Hep C complication-nail fungus, alopecia

[DeathtoHep]

During the last two years Ive really noticed a lot going on with my health. Heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue etc. that can all be corrected with diet or curing of Hep C. There are two other symptoms that no one has been able to understand and was hoping someone here has some experience and can share on this topic. The two symptoms are Alopecia Areata and nail fungus. Both cosmetic and not considered serious. But I can definitely do without them.

I have done some searching on the internet and these forums. I have also seen a dermatologist, done laser nail therapy and talked to my hepatologist about these issues but no one has given me an answer to what is causing them. Yes alopecia is an autoimmune disease and we dont know what causes this but there may be a correlation between alopecia and hep c. Every site i visit and doctor I talk to has their own opinion saying either yes there is evidence linking the two or no its genetic etc. There is also a book called The China Study that talks about diet and autoimmune diseases which was by far the best evidence as to the prevention and cause of these diseases. But considering all the information out there I would rather trust someone who actually lives with Hep C to give their opinion.

Worse than hair falling out of my beard is watching my fingernails being eaten away by a fungus. I have used many topicals on this with no effect. I have paid hundreds in laser therapy which is supposed to be the fastest and most effective treatment out there. After a follow up months later, my doctor was surprised that the treatment had no effect.

My overall feeling is that my immune system is taxed from Hep C and as a result im literally falling apart. I just turned 30 and I get that some things happen as we get older but I have heard from doctors that at my age its rare to have so many things go wrong and to have the treatments not work makes me feel helpless. I am on Viekira Pak and yes there is a high chance I will get better. This is more just me being curious and forming my own opinion since you can only rely on doctors for so much and some are damn near negligent to anything you say to them. The government is worse and the scientific community doesnt accept new theories easily and disregards obvious evidence that should be made public. We need  to be proactive and push as hard as we can for a solution not just for these specific issues but for our health in general.

Anyway, leave a post if you have an opinion or want to generate ideas.

[byebyeC]

Hey there Deathtohep

You should still be under your factory warranty, at your age, for Heaven's sake!

I think your theory in your last paragraph is likely spot on. People have varying length of time from infection to onset of symptoms. This is a terrible assault on our immune systems and there're so many extra-hepatic issues. Links are being discovered as we speak as more people are treated and/or are going through the current clinical trials. Knowledge is exploding real time... For all of us, regardless of being in or out of warranty , are going to have to go through some serious healing and physical regeneration post tx. We'll have to be extra patient with all of our symptoms taking their own particular time leaving the building... The liver regenerates (minus cirrhotic tissue) every 4 months. Then there're the other organs, vessels, systems in our bodies that will need to heal. Then we'll be left with anything non hep c related to deal with.

Hang in there. Try not to worry about anything you can't do anything about. (I know, easier said...) Be as patient as you can with the potentially drawn out recovery process and time. Be good to yourself. Keep coming here, where people truly know how you feel...

bye

[beto]

Very sorry deathtohep,

Sounds challenging.  All I can say is, there are a myriad of piggyback symptoms and illnesses that come with hep-C.  I have personally observed that for a lot of folks, many have observed them reversing after cure.  I can't even begin to name the annoying and often scary  co-illnesses and dysfunctions that have been ushered in with this doggone virus.  Anyway, you may find that cure brings improvement of the other stuff. Pulling for ya...

good luck my friend

[lporterrn]

People with hep C have an increased incidence of autoimmune conditions. An oversimplified explanation is this is likely due to the fact that the immune system is in overdrive in order to fight hep C. Research show that autoimmune conditions that are caused by hep C will usually go away when hep C is cured. However, if hep C wasn't the cause of these problems, then curing hep C likely won't change things.

[Viperwitch]

You are not alone !! Now I too know I'm not alone with the same issue. I'm a non responder had a blood exposure while working as an EMT in Boston MA. 1987 got blood on my hand, sans gloves( private ambulance co.s were last to get gloves). 3 mos later I was sicker than I'd ever exp. in my life. Pain and the fact I was the color of Gouldings spicy brown mustard with funky yellow eyes. Sounds like I'm describing a monster you'd run from.
Hep nonA/nonB was the 1st dx. Doctors said I had beat it. 8 months later I signed off on my Workers Compensation case. Big mistake cause I got re diagnosed in 1990 and surprise Hcv 1a.  I've been to DC. 5 times lobbying for $ for research. After the horror show that was alpha interferon traumatized so I was told to wait for another drug to come along. 27 years later a possible cure. Awesome!!!  I'm on day 13 of Harvoni treatment so far so good. K nice to meet you all. I sure hope the secondary issues caused by HCV disappear.

[beto]

You've got this viper witch and you are definitely not alone.  Some people don't get that sick during the acute phase, however, I got slammed and hospitalized.  Same deal with me and so many others.  20 years non a non b then 20 years of C a-1. Big bite out of a lifetime.