I am worried about Hep and AIDS, I got tested a few months back but have had unprotected sex and shared needles with one girl.

My eyes are very dark, this has been true throughout my life but recently people are asking me"whats wrong with your eyes?" and Its freaking me out. Is this a Hepatitus symptom?

Also wanted to know how bad using IV is for your liver, using alot like 400 mgs a day Oxycodone.

"And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had"
www.myspace.com/kawi1000

__________________
\"And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I\'m dying
Are the best I\'ve ever had\"
www.myspace.com/kawi1000

LS,

You should see a doc and have liver function & HIV tests. Your ongoing IV use puts you in a very high risk category. BTW - Any IV drug use is potentially harmful to the liver.


freak

Sleeves, sorry I didn't see your post earlier. Here is a link, kind of old and not kept up real well, but a dr.'s link nonetheless and the info really doesn't change for symptoms, just some of the treatments avaliable.

http://www.metrohepgi.com/faq_treatment1.html

Think of it like this. Your liver is the filter for everything you put in your body. With hep your skin and the whites of your eyes can take on a yellow appearance, called jaundice.

Listen up Sleeves, I am going to tell you a short story..
When I was around 21-22, for one short year of my life I IV'd cocaine with my ex husband. I THOUGHT we would always be clean and use new works, but there always comes a time in the middle of the night when you run out of clean works and nobody is going out geeking and jonesin to get needles. It happens.

One day I wised up and left. 20 yrs. later some dr. is telling me I have hepatitis.[:0]

Maybe one day I will tell you what happened to my ex.

Whatever you do, please don't ever share a needle with anyone again. And always use a condom.

Hopefully, one day, we can get you to think about changing that name b/c it won't apply anymore.

It just reminds me of how I used to actually go out and buy 3/4 sleeve blouses for work when I knew I would be using the night before. Sick, huh??

I was tested 4 hep c 4 times before they said it came back positive the only syptom i had was severe pain in the abdomon. Unfortunately I shared needles with someone I later found out had hep c and new at the time. I was scared outta my mind till my hiv test came back ok but still my life is changed forever. The saddest thing is that still didn't stop my from shooting. OC's r bad 4 your liver alot of meds r metabolized through there. Starting to get clean I see all the stupidity but what a hard lesson 2 learn.

www.myspace.com/wgogan

I am getting a liver biopsy on top of full blood work, is that what you got? I have read up on it a little bit it seems you must change your lifestyle for the better unless you want to die quick, maybe its what I need?

Yea I know shooting up is bad on the liver, I stop caring about 3 seconds after I depress the plunger though, you know how it is....

"And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had"
www.myspace.com/kawi1000

when i entered rehab for the first time...i was told that I had hepatitis, and if I had kept shooting dope for another month, I would have died...that's how sick my liver was. i had no idea.

30 days later, when i left rehab...they did another series of tests on my liver...it was in perfect health, after just 30 days. its amazing how the body can heal itself.

then, 15 years later, I'm pregnant with my first child. the doc says that i've tested positive for Hep C antibodies, which means that I was exposed to it...but, my body successfully fought it off.

anyway...sleeves, you're a young guy. you know the dangers, you know the risks. your body can regenerate and heal itself....if you stop using. the older you get, the harder it is to recouperate.

Janice

Sleeves,
I never had a liver biopsy I would definately ask questions about the reasoning 4 that. I m pretty sure u can get Hep C results with just bloodwork, maybe something else is going on with ur liver. Good luck,& stay safe!

I don't wanna live my life jaded, waiting to wake up one day and find that I let all these years go by wasted!
www.myspace.com/wgogan

I was told it is the absolute way to find out, but I am far from an expert on the subject.

"And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had"
www.myspace.com/kawi1000

Strange I was tested by a blood test than I was checked by my viral load which at 1 point was 4 million than the last 1 was only 740![8D]I thought I won, but it still isn't gone.[xx(]

I don't wanna live my life jaded, waiting to wake up one day and find that I let all these years go by wasted!
www.myspace.com/wgogan

LS, you don't need a liver biopsy to find out if you have Hep C, a blood test will take care of that. However, if you do have it, a liver biopsy is the best way to find out how much liver damage and thus disease progression that you have.

Knicker, if you have a positive HCV antibody test, then you may actually have active disease. The only way to tell if you have successfully fought it off is to get a PCR test that measures the level of the virus in your blood. It's called Heptimax. If it is negative or "undetectable" and your liver enzymes (ALT and AST) are normal then you are in good shape. If not, then you should see a liver specialist to discuss your options.

As always, it is best to seek the advice of a QUALIFIED physician about these things. One who specializes in liver disease and is aware of current research and treatment options.

Best of luck to both of you. Hep C is not a death sentence so do not over-react! Most people live a long life and die of something else!

Ashley

PS to Staystrong...you have the best chance of successful treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin if you start when your viral count is low. Now is the time to consider that! 740 is very low. But of course, as always, I'm not a doctor so check with your liver specialist. But seriously, 740 is good! That's good news.

Ashley -
my doc did do more tests on my liver after the antibodies were detected....and, they came out fine....no active disease.

thanks for the heads up.

Janice

Ashely,
where did u here about that combo my doc & I didn't talk much he just said if my body doesn't fight it off then I will need 2 do interferon if I want to fight it.

I don't wanna live my life jaded, waiting to wake up one day and find that I let all these years go by wasted!
www.myspace.com/wgogan