I’ve been slacking here a bit lately, but something just occurred to me, when I thought to do a search about Hepatitis B and treatment – there are no blogs out there. No-one reporting on what life is like, so it’s time to start my blog again.
First off, a disclaimer – I’m obviously not a doctor, if you need help or advice about Hepatitis B see a doctor. Better still, ask for a vaccination (yes, there is a vaccination – if only I’d known that at the time!).
I was diagnosed with Hepatitis B a few years ago, following a check up for something unrelated and although rather embarrassed about it (I haven’t told many people) I hoped a would be clear of it a few months later. Something like 90-95% of of people who are infected are able to fight off the virus so their infection never becomes chronic. Only about 5-10 percent of adults infected go on to develop chronic infection. Unfortunately, I fell into the minority.
It has taken a long time, referrals to different doctors, blood test and more blood tests, multiple Ultrasound & x-ray scans but finally I was recommended for treatment by a drug called Interferon. The list of possible side-effects were enough to frighten a small child, but involves a weekly injection under the skin just below the belly button, and to be honest isn’t a problem.
Unfortunately, only a small number of people treated with interferon actual become clear after a year (less than a third), so I’m not getting my hopes up here. Plan B is to take daily medication that suppresses the virus somehow, but I’d have to take forever (gulp).
The alternatives, are far more scary though, as Heb B can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure, or even liver cancer.
Anyway, I’m off later too the pub, but can’t drink anymore as it would add to the risk of liver disease. Probably just as well though, since it was almost certainly during a drunken careless moment that I got myself into this mess in the first place.
