Disclaimer

I have hepatitis C and have painful skin eruptions on my legs. Are these related?

The eruption on your legs could be related to hepatitis C. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C have a condition called cryoglobulinemia, where the virus is bound by antibodies, creating (antigen-antibody) complexes that precipitate (become solid) under colder conditions. During the night, our lower extremities may be colder than our midsection, and these complexes may precipitate, generating an inflammatory process manifested as red/brownish plaques on the skin.

Why didn't I know about the disease all these years? I was feeling fine.

The most common symptom of chronic hepatitis C is to feel normal; your experience is that of the majority of patients with this disease. For those who have symptoms, the most common one is fatigue.

What can I take for severe joint pains?

Over the counter pain remedies such as aspirin, ibuprofen and even acetomeniphine are just as safe for those with hepatitis as they are for others. Used in moderation, they are safe. If your symptoms are severe or frequent, the pain may be related to fibromyalgia or exacerbation of arthritis. I suggest you see a rheumatologist (a specialist in joint disease).

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C? Are the symptoms related to other diseases?

Usually, symptoms of HCV only present themselves when the illness is worsening. You can have HCV for many years before you have any noticeable symptoms. Typically, those symptoms include jaundice (yellow skin, the whites of your eyes turning yellow, dark tarry stool), pain in the right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, fatigue, retaining water (ascites--fluid in the belly and swollen ankles), confusion, and forgetfulness. As your liver becomes more damaged, these symptoms can get worse and indicate serious complications of liver disease. While some of the symptoms could be related to other diseases, we typically look at these signs as symptoms of liver disease.

How is HCV detected? How do I know that I should see my doctor?

There are basically two ways that people discover they have hepatitis C. One way is that during a routine doctor visit and blood draw, your liver enzymes are found to be elevated. (Enzymes tell us how well your liver is working and if it is damaged). You may not have any other symptoms, but since your liver enzymes are high, your doctor will look closely at your liver function and might refer you to a hepatologist (liver doctor) to run further tests, including the test for hepatitis C.

The other way people find out they have hepatitis C is if they have an acute (sudden but temporary) attack that includes jaundice (yellow skin, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, dark tarry stool), loss of appetite, and pain in the right side of the abdomen. If any of those things happen, even if you have never been told that you have hepatitis C, you should see your doctor who can run tests to determine what the problem is and give you medications to get you through the acute symptoms.