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URL: http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/vahep?page=diag-all-print&pp=pf | | | Your Next Steps | | Finding out that you have hepatitis C can be scary and overwhelming. If you feel overwhelmed, try to remember that you can get help and that these feelings will get better with time. There are some things that you should know about hepatitis C that may ease some of the stress or confusion you are feeling. Remember:- Hepatitis C does not mean bad health problems or death. Over half of people with hepatitis C will never have any health problems from it.
- Learning how to live with hepatitis C and getting in touch with a health care team that knows how to manage it will help you to feel better and get on with your life.
- You are not alone. Probably between 3 and 5 million people are living with hepatitis C in the United States.
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| Understand your diagnosis | | When your doctor tells you that you have hepatitis C, it means that you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (or HCV, for short). You probably got hepatitis C by coming in contact with the blood of another person who is infected. Some of the ways this might have happened include the following: - You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1991.
- You shared needles or works to inject drugs, even if it was only once or many years ago.
- You were on long-term kidney dialysis.
- You were a health care worker and had contact with blood on the job.
- Your mother had hepatitis C when she gave birth to you.
- You have had many sexual partners.
- You have had tattoos and body piercings.
Don't waste too much time and energy trying to figure out how you got infected, or blaming someone or something that happened in the past. It is important that now you focus your energy on dealing with the infection and working with your VA doctor to get better. | Learn about hepatitis C | | Your first step is to learn about the disease and how it can affect your life. The more you know about hepatitis C, the less confused and anxious you will be about your diagnosis. The more you learn, the better you will be at making decisions about your health. Here are some ways to start: - Read through the topics in Understanding the Liver (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/basics-09-00)
and Hepatitis C Basics (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/basics-01-00)
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- Check out government or nonprofit educational organizations that deal with hepatitis C issues.
You can find a list of them on the Resources page at the end of this section.
- Use your local library. The most current information will be in the library's collection of newspapers and magazines (books about hepatitis C may be out of date by the time they are published).
- Check with your local VA medical center to see if there is an on-site library where you can find patient materials on hepatitis C.
- Talk with others who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C. Ask your doctors if they know of any support groups. Or you can go online, where you can find message boards and chat rooms. Always discuss what you learn from these sources with your doctor. The information may not be accurate, and even if it is, it may not be right for your particular situation.
- See the section on Daily Living (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/daily-00-00)
to learn about special diet and nutrition suggestions, complementary therapies, emotional health, and other topics.
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| Adopt a healthy lifestyle | | The symptoms of hepatitis C infection are mild, but over time, the virus can damage your liver. You can help prevent this damage from becoming serious by following your doctor's advice and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Here are some important tips to keep your liver healthy: - Do not drink alcohol or take recreational drugs. Alcohol and recreational drugs are hard on your liver even when you are healthy. If you need help to stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs, talk with your VA doctor.
- Avoid taking medicines, supplements, and natural or herbal remedies that might cause even more damage to your liver. Although Tylenol is safe in low doses, many pain relievers can cause liver problems in some very sensitive people. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any natural or herbal remedy, supplement, prescription, or over-the-counter medicine.
- Be sure to get plenty of rest, follow a healthy diet, and get moderate exercise. Ask your VA doctor for suggestions about what types of food would be good for you and what forms of exercise would be appropriate.
More information is available in the Diet and Nutrition section (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/diet-00-00)
under Daily Living.
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| Protect others | | If you have hepatitis C, you can give the virus to other people. This is true even if you are feeling perfectly fine. To protect others from getting hepatitis C, follow these rules: - Do not donate blood, body organs, tissues, or sperm.
- Do not let anyone else use your razor, toothbrush, or other personal care items.
- Cover open cuts or sores on your skin with a bandage until they have healed.
- Don't inject drugs. If you are currently injecting drugs, talk with your VA doctor about trying to stop. If you can't stop, don't ever share your needles or works with anyone else.
