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Uploaded: Thursday, May 3, 2012, 4:03 PM                                             Updated: Friday, May 4, 2012, 9:18 AM

When Lyme disease becomes a nightmare Locals tell of years of elusive diagnoses and painful symptoms

By Kate Daly Special to the Almanac Sherry Cagan of Portola Valley says she nearly died when she ended up in the emergency room with the systemic MRSA staph infection last year. after seeing “maybe 50 doctors” for a long list of symptoms that included hip pain, arm pain, numbness in the foot, fatigue, sleeplessness, brain fog, and decreased lung capacity, she finally received a diagnosis that had eluded her for seven years: Lyme disease. Kathleen O’Rourke of Woodside has her own story of living with Lyme disease for seven years. her symptoms have ranged from vertigo to dizziness, irritability, blurry vision, apnea, heart palpitations, joint pain, neuropathy in her feet, and tinnitus. Their friend, Bonnie Crater, doesn’t have Lyme, but says she grew alarmed when yet another mother in their circle, Laure Kastanis of Portola Valley, “was pretty sick” with the disease. Last fall Ms. Crater and a mutual friend, Gayle Collat, started meeting monthly with the three Lyme patients “to try to understand the disease better.” They have gone on to found the Bay Area Lyme Fund (BayAreaLyme.org) to help finance research and innovative therapies. They either serve on or advise the board along with Ms. Cagan’s husband, Laird, Wendy Adams, Stephen Marra and Kate Misskelley. Their new office is at 888 Portola Road, Suite A7, in Portola Valley. This is the time of year when the risk of getting infected is higher because ticks are more active when it’s cool and damp. Dr. Raphael Stricker, a Lyme expert in San Francisco who says he treats 2,000 patients from all over the Bay Area and beyond, predicts “it’s going to be a bad year” here due to the late rain. Dr. Stricker’s patients come from as far away as Australia and Europe. he says he thinks the number of Lyme cases is steadily increasing worldwide because animals are spreading the disease where it wasn’t before, and people are encroaching upon the animals’ territory. Lyme is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which in California is transmitted by infected Western black-legged ticks that feed on gray squirrels, mice, dusky-footed woodrats, birds, lizards, deer, and sometimes humans. In many cases, tick bites can go undetected, because in the nymph state, ticks are as small as a poppy seed and hard to see. One telltale sign of Lyme is a bull’s-eye rash developing soon after a bite, but that only happens maybe 30 percent of the time, Dr. Stricker says. another early sign is flu-like symptoms. if caught within weeks of infection, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. a delay in treatment could lead to a more complicated form of chronic Lyme and even death, he says. according to the San Mateo County Health System, 3 to 5 percent of black-legged tick nymphs and adults test positive for the bacteria in the county, yet no cases have been reported of humans’ contracting Lyme in the county in 2010, 2011, or in 2012 to date. Dr. Stricker says San Mateo County is “typical of most counties in the state” where the numbers reflect an “under representation.” he estimates nine out of 10 cases of Lyme don’t meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are therefore “thrown out” rather than reported. the CDC tracks Lyme in all 50 states and reported 126 confirmed cases and three probable cases in California in 2011. CDC’s website describes Lyme as “the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States.” Ms. Cagan said she thinks thousands of people may be suffering from Lyme in the Bay Area. Many may be like her and not know whether they have Lyme because the disease can take months to manifest and tends to mimic other illnesses such as Bells palsy, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Diagnosis can be tricky due to the nature of the disease. the bacteria enter the blood and burrow into tissue, attacking different parts of the body at different times, undermining the immune system, and inviting other opportunistic health issues to arise. there are several Lyme tests available, but none is considered 100 percent reliable, Dr. Stricker says. In Ms. Cagan’s case, she remembers working outside on the family’s property back in 2005 and a day or so later, finding a tiny tick embedded in her neck. Weeks later she landed in bed for 10 days with severe flu-like symptoms. she then developed pains and other problems that led her to consult dozens of doctors. “Before I was diagnosed with Lyme, I was told I had everything from MS to cancer,” and that she needed surgery, she says. Initially, she took oral antibiotics. after a relapse, she ended up on an IV. Since October she has been hooked up to it for