What do you guys think?

[NotPamela]

Hi,
I'm new here. Have hep C since 2004, no idea about genotype, had a liver biopsy last year and the liver looked good.I have 2 questions I've been thinking about for quite a while.
1. Do you guys think it's OK to work as a pre-school teacher regardless of having Hep C?
2. I had a baby boy 20 months ago via C-section, can't be tested yet, until he is 2 years old.I accidentely used his saline nose spray and hope I didn't jeapordized his health.
Thanks so much.

[cottoncandy99]

Were you vaccinated against Hep A&B

[NotPamela]

Not to my knowledge.
My doctors seem to take this whole thing rather lightly. Geno Types etc.
When I had my Gallbladder removed, my surgeon, did a liver autopsy and called it good.
I have frequent upper stomach pain, which almost feels like a Gallbladder attack, which can't be possible since it's out.
Once it got so bad that I had to go to the ER, they kept me for 3 days, due to Pankreatitis (excuse my spelling, I'm German).
I haven't even mentioned that I have HepC to my new doctor (even though I'm sure it's in the Computer) out of fear taht he will stop giving me my headache meds.
However, I will make sure he knows at my next visit.
My current boss is aware that I have HepC and doesn't seem to concerned, but know I want to attend a Waldorf College to become a cerified Waldorf Teacher, bit am not sure if I should be working with children at all since I have the Virus.
Thanks so much for listening to my blabber, this is the first time I have ever had the courage to join a forum.

[nygirl7]

The doctor won't change your headache meds because of Hep.  They do understand that we gotta do in life what we gotta do as far as pain goes.  Unless you were taking a lot of a specific medication every day (ie: tylenol codeine 2 every 4 hours every day) it wouldn't be a problem. Even then - they can give you the meds without the part that would affect your liver.

It's nice that they are telling you that your liver looks good but you really need to know what they mean. That's a pretty crucial piece of information to someone who has hep. How long ago was it done? Make them tell you exactly what grade and stage they are talking about.  There is a huge difference between being fine with 0 damage and fine with stage 2 damage.  Even if you do not want to do treatment to kill the disease you will now have to 'watch and wait' and that means getting a biopsy every year or so to make sure the liver damage is not advancing. It can take someone 20 years to get to stage 2 and then all of a sudden in just a very short amount of time they can advance to cirrhosis. It doesn't follow any linear pattern at all....so you do need to know where you stand with it.

Your son is most likely fine - I had two kids long before I found out I had hep and both are negative however it is a good thing to follow up with since it's just a simple blood test. Better to be proactive rather than to bury your head in the sand when it comes to your child!

As for teaching children, I don't think there is any law that would be able to stop you but you will need to be very careful of course not to put anyone in jeopardy. Still the chances that you could get cut and then a child get cut and have your blood borne disease get into them is pretty low.  Unfortunately a LOT of people are not educated on hep and they WILL make a big deal out of it if they find out.  Most people who have it don't even know they have it but people DO attach a horrible stigma to this disease so you'll need to make sure that you are covered on all fronts.

Good luck.

[Marcia2202]

Welcome to the forum.

I found out that I have hep c a few months ago and I have been around my 5 children since 24 years. As long as you don't bleed on the children, you will not be able to give hep c to them. Hep c is only transmitted through blood to blood contact and you cannot just give it to the kids. If you like working with kids and are a loving person they will greatly profit from your loving care. So go for it!!!

You should ask your doctor to refer you to a hepatologist. If your medical care is anything similar to most EU countries, your doctor HAS to refer you to a hepatology clinic or department at a hospital for further evaluation. You are also ENTITLED to have copies of ALL your medical records. It should be on the medical intranet system and all your blood tests and biopsy info should be easy to print out by any of your doctors. That your liver looks good is not the correct answer. In Europe they usually would show it as A.... F....   A stands for inflammation and F for fibrosis.

I'm sorry I'm also blabbering on, am not feeling so good today. It's just so annyoing when doctors don't take their patients seriously. I would not expect that in Germany at all. I actually grew up there, but haven't been living there since 1978. I live in Denmark now.

Concerning your genotype, this is something you would definitely need to know, if you were to treat, as it determines how long treatment has to be. Have you checked out this site?

http://www.hepatitis-c.de/

All the best, Marcia

[IAmTheWalrus]

Genotype is really important! It is the single best predictor of successful treatment and can make a huge difference in the treatment decision.

As far as teaching the kids, I would not worry. Hep C is transmitted through direct blood-to-blood contact. Be careful about any cuts you may get and keep them covered just in case. You should not be coming in contact with the childrens blood (for you sake and theirs).

It is pretty unlikely you contaminated your child through the nose spray, but it would be a good idea not to share those things. It is more likely that the disease can be transmitted mother-to-child during pregnance/childbirth, though this is often not the case even with the mother infected.

Good luck to you. This forum is here for support. Hope you get the help you need, here and from the doctors.

[IAmTheWalrus]

The HepA and HepB vaccination is really important also! Your doc should have done that immediately after diagnosis.

I imagine he/she had a talk with you about alcohol, also. If not, the word is NONE, as in no amount of alcohol is safe to drink for someone with HCV.  These are my opinions from what I have learned, anyway.  I have heard others with different opinions about the alcohol, but not many.

[NotPamela]

Thanks to everybody who responded. I am so glad I've found that forum.
I do live in the States now and also was diagnosed here (sorry for the confusion).
Yes, I will go to my MD and get a referal to a specialist.
After the surgeon took my Gallbladder out and just said that inane comment "Looks fine", I should have gotten more info.
I will take care of this know.
I'm a little worried about treatment and am hoping that some advanced meds will come soon, so I wouldn't have to do the Inteferon and taking care of a toddler.
I know about the alcohol and was never a drinker, so that makes it easy.
I can't take codeine, even Vicodine makes me feel like I have a terrible gallbladder attack.
Does Pankreatitis (Sp) has anything to do with Hep C?
The only meds I do take is a low dose of Diazepam at night and Fiorocet/Fiorinal without Codeine for my headaches.
Thanks again to everybody, you made me feel so welcoome double thanks for the encouragement regarding my job.
Hope you all have a happy day.

[IAmTheWalrus]

There is some evidence that pancreatitis is a rare side effect from interferon treatment for HCV. Drugs used to treat HIV also are known to have casued pancreatitis.

I would think that pancreatitis could be a risk of having the gall bladder surgery.