- Practice safer sex. Use a latex barrier, such as a condom (or rubber) every time you have sex. Using condoms also reduces your chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
Following the above suggestions also can help protect you from other diseases, such as HIV or AIDS and hepatitis B. Talk with your doctor if you would like more information about these conditions. |
| Understand long-term effects | | More than half of people with hepatitis C will never have any health problems from it. The disease generally progresses slowly, over the course of 10 to 40 years. Here is a snapshot of the long-term effects of hepatitis C. Out of 100 people who get hepatitis C: - 15 will get rid of the virus without any treatment
- 85 will develop a chronic infection
Of those 85 who have a chronic infection: - About 17 will develop liver cirrhosis in their lifetime
- About 2 will develop liver cancer
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| Liver complications | | Anything that damages the liver over many years causes the liver to form scar tissue. Fibrosis is the medical term for liver scarring. When scar tissue builds up and takes over most of the liver, this is a more serious problem called cirrhosis (pronounced "sir-o-sis"). Scar tissue cannot perform any of the jobs of normal liver cells, and this causes a person with cirrhosis to slowly become ill. There is no way of predicting who is going to get cirrhosis. Cirrhosis does not happen overnight. Many people who have cirrhosis for 5 to 10 years or more do not show clear signs of illness. However, having the hepatitis C virus for a long time (such as 20 to 30 years) increases your risk of having cirrhosis. Over time, cirrhosis can progress. Symptoms that can develop include fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly, fluid in the abdomen, bleeding in the intestines, and poor blood clotting. It is not clear who will develop serious liver disease from hepatitis C, but how you take care of yourself and your liver plays an important role in how slowly (or how quickly) hepatitis C progresses. You can help keep your liver healthy by eating well, losing weight if you are overweight, and avoiding substances that can harm your liver, such as alcohol and illegal drugs. To learn more about these problems, read the topics under Liver Complications. (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/comp-00-00)
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| Telling others and finding support | | Finding support means finding people who are willing to help you through the emotional and physical issues you are going to face. If you let the right people in your life know that you have hepatitis C, they can: - offer you support and understanding
- provide you with assistance, such as running errands, helping with child care, or going with you to doctor visits
- learn from you how hepatitis C is spread and work with you to prevent the virus from spreading
| Telling others | | Deciding to tell others that you have hepatitis C is an important personal choice. If you decide to share your diagnosis, it is best to tell people you trust and people who are directly affected, including: - sex partner(s)
- past or present needle-sharing partners
- roommates or family members
- people whom you spend a lot of time with, such as good friends
Of course, you also should inform all of your health care providers, such as your doctors, nurses, and dentists. | What you should tell others | | You may want to begin with when and how you found out that you have hepatitis C. You may want to give information on how the virus is spread and how the virus is not spread. Explain that hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact. Tell them that hepatitis C is not spread through casual contact, such as hugging or shaking hands. |
| When you should tell others | | Many people share their diagnosis as soon as they find out. Others wait for some time to adjust to the news and to learn more about hepatitis C. You should share your diagnosis as soon as possible with people who may be directly affected by your diagnosis, such as sex partners and needle-sharing partners. It is important that they know so that they can decide whether to get tested. If you need help telling people that they may have been exposed to hepatitis C, most city or county health departments will tell them for you, without using your name. Ask your doctor about this service. Before telling your partner that you have hepatitis C, take some time alone to think about how you want to bring up the subject. - Decide when and where would be the best time and place to have a conversation. Choose a time when you expect that you will both be comfortable, rested, and as relaxed as possible.
- Think about how your partner may react to stressful situations. If there is a history of violence in your relationship, consider your safety first and plan the situation carefully.
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| Join a support group | | Some VA medical centers have a support group for veterans with hepatitis C. You may want to ask your provider if your center has one that you can join for support and for more information about living with hepatitis C. Joining a group of people who are facing the same challenges you are facing can have important benefits. These benefits include feeling better about yourself, making new friends, improving your mood, and better understanding your needs and those of your family. People in support groups often help each other deal with common experiences associated with having hepatitis C. Support groups are especially helpful if you live alone or don't have family and friends nearby. There are different types of support groups, from hotlines to face-to-face encounter groups. Here are descriptions of some of the most popular types, and suggestions about how to find them. - Hotlines
Find a hotline in your area by talking to a VA social worker in your hospital. Or look in the telephone book, in the yellow pages under "Social Service Organizations." Ask the hotline to "match" you with another person with a history like yours. He or she can give you practical advice and emotional support over the telephone. - Professional help
Veterans with hepatitis C can get referrals to mental health professionals, such as psychologists, nurse therapists, clinical social workers, or psychiatrists. You will likely have a social worker who is part of the hepatitis C clinic where you will receive care. You can also get help for drug abuse. - Self-help organizations
Self-help groups enable people to share experiences and pool their knowledge to help one another and themselves. They are run by members, not by professionals (although professionals sometimes are involved). Because members face similar challenges, they feel an instant sense of community. These groups are volunteer, nonprofit organizations, with no fees (although sometimes there are small dues).
