FAQs About Hepatitis C
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, keep your portions small and/or take a walk to stimulate your appetite. Try eating several small meals throughout the day, rather than two or three large meals.
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 the 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. For tips on dealing with tiredness, read the section on Coping with Fatigue.
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 instruments that can carry blood on them, 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. For more information on protecting your family from hepatitis C, read the section on Protecting Family and Friends.
Q: Can I still have sex?
A: The chances of spreading hepatitis C through sexual intercourse are small, but this is a source of infection in about 15% of cases. If you have hepatitis C, it is a good idea to use barrier methods of contraception (for example, condoms, diaphragms). 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 six months after treatment) using at least two forms of effective contraception. Talk to your health care provider about birth control for you and your partner.
Q: Can I breast-feed my baby if I have hepatitis C?
A: There is no evidence that hepatitis C can be spread from mother to child through breast-feeding. However, if you are undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C, the drugs you are taking may not be safe during breast-feeding. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue breast-feeding 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 you should give up alcohol completely. In social situations, try to drink nonalcoholic beverages instead. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend for you.
Q: Should I tell my dentist that I have hepatitis C?
A: 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, have 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 or 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 vaccinations for any 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 and kiss 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 kiss or 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. However, if the amount of virus in your blood is still undetectable six months after completing treatment (that is, you have a sustained virologic response), your chance of spreading hepatitis C is extremely low.
Q: What if I can't make it through treatment?
A: Treatment for chronic hepatitis C can be difficult. Therapy lasts up to one year. But clinical experience has shown that the more patients stick with treatment, the better their chances of responding to treatment. Therefore, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions for the treatment regimen carefully and avoid missing doses. If you are having difficulty with your treatment, talk to your doctor.
Q: What questions should I ask my doctor?
A: Hepatitis C infection is a serious matter. For this reason, it is in your own best interest to learn to ask your doctor appropriate questions about HCV, and educate yourself about the disease and its treatment. There are a number of questions you might want to ask your physician, such as:
- What is my virus level and genotype?
- Should I be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B?
- Do I need a liver biopsy?
- Do I need to be treated?
- Do I have any other conditions that will complicate therapy?
- Do I have sufficient liver scarring to be at risk for liver cancer? If so, how should I be monitored?
- Is peginterferon/ribavirin treatment right for me?
- Do you recommend that I be treated with a weight-based or fixed dose of pegylated interferon?
- How long will my treatment last?
- How often do I need to be seen?
- What tests do I need to take? Will these tests be repeated? How often?
- What side effects can I expect? Whom do I contact in your office about any side effects I am having? Should I contact you directly?
- What changes should I make in my everyday life?
- What other medications can I take, and which should I avoid?
The more questions you ask, the more you will learn about hepatitis C, and the better prepared you'll be to fight this disease. You no doubt have more questions that you specifically would like to ask your doctor; use these to help you organize your thoughts.
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