five to six hours a day. she just recently started feeling better, she says, but still relies heavily on her husband to help care for their children. she calls him her “rock.” Now in her 50s, Ms. Cagan wants to put this “personal nightmare and family nightmare” behind her. “I pray to get my life back.” In Ms. O’Rourke’s case, she doesn’t recall being bitten by a tick in 2005, but remembers doing a lot of gardening at their home in the Woodside Glens, where the front yard was “a regular thoroughfare of deer.” she was in her 30s, yet felt sick, tired, achy, irritable, and tingly, “like my skin was going to explode.” she tested positive for Lyme as well as two other tick-borne diseases, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. after three years of treatment she says, “things are so much better than they were.” her son, Louis Sheridan, developed his own symptoms at age 9, soon after the family moved near Skyline Boulevard several years ago. “He had a tick on his tummy that the dog brought in,” Ms. O’Rourke says. he was complaining that his feet felt like lead bricks. Doctors checked him for apnea and adenoid problems, and eventually diagnosed him with Lyme. after one and a half years of taking antibiotics, “he is completely great,” she says. after the family’s move, his little sister, Hannah, complained of ocular migraines, and she missed six weeks of school. she has shown sensitivity to black mold, but tested negative for Lyme. Based on her family and friends’ experiences, Ms. O’Rourke is concerned about the prevalence of Lyme in the area. “I worry about all the gardeners and stable hands who have no idea they’re coming in contact with it.” Steve Gray lives down the hill in Woodside, but traces his Lyme infection to Half Moon Bay. seven years ago his dogs came back from a walk there and must have picked up some “hitchhikers” because several days later he found a tick hiding in his belly button. two days later he was hospitalized with anaphylactic shock for a suspected food allergy that hasn’t troubled him since. Months went by and he started feeling tired and developed a limp. he had three blood tests done, but it wasn’t until IGeneX inc., a medical laboratory in Palo Alto, tested him that he was diagnosed with Lyme in 2008. he also tested positive for the co-infection, babesiois. “I’ve been feeling like I have MS, ALS, muscle spasms, and jerks,” mr. Gray says. he has turned to several infectious disease specialists including Dr. Steven Harris in Redwood City, who, he says, favors antibiotics and alternative approaches such as dietary changes. In his 60s, mr. Gray keeps physically fit, drinks quinine and filtered water, and now follows a diet free of gluten, sugar, dairy and red meat. despite all the clean living, he says, his health care costs have gone up to over $800 a month since his diagnosis. Funding research the Bay Area Lyme Fund is hoping to provide people like mr. Gray with help down the line. the group is funding research at Stanford to design a transdermal patch that could potentially kill off the bacteria. another resource for Lyme patients is the Mid Peninsula Lyme Disease Support Group. Facilitator Scott Forsgren says 15 to 20 people usually attend on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room E at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. Ms. Cagan went to one meeting and says after seeing people shaking in wheel chairs, and hearing stories about losing homes to pay for treatments, “I got in my car and I bawled.” she says some drugs can cost $10,000 a month, and aren’t approved by insurance companies because the generally accepted protocol for treating Lyme is a short course of antibiotics. her personal saga makes her determined to help spread the word about Lyme prevention. Lymedisease.org encourages people to avoid going where ticks like to hang out, in leaf-littered places, tall grasses, stumps and trunks. to prevent tick bites, the advice is to wear light-colored long sleeved shirts and pants that are tucked in and treated with pesticides. As an alternative, Theresa Brown of Woodside swears by the lightweight finely meshed insect protection clothing she bought online: a hooded sweatshirt and pants made by Bug Out. Frequent body checks are suggested in tick country. if a tick is attached the best way to remove it is to pull straight back with tweezers. Disinfect the bite area, and keep the tick in a moist plastic bag to send to a tick-testing lab as soon as possible. the county offers that service. MORE INFORMATION ■ the Bay Area Lyme Fund is funding a Stanford study of ticks found in Woodside and Portola Valley. Volunteers are needed to collect ticks on May 5 so they can be tested for infections. to sign up contact or call (650) 530-2439. ■ the group is sponsoring a fundraiser featuring polo, kids’ games and pony rides at a luncheon and auction on May 27 at Menlo Circus Club in Atherton.