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| Move forward with your life | | Life does not end with a diagnosis of hepatitis C. In fact, with certain lifestyle changes and proper treatment, hepatitis C can be a mild health problem, like high blood pressure. Taking care of your overall health can help you deal with hepatitis C. Here are some things to remember: - Get regular medical and dental checkups.
- Follow your doctor's advice.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid smoking and recreational drug use.
- Limit alcohol intake.
- Practice safer sex.
For more information on a healthy lifestyle, read the chapters in the Living with Hepatitis C (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/daily-00-00)
section.
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| Working with your doctor | | Hepatitis C, if left untreated, can lead to serious illness and at times even death. This is why it is so important to get medical care if you find out you have hepatitis C. Your doctor will need to determine how hepatitis C is affecting your health. Soon after your diagnosis, your doctor will run tests to get estimates about your overall health. For descriptions of these tests, go to the Understanding lab tests (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/diag-tests-00)
section. Treatments for hepatitis C are not perfect, but can be very effective for many people. A doctor or other health care provider can explain the best options for you. If you work with your health care provider in planning your care, you can deal with the disease in the way that is best for you. | Before appointments | | Start with a list or notebook. Prepare for your appointment with your doctor by writing down the following: - any questions that you have
(you can print out Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your Diagnosis (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/pttyp-ques-diag)
and take it to your appointment)
- any symptoms or problems you want to tell the doctor about (include symptoms such as poor sleep, trouble concentrating, feeling tired)
- medications that you are taking (include herbs and vitamins)
- upcoming tests or new information you've heard about
- changes in your living situation, such as a job change
That way you won't forget anything during the appointment. You may want to ask a friend or family member to go with you and take notes. It can be difficult for you to take notes and pay attention to what your doctor is saying at the same time. |
| During appointments | | Go over your lab work, and keep track of your results. The Treatment Tracking Chart (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/treat-chart)
can help you keep tabs on your blood test results. If your doctor wants you to have some medical tests, make sure you understand what the tests are for and what your doctor will do with the results. If you don't understand what your doctor is saying, ask the doctor to explain it in everyday terms. If you feel your doctor has forgotten something during the appointment, it is better to ask about it than to leave wondering whether something was supposed to happen that didn't. It's your right to ask questions of your doctor. You also have a legal right to see your medical records. After all, it's your body. Be honest. Your doctor isn't there to judge you, but to help you make decisions about your health based on your particular circumstances. Tell your doctor about your sexual or drug-use history. |
| Monitor your health | | Once you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, you need to pay closer attention to your health than you did before. You can keep track of your health in two ways. First, listen to what your body is telling you, and be on the alert for signs that something isn't right. Note any change in your health--good or bad. Know when you should contact your doctor. Second, have regular lab tests done. Lab tests often can detect signs of illness before you have any noticeable symptoms. | Know when to call a doctor | | You don't need to panic every time you have a headache or feel tired. But if a symptom is concerning you or is not going away, it is always best to have your doctor check it out, even if it doesn't feel like a big deal. The earlier you see a doctor when you have unusual symptoms, the better off you are likely to be. While you are being treated for hepatitis C, call your health care provider if you: - are extremely short of breath or are dizzy
- have discomfort in your chest area
- notice changes in your vision
- have swelling in your legs, feet, or ankles
- have diarrhea for more than 48 hours, or have blood in the stool
- have a skin rash or unusual skin reaction around the injection sites
- have a fever or other sign of infection that lasts more than 48 hours
- are extremely tired (fatigued)
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| Have regular lab tests | | Your doctor will use laboratory tests to check your health. Some of these tests will be done soon after you learn you have hepatitis C. The lab tests look at several things: - how well your liver is functioning
- how much hepatitis C is in your blood
- other basic body functions (tests look at your kidneys, cholesterol, and blood cells)
For information on specific tests, go to Understanding lab tests (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/diag-tests-00)
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| Treatment options | | Treatments for hepatitis C are aimed at doing 3 things: - removing (or clearing) all the hepatitis C virus from your body
- stopping or slowing down the damage to your liver
- making you feel better
Right now, several treatments for hepatitis C have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including: - standard (short-acting) or pegylated (long-acting) interferon by itself
- standard or pegylated interferon combined with another drug called ribavirin (combination therapy)
