DEALING WITH HEPATITIS C
In 1992 I was refused as a blood donor, because of an elevated liver enzyme and it was determined that I had chronic persistent hepatitis (non A non B) after a liver biopsy was performed and blood tests showed my liver functions were very high. They decided to just keep a close watch on my liver functions with regular blood tests.
In 1998 I asked my new primary care doctor about the chronic persistent hepatitis. After blood tests confirmed that the liver functions were very high, I was referred to a Gastroenterologist at the VA Hospital. My first visit to him, a blood test was done to determine if I had Hep C. This was a test that they just came out with.
My blood test showed that I did in fact have chronic Hepatitis C. Treatment for this disease was just becoming available and I started an Interferon monotherapy in 1998 and had a real tough time dealing with the chemotherapy medicines and the very severe side effects. This was a three times a week injections and kept me very sick most of the week. I had to stop the treatment several times because of chronic anemia and substantial weigh loss. I never did respond to this therapy and decided to wait on something new and hopefully better to came along.
A year later, a new combination therapy was made available. This was three injections a week and combined with Ribavirin antiviral capsules (6) 200 mg daily. Again I had to stop this because of chronic anemia and weight loss. I tried this treatment two times before having to call it quits and again the medicines did not put the Hep C into remission for me.
In all since 1998, I've had five liver biopsies, and in September this year started my fourth round of chemotherapy treatments. Two years ago, I did the Peg Intron treatment regimen and was able to tolerate it for eight months, the longest ever before going chronic anemic. My body doesn't tolerate the treatments well at all and make me very sick. I'm currently taking Roche Pharmaceutical's Pegasys and keep hoping this might be the one that works for me to put the Hep C into remission. Right now this is the only new treatment available.
My liver over the years is slowly deteriorating from the Hep C. It's come from slight fibrosis to moderate fibrosis. Most recently my liver is at the necrosis stage and beginning stages of cirrhosis. My greatest concerns are that I'll need a liver transplant eventually or that the cirrhosis will turn into cancer of the liver. The longer you have this disease the better your chances for developing cancer of the liver.
I've most likely had this disease since my transfusions in 1968. I keep holding out hope for a cure, or one of these treatments to work for me. Right now I'm running out of time and treatment options. I keep trying to tolerate the treatments, hoping one might work. If my viral load doesn't go negative by six months into this 48 week regimen, it most likely will not and we'll stop treatments at that time. My viral load before starting treatment was the highest ever at 3 million. It had been as high as 13 million after stopping treatment.
I now am dealing with another condition (Porphyria Cutanea Tarda) which is caused by the Hep C and also could be caused by Agent Orange exposure. It's a never ending battle and the effects of Vietnam never go away.