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Improving quality of life for those affected by Hepatitis C What is Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C (HCV) is an illness caused by a virus that can be passed through blood from one person to another. It mainly affects the liver, causing swelling (in? ammation) and scarring (? brosis and cirrhosis), and can sometimes lead to liver cancer. How can you catch it? It can ONLY be caught from blood to blood contact. Intravenous injecting drug use (needles and syringes) is the highest risk category. Recent studies have shown that sharing (or reusing) paraphernalia; (spoons, ? lters, water, straws etc) may also be a risk. There are other known risk factors, speak to an advisor at C-Level to learn more. There is no risk of HCV transmission from everyday social contact such as holding hands, kissing, sharing toilets, crockery or eating utensils. In prison, the risk of transmission of Hepatitis C is increased. Can I pass it on to others? For someone else to become infected the virus must pass from your blood into their bloodstream. Do not share anything that could have any traces of blood on it. Do not share or reuse any works; needles, syringes, spoons, ? lters, water, straws etc. Practising safe sex will protect you from other infections, including HIV. If you are pregnant - you have a slim chance of passing it on to your baby during the birthing process. What are the symptoms? They are individual and vary from person to person. Some people have no symptoms. Others have reported feeling muscle aches, tiredness, itching, pain in the liver or abdominal swelling. Headaches, mood swings, confusion, memory problems and sleep disturbances are also reported. It is important to remember that you cannot tell the state of your liver by the state of your health, you can feel absolutely ? ne, have no symptoms and your liver can actually be showing signs of damage. Alternatively, you can suffer from severe symptoms and your liver is showing no signs of damage. How will having Hep C affect my health? Hepatitis C affects people in different ways. The ? rst stage of HCV infection is called acute hepatitis C, and lasts around 3 to 6 months. Some people are able to clear the virus from their system. Those who do not recover at this stage will go on to develop chronic HCV infection. The term chronic refers to HCV infection that has been ongoing for more than 6 months. People with chronic HCV are at risk of developing liver damage later in their lives. A number of factors can increase the likelihood of liver damage, including alcohol consumption, HIV co-infection, and smoking tobacco. How will I know if I have it? The only way to know for sure is to get tested. Hepatitis C is often described as a 'silent disease' and a person can be infected for many years without knowing it. During this time, the hepatitis C virus can cause damage to the liver. When a person knows that they are infected with hepatitis C, they can take steps to slow down progression of the disease, e.g. by avoiding alcohol and tobacco, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. Where can I go for the test? Hepatitis C testing is available in a range of settings across Scotland. These include: C-Level, The Brownlee Centre at Gartnavel Hospital, Your GP, Some Community Addiction Teams, Sexual Health Clinics and Prisons. All are free and you don't need a referral. At C-Level, you just need to call and make an appointment. My results are negative, what happens now? You may feel relieved, but be aware; you are not immune to infection! Take steps to protect yourself. Do not share or reuse needles or syringes. Do not share paraphernalia (spoons, water, and ? lter). Do not share any item that can cut or scratch the skin (razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers). Use condoms and be careful if exposed to blood. You may be asked to return to have another test if your exposure was recent (within 3-6 months) My results are positive, what can I do? Speak to someone at C-Level to learn more about the effects of the Hep C virus. Treatments are available that enable many people to clear the HCV virus from their bodies. This reduces the likelihood of further liver damage and reduces the risk of onward transmission. Treatment can be challenging and is not always successful. So it's important to talk through all the options with your doctor. You can access C-Level services during this time for continued support and stress management/complementary therapies. What can I do to help myself? First and foremost, it is strongly recommended that you do not drink alcohol. Alcohol and Hepatitis C damage theliver and in combination cause damage at a faster rate. Replace alcohol with fruit juices or water. If you smoke - stop. A balanced diet is crucial. Cut down on rich, fatty and sugary foods. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and look after your body. Take regular exercise. Light workouts such as Yoga or Tai-Chi. Go to the gym, swim or walk. Any form of exercise is good. Do complementary therapies help? Hepatitis C can make people feel very isolated and emotional, and support for managing stress is important. Complementary therapies can help to reduce stress levels. Always check with your doctor before starting any complementary therapies. What other help is available? You are not alone! C-Level offers a drop in service for anyone infected or affected by Hep C. We also offer peer support at our support group where you can speak to others about shared experiences. There are various specialist supportservices such as counselling, and advocacy support to help with making decisions. Staff and volunteers at C-Level are dedicated to improving quality for life for those affected by Hepatitis C. For more details of all our services Contact us: C-LEVEL 268 Bath Street (across from the King's Theatre) Glasgow G2 4JR 0141 332 2520 info@c-level.org.uk
Useful Websites: www.hepcscotland.co.uk www.hepccentre.org.uk |
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