One of the most important decisions you and your doctor will make is whether to begin drug treatment, and, if so, when to start it. Treatment does not have to start right away. The disease usually progresses slowly, over the course of 10 to 40 years. Taking interferon and ribavirin can be stressful. The treatment can cause serious side effects, such as fatigue, depression, and nausea. For some people, the best course of action is "watchful waiting," instead of starting drug treatment right away. | Watchful waiting | | Watchful waiting doesn't mean that you will be doing nothing. Instead, it means that you and your doctor will carefully monitor the progression of your hepatitis C, keeping treatment with currently available medications in mind as an option. Good candidates for watchful waiting are patients with mild liver disease or patients in whom interferon and ribavirin could be particularly dangerous. This includes patients with serious heart, lung or kidney disease, psychiatric disease, or cancer, or patients older than 75. Watchful waiting involves the following: - having liver enzyme blood tests once or twice a year
- having a liver biopsy every 3 to 5 years
- going to regular doctor appointments
- following your doctor's lifestyle recommendations, such as avoiding alcohol, to limit further damage to your liver
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| Deciding to start treatment | | In general, doctors suggest treatment if you: - have high liver enzyme levels, especially ALT levels
- have a liver biopsy that shows damage (inflammation, and particularly fibrosis)
- have not used alcohol or other drugs for at least 6 months
If you want to start treatment for hepatitis C, speak with your VA doctor. It is a good idea to talk about any concerns you have before you start treatment. You and your doctor will decide if treatment is right for you and which medicines might work. For more details on starting treatment and watchful waiting, see the Treatment Decisions (http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/treat-00-00)
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| Laboratory Tests: Overview | | Once you've been diagnosed with hepatitis C, your VA doctor probably will order a number of tests to learn about your overall health, to decide whether drug therapy is appropriate, and to learn about your body's internal functioning (including how well your liver is working).
Some tests will be done very soon after you've been diagnosed with hepatitis C, while other tests will continue to be done on a regular basis. These tests will monitor your health and help you and your doctor decide when treatment is appropriate (or, if you've already begun treatment, whether it's working).
In the following sections, you can learn about the tests, why your doctor may have ordered them, and what the results mean. Note: Normal values for laboratory tests can vary from one lab to another. Check with your doctor on the normal range for your lab tests. |
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| Tests of the Liver | | If you have hepatitis C, most likely, your doctor will check blood tests of your liver. There's a handful of liver tests and it is helpful to know what each of them means. Here, we explain common liver blood tests and how to understand your results.
| Liver Function Tests (LFTs) | | | | | The phrase "liver function tests" or "LFTs" is commonly used by patients and physicians. Many patients and physicians use the term to describe the AST and ALT. However, this is not correct--the AST and ALT do not measure the function of the liver.
The true function of the liver is actually best measured by the PT, INR and albumin. Therefore, if you are getting a PT, INR or albumin, these tests can determine how the liver is "functioning."
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| AST (SGOT) | | | | | AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is 1 of the 2 "liver enzymes." It is also known as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. AST is a protein made by liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, AST leaks out into the bloodstream and the level of AST in the blood becomes higher than normal. AST is different from ALT because AST is found in parts of the body other than the liver--including the heart, kidneys, muscles, and brain. When cells in any of those parts of the body are damaged, AST can be elevated.
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| Explanation of test results: | | A high AST level often means there is some liver damage, but it is not necessarily caused by hepatitis C. A high AST with a normal ALT may mean that the AST is coming from a different part of the body. It is important to realize that the AST level in most patients with hepatitis C goes up and down. The exact AST level does not tell you how much liver damage there is, or whether the liver is getting better or worse, and small changes should be expected. However, for patients receiving treatment for hepatitis C, it is helpful to see if the AST level goes down.
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| Other things to know: | | - The AST level is not as helpful as the ALT level for checking the liver.
- Many patients with hepatitis C will have a normal AST level.
- Patients can have very severe liver disease or cirrhosis and still have a normal AST level.
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| Tests of Hepatitis C | | If you have hepatitis C virus, you are likely to have a doctor recommend a few different hepatitis C blood tests, not just one. It is helpful to understand what each of these blood tests mean. Here we explain the common blood tests of hepatitis C and the meaning of test results. | Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV Ab, anti-HCV) | | | | | This is the first test for determining whether you have been infected with hepatitis C. The results will come back as either positive or negative.
