Italian men and stress are certainly a mix. I lived in Italy for a few years and I am used to their way of dealing with issues. I can imagine you are on edge waiting for all these results to come through!
If it helps ease your mind a little, I had neurological problems a few years back, I had terrible muscular pain, my nerves weren't responding correctly and it resulted in a temporary partial paralizes. I was under the attention of a neurologist and under went lots of tests. My paralizes disappeared and they could not find a reason why it even occured. I have not had another incidence since but it wasn't MS, a Stroke or any other known causes. I often wonder now if actually it was the Hep C because they never checked for this? I am not sure of the correlation but there is no contradiction for me not to take the Interferlon treatment.
Stay strong, and getting everything checked and sorted is a good thing, it is scary when faced with a barage of uncertainty, but knowing gives you power to do something about it.
Good luck and keep strong!
Cinnamon Girl said
Apr 4, 2013
I expect it will all become a lot clearer after you`ve spoken with your liver doctor next week, the terminology is confusing at first!
In the meantime, here`s a link to some basic HCV factsheets you might find helpful. If you scroll down the page you`ll see a section on Hepatitis C Tests, including ones for Genotypes and Viral Load...
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Thursday 4th of April 2013 12:21:16 PM
OpheliaR said
Apr 4, 2013
Thanks to both of you for your sweet and awesomely uplifting replies. Writing and creating...anything in general...is a great help, that's true. I'm going to the liver doc on the 11th - for now, all I know is that my GP said my AST and ALT were abnormal and that he recommended a specialist so I'll see the details of it all. I don't even know all the terminology and I didn't realize there were different types! I guess I'll get all of that on the 11th.
Thank you ladies! I really needed that - made me smile.
-O
JoAnneh said
Apr 3, 2013
Hello O, Welcome to the forum! It's been invaluable For me and countless others. I will be watching for You update after u see the doctors next week. Try to find good things to help you cope. I found a great church and it helps w support Plus involved in bible study at a friends house. It's important to have people for support. This forum ROCKS! Best of luck to you
Cinnamon Girl said
Apr 3, 2013
Hi Ophelia, welcome to the forum! It must be a difficult time for you at the moment not knowing exactly what`s going on with your health, but you don`t need to feel on your own here with this great group of people, and I`m glad you found us!
I expect your husband is very worried for you and doesn`t quite know how to react, but shouting doesn`t help anyone and I`m sure it must make you feel quite reluctant to confide in him how you are feeling.
Your uncle sounds very helpful indeed, and it`s good that you`ve found a doctor who will treat you. Despite the difficulties you`re having it sounds like you have quite an upbeat attitude, try to hold on to that, it will help a lot. Being creative can be so therapeutic and it`s a very good thing that you can still find ways to do that.
Do you know what Hep C genotype and viral load you have? Keep in touch, and let us know about your test results when you get them.
Wishing you all the best, take good care of yourself! Jill
OpheliaR said
Apr 3, 2013
Hello everyone. So happy to find this forum. My name is Ophelia and I am 27. I live in Philadephia, PA. Quick health info; I was diagnosed with HepC when I was 17/almost 18. I don't have insurance and in America that is....bad. Lack of money and lack of responsibility (can't blame it all on everyone else!) led me to just go on with life. At 24, one day I woke up and my fingers and hips and knees hurt so bad - I couldn't walk or pick up a coffee cup. Went to a rheumatologist and when he heard I had hepc he said "that's what it is - you must be in bad shape". He scared me a lot but he also charged me 400 bucks so...I went on with my life. Then, bad headaches came. They got worse. Two years after that and we're in the present. I found a kind Doc that takes patients w/out insurance. Got my blood taken and he was worried about my numbers and recommended tx, but he was also worried about a neuro. issue he called "brisk reflexes". It's just me and my husband, we don't really have family to depend on but I do have one Uncle who I recently got back in touch with. To my amazingly great luck, this one Uncle I have is wealthy, connected, and willing to help me out with my medical issues. I saw a neurologist who is whispering about MS which is incredibly scary...MRI on the 10th, Liver doc on the 11th, and follow up with Neuro on the 17th.
I'm nervous as hell but playing the denial game for now until I have concrete info...indulging in bad reality TV and lots of food...
I'm so happy to find this forum. My husband is amazing but he's scared too - and anyone that knows an italian man can relate to this - so every time I tell him about a new symptom he yells (at who, I'm not sure..maybe the cat?) and gets upset so I don't really want to tell him.