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Comments

Posted by Judy Morley, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on May 5, 2012 at 2:45 pm

Thanks for good reporting on Lyme disease. I was successfully treated for 3 years. This is the most accurate and comprehensive news article I’ve seen. Appreciate the good research.

Posted by resident, a resident of another community, on May 7, 2012 at 11:08 am

There are a lot more Lyme patients in the Bay Area than you would think from coverage, mostly because of doctors believing it’s an East Coast problem and not thinking it exists here. When people don’t get early diagnosis and fast treatment, it becomes a more serious problem. Controversies over late-stage treatment, enmeshed with various conflicts of interest, mean most patients keep their heads down and just get the treatment they need if they can. I’m surprised to see such a comprehensive report in a local paper. I have read that ticks in Santa Cruz county are infected at a higher rate, and some of the coinfections occur at an even higher rate than Lyme.

An award winning film about the disease was produced by a Palo Alto resident and was on the Oscar documentary short list last year.

Posted by Mari a., a resident of the Menlo Park: fair Oaks neighborhood, on May 11, 2012 at 10:11 pm

The article states: “There are several Lyme tests available, but none is considered 100 percent reliable.” I slept out in the open in the big Basin area about 6 years ago at Cutter Camp with the cub scouts and remember feeling a lick on my belly and scratching it off in the middle of the night. I then developed the telltale Lyme disease bull’s eye rash and went to get tested. the test had conflicting results so they could not tell weather I had Lyme disease. my doctor and i decided to treat it like Lyme disease and i took a series of strong antibiotics that made the skin on the backs of my hands very sensitive to sun. it was summer and i am outdoors much of the time. Although it was an uncomfortable experience i am very glad I took the antibiotic treatment. my philosophy with Lyme disease is: when it doubt go ahead and treat it!

November 07, 2011 Food Allergies: The Hidden Culprit< Back by Henry C. Sobo, M.D.

FOOD ALLERGIES: THE HIDDEN CULPRIT

You may have food allergies and not even know it ! That’s because the typical symptoms that people identify as related to allergies–watery, itchy eyes, or sinus congestion, or a rash- are just the tip of the iceberg. Because there are many more effects that are not as commonly recognized as related to allergies, many people don’t get the help that they need.

 a very important point about food allergies is that the symptom onset may be delayed , making the allergy even more difficult for the doctor to detect. Let’s take the case of  migraine headaches which may be triggered by food sensitivities. The person who suffers from them has never noticed that the headache occurs after any particular type of food is ingested. That’s because the onset of the headache may not necessarily start shortly after the food is ingested. The headache may not even occur on the same day, but may arise the day after.

Other symptoms which may be related to food allergies include anxiety, irritability, , asthma,  joint pain, and irritable bowel.  many times  a variety of medical specialists may be  consulted looking for  a diagnosis related to that body part   where the person has symptoms.

One person may see a neurologist for recurring headaches, while another sees a gastroenterologist for abdominal cramping and diarrhea. another perosn is a  repeat visitor to the dermatologist’s office because of recurring rashes  These people have  very different symptoms which have the same cause-food sensitivities.  consider yet another scenario  which causes something of  a medical mystery. a person feeling very fatigued is tested by their doctor for ailments typically known to cause fatigue- anemia or thyroid problems, for example. The doctor doesn’t find anything wrong and sometimes concludes "it’s all in the patient’s head". What might  never considered is that food sensitivities themselves may manifest in some people as generalized fatigue, and when they have muscular and joint pains  they may suffer form fibromyalgia -chronic fatigue syndrome.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing symptoms , some of which have been troublesome for years, relieved when the true underlying cause was discovered and treated. for instance some patients who describe themselves as having a “ sensitive stomach” suffering from abdominal discomfortfor years , find themselves relieved of these symptoms when the offending food sensitivities are identified and avoided. Others who see themselves as “headache prone” and assume that stress is responsible, find relief when they know what foods to avoid.

A simple in office testing procedure can be done to properly identify these food sensitivities. It is also important to understand that a program of desensitization can relieve the person of their symptoms so that it is possible to eventually reintroduce the food into the diet without adverse effects.

Henry C. Sobo, M.D. practices Integrative Medicine in Stanford, CT.  for more information see his website at drsobo.com or call the office at 203-348-8805

Address: 111 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT Email: 

I've heard this terminology but I've never really understood it. what is a nervous breakdown? how are people diagnosed with it? are people hospitalized from it and for how long?

Nervous breakdown is not a medical term and the term describes a person who is severely depressed.

Symptoms range from irritability to halucinations to paranoya.
Yes, people are hostpitalized for this… usually ,initially for an observation period of 30 days.

irratability
rage
feelings of wothlessness
no hope

Go outside and run a mile that always makes me feel good when I feel like this.

I've been having anxiety problems for the past 6 months and, the past 4 days I have been living in constant fear and panic. I'm short of breath, I feel dizzy, I feel sick to my stomach and I cant eat anything, and my hands and feet are cold and tingly most of the time. I would just like to know all the possible symptoms of an anxiety attack.

