He was told about 3 years ago that he had hep C, chirrosis and he is a chronic alcoholic. Dr told him to quit or he would die. He has tried and failed several times ( I know he’s not trying hard enough…. ) . I just want to know what to expect. He is tired all the time, has headaches, and is depressed - Is this part of it? Also I have heard that mood swings are common to this, is that true? I posted a similar question earlier but felt I needed to clarify…. I appriciate any info I can get! Thanks!
I appriciate the replies but I am looking for real answers not opinions on the relationship….. we have been together for many years, it’s not something simple to walk away from…..
Hepatitis C is the inflammation of the liver cells
caused by a virus. Cirrhosis is death of the
liver cells. His disease can be brought on by
the Hep C or his drinking problem. Trying to
quit drinking on his own is extremely difficult.
He needs to go into a detox program at a
hospital in order to do this. The symptoms
he has from trying to stop drinking may be
too much to handle…they can give him drugs
to lessen these symptoms and help him get
through it much better. The symptoms that you
stated are normal. You have to realize that
he is now facing death straight on and he has
to make decisions on what he can do now.
Depression is normal now, because of having
to live with all these hurdles to go over to
save his life. Waking up everyday knowing
that you may die is very hard.
Liver patients are usually in shock when they
first hear they have a terrible disease like this.
The first reaction is unbelief…then it moves
where they try to do something to help
themselves, if it is possible…it leads from
there to either coming to terms with the
disease and trying to fight it or just giving up.
They need alot of support and understanding
at this time. They get mad and they feel
helpless and they feel like someone cheated
them or played a dirty trick on them or they
feel like saying "why me". Others people drink and they don’t have this. Cirrhosis can be caused by many different things.
Your boyfriend doesn’t have a rosey future and
he knows that. He also knows that if he wants
to spend time with the people he loves he has
to do it now. I’m going to explain a few things
to you. Once there is death of the liver
cells it forms scar tissue in the liver…this blocks
the other normal healthy cells from receiving
nourishment and oxygen and causes them to
die also. This is a progressing disease and
the only real option he has now, if he has
cirrhosis, is being evaluated and placed on the
transplant list for an organ. But, first he has
to overcome his addiction of alcohol which
he needs to get care in order to do. A
person has to be free of alcohol for at least
six months before he can be placed on the
list for transplantation.
There are symptoms that may start to develop
with this disease that he may or may not
show signs of. Some of them are listed in
this short article.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003895.htm
If he wants to stay with his loved ones longer,
than he needs to stop drinking now. He is
causing his liver much more damage faster
and it will lead to a much much earlier death.
Having others around him who truly care about
him, will make whatever course he decides on
alot easier on him. You cannot make decisions
for him, but you can be there to support him
with all he does. Best Wishes
December 17th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
you can be sure that he will keep drinking!
you can also be sure that he will likely die sooner than later if he doesn’t stop!
you can also be sure that you will get sick!
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Avoid him like the plague!! Hepatitis C can be more dangerous than HIV, HBV and HSV put together. And its potentially sexually transmitted. Look out for another boy friend.
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
physical pain, lots of it, infections, jaundice, inability to get up or do anything, death. and you are exposing yourself to this???? you are nuts.
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
try God. there are different levels of hep c. 1-6 stages i think.. he has to quit drinking…. if not he will die
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I am an expert on this because I had Hep C. I just finished a six month treatment program of needles and drugs. Luckily all my tests say I am cured. In your bf;s case the prognosis is very bad. Anybody I know with Hep C that did any drinking at all, even moderately are all dead. The symptons you speak of are all normal from the liver dysfunction and usually tend to only get worse. I am sorry to have to tell you this but than the doctor has already done that, hasn.t he? You can last a long time with hep C if you look after yourself but if the man drinks he obviously isn’t doing that. Feel free to email me if you want to know more detail. I suffered quite a bit with it, especially mentally.
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Hepatitis C is the inflammation of the liver cells
caused by a virus. Cirrhosis is death of the
liver cells. His disease can be brought on by
the Hep C or his drinking problem. Trying to
quit drinking on his own is extremely difficult.
He needs to go into a detox program at a
hospital in order to do this. The symptoms
he has from trying to stop drinking may be
too much to handle…they can give him drugs
to lessen these symptoms and help him get
through it much better. The symptoms that you
stated are normal. You have to realize that
he is now facing death straight on and he has
to make decisions on what he can do now.
Depression is normal now, because of having
to live with all these hurdles to go over to
save his life. Waking up everyday knowing
that you may die is very hard.
Liver patients are usually in shock when they
first hear they have a terrible disease like this.
The first reaction is unbelief…then it moves
where they try to do something to help
themselves, if it is possible…it leads from
there to either coming to terms with the
disease and trying to fight it or just giving up.
They need alot of support and understanding
at this time. They get mad and they feel
helpless and they feel like someone cheated
them or played a dirty trick on them or they
feel like saying "why me". Others people drink and they don’t have this. Cirrhosis can be caused by many different things.
Your boyfriend doesn’t have a rosey future and
he knows that. He also knows that if he wants
to spend time with the people he loves he has
to do it now. I’m going to explain a few things
to you. Once there is death of the liver
cells it forms scar tissue in the liver…this blocks
the other normal healthy cells from receiving
nourishment and oxygen and causes them to
die also. This is a progressing disease and
the only real option he has now, if he has
cirrhosis, is being evaluated and placed on the
transplant list for an organ. But, first he has
to overcome his addiction of alcohol which
he needs to get care in order to do. A
person has to be free of alcohol for at least
six months before he can be placed on the
list for transplantation.
There are symptoms that may start to develop
with this disease that he may or may not
show signs of. Some of them are listed in
this short article.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003895.htm
If he wants to stay with his loved ones longer,
than he needs to stop drinking now. He is
causing his liver much more damage faster
and it will lead to a much much earlier death.
Having others around him who truly care about
him, will make whatever course he decides on
alot easier on him. You cannot make decisions
for him, but you can be there to support him
with all he does. Best Wishes
References :