I'm an artist - some symptoms have made it hard to create in some ways, but I just find another outlet, you know? Sorry this is so long! I'm scared and mostly alone so thanks for letting me dish it all. Healing thoughts to all.
Hi Ophelia,
Italian men and stress are certainly a mix. I lived in Italy for a few years and I am used to their way of dealing with issues. I can imagine you are on edge waiting for all these results to come through!
If it helps ease your mind a little, I had neurological problems a few years back, I had terrible muscular pain, my nerves weren't responding correctly and it resulted in a temporary partial paralizes. I was under the attention of a neurologist and under went lots of tests. My paralizes disappeared and they could not find a reason why it even occured. I have not had another incidence since but it wasn't MS, a Stroke or any other known causes. I often wonder now if actually it was the Hep C because they never checked for this? I am not sure of the correlation but there is no contradiction for me not to take the Interferlon treatment.
Stay strong, and getting everything checked and sorted is a good thing, it is scary when faced with a barage of uncertainty, but knowing gives you power to do something about it.
Good luck and keep strong!
I expect it will all become a lot clearer after you`ve spoken with your liver doctor next week, the terminology is confusing at first!
In the meantime, here`s a link to some basic HCV factsheets you might find helpful. If you scroll down the page you`ll see a section on Hepatitis C Tests, including ones for Genotypes and Viral Load...
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets.asp#Easy_eng
Nice avatar!
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Thursday 4th of April 2013 12:21:16 PM
Thank you ladies! I really needed that - made me smile.
-O
Welcome to the forum! It's been invaluable
For me and countless others. I will be watching for
You update after u see the doctors next week.
Try to find good things to help you cope.
I found a great church and it helps w support
Plus involved in bible study at a friends house.
It's important to have people for support.
This forum ROCKS!
Best of luck to you
Hi Ophelia, welcome to the forum! It must be a difficult time for you at the moment not knowing exactly what`s going on with your health, but you don`t need to feel on your own here with this great group of people, and I`m glad you found us!
I expect your husband is very worried for you and doesn`t quite know how to react, but shouting doesn`t help anyone and I`m sure it must make you feel quite reluctant to confide in him how you are feeling.
Your uncle sounds very helpful indeed, and it`s good that you`ve found a doctor who will treat you. Despite the difficulties you`re having it sounds like you have quite an upbeat attitude, try to hold on to that, it will help a lot. Being creative can be so therapeutic and it`s a very good thing that you can still find ways to do that.
Do you know what Hep C genotype and viral load you have? Keep in touch, and let us know about your test results when you get them.
Wishing you all the best, take good care of yourself!
Jill
Hello everyone. So happy to find this forum. My name is Ophelia and I am 27. I live in Philadephia, PA. Quick health info; I was diagnosed with HepC when I was 17/almost 18. I don't have insurance and in America that is....bad. Lack of money and lack of responsibility (can't blame it all on everyone else!) led me to just go on with life. At 24, one day I woke up and my fingers and hips and knees hurt so bad - I couldn't walk or pick up a coffee cup. Went to a rheumatologist and when he heard I had hepc he said "that's what it is - you must be in bad shape". He scared me a lot but he also charged me 400 bucks so...I went on with my life. Then, bad headaches came. They got worse. Two years after that and we're in the present. I found a kind Doc that takes patients w/out insurance. Got my blood taken and he was worried about my numbers and recommended tx, but he was also worried about a neuro. issue he called "brisk reflexes". It's just me and my husband, we don't really have family to depend on but I do have one Uncle who I recently got back in touch with. To my amazingly great luck, this one Uncle I have is wealthy, connected, and willing to help me out with my medical issues. I saw a neurologist who is whispering about MS which is incredibly scary...MRI on the 10th, Liver doc on the 11th, and follow up with Neuro on the 17th.
I'm nervous as hell but playing the denial game for now until I have concrete info...indulging in bad reality TV and lots of food...
I'm so happy to find this forum. My husband is amazing but he's scared too - and anyone that knows an italian man can relate to this - so every time I tell him about a new symptom he yells (at who, I'm not sure..maybe the cat?) and gets upset so I don't really want to tell him.
I'm an artist - some symptoms have made it hard to create in some ways, but I just find another outlet, you know? Sorry this is so long! I'm scared and mostly alone so thanks for letting me dish it all. Healing thoughts to all.
-O