Newbie: Weird Symptoms

[Scooter]

I was diagnosed about three years ago with Hep C 1a.  Biopsy determined I already had cirrohsis. Went through  trials for a new flavor of peg-interferon, but relapsed right after treatment.

I'm about to run out of insurance if I don't score a regular job soon, so getting more treatment  doesn't seem likely any time soon.

The symptoms of HepC listed seem rather general, and non-lethal for a deadly disease. I've had some weird symptoms, so I'll run them by yall.

1. My pee is darker than ice tea and smells so bad I have to hold my breath. That symptom is listed, so I assume it's HepC related. 

2. General lack of energy, sleep too much. Could be my age (59) or the disease.

3. My skin is getting dark, like a tan, but I'm not out in the sun....it's sort of orangish like John Boehner, however my eyes are not yellow. My skin is also problematic especially on my arms and hands. I keep getting blisters that seem to be correlated to sweating-- I live in Houston so that's a lot. I try to keep them lanced,  otherwise they just tear off like paper when you bump them, and I get nasty scabs that take weeks to heal.  Also, just slight bumps and abrasions easily tear my skin off, with the same result. I'm a blue collar worker so this is not good.
Also noticed the easy-bruising problem.

4. I'm more spaced out than usual, forget what I'm doing, what day it is, people's names, car keys, etc. Again, that could be age and a long history of hard living.

I've lost two friends to this disease in the past year, so I'm very curious: how do you know when this thing is actually killing you? What do you die from? What are the primary complications, other than cancer?

Thanks

[lporterrn]

Scooter - these symptoms may be indications of progression of cirrhosis. See your doctor ASAP. If you have not been referred to a liver specialist, you should be. I am particularly concerned about the mental confusion, which may be hepatic encephalopathy, a dangerous condition which is treatable. Here is basic info: http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2509_18769.shtml   

[Scooter]

I have an appointment this month at St Lukes liver center in Houston. I only go twice a year and this stuff has been pretty recent.

Thanks

[rainbowray]

The new treatments are better, I think you should ask them. If they say not now, insist on a bonified reason. The sooner you rid the virus, the sooner your liver can recover. Keep in mind , most cirrhosis will not heal up, but all the other fibrosis will if the virus is eradicated.  My opinion is from 43 years of me and associates having to deal with hepc, and I think you need treatment with a sovaldi combo as soon as possible.

[Scooter]

Thanks, Rainbowray.

I'm just getting up to speed on the new drugs now. I thought I was going to get called back for another trial but it's been well over a year. It will take me several months of paperwork to work out a reduced payment, and it looks like everything is going to be different in two months (with the drugs). My insurance runs out next month so I'll be a total charity case.

Maybe I should move to Egypt, they are getting a 99% discount on Sovaldi.

[willie g]

hang in there partner ,dam , I wish I had an answer for ya, im geno 1 and half way thru,, ill be praying for you as soon as I post this,, willie g