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| Explanation of test results: | | If this test result is positive, it means your body was exposed to the hepatitis C virus and made antibodies (for more information, see "Antibody" section under Associated Lab Tests). However, it does not tell you whether you are still infected with hepatitis C. If the antibody test result is positive, you should be tested for hepatitis C RNA (see "Hepatitis C RNA"), which determines whether you are chronically infected. The lab might perform this RNA test automatically if your hepatitis C antibody test is positive or your doctor might need to order the Hepatitis C RNA test separately.
If the antibody test result is negative, it means you have not been infected with the hepatitis C virus, and further testing for hepatitis C usually is not needed.
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| Other things to know: | | - After a successful course of treatment for hepatitis C, the hepatitis C antibody remains detectable, but the hepatitis C RNA will be undetectable.
- Any patient with a positive test result for the hepatitis C antibody should have additional tests to determine whether or not the virus is still active.
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| Hepatitis C Genotype | | | | | The hepatitis C genotype is a type or "strain" of hepatitis C virus. There are 6 genotypes of hepatitis C around the world. In the United States, 3 genotypes are common: - Genotype 1
- Genotype 2
- Genotype 3
These can be further specified as: - Genotype 1a or 1b
- Genotype 2a or 2b
- Genotype 3a or 3b
The genotype of hepatitis C does not change over time. It needs to be tested only once.
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| Associated Lab Tests | | Patients with hepatitis C often have a wide variety of blood tests requested by their doctor. In addition to tests of hepatits C and tests of the liver, you may have tests of your kidney, blood counts, thyroid and others. It is especially important to understand these tests if you are taking hepatitis C treatments. Here we explain the meaning of some of the most common blood tests you may want to understand. | Hepatitis B Virus Testing | | |
| Antibody | | | | | Antibodies are part of the immune system's response to infection. Once an infection has taken place, the body makes antibodies, which become detectable in the bloodstream. Different antibodies fight different infections.
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| Explanation of test results: | | If you have a positive test result for a specific antibody, it means that your body has had an immune response to that specific infection. It does not necessarily mean you are still infected--it does mean that you were infected at some point in the past.
The hepatitis C antibody is explained under Hepatitis C tests.
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| Resources | | - American Liver Foundation
(http://www.liverfoundation.org/) A national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of hepatitis and other liver diseases through research, education, and advocacy. Web site features a database directory of hepatitis clinical trials, lay-oriented facts sheets, and links to additional resources.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Viral Hepatitis
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm) Information on all types of viral hepatitis from the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases. Site features related CDC guidelines and recommendations as well as training materials, slide sets, fact sheets, and key CDC hepatitis documents.
- NATAP: Hepatitis
(http://www.natap.org/hepc.htm) Recognizing that coinfection with viral hepatitis among people with HIV is a growing problem, the National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP) has developed an extensive amount of information on hepatitis, both in the context of HIV coinfection and as a separate illness. NATAP provides coverage of key conferences, maintains a selection of hepatitis articles, and features an ask-the-expert forum on hepatitis C.
