raised a concern about altitude & hep C ....  I tell ya, Crystal, I’ve never heard of such a thing, nor could I find anything like that.  But I did find a little something that confirmed my suspicion that the opposite is likely ... that a higher altitude might be better for ya.*  Ya know how iron overload can be really bad for us?  That’s called hemochromatosis.  Well, this one study showed that iron build up combined with oxygen helps kill cells.  That’s help we don’t need.  Plus, I just lost a friend to hep C & kidney disease.  Doc gave him like 3 weeks to live ... a couple years ago.  He lived up in the mountains of Colorado. 

It’s a stretch – just my speculation – some of it came right outta my butt.  Still, it’s all I could find on this.  Good question, though. 

For a fact however, living at a high altitude can mess with your platelet count,† which is neither good or bad, just something your doc may want to keep in mind when reading your labs.  Also, hopefully your new doc in Northern Cali will know what the hell test to order for ya.  Sheesh! 

You also asked if I have cirrhosis.  Well ... as of my last biopsy, it showed minimal bridging fibrosis, but no cirrhosis.  That was in 2000, so I don’t know what the hell it’s doing now.  But I don’t see a huge need to focus on it too much ... ya know?  I believe my attitude is what helps to keep me going.   ... but that’s just me.  ‘Course ... on the days that I feel like crap, that don’t work so well.  Ah well ... six of one, half dozen of the other – eh?

Well, take’r easy, Crystal.  I hope they don’t find “the dreaded ‘C’” either.  Good luck!

*  Lysosomal chelatiable iron contributes to radical formation and oxidative killing of cultured mouse
      hepatocytes: a two-hit hypothesis.  akira uxhiyama, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel
      Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Poster presentation. 2005 AASLD.

†  Traub S., Pharm.D. Basic Skills in Interpreting Laboratory Data, 2^nd ed. American Society of Health-
      System Pharmacists, 1996.

Q.

"is hep c reconized as a disiablty by social security"

A.

Yep.  But from what I hear from those who’ve applied and/or gotten it,  it’s a long & arduous process.  Good luck!

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