HepCBoy’s Hepatitis C Rules
Rule 3
Be ready to go on the “B” of the Biopsy.
Now remember I’m a UK boy so YMMV but….
You will probably experience quite a bit of time between first presenting at your Doctors with symptoms and starting treatment, somewhere between 6 and 12 months seems about the going rate. There are a few milestones on the way but imho the liver biopsy is the biggie. Not everybody has a biopsy, whose purpose is to judge the state of your liver damage, but I think most do.
Its really the results of the biopsy that will determine the severity of liver damage, you need to prepare for the possibility of bad news although in most cases damage is fairly light.
My advice is not to wait for the biopsy results before you start to take positive steps to improve your health. I would start the moment the first blood tests come back with elevated ALT levels or indeed on diagnosis of Hepatitis C. Its at those key points that you need to start getting ready for the biopsy results, by that time you need to be in the starting blocks and ready to GO!
I think the original quote was something that Linford Christie said, in effect to win a 100m race you need to go on the B of the Bang. I think that applies to Hep C too, pre-biopsy you aren’t really in the race but trust me you will once the results come in. Just like Linford you need to start “training” before that starting pistol gets fired, its a bit late once the race is underway.
And just a reminder, I’m not a Doctor, I’m just a boy with Hep C. By all means read what I have to say but don’t take any actions without consulting your medical people.
Oh and don’t be lazy, do your own research too;)