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| Understanding liver biopsy | | Liver biopsy is a medical procedure in which a doctor uses a special needle to remove a small piece of tissue from your liver to check for signs of damage. A liver biopsy will help you and your doctor find out more about the health of your liver. This is important if you have hepatitis C or another liver disease and you are trying to decide about treatment. A liver biopsy also can be helpful if your doctor is not sure what is causing your liver problem. Not everyone, however, will need a liver biopsy. | Liver biopsy--the procedure | | A liver biopsy is a medical procedure done in a hospital. You will need to lie flat on your back during the procedure. First, the doctor will find the space between your ribs on your right side where a liver biopsy can be performed most safely. Then, the doctor will clean the skin above this location and give you an injection (or shot) of local anesthetic to numb the area. After the area is numb, the doctor will insert a biopsy needle to take out a small piece of liver. This part of the procedure is done quickly. Most people who have a liver biopsy say that it only hurts a little. One generally feels a sting when the doctor administers the shot of anesthetic. Many people also have a feeling of pressure when the doctor inserts the biopsy needle. Some people say that they feel this pressure in their right shoulder, as well. |
| Liver biopsy--after the procedure | | After the biopsy is done, your doctor will ask you to roll onto your side and lie still for 1 or 2 hours. This is to put pressure on the area where the biopsy was performed, so that you do not have bleeding or other problems caused by getting up too soon. After a while, your doctor may order blood tests to make sure that you are not bleeding. Before long, you will be told that you can go home. Follow your doctor's advice not to lift heavy weights or exercise too hard for about 2 weeks, so that your body has enough time to heal. |
| Liver biopsy risks | | A liver biopsy generally is very safe. But, as is true for any medical procedure, there are some risks. These risks include: - pain at the site of the biopsy
- bleeding from the liver
- puncturing of other organs, if something goes wrong when the needle is inserted
- very rarely, death (1 in 10,000 cases)
You should not have a liver biopsy if you have used aspirin or another blood-thinning medicine the week before your procedure. You should not take these medicines in the week after your biopsy either. Make sure that you tell your doctor about all the medicines you have been taking or that you plan to take. You also should not have a liver biopsy if your doctor thinks that your liver disease has progressed to the point that your blood does not clot normally. |
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| What is HIV coinfection? | |
Coinfection is a medical term meaning that you have two or more infections in your body at the same time. If you have both HIV and hepatitis C, then you have HIV and hepatitis C coinfection. These two illnesses are very different, so it is important that you learn about both of them.
- HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus. The virus attacks the body's immune system and, over time, can lead to AIDS.
- Hepatitis C is a virus that can damage your liver slowly over time.
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| Why is HIV-hepatitis C coinfection an issue? | |
Many people who have HIV also have been exposed to other infections, such as hepatitis C. Over half of people who become HIV infected through injecting drugs also become infected with hepatitis C. Overall, more than one third of all Americans infected with HIV have hepatitis C, too. So HIV-hepatitis C coinfection is common.
Having both viruses also makes it a little harder to deal with either one. There are specific medical issues that are unique to coinfected patients.
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| What do coinfected people need to be concerned about? | |
Doctors and patients always should try to bear in mind that there are two infections to deal with. Hepatitis C can mean that a person's liver is more sensitive to the effects of HIV medications. Likewise, if coinfected persons are taking hepatitis C medications (interferon shots and ribavirin pills), their doctors need to be extra careful in monitoring them, because their bodies are more sensitive to the effects of these medications. Being coinfected is not a terrible situation, but it requires more attention.
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| How can HIV affect me? | |
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It is spread mainly through blood and sexual contact. You can have HIV and feel healthy. Over many years, however, the virus can wear down your body's immune system, making it hard for your body to fight off dangerous infections. Having HIV also can increase your risk of getting certain cancers.
Even though there is no cure for HIV infection, there are many medications that can help people with HIV live longer and healthier lives.
You will want to learn much more about HIV, so that you can do everything possible to stay healthy. You also will need to learn how to avoid giving HIV to others. You can find information on the VA HIV/AIDS Web site (http://www.hiv.va.gov/)
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| How can hepatitis C affect me? | |
Hepatitis C is a disease of your liver. It is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus is spread mainly through contact with infected blood.
Many people don't know that they have hepatitis C, because the symptoms of the infection often are very mild. Some people with hepatitis C feel tired or have an upset stomach. Others may not have any symptoms at all.
Even if you do not have any symptoms, hepatitis C is still a serious illness. There are medications, called interferon and ribavirin, that can make the hepatitis C virus go away in some people, and even better medications are being developed. It is important to get care for hepatitis C because it stays in your body. You can give hepatitis C to someone else and can develop other health problems yourself.
Hepatitis C is the main cause of cirrhosis of the liver in the United States in 2006. In cirrhosis, healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. Over time, with cirrhosis, the liver can stop functioning well, and a person even may need to be considered for a liver transplant.
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| Will having hepatitis C affect my HIV treatments? | |
No. But some HIV treatments can damage your liver, so your doctor may choose specific drugs for you.
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| Will having HIV affect my hepatitis C treatment? | |
No. But being coinfected means medications to treat hepatitis C don't work quite as well in you. Still, the drugs are successful 30-75% of the time. Working closely with your doctor will give you the best chance for successful treatment.
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| Can I give HIV or hepatitis C to someone else through sex? | |
HIV is spread by infected blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Practicing safe sex is the best way to keep other people from getting HIV.
