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Chronic hepatitis B.

I

imported_Tomato

Diamond Member
I just found out a relative of mine has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B... :brokenheart:

I'm doing all the web research I can right now, but the whole family is really upset. Does anyone know anybody suffering from chronic hepatitis B, and if so, what kind of lifestyle changes do they have to make?

Things I'm particularly concerned about:

1. How one copes with daily living with this illness
2. Experiences with Interferon and other medications
3. Alternative remedies / Remedies pursued in other countries
4. Questions about nutrition
5. Health suggestions

🙁
 
Basically a virus transmitted by body fluid contact. In some parts of the world, like asia and third world countries, most people are eventually exposed to it. Most people's immune systems seem to be able to fight it off, but some can't and it causes liver damage. Vaccines exist now for Hepatitis A and B, but not C. I've been vaccinated before and most people should consider vaccination, even basic insurance seems to cover it. I think transmission can occur even from kissing/sharing food.

There's new work these days in theraputic vaccines for virus infections. If they work, it'll be basically an injectable cure, kind of like an after the fact vaccine. The closest to market is for HPV/cervical cancer, but there's research for hepatitis currently underway. Unfortunately for the case of hepatitis, it'll probably come too late for your situation. 🙁

webmd.com has good information

blurb about hepatitis B research
link about new vaccines
 
Thank you for the info, James.

Apparently my uncle was infected by the virus when he was much younger (so he believes... he remembers the nurses using the same vaccination needles on everyone), but has never been tested for it until now. He's been happily married for over twenty-five years now, and was afflicted with some pretty serious symptoms all at once. I guess something triggered the virus, and he went to the doctors who confirmed it was chronic Hepatitis B. 🙁

This is going to be an awful question, but how long does he have to live? 🙁 Is it possible for him to still live a full, healthy, happy life? I know he's in a lot of pain right now.....
 
Originally posted by: Dezign
Thank you for the info, James.

Apparently my uncle was infected by the virus when he was much younger (so he believes... he remembers the nurses using the same vaccination needles on everyone), but has never been tested for it until now. He's been happily married for over twenty-five years now, and was afflicted with some pretty serious symptoms all at once. I guess something triggered the virus, and he went to the doctors who confirmed it was chronic Hepatitis B. 🙁

This is going to be an awful question, but how long does he have to live? 🙁 Is it possible for him to still live a full, healthy, happy life? I know he's in a lot of pain right now.....
Click to expand...

It's going to totally depend. Obviously, the best lifestyle changes would be healthy ones.

Unfortunately, your liver is a pretty important piece of bodily machinery. 🙁

Are liver transplants an option for people whos liver is dead/dying from Hepatitis B?
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Dezign
Thank you for the info, James.

Apparently my uncle was infected by the virus when he was much younger (so he believes... he remembers the nurses using the same vaccination needles on everyone), but has never been tested for it until now. He's been happily married for over twenty-five years now, and was afflicted with some pretty serious symptoms all at once. I guess something triggered the virus, and he went to the doctors who confirmed it was chronic Hepatitis B. 🙁

This is going to be an awful question, but how long does he have to live? 🙁 Is it possible for him to still live a full, healthy, happy life? I know he's in a lot of pain right now.....
Click to expand...

It's going to totally depend. Obviously, the best lifestyle changes would be healthy ones.

Unfortunately, your liver is a pretty important piece of bodily machinery. 🙁

Are liver transplants an option for people whos liver is dead/dying from Hepatitis B?
Click to expand...

Good question about the liver transplants, Eli. I haven't come across that info/option in my research yet. I guess all chronic hepatitis B sufferers are dying from it. 🙁 If it is possible, maybe I should suggest my uncle apply to be on a waiting list for a liver... I know that people can be on a waiting list like that for years... 🙁

I have to go home now, but I'll check this thread again first thing Monday morning.
 
First of all It is a good idea to get everybody in the family tested. Hep B is fairly easily transmitted although 95% of the people that come into contact with it develop an immunity. Similar to the immunity they gain from a vaccination.
I was just tested for hepatitis last month due to liver problems. I went in for blood tests (I changed my PCP and he ran a full suite of tests) and my liver functions were 4X the normal maximum. It was a pretty scary time for me, I'm 26 years old and liver problems at my age are very uncommon. I did a lot of research while waiting for the results and it seems that most cases of HEP B will not cause death as there are ways of controlling the disease. Laying off alcohol helps.
Luckily for me my tests came back negative. My liver problems were caused by a problem I have with tylenol. i have quit taking tylenol and laid off drinking and my enzymes are normal again. It seems more apparent from what I have been reading online and from what the doctor said is that tylenol causes liver problems especially when taken with alcohol. (such as for a hangover)
 
Originally posted by: Grminalac
First of all It is a good idea to get everybody in the family tested. Hep B is fairly easily transmitted although 95% of the people that come into contact with it develop an immunity. Similar to the immunity they gain from a vaccination.
I was just tested for hepatitis last month due to liver problems. I went in for blood tests (I changed my PCP and he ran a full suite of tests) and my liver functions were 4X the normal maximum. It was a pretty scary time for me, I'm 26 years old and liver problems at my age are very uncommon. I did a lot of research while waiting for the results and it seems that most cases of HEP B will not cause death as there are ways of controlling the disease. Laying off alcohol helps.
Luckily for me my tests came back negative. My liver problems were caused by a problem I have with tylenol. i have quit taking tylenol and laid off drinking and my enzymes are normal again. It seems more apparent from what I have been reading online and from what the doctor said is that tylenol causes liver problems especially when taken with alcohol. (such as for a hangover)
Click to expand...
Yes, tylenol and alcohol are very bad..
 
I don't know about B, but liver transplants/partial transplants do offer help for people with hepatitis C.

But transplants are hard to come by and there's always the possibility the virus will degrade the new liver. It's more of a treatment/way to buy more time as opposed to a cure.

Hope your relative finds a way to deal with situation Ivy.
 
Everyone in the family was tested, and the results just came back... all tested negative for the virus (wife & kids). I've joined two mailing lists, and will be sending more questions in to the doctors there. Thank you all for the feedback.
 
I'm not an expert at all about this but I'll give you my experience.

My dad died last year and we donated his organs to needy people. The doctor told us he had hepatitis and that the liver could still be used despite it. He told us that alot of people have hepatitis and don't know it because the body fights it and keeps the virus in equilibrium. The liver would be donated to someone else who had hepatitis.

So it seems having hepatitis doesn't necessarily mean you need to have a liver transplant. You could live your life with hepatitis and not have it reach the point of needing a transplant.
 
Also the liver will regenerate so it is possible for a member of his family to donate part of their healthy liver to him and if it isn't rejected, it'll grown back into a functional liver. The donors will work fine as well.
 
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