Q: What if I don't feel like eating?
A: Sometimes hepatitis C or the treatment for the disease may make it difficult for you to eat. This may be because you have no appetite, your sense of taste has changed, or you feel nauseated. When you don't feel like eating, try smaller portions of food every 2 to 3 hours rather than 3 large meals, and eat slowly or try walking to stimulate your appetite. If foods don't taste the same -- particularly proteins -- choose chicken, fish, beans, cheese, yogurt, tuna, eggs, and peanut butter instead of red meat. When you feel nauseated, drink non-citrus beverages (e.g. apple or grape juice, ginger ale, chicken broth, weak tea, and sports drinks), and sip drinks slowly and avoid strong- smelling spicy, greasy, or deep fried foods. Dry crackers can also help when you first wake up.
Q: Why do I always feel tired?
A: One of the telltale signs of hepatitis C is chronic fatigue. The liver is responsible for storing energy that is required for the body to function. If the liver is damaged, the energy you need to perform your activities of daily living may not be available. This can lead to fatigue. Fatigue is common among people with all types of liver disease, including hepatitis C. You may find it to be one of the most challenging symptoms of your disease. Experiment with various combinations of exercise and rest to help you cope with fatigue.
Making some adjustments to your work and home life may also help you to reserve your energy. If your job is very demanding, consider how you might lessen your workload. At home, you may need to ask family members to share or take on some of your responsibilities.
Q: How can I avoid spreading hepatitis C to my family?
A: Hepatitis C is spread by exposure to HCV-infected blood. To avoid spreading hepatitis C, you should minimize these types of exposures. Don't share any instrument that can carry blood on it, such as toothbrushes, nail clippers, razors, etc. If you have any cuts or open wounds, treat them immediately and cover them with the appropriate type of bandage. If you get cut with any household instrument such as a knife or can opener, treat the cut and sterilize the instrument (by boiling it in water) before using it again.
Q: Can I still have sex?
A: Less than 20% of HCV infection can be attributed to sexual transmission, with the highest risk associated with multiple partners. Long-term monogamous sexual relationships have a lower risk of spreading the disease.1 However, if you have hepatitis C, it is a good idea to wear protection (condom). Remember, oral contraceptives do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
Some therapies for chronic hepatitis C (that is, those that contain ribavirin) are extremely harmful to an unborn child. If you are being treated with these therapies and you are sexually active, it is extremely important that you avoid pregnancy (during treatment and for 6 months after treatment) using at least two forms of effective contraception.
Q: Can I breastfeed my baby if I have hepatitis C?
A: There is no evidence that hepatitis C can be spread from mother to child through breastfeeding. However, if you are undergoing treatment for hepatitis C, the drugs you are taking may not be safe during breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue breastfeeding while you are being treated.
Q: Can I still drink socially?
A: If you have chronic hepatitis C, your liver has probably been damaged. Alcohol can make hepatitis C progress much more quickly and can lead to further liver damage. It is important to give your liver a chance to heal so it is probably a good idea to give up alcohol completely. In social situations, try to drink nonalcoholic beverages instead.
Q: Should I tell my dentist that I have hepatitis C?
A: Yes! It is important to tell your dentist and other health professionals that you have hepatitis C. Your dentist needs to take precautions since oral surgery and even routine dental procedures can involve exposure to blood and therefore has the potential to spread hepatitis C. Similarly, if you are having blood drawn for any purpose, inform the phlebotomist (the person who draws your blood) that you have hepatitis C so that he or she can take the necessary precautions to avoid needlestick injuries.
Q: What if my partner and I want to conceive a child during therapy?
A: Combination therapy that includes ribavirin can be extremely harmful or even fatal to an unborn child. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients during therapy and during the 6 months after stopping therapy.
Q: Should I get any vaccinations for other diseases if I have hepatitis C?
A: It is recommended that people with hepatitis C get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis C infection does not increase your chances for getting hepatitis B or hepatitis A. However, having both infections at the same time may make hepatitis C infection worse.
Q: Can I still hug my family members if I have hepatitis C?
A: Hepatitis C cannot be spread through physical contact that does not involve exposure to blood so it is all right to hug your family members.
Q: Can I still spread the disease even if I am being treated?
A: It is still not known whether treatment reduces your chance of spreading the disease. It is also not known if PEGINTRON® or PEGINTRON®/REBETOL® therapies can cure hepatitis C (permanently eliminate the virus).
Q: What if I can't make it through treatment?
A: Treatment for chronic hepatitis C can be difficult. Therapy lasts for up to 1 year. But clinical experience has shown that the more patients stick with treatment, the better their chances of responding to treatment. Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment carefully and avoid missing doses. If you are having difficulty with your treatment, talk to your doctor, and be sure to Contact The Be In ChargeŽ Program today.
Q: What questions should I ask my doctor?
A: Hepatitis C virus infection is a serious matter. For this reason, it is in your own best interest that you learn to ask your doctor appropriate questions about HCV, and educate yourself about the disease and its treatment. See Questions To Ask My Doctor.
Do you have more questions about hepatitis C, or have you been diagnosed with the disease? Contact The Be In Charge® Program today.
The more questions that you ask, the more you will learn about hepatitis C, and the better prepared you'll be to fight this disease.
1National Institute on Drug Use. NIDA Community Drug Alert: Hepatitis. Available at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/HepatitisAlert/HepatitisAlert.html. Accessed January 8, 2009.