Psychological symptoms of anxiety

Generalised Anxiety Disorder can result in behaviour changes as well as changes in the way that you think and feel. Psychological symptoms include:

A sense of nameless foreboding with no apparent cause
Excessive worry, inability to relax
Restlessness, a feeling of being on edge
Difficulty concentrating, easy distractibility
Irritability, impatience
Poor sleep and sometimes nightmares
Symptoms of depression, early waking and or a general sense of hopelessness.
Physical symptoms of anxiety

As well as affecting you psychologically anxiety can cause physical symptoms. In themselves symptoms are often normal physical responses, but may set of a chain reaction that is inappropriate or 'out of proportion' to the cause.

Fatigue
Muscle tension, twitching, and trembling
Headache, dizziness, light headedness
Dry mouth, grinding of teeth
Excessive sweating
Chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations
Stomach ache with nausea and/or diarrhoea
Frequent urination
A feeling of something stuck in the throat
Anxiety Attack Symptoms / Panic Attack Symptoms

Shortness of breath
Sweating trembling and nausea
Palpitations or abnormally fast heartbeat
Dizziness and or fainting
Fear of choking or imminent death
A sense of unreality or fears about loss of sanity
Many symptoms may be misinterpreted as signs of a serious physical illness and this can exacerbate symptoms in a downward spiral.

To anyone out there losing hope. do not fear. Easier said than done I know. the Linden Method has made me more self-confident, less anxious, and a much more compassionate person. These anxiety disorders are a blessing in disguise.
This is from someone who is still doing the Linden Method. I have been for a year now and have seen some mighty improvement.

lindenmethod.by.ly/

Dont lose hope
Alexandria

I have not had a period for 6 months except lite staining every now and then. i still get tummy swelling, backache, breast tenderness and irritability but nothing like i used to. i don't get it to often but it is noticeable. what is going on?

You should speak up if you’re feeling down April 27, 2011

Statistics show that one in eight women suffer from depression, anxiety or panic disorder before or after pregnancy, says Lillian Koppelman, project director for the Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon.

Koppelman says each illness is treatable if diagnosed, but unfortunately the symptoms are not commonly recognized.

“Many pregnant and postpartum women feel anxious or depressed, and we want to tell women there is no shame in asking for help,” she says.

Women, their husbands and significant others are encouraged to join the “Speak up When You’re Down” movement.

“It’s the only way to get help, feel better and enjoy your family,” says Koppelman.

Koppelman and the coalition, which includes Jackson County Public Health, La Clinica, Community Health Center, Josephine County Public Health, Siskiyou Community Health Center and Douglas County Public Health, will be airing public service announcements throughout the month of may encouraging women to give voice to their feelings.

Postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms may include trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; lack of interest in the baby; crying uncontrollably; irritability or nervousness; changes in appetite — eating much more or much less; and lack of interest in family and friends.

Depression and anxiety can affect women before, during or after pregnancy. if you or a loved one has feelings that are more than a mild case of the “blues,” there is help available. Call 1-800-944-4773, a 24/7 bi-lingual message line, and and a trained volunteer will return the call within a day, providing support, information, and resources. (Clarificatiion: Details of the helpline services have been updated in this story.)

Please note this is not a crisis hotline and it does not handle emergencies. People in crisis should call their physicians, their local emergency number or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

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Seeing that women approach midlife and menopause one of the things to be searching for is depression. While menopause is not regarded as a cause of depression the 2 can occur concurrently. what is considered to be a cause of depression is changes in estrogen concentrations which occur during menopause. it is identified that women are suffering from depression over twice about men and that your family history connected with depression can thing into this as well.

The symptoms regarding depression and menopause became similar and contain sleep disorders, scorching flashes, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability. many women associate these symptoms while using changes that menopause deliver, but they is often a sign of depression that they are understood and managed. There is not any reason women have to suffer from major depression duing menopause. It’s important that they acknowledge the physical changes happening to their bodies during this time around and work with their doctor to mitigate the symptoms regarding menopause, but its alaso important that they realize that depression and menopause may be mutually exclusive and both might be dealt with.

As women method menopause their menstrual cycles begin to change and place to become unpredictable. This unpredictability of their monthly cycle may be a sign of unreliable ovulation. Erratic ovulation will cause unpredictable releases of the hormones estrogen and progetserone resulting mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and all the other symptoms associated with menopause.

