Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: londonguy75 on July 05, 2016, 08:41:42 am
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Hello all, I've been quite unwell the last month with symptoms that started one week after exposure. Do these sound at all like the early symptoms of hep c?
Week 1 started with what felt like a head cold, sore throat runny nose. I also started developing pains in my right leg which have persisted for and are similar to pains I would have after exercising (but I haven't)
Week 3 my throat got very tight and I had what felt almost like an ear infection along with more fatigue.
Week 5 I then started to feel generally unwell and tired and developed stomach aches.
Also since week 1 I have noticed pains in my upper right back when passing faeces just below the rib cage.
I know most people don't get symptoms during the acute phase, bit it would be interesting to hear how this felt for those that did.
I haven't had a fever.
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Early Warning Signs
In most cases, there are no early warning signs. Most people are symptom-free and remain unaware of the infection for a long time. Others experience mild symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, which clear up on their own. About 15 to 20 percent of people infected with hepatitis C fight it off without treatment and suffer no long-term damage to their health.
Acute Phase
The first six months following infection is the acute phase of the disease. Early symptoms may include fatigue, loss of appetite, or mild yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). In most cases, symptoms clear up within a few weeks. If your immune system doesn’t resolve the problem on its own, it enters the chronic phase. Because of the lack of symptoms, chronic hepatitis C can go unnoticed for years. It’s often discovered during a blood test that’s being done for other reasons.
Chronic Phase
Most people who’ve been infected will progress to the chronic phase. However, even in the chronic phase, it may take years for symptoms to show. Progression begins with inflammation of the liver, followed by the death of liver cells. This causes scarring and hardening (cirrhosis) of liver tissue.
To answer your specific questions:
Week 1 started with what felt like a head cold, sore throat runny nose. I also started developing pains in my right leg which have persisted for and are similar to pains I would have after exercising (but I haven't)
This is not a symptom of hepatitis c. Did you have a cold that is the more likely explanation.
Week 3 my throat got very tight and I had what felt almost like an ear infection along with more fatigue.
This is not a symptom of hepatitis c. Possibly further symptoms of your cold maybe you did have an ear infection did you see a doctor?
Week 5 I then started to feel generally unwell and tired and developed stomach aches.
This could be anything possibly a symptom but doubtful.
Also since week 1 I have noticed pains in my upper right back when passing faeces just below the rib cage.
This is not a symptom of hepatitis c. It could be perhaps a bowel obstruction or gas? Possibly from constipation?
Have you discussed any of your symptoms with a doctor? You would likely have a better chance of diagnosing if you have a problem and finding relieve from your symptoms if you saw your doctor.
As Lucinda remarked to your original post about the possibility of your being infected:
"your hep C risk from that activity is quite low. First, you don't know if anyone you snorted with has hep C. Second, even if they did, your risk is quite low."
I personally don't think you have hep c. Wait the 6 months and get tested if it will ease your mind. But not much reason to worry about the low chance of contracting an illness that is now very curable.
Is it possible you have some anxiety issues? If you do that can be treated and you hopefully can stop worrying about things that likely won't happen to you.
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
– Leo F. Buscaglia
Best of luck to you.
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Thanks Lynn,
I really do appreciate the time you took to respond. Yes I do sometimes have problems with anxiety. Usually I can keep it under control, but clearly not at the moment.