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Managing hep C symptoms
Taking methadone or buprenorphine, and having hep C
Mood swings, anxiety and depression
Feeling sick, poor appetite and indigestion
Other less common symptoms of hep C
Learning more about hep C will help you come to terms with your illness, better cope with symptoms and help you make lifestyle changes to reduce hep C’s impact on your quality of life. These changes may include looking at how much alcohol you drink, eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising sensibly, managing stress, getting enough rest and giving up smoking. Your doctor will probably suggest ongoing monitoring of your liver function, vaccinations for hep A and hep B, and may suggest hep C treatment.
If you feel that drinking alcohol may be making you feel ill, try cutting it out altogether for a period of time to see whether you feel better. NB: Your risk of developing liver damage is higher if you have hep C and drink alcohol. Reducing your alcohol intake can be the first step towards lessening the risk of serious liver damage (see Alcohol and hep C).
Vaccinations for heps A and B
If you already have hep C and then catch hep A or hep B, you may develop serious liver damage. If blood tests show you do not already have an immunity to hep A or hep B, you are advised to be vaccinated against both.
It is important to speak to your doctor about your prescription or over-the-counter medications and follow the directions. You should speak with your specialist about all medications if you have serious liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis).
Paracetamol is the safest analgesic (pain killer) for simple pain relief if you have hep C. However, if you drink alcohol to excess, or take medications that compete with paracetamol elimination, or haven’t been able to eat for several days, you should not take more than two grams daily (four 500 mg tablets). You should also stick to this daily dose if you take paracetamol on a regular basis (e.g. for arthritis). For more information, speak to your doctor or contact the Hepatitis Helpline.
Taking methadone or buprenorphine, and having hep C
Many people on drug treatment (methadone or buprenorphine) have hep C. The pain relieving effects of these medications can mask the symptoms of hep C and signs of liver damage. People on these drug treatments should speak to their doctor and have regular monitoring of their hep C.
Further information about these medications is available from the NSW Users and AIDS Association.
It is important to remember that you might not get sick from your hep C or be seriously affected by it. Although, many people with hep C do start to feel sick after 10-15 years. Following is a list of common symptoms that you might experience. Symptoms of illness don’t always get worse and they sometimes appear in clusters (several at once). Prescription or over-the-counter medications are often suggested to help with some symptoms. Because some medications can hurt your liver, always ask your doctor’s advice and follow the medication directions (see above).
Many people with hep C will feel fatigued at some stage. Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness and lack of energy. Fatigue can be caused by other things (e.g. stress, a busy lifestyle or other health conditions), so if you are affected by it, you should tell your doctor. Sleep problems include difficulty falling asleep, waking up a lot, or sleeping too much (eight hours sleep per day is generally enough for an adult). Sleep problems can impact on your quality of life by making you feel irritable or fatigued.
- Staying as healthy as possible can help with fatigue and sleep problems
- Short naps during the day may seem to help but can cause sleep difficulties at night. It can help to set specific sleep times to regulate your body clock
- Try to avoid fitting too much into your day and avoid exercising just before sleeping. When you feel better, do extra tasks like cooking food in batches to freeze and eat later
- Eating small meals more often may give you more energy
- Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. Try jasmine tea, camomile tea or warm milk before going to bed, or lavender scent in your bedroom
- Wearing ear plugs at night can reduce distractions and help you get a better sleep
- Sleeping sedatives can also help
Flu-like symptoms can come and go. They usually last for a week or less, but can occasionally last longer. They include fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, and muscle or joint pain. Because these symptoms can mask other medical problems, speak to your doctor about them.
- Mild physical activity increases blood flow to joints and muscles and can reduce stiffness. Heat packs, warm baths and massage may also help
- Fever and muscle ache can be treated with over-the-counter medications
Mood swings, anxiety and depression
Hep C symptoms can include feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, irritability, lack of interest in your usual activities and extended periods of sadness. Because these feelings can be caused by other health problems, talk to your doctor about them.
- Try counselling, relaxation activities, support groups and self-help books
- Daily exercise, such as walking, swimming or massage can help lift your mood
- Medications for anxiety and depression can help
It may become difficult to think clearly and concentrate. You may struggle to find words you want to say or may just feel mentally tired. Brain fog can come and go and can be linked to depression and anxiety. It can be caused by other medical problems so speak to your doctor about it.
- Make lists and notes about important things that you need to remember
- Give yourself more time to complete tasks
- Talk to someone you trust before making major decisions
Hep C can cause pain or soreness in the abdominal (stomach) area on the right hand side just below the ribs (this is where the liver is). Speak to your doctor as other medical problems may be causing the pain.
- Using a heat pack over the liver, particularly at night, may help
- If you drink alcohol regularly, try not drinking alcohol for a while to see if this helps
- Over-the-counter pain medication may help
Feeling sick, poor appetite and indigestion
Hep C can make people feel sick in the stomach (nausea), which can affect appetite. Although there is usually no vomiting it can be very uncomfortable.
- Try avoiding large or high-fat meals for a period of time to see if this has any impact
- If cooking smells make you feel ill, avoid them by microwaving previously prepared and frozen meals
- Acidophilus yoghurt, vitamin B6 and camomile tea may help to reduce nausea. Ginger may also help so try fresh ginger with meals, ginger tablets, ginger beer or ginger tea
- Eat bitter foods (e.g. olives, rocket lettuce) before main meals to improve digestion
- Avoid drinking fluids during meals and do not lie down within 30 minutes of eating
With hep C, skin rashes and complaints may come and go. They may include itchiness, blisters, white spots, tightened skin, spider web patterns and purple patches. They can occur on the palms of hands, soles of the feet, general skin areas and inside the mouth.
- Avoid highly perfumed soaps and shampoos. Sorbolene cream can be used as a substitute for soap when bathing. Use an unperfumed skin moisturiser to reduce skin dryness
- Bathe the affected skin in salty water. Keep the skin cool, avoid hot showers or baths, try to reduce sweating and reduce exposing your skin to the sun. Avoid scratching the skin as scratching will increase the itchiness
- If necessary, speak with a pharmacist or your doctor about managing the itching with over-the-counter or prescription medications
Hep C can cause dry eyes. This may be due to inflammation of the glands that produce tears.
- Avoid smoke, direct wind and air conditioning
- Try using eye ointments or eye drops
Hep C infection can cause a dry mouth. This can lead to bad breath, cracked lips, and a sore mouth and throat. It can also cause difficulty with eating and swallowing, mouth ulcers, tooth decay and tooth sensitivity.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for a routine check up
- Avoid hot or spicy foods, which can irritate a dry mouth. Choose soft, mashed or minced foods if eating is painful
- Maintain good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing, particularly after meals and before bed. Consider rinsing the mouth with salty water and gargling with a mild mouthwash
- Try using lip balm. Keep the mouth moist by sipping water regularly. Chewing sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva
- Infant teething gels may provide some relief from ulcers
- Try oral health products that are designed to ease the discomfort of dry mouth (these include mouthwash, toothpaste, moisturiser gel and chewing gum)
Other less common symptoms of hep C
Hep C can be linked to other health problems including blood, kidney and skin conditions, and disorders of the lymph and nervous systems. Speak to your doctor or specialist for more information.
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Stock photos used. People shown may have no actual connection with hepatitis C.
Top image by Pabloest, taken with thanks from www.flickr.com
This page last updated 14 May 2010