Most women dealing with menopause feel likely loosing control of these bodies when in actual fact it is just their natural reaction to the aging process. This feeling of loss in control can result in symptoms of depressive disorders. As the signs or symptoms of both menopause plus depression worsen they place to feel that the is nothing they could do and a sense of hoplessness drops over them. This feeling of hopelessness is often a major part of depression and left untreated can lead to severe depression.

Untreated depression is really a major health chance. Researchers have determined that depression is caused by an increased risk of heart problems and occasionally it can lead to bone deterioration raising the likely cover of osteoporosis and also broken bones.

The particular treatment for dperession plus menopause can observe a two pronged approach. it is crucial to treat not solely the depression along with antidepressant medications and counseling but to treat the symptoms of menopause also. Menopause can be treated with hormone alternative therapy where synthetic sorts of estrogen and progesterone are utilized to even out and about the woman’s hormone amounts.

If you is a woman approaching midlife and menopause be aware that depression can be an exceptionally real side affect belonging to the changes that may happen to you. If start to see the symptoms of depression far better talk to a family doctor about what treatment plans may work effectively for you.

Symptoms of Depression
Menopause and Depression

I think I might be suffering from depression, but I had never really admitted it to myself. I need to hear the symptoms to see if it matches how I feel.

You should see a doctor, but insist on a physical. Most will just write a prescription nowadays.

FYI
*Here are some (not all) of the documented symptoms of antidepressants used to treat depression

1. crying spells, 2. Worsened mood, 3. Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise)
4. Trouble concentrating, 5. Insomnia or trouble sleeping, 6. Change in appetite, 7. Suicidal thoughts
8. Suicide attempts, 9. Anxious, nervous, tense, 10. Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless)
11. Chest pain, 12. Trembling, jittery,or shaking, 13. Irritability, 14. Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity)
15. Impulsivity, 16. Aggressiveness, 17. Self-harm, 18. Homicidal thoughts or urges
19. Confusion or cognitive difficulties, 20. Memory problems or forgetfulness, 21. Elevated mood (feeling high)
22. Mood swings, 23. Manic-like reactions, 24. Auditory hallucinations, 25. Visual hallucinations
.
.

You need at least five of these symptoms for at least two weeks (based on DSM IV):

(1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.

(2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)

(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.

(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day

(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)

(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

(7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)

(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)

(9) recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

feeling tired is the big one pain in the joints or the body in general lack of interest in things you like just like in all the antidepressant commercials

the main symptom for depression is depression

My moms friend wants to know.
thank you! =D

Well, considering you "intox" on antiviral meds, you will also "detox". Symtpoms are mood swings, irritability, weight gain, might have a thyroid issue, bowel issues. For the mental aspect of detoxing-This is why an antidepressant and/or antianxiety med for 6 months post antiviral chemotherapy will help eliviate some of the detox symptoms.Weight gain cannot be helped.

Some people do not regain total health for up to two years post antiviral chemtherapy. To lessen the side effects, not only are the antidepressants and;/or anxiety meds good to continue, but also drinking water like you would on treatment- this will help flush out the medications…..

Just because you quit the treatment doesn't mean the meds stop right way.

In the long run, if she has a sustained viralogic response post 1 year antiviral chemtherapy she is considered cured. The best side effect is gaining one's "self" back.

I never really knew who I was but I got ME NOW! I'm cured!

Good luck!!

AFTER being treated? what you might get AFTER being treated is CLEARED of the virus and that is a VERY GOOD THING!

Symptoms you might get during treatment vary from patient to patient. some have none at all and others have many side effects during treatment. I just posted the Combo Survival Guide on another question. it has tips and humor for side effects that develop during treatment. some people do develop life long *side effects* such as diabetes, thyroid problems, arthritis, etc. and sometimes even those things clear up after the treatment has stopped.

hepcsurvivalguide.org/combogu…

no symptoms after treatment. THere are some symptoms during treatment, however, including flu like symptoms, malaise, low grade fever, muscle aches, etc. these are fairly common. They resolve once therapy has completed

Hepatitis C – Topic OverviewProvided by:

94% of users found this article helpful.Topic Overview

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What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus that infects the liver. in time, it can lead to permanent liver damage as well as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Many people do not know that they have hepatitis C until they already have some liver damage. This can take many years. some people who get hepatitis C have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis C. But most people who are infected with the virus go on to develop long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C.

Although hepatitis C can be very serious, many people can manage the disease and lead active, full lives.

What causes hepatitis C infection?
Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. it is spread by contact with an infected person's blood.

