Hello

[Sharona68]

What's going on?

Eventually got a fibroscan on Monday 11/4/22 after badgering my doc as I have just cleared hep c but no follow up. Just a telephone call to say I was clear. This is, of course, brilliant news. However I have been carrying the virus for 35 years. I am 53 now and have symptoms related to the liver. Biggest one being fatigue......I hate having to curb living because I'm too bloody exhausted for it. Been bringing up blood for a few months a couple of months back. Nothing shocking to the professionals but bloody shocking to me. No one read my notes and so sent me off for loads of testing, ie....lungs.....stomach etc untill I mentioned my liver might be playing up. Reluctantly sent for a fibro scan and lo and behold I'm at f3-4 ( nurse wasn't too sure). I'm so angry and .....you guessed it exhausted. Anyways thanx for listening to me moan. Stay safe and have a great Easter. XxxX

[AyrshireK]

Hi Sharon, you should be under the care of a hepatologist or at least a gastro enterologist. Having had untreated Hep C for so long it would be amazing if you didn't have some sort of liver damage. Now that you have cleared it (especially if you have had some of the newer treatments) then you still need to have regular scans to check your liver - liver damage and some of the treatments carry a slightly increased risk of liver changes/cancers so this needs to be monitored 6 monthly

When you say you were bringing up blood - did you have an endoscopy to see where it was coming from? i.e. did you potentially have a bleed from varices.

It sounds to me like your long carriage of Hep C has indeed damaged your liver and you need your F3-F4 (cirrhosis) diagnosis clarified and proper monitoring put in place.

If you arn't under a hospital specialist seek referral NOW. Energy levels can be increased by exercise and proper liver diet (depending on stage of your disease). Once you see a specialist & confirmed diagnosis seek referral to a liver specialist dietician too.

Katie

[Sharona68 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanx Katie. I was meant to have an endoscope but had signs of covid so had to cancel. Hopefully the docs will put 2 and 2 together. If not I'll push them in the right direction. Am waiting for my appointment with the heptology dept now. Thank you so much for commenting....means a lot tbh. X tc .......Sharon

[Crewea77 in reply to Sharona68]

Hi Sharon,

As Katie stated you should be under the care of a consultant and specialist nurse.

I cleared Hep C in August 2021 and like you had been carrying it for 30 + years. Unfortunately I now have cirrhosis due to the Hep C infection.

Currently I have six monthly fibro scans, ultra scans and blood tests. I also have regular consultations with my consultant and nurse.

Regarding the fatigue it does improve but takes time. And as Katie stated diet and exercise are key to improving in this area and no alcohol.

Welcome back from the darkness of long term Hep C infection. Life begins again.

XXX