Hepatitis C is spread mainly by the blood and rarely by sex. But you still can give hepatitis C to someone you have sex with if you're not careful.
If you have sex, the best thing to do is practice safer sex all the time. To do so, always use a condom, dental dam, or other latex barrier and avoid "rough sex" or other activities that might cause bleeding. For more information, see tips for using condoms and dental dams (http://www.hiv.va.gov/vahiv?page=sex-condomtips)
on the VA HIV Web site.
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| Can I give HIV or hepatitis C to someone by using drugs with them? | |
Sharing needles or works to inject drugs is one of the easiest ways to spread hepatitis C and HIV. By sharing needles or works, you even can spread both of these viruses at the same time.
The best thing to do, especially if you have hepatitis C or HIV, is not use drugs. Talk to your doctor about getting help to stop.
If you use drugs, make sure that your needle and works are clean (or brand new) every time and never share them with anyone else. Snorting drugs such as cocaine also may spread hepatitis C, and possibly HIV.
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| Is there a cure for HIV or hepatitis C? | |
There is no cure for HIV, but it often can be controlled. Hepatitis C can be treated successfully. This is like a cure, but in rare cases the virus still causes problems later.
Medications for both diseases keep getting better. Talk with your doctor about these treatments for HIV and hepatitis C. Educate yourself about your treatment choices as much as you can.
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| How can I slow down my HIV and hepatitis C infections? | |
Having only HIV or hepatitis C is difficult enough. Finding out that you have both at the same time might seem overwhelming. The best way to keep your coinfection from becoming a serious health problem is to keep yourself and your liver healthy by following these guidelines:
| Do not drink alcohol. | | Alcohol weakens your immune system and damages your liver even when you are healthy. Drinking alcohol heavily when you have HIV and hepatitis C makes the damage much worse. Remember, there is no "safe" amount of alcohol you can drink when you have HIV and hepatitis C. It doesn't help to switch from "hard" liquor to beer, cider, or wine. If you need help to stop drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor. |
| Get vaccinated against other hepatitis viruses. | | Having hepatitis C does not mean that you can't get other kinds of hepatitis. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinations (or shots) to protect you from getting hepatitis A and B. |
| Avoid taking medicines, supplements or natural or herbal remedies that might cause more damage to your liver. | | Even ordinary pain relievers in high doses can cause liver problems in some people. Check with your doctor before you take any natural or herbal remedy, supplement, prescription, or nonprescription medicine. And, make sure your doctor knows all the medicines you are taking for HIV and hepatitis C. |
| Don't use illegal drugs. | | Remember that these drugs can make your illness worse. Talk with your doctor if you can't stop taking drugs. |
| Respect your body. | | Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, and get restful sleep. Try to exercise every day. |
| Get support. | | Ask your doctor where you can get support in your area. If you already get services from an AIDS organization, ask about support groups for people who have HIV and hepatitis C. |
| Stay informed. | | HIV and hepatitis C are two of the most important medical issues today. Try to educate yourself about them. Ask your doctor if you need help making sense of anything you hear on the news or read in a newspaper. |
| Follow your doctor's advice. | | Follow all instructions you get from your doctor. Try to keep all of your appointments. Call your doctor immediately if you have any problems. |
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| HIV Coinfection Resources | | - VA National HIV/AIDS Web Site
(http://www.hiv.va.gov) Information on HIV/AIDS for health care providers and patients from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- CDC Viral Hepatitis Web Site
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm) Information on all types of viral hepatitis from the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- HCV Advocate
(http://www.hcvadvocate.org/) Web site of the Hepatitis Support Project, whose goal is to offer support to those who are affected by hepatitis C and related coinfections. Information and education is provided, as well as access to support groups.
- Hepatitis B Foundation
(http://www.hepb.org/) A nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality
of life of those affected by hepatitis B worldwide through research, education, and patient advocacy. Features information in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
- HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C Nightline:
Hotline providing support for people with HIV or hepatitis C and their caregivers during the evening and nightime hours. 1-800-273-AIDS or 415-434-AIDS; 5 pm - 5 am Pacific time. Also offers Spanish-language hotline at: 1-800-303-SIDA or 415-989-5212.
- Guide to Hepatitis C for People Living with HIV
(http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/tag/coinf/guidetohcv.pdf) A booklet on testing, treatment, coinfection, and support from the Treatment Action Group in New York.
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Reviewed/Updated Date: February 2, 2007 |
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