You can get hepatitis C if:

You share needles and other equipment used to inject illegal drugs. This is the most common way to get hepatitis C in the United States.
You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. As of 1992 in the United States, all donated blood and organs are screened for hepatitis C.
You get a shot with a needle that has infected blood on it. This happens in some developing countries where they use needles more than once when giving shots.
In rare cases, a mother with hepatitis C spreads the virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to blood that is infected with hepatitis C.

Experts are not sure if you can get hepatitis C through sexual contact. If there is a risk of getting the virus through sexual contact, it is very small.

You cannot get hepatitis C from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drink.

What are the symptoms?
Many people have no symptoms when they are first infected with the hepatitis C virus. If you do develop symptoms, they may include:

Feeling very tired.
Joint pain.
Belly pain.
Itchy skin.
Sore muscles.
Dark urine.
Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Jaundice usually appears only after other symptoms have started to go away.
Most people go on to develop chronic hepatitis C but still do not have symptoms. This makes it common for people to have hepatitis C for 15 years or longer before it is diagnosed.

How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
Many people find out that they have the virus by accident, when their blood is tested before a blood donation or as part of a regular checkup. often, people with hepatitis C will have high levels of liver enzymes in their blood.

If your doctor thinks you may have hepatitis C, he or she will talk to you about having a blood test. If the test shows hepatitis C antibodies, you have had hepatitis C at some point. a second test can tell if you have hepatitis C now.

When blood tests show that you have hepatitis C, you may need a liver biopsy to see if the virus has caused scarring in your liver. during a liver biopsy, a doctor will insert a needle between your ribs to collect a small sample of liver tissue to look at under a microscope. See a picture of the placement of the needle for a liver biopsy.

Some people prefer to find out on their own if they have been exposed to hepatitis C. you can buy a home test called a Home Access Hepatitis C Check kit at most drugstores. If the test shows that you have been exposed to the virus in the past, be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if you have the virus now.

How is it treated?
You and your doctor need to decide if you should take antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C. it may not be right for everyone. If your liver damage is mild, you may not need medicine.

If you do take medicine, the best treatment is a combination of two medicines that fight infection: peginterferon and ribavirin. How well these medicines work depends on how damaged your liver is, how much virus you have in your liver, and what type of hepatitis C you have.

Taking care of yourself is an important part of the treatment for hepatitis C. some people with hepatitis C do not notice a change in the way they feel. others feel tired, sick, or depressed. you may feel better if you exercise and eat healthy foods. To help prevent further liver damage, avoid alcohol and illegal drugs and certain medicines that can be hard on your liver.

Frequently asked Questions

Learning about hepatitis C:
what is hepatitis C?
What causes hepatitis C?
Can I prevent hepatitis C?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
What happens in hepatitis C?
What increases my risk for hepatitis C?
How common is hepatitis C?

Being diagnosed:
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
Who can diagnose hepatitis C?
What is a hepatitis C antibody test?
What blood test can show whether I have active hepatitis C infection?
What kind of blood tests may be done to check the health of my liver?
What is a liver biopsy?
Should I be tested for hepatitis B and C?

Getting treatment:
How is hepatitis C treated?
Should I take medicines for hepatitis C?
What is combination antiviral treatment?

Ongoing concerns:
will I need surgery?

Living with hepatitis C:
what can I do to treat hepatitis C at home?

End-of-life issues:
How can I prepare for end-of-life issues if needed?

Author: Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine
W. Thomas London, MD – Hepatology
Last Updated: 08/27/2007
© 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. For more information, click here. Privacy Policy. How this information was developed.

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RealAge Tip of the Day

January 25, 2011

The discovery of two more foxes found dead from rabies near Cave Junction has Josephine County health officials warning pet and horse owners to consider vaccinations for their animals.

The discovery brings to nine the number of rabies cases in and around Cave Junction in the past year, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In Oregon, dogs already are required to receive a rabies vaccination, but animals like cats and horses are not required.

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that attacks an infected animal’s nervous system. the rabies strain found in the foxes tested is from bats. other strains of rabies, such as those usually originating in skunks and raccoons, have not been detected in Oregon.

Rabies symptoms in wildlife, particularly foxes and raccoons, include lethargy, walking in circles, loss of muscular coordination, convulsions, irritability or aggressiveness, disorientation, excessive drooling of saliva, and showing no fear of humans.

Anyone witnessing animals exhibiting these types of behaviors is urged to telephone the ODFW at 541